Its time to make it count

 Three weeks out - Woodruff!

The one ride that really measures your readiness is Woodruff.  If you've followed this blog from previous years, you'll know what this is all about.

Woodruff sits on the other side of Monte Cristo, directly at the end of SR39.  From there you either go right to Evanston, or left to Randolf (and Sage Junction).  Travelers going to Star Valley, Jackson and all points that direction from I-80 will pass through this little place.  I've done this ride for years and really enjoy the fine people of this community.  This year is a little later than normal, but than this year has been anything but normal - hasn't it.

This ride has several elements of importance.  It is tremendously physical, absolutely mental and generally speaking - BRUTAL!  It is harder than any climb at LOTOJA, both in length and grade.  When you get to the top of Monte, you have to make a decision; go all the way, or turn around.  At Mile Post 49, you are flying.  In only a matter of minutes, you've gone too far to look back.  Once out of the canyon, you have to pedal to get into town, but still have the grade in your favor.  When you are leaving town on the way home, you see the mountains well off in the distance, and that certainly gets into ones head.  Add to this the wind.  Aw yes, that familiar headwind.  If lucky, it will only be a cross wind, but seldom is the case. Back at the canyon and it is channeled directly into your face.  Often the wind and grade combine to keep you in the old "bailout" gear.  Somewhere between MP 56 and MP 55, there is the snow gate.  At MP 53 you are clearing the canyon starting back up the dugway.  At MP 52, your are midway up the dugway, looking for the bend at MP 51.  You know at MP 50 it will be one steep hombre, but at MP 49, you'll be passing Curtis Creek Road.  Another mile and change.....the camp ground and water.  This is the mental game you learn to play.

The above image is just coming out of the canyon at MP53, heading for home.  Knowing you still have to climb through those mountains can work against you, or with you.  It is really a mental game at this point.  That grade is steeper than it looks, but still manageable.  

Why put yourself through it?

Often we do hard things because we can.  Other times, we have no choice.  Learning to deal with adversity is life in general.  You have to endure suffering to progress, and this is progress.  If you can do this ride with confidence, you can ride LOTOJA. You are capable of far more than you may otherwise believe.  Overcoming the hurt of the body is the hard part.  You'll live through it.  Pain is temporary.  The reward.........well, that's for each in their own mind.

Yesterday was hot, windy and just hard.  I left home without my Halo (sweat-band) - this is why I use baby shampoo during riding season.  I was physically sick by the time I got back to Huntsville.  I shredded my back tire, but still made it home.  I didn't eat and was in serious calorie deficit - again. I decided to wear my old road shoes, which was not smart either.  In the end, it was a pretty good day.

Forty years ago...........I can't believe it;s been that long  I bought the (then) new Bob Seger album.  It's funny how those lyrics seemed to be so distant at the time, but somehow relatable.  I came home from a backpacking trip, down Calf Creek Canyon, Escalante, after a hot, but life changing few days.  Home alone after getting everything cleaned up and put away, I listened intently to that album in the stillness of that evening - looking out over the horizon, as to what laid ahead.  The changes in life and the excitement of the unknown.  Part of the charm of our youth is looking back and realizing how little we actually knew about life, but how eager we were to live it.  It is true; "Sometimes I wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then".  If I only knew better...................

Click here for "Against the Wind"

Ride HARD!

Trying to overcome the trials

 Seeds of Doubt

This morning was typical of pretty much every ride in the past two months. I know exactly what is needed, but I have to really focus my effort from otherwise talking myself out of a ride.  Add to this all the distractions and crap, and it is just hard sometimes.  This sort of thing is certainly much easier when you have a training partner, or someone else driving the motivation - like a trainer.  When left to ones self, it can be difficult.  This year is truly harder than any others in the past.

A Week of Critical Rides

Things began with a hard tempo-ride to Trappers, then to Snow Basin.  As late as it was, there was no way to get home without a bailout.  The principal objectives were met.  The next night was a hard interval road ride - "hammer-heads".  These really help, in place of an organized "crit", and is a lot safer.  By the time I got home, I was completely gassed - like sick.  This morning was a trip back to the top of Monte.  Stayed in the harder gears to some very key points, while improving my over time.  Still had considerable fatigue, but managed to stay after it pretty much to the camp ground. As usual, there was a hard head/cross wind all the way to Huntsville.  I dropped the bike at the shop for a good "going-over" on the way home.  That will be ready Saturday night, just in time for another session of hill-repeat "racks" - the normal Saturday night task.

The key to all of these is making specific progress with each ride.  This is certainly not random, but very specific.  Increases in total intervals, reductions in overall time, increases in distance without fatigue - you get the picture.  Being safe as to not "over cook" is paramount.

This was the turnaround doing intervals the other night.

LOTOJA Updates

More details were officially released today.  No frame/bib number, but the start time is 06:00 -as in one dark hombre.  That is 90 minutes before the last group, and 70 minutes after the first group.  Modified feed zones in several places - particularly in Star Valley.  A detour out of Hoeback, as well as a couple course splits to watch for - making it one interesting day.  If I were to guess, I'd say the sportive course will be under 200 miles this year.  The race course (the one I ride) is still 202+, depending on what the detours add.  Either way, it will be a long day.

You can still rock in America

Ride HARD!

Progress

 Road Miles

Monday night was a ride up the "Old Snow Basin Road" - a nice climb in the evening when it is otherwise hot.  The old road isn't what it used to be, but still is a place I enjoy from time to time.  The top section from Art Nord Drive to the ski resort is not open to motor traffic anymore.  On top of that, it is pretty hammered.  Kind of a bummer, but still suitable for an evening grind.

Tuesday was dirt night - again, with a followup of classical Tabatas.  Wednesday just didn't happen, with work and other commitments.  A good excuse to save up for this morning.

Better late than never, but it was time to head for Monte.  I had considered going to East Canyon, but the forecast called for very warm temps in the afternoon - which is not a good idea with that ride.  A little later on the start than I had planned, but I was still in a pretty good spot most of the way up.  The traffic was unbelievable today.  It really looked like a holiday weekend, which is very unusual for this road. Once you get out of South Fork Canyon, traffic is easy to deal with - most of the time.

Fatigue!

This was the first time I went over four hours in a single ride this season.  Kind of late in the year for that, but here we are.  As a result, posture fatigue was "a thing".  This will take a little getting used to, but I've also got to stretch these out to six and eight hour rides before too long.  Getting to the camp ground I used three bottles of stuff.  I've had trips all the way into Woodruff before were I didn't use two complete bottles.  Today was hot, with a ton of exposure.  With three full bottles out of the camp ground, I was fighting a stiff headwind all the way down.  Of course this was between side gusts and direct head-on stuff, that simply made it a bear to get down.  By Red Cliff, it was like a blast-furnace.  By the time I got into Huntsville, I was cooked and stiff.  The quads were smoked and was also knotted in the neck and shoulders.  That was a good place to stop - for today.

Monte Cristo

Monte has always been a place that takes me back.  It is without a doubt, the hardest stuff I ride all year - especially when I go all the way to Woodruf and back.  The climbs are long, steep and at some pretty serious altitude. There is literally no better training ride than this. As familiar as I am with this road, today just seemed a little.......different.  It didn't just feel like home, like it always has in the past.  I know it as well as any road I ride and can tell you tales of many things going back well over forty years.  It was almost like I didn't belong there anymore - empty. Still, Monte is the most honest friend you'll have. The truth may hurt, but it will tell you how bad off you really are.  Sometimes that truth is hard to take, but it is real.  And then there are those days like today, where it punishes you all the way down - just because.

I need to get my "legs" capable of pulling off Woodruf very soon.  We'll see what the next few days look like.

LOTOJA Mods

Seeing the radio guys emails gives me a really good idea of what is happening up on the course.  Major changes in a couple of the feed zones, with some floating stuff, as well as two separate finish lines.  The Sportive riders will finish at the high school. The racers still go all the way to Teton Village - as before.  This will also shave miles off the Sportive course, which was 207 last year.  I'm not what that course will look like this year at the front end.  The road out of Hoeback is also a mess.  It sounds like they are taking us off that main road and on to something else.  Man, this is going to be different.

I watched the latest from Rick Beato the other night.  It was another of his "What makes this song great?" sessions.  That guy knows his stuff.  Still, that stupid thing was in my head most of the ride today - mainly the Red Shea parts.  Funny how I can isolate tracks in my mind like that - without listening at the same time.  Still, not a Rick Beato by any measure.

Click Here for Gordon Lightfoot

Ride HARD!

Mental Issues

*!#2%!!!!!

This crap really gets in to my head.  I can't sleep.  I can't think straight.  I just straight up hate this sh....stuff.  Yesterday morning I was supposed to do an early 50 mile "fasting climb".  Something I should usually be able to do this time of year without a wince. After the hell that was last week, getting some bruised ribs on the mountain bike and working in an electrical substation the day before in 100° heat, I had convinced myself I was done for the year.  I mean seriously - DONE!.  I took my road I/D off my ankle and texted my riding buddy. Told him I just didn't heart to do it anymore.  My road I/D never comes off until after LOTOJA - it is my constant reminder.  After a day of consideration, I really had to put things aside and sort them one at a time.

At first I started to wonder if this was somehow my "personal" identity - who I think I am.  Is it something I make myself appear to others.  In the end, why do it all?  Lets face it, nobody will ever confuse me with a "real" road cyclist, much less a racer.  It has been a dark year, and this has made it very hard to maintain a willingness to suffer.  After all, cycling is truly about ones will to suffer.  Learning to cope with darkness is a key attribute in this game - and it is a game.  So, I'm not exactly where I want to be, or even should be.  That doesn't mean I should quit.  Yes, my will has been stymied, but I still has choices - so suck it up and quit whining!  I disgust myself sometimes......what a baby.

This morning I lit out a tad after 06:00 with a couple bottles of stuff, and a flasher - headed for Trapper again.  This time I had a point to prove and a time to make.  Without the details, I can say I met the margin.  I can still do this.  Maybe it will hurt, and maybe it will hurt a lot, but I can still do it. 

From the top of Trappers, the sun rising just over Monte never gets old.  I thought it was blurry because I'd worked my guts out. Out and back in under 2 1/2 hours is not the fastest time ever, but I'm still in range.  I've got a lot to catch up on in the next few weeks.  It might also be a good time to push some fundraising.

Losing sleep

Not sure why, but this was stuck in my head pretty much all the way out and back today.  Maybe it helps med think of simpler times - just maybe.

Click here for England Dan and John Ford Coley

See you back here in a couple days.....Ride HARD!

We're on for a Race (or ride) - Official Word

Significant Modifications

Brent and his crew have really been working things out.  As a result, the official word is "GO".  What it means is a change in the overall starting and opening time between groups.  Normally the earliest start time is 06:00, with a new group every 3 minutes, putting the last group out at roughly 07:30.  That's 90 minutes at the opening.  This year they are starting at 04:50, with 5 minutes between groups.  The last group will still clear at 07:30, but this puts the total open time at 170 minutes.  There are other modifications to feed zones, finish line(s) (yes that was plural) and award/post event stuff. All things said, it will be different - for sure. I mean, starting anytime before 06:30 on a clear day that time of year will require lights (and patience).  Start talking about the race volunteers, radio crews, services and so on, their day has become considerably more difficult - on several fronts.  Feed zones will have to open earlier, traffic direction will be out longer..........you get the picture.  Then consider the race dynamic.  Likely smaller groups, longer periods between trains and bigger gaps in "no mans land".  There is a lot to consider.

Training

This year has been a struggle.  Road miles have just not been good.  Stacking miles is not efficient, but you need a solid base from which to build.  Looking at purely hours, I have a lot on the dirt, and even on the spin-bike.  These are no substitute for time on the road bike.  Add to that just flat out poor quality road miles, and well...........this is a problem.  At this point the 3 -4 hour "empty tank" endurance should be established.  Two road rides this week proved otherwise.  Sure, conditions weren't the best - in fact pretty crappy, but still......   It's hard not to get nervous, like literally panic at times, but I have enough experience to know what to do. And again, lets not forget about the mental part of this thing.  It is important to get strong rides, that instill confidence as well as the physical aspects.  We'll figure it out.

Monday night was hell climbing Trappers.  Strong, gusting blasts all the way up.  So hard it was hard to stay on the road.  Too dangerous to go back down, so I had to finish the climb for safety reasons.  From there, I had to call for a bailout - AGAIN!

Tuesday was on the dirt, followed by a session of weight bearing.  Wednesday was a 50 mile tempo ride that started a little fast.  Around the 100 minute mark I was feeling gassed.  Then, it got into my head.  Needless to say confidence was lost.  I whimpered into the garage like I'd been beat.  It was pretty dark, I felt sick (the bonk) and pretty much demoralized.  

Last night I hit the dirt again.  I was smart enough to wait until the sun was behind the mountain, and riding with a specific tempo.  It was the usual, up to the overlook, starting in Cutler.  I felt pretty good about the overall climb.  It was starting to get dark when I snapped this pic and sent it out .  Taking the north trail down, like I've done a million times this year, I was getting a little ahead of myself when I crashed.  Yup, picking gravel out of my knees and scrubbing dirt out of my legs and arms.  Wasn't too bad, but it was a stupid mistake.  By the time I got in the garage I was feeling a little stiff, but more so angry.  Having a 03:30 alarm set, I did the customary wound fix and parked it for the night.  Early morning on a job site I felt like I'd taken a few hits.  12 hours in the extreme heat of the day, on a very stressful project, made things more noticeable.  The job went well, but I'm severely dehydrated.  Cramping in my hands and other obvious effects are not what I need to finish the week.  I know better than to "crow" about what I have planned, as that seems to doom the effort before it begins.  

Fundraising

Talking to my contacts at Huntsman, they've seen a huge lag in fundraising overall.  The feeling is everyone is holding back to see if it's a go.  Yes, I know that feeling as well.  Okay, we're going, so I guess we need to get moving on the "Porpoise".  If you've made it this far, please refer a friend.  Enough page views seems to get us over the top every year.  

Whatever your reason for stopping by - thanks.  Stick around.  There is a lot coming.  And who doesn't need a worthy distraction right now?

Finally: We lost the "Green Manilishi" last week.  You know; "Oh Well" (you'll have to find it back in one of my way older posts).

Click here - The Late and Great Peter Green leading the Bluesbreakers

Ride HARD!

The Grind Starts

Stringing things together

Still no official word from the Race Director, but The Jackson Hole Times ran an article last weekend saying LOTOJA is still a go.  Brent (the Race Director) will make an official announcement in one week.When you consider all of the jurisdictions, municipalities, and permits required, one can only image the work he's putting in to make this happen.  He has a great staff and they know what they are doing.  Still, it's hard to say what to expect.  With positive cases still higher than our State Governor wants, I'd say all bets are off - either way.

Mixing it up

Combinations of indoor spinning, dirt riding, hill intervals and weight bearing intervals are the current course.  The spinning is truly important as this helps mechanics.  Poor mechanics adds up over a 200 mile ride, and can make the difference between finishing and failing.  Hill intervals are hard and boring.  Still, it conditions the mind to overcome the discomfort of the grind.  I still do the half-mile spoke bender right near by, as it is steeper than anything else you can ride around these parts - without a ton of traffic.  I typically will hit this in the evening, just after the sun has gone behind the mountain.  From there I can get a solid ten repeating intervals in.  Kind of the equivalent of riding North Ogden Divide back and fort, with steeper climbs and higher overall elevation.  Of course if I want to peg my heart rate, I hit the dirt.  New connectors have made the ride home a little more fun, as well as provide a little more grind than before.  I've added some weight bearing stuff again this year, much as I've done during the winter to train for mountain bike races.  I've only got about seven weeks, and no organized centuries this year.  I'll have to make things work anyway.  A lot depends on the announcement next Saturday.

New Trails and Features

The pic above shows one of the features being added to a new connector.  That is probably a 7' drop, with a 12' gap.  Add to it, the approach angle, and that is going to be gnarly.  The added trail is spreading the riders out over larger areas, but it is still getting pretty busy.  My private little trail network is getting quite popular.  A ride to the overlook is still a grind and will work you as hard as you may otherwise want.  Outside of doing open road sprints, this is the only place I can peg my heart rate.  By the time I get around the top of the "ball cap", the sweat is pouring out of my helmet.  I can't tell you how many times I've done this same old ride this year, but it is a known quantity and yet a good burn.  Better yet, all of these rides are literally right out of my garage.

Stay tuned and rub that lucky rabbits foot.  We could use a little break this year.  What a ..........mess.

This was the B-side to the single "My love", 1972 - from "Red Rose Speedway". It was never listed, or released as part of the album, and only got a little air-play on some early FM stations - late night.  This was one of their "college shows" they did (at the Hague), trying to "sharpen the edges".

Click here for "The Mess" Live, 1972 - Wings

Ride HARD!

A Delicate Balance

Minor injuries that can become game changers....

Our little trek last Saturday left me a little beat up.  The Cutler trail is considerably steeper than the North Ogden Divide trail.  As such, it works you pretty good going up and coming down.  Still, I've done this countless times, but for whatever reason this time left me a little tight after 24 hours.  I decided to take Monday off form all things training and attempted a moderately paced tempo ride this evening.  Throw in some smoke from a local wild land fire and it was less then a good idea.  Fighting the wind all the way home (not unusual for evening rides this time of year), I was starting to smoke my left knee.  Before I "bent" anything else, I called for a bailout - 3 miles from home.

As much as I want to push through, I've learned the hard way about not listening to the machine.  An extra 20 minutes, with 500 feet of climbing and the wonderful "welcome to North Fork" headwind, can make the difference between having to sit out the rest of the week, and simple changes to a routine.  I should have been smart enough to have done more of a recovery ride than any kind of a tempo ride.  I'll have to make some adjustments to my plan for the next few days, but somehow I also need to stay on my road bike.  It still doesn't feel natural quite yet.  In a matter of only a couple more weeks, Ill need to start looking at all day rides, over tall elevations, with heat.  This is no time to get hurt.

The above pic is from our hike Saturday.  The guy you can barely see through the brush is cranking a 29er, clipped in, on his way to the top.  Kill'n it!  It gets very loose and rocky immediately after this point.

Set backs happen.  And of course, that always takes me to a comfort food - or next best thing.  461 has aged well, and is it smooth.

Click here for Mainline Florida. Man '74 was good....

Ride HARD!