The Purpose of "The Porpoise"

 Where to begin

This LOTOJA thing has been a thing for me personally for many years. Initially it was just something to do - I guess. One year I hadn't prep'd nearly as much as the years previously and....lets just say I bailed very early in the race. Having left with a gut wrenching effect, I committed that type of thing would never happen again. The off season that year was not great.  A kid I grew up with died, that was kind of an eye opener.  No, he didn't succumb to the Big-C, but that really didn't matter.  A few months later, it seemed liked a good idea to do this (LOTOJA) with a purpose.  That's when I started my affiliation with what was then called "Huntsman Hometown Heroes".  Like everyone else, cancer has hit close over the years. It was the second year with HHH I started the blog, and "Riding with a Porpoise".  A lot has changed since then, more than one can remember.  Through that time there have been several co-workers, friends, classmates, and so on, that have lost their battles with the Big-C. Most recently, this past year, another kid from my graduating class was taken by this insidious disease - (Jeff R).  That was before this whole Covid thing.  Here we are, less than two weeks out, and things are as uncertain as ever.

Taking a little time, I went back to a an old yearbook and scanned through pages of people I have long since forgotten.  That was a long time ago, and I've moved on - to say the least. This wasn't like an in depth "review" just a quick look, but the one person that jumped out at me was our old buddy Amy.  We started kindergarten together.  Had known her since I was five.  Had her in several classes over those years, ran track, and all the other stuff you take for granted.  She was killed by a fluke falling tree that hit her truck on her way home from a shift at the fire department. She signed that yearbook,...... "Always, Amy". Then there was Todd.  A year older than me and a kid that lived in my neighborhood.  He was killed just before I graduated, during his first year at college. As I briefly scanned through the images and messages left by so many, the count of those that have since passed was too many to mention. Hard to forget, but you can't live in that past.

Fruit Snacks in the pocket

As had been the case dozens of times over several years, I was finishing a long week in Brazil. Taking the usual late night, Friday ride out of Gaurulhos (Sao Paulo), I was sitting in the SkyRoom trying to get some reports done, prior to boarding.  Having traveled enough, I understood the importance of keeping stuff like Cliff Bars and water in the backpack.  There was a young family there, waiting for their flight, with a little kid that was just going crazy. This is in a room full (overly full) of burned out business people, all wanting to get home. Having an appreciation for what these parents were dealing with, I checked one of my pockets and found a stash of pre-packaged fruit snacks. I offered them to one of the parents, in my poor excuse for Portuguese.  The end result was a near miracle.  Rationing out the individual fruit snacks, the mother kept things well under control.  I'm sure they had enough snacks to get them on their flight. I've lost track of the number of times the stuff I carried on these trips made a difference for someone else.  The point is, these thing all cost next to nothing, but they proved nearly invaluable to someone else.  The lesson learned; a little of what I can give may go along way for someone else.

So....here we are

We are at the end of this years campaign (for Huntsman). Almost everything else was cancelled due to Covid.  LOTOJA is pretty much the only thing that didn't get scrubbed, and even those numbers are down. It has been a crappy year for pretty much everyone, but we are turning a corner. If you have made it this far, I ask that you consider your situation and remember anyone from your past that made you realize your own mortality, the frailness of life, or simply how lucky we all have been in our pursuits. Really think about that person, or people and the hole left by their absence, and then give.  Not much, just give something to someone else, and then say the name of the person that you are remembering.  Follow the link to Huntsman, buy someone a cup of soup, a little petrol, or something that will bring the sunshine into their day.  Use your better judgment. If you donate to Huntsman, you may do so anonymously, but write for whom you are remembering in the appropriate place. Do be generic, but specific.  Names matter.

If you want a little more prodding, visit these previous posts:

A tribute to a freind 

Final Post - 2017

Final Post 2018

Make a difference this week, wherever it may be, but remember to say that name.

Swing back for more at the end of  this week. 

Click here a "Give a Little Bit" - thanks Rog!

Ride HARD!

Back for more abuse

The Wind!

On a good day, any ride over Monte to Woodruff is a challenge.  When conditions permit, it just sucks!  Who can't appreciate 6,700 feet of climbing?

From Huntsville Town Square, to the end of SR 39, is 49.7 miles.  Add a turn into the camp ground and you'll make 100 miles for the day from this starting point. The above elevation profile shows the climb from both directions. Considering the average overall elevation, the air is a bit thin as well.  The way it looks, you'd think getting back to the top from Woodruff is much easier.  That's always a good way to look at it, but generally speaking......it varies - GREATLY!

The turn around point, looking toward Randolf (10 miles away).  

From the moment I started up SR 39, the wind was howling directly out of South Fork Canyon.  All the way over the top there was wind.  Highly unusual, but you take what comes your way.  Even with the wind, the bike was in the big ring upfront all the way to Ant Flat Road - an achievement for this season.  I made sure to fuel a little better than last week, with a couple Gu's and a banana at timed intervals up to little Monte.  Rolling past the camp ground, I pushed down 350 calories with a ton of protein. Carrying three water bottles was not needed for the cooler front side, but that wouldn't be the case coming back.  Key times this morning were okay, call them respectable for this season anyway, but certainly not my best times ever.  Given that, you always have to take into account the conditions, "best times" are always subjective.

The ride back started with the constant wind that was already shifting on my way into town.  I was hopeful the headwind that fought me going into town would give me a push going out.  In the 20 minutes or so I spent filling-up, everything changed.  Normally the first few miles out of town are fairly easy.  Even with a little wind, the real resistance doesn't hit until about 7 - 10 miles back.  Today was resistance from the get go, and it only got worse as the miles went on. The temps weren't too bad, but very deceiving, in that I really had to watch my water intake. By the time I hit the snow gate, about 15 miles up, I checked to see how well I had been hydrating.  By that point I had consumed about 3/4 bottle, with two full.  I made an concerted effort to hydrate more often and push a couple Gu's on specific schedules.  A few fruit snacks also kept the blood sugar up.  Coming out of the canyon and onto the dugway, I was at times only 4.5 MPH.  The wind was relentless and just flat out punishing.  I stopped at the top of the dugway, at MP 51 (the curve) on found a little shade.  From there it was a constant push back up to the top.

At the camp ground, I was nearly out of water.  A lot of time had been lost getting back, and the wind was increasing.  I choked down a Cliff bar and maybe 25 ounces of water, filled two bottles and set out.

I still had the scoops fully open from somewhere coming back up from town, so I had to stop at MP 44 to zip-up.  Having learned the hard way, not having the kit fully zipped is a sure way to get stung by a pissed-off bee that gets trapped in the jersey. And then the wind, it only got worse. Trying to duck down on to the bars when being that tired is not easy.  In South Fork Canyon, it was worse than normal, and incredibly hot.  Still, a little focus managed that pain.

After shredding my rear tire last week on this same ride, I re-fit the DT Swiss wheel-set with a set of 700 X 23s.  I've never run the 23s on this wheel set before.  Today with the wind, I think it was a good choice.  I'll have some new 25s before race day and will probably kit those on both my DTs and my RXL wheels.  If it is going to be windy, the DTs are they ticket.  If not, I may run the RXLs this year.  

With the Cache Century having been cancelled back in May, my annual tuneup ride isn't going to happen.  Perhaps I'll head to East Canyon for an early morning group "poach".  We'll see what conditions are like.

Check back for a special post this weekend.  Meanwhile.......

I'm sure they were checking for proper hydration indicators - Click here.

Ride HARD!

Dirt ride Redux

 Getting it right....

With the heat and crappy air quality, it seemed like a good idea to ride the dirt last night.  Talk about "shite", to quote Hambini.  Going over from Cutler to the south side just didn't flow.  The climb seemed harder than I remembered.  I couldn't seem to find good lines on the way down.  Overall, I was very disappointed.

At the overlook, I kind of had this moment, the kind that makes you really doubt.....everything.  The ride down just seemed foreign - not natural.  When I pulled into the garage, I took an little extra time to burn off some frustration, for what it was worth.

From the moment I got off my bike last night, all I could think about was doing it all over, but getting it right this time.  I literally fell asleep thinking of the technical details as if I were riding it over and over again - in my own mind.  When I got home from work, I check the emails and saw a donation from a former fellow co-worker; my favorite Bobcat.  That is really the thing that provided the motivation.  There is just something about seeing those messages that get me going.  It really works.

After taking care of a few obligations, I rolled out of the garage and headed to the single track, over near Cutler.  Lets just say the focus and attitude were 180° from last night.  Straight to the top, with considerably more time in the faster gears.  I still spend too much time in the bailout, simply trying to conserve some gas.  I really need to index more in the upper parts of that climb.  I ran into a little race coming out of the park.  Good fun, but when I got to the house, the power was out - leaving stuck outside.  With nobody else home at the time, I had a little trouble getting into the house - given the garage door opener was on hiatus.  Still, I'll give it a B+, with still some room to improve.

Course Updates

I talked with one of radio guys this evening.  They drove the entire course last weekend and said most everything was looking great.  A stretch of road construction north of Hoeback, where we'll get off the highway for a bit, and follow another side road.  Sounds like we still have to traverse a little road work, but nothing too serious.  He also said the Sportive ride ending at the high school is about 197 miles this year.  Also said there was a lot of changes in some of the feed zones, particularly up Snake River Canyon.  I told you it would be a different race this year.

The Bobcat

Aw, the old kitty.  Yes sir, my favorite Bobcat made a donation to Huntsman today.  Quite a guy he is.  Before he retired last year, I think I had worked with him since the Lincoln administration.....kind of a blur.  Another guy that worked with us for all of those years retired a few years earlier.  Unfortunately, the Big-C took him not long after he retired.  I suspect, this may have had some influence on his decision to support Huntsman this year.  That, and of course, being such a darn good guy..............for a Bobcat that is.  Thanks Pedro.  It was a big boost tonight.

Huntsman Link

It occurred to me this morning that the Link directly to the donation page does not easily appear on the mobile app.  Not sure how to fix that at the moment, so I'll post it below and with every post going forward - until race day.  Please take the time to pass this along and perhaps visit the donation page.

Click here for the Donation Page - Riding with a Porpoise, Huntsman

If you've made it this far, perhaps an 8 minute ride would be in order.  Speaking of Redux......

Click here for a little Chris LeDoux

Ride HARD!

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!