Purpose. Perseverance. Progress. And A Parcel.

My posts on Facebook have provided updates on my training and fundraising progress but I haven't written much about it here. Guess it's time for a major update, eh?

Yes, Jonathan, I look serious - I took
this pic while on the bike at about mile 10!

Recently, it's been a challenge to find time to train. Many reasons for that. First there were all those crazy medical tests. But that's all in the past now and shouldn't affect my training anymore. Then it was too cool in the morning and I don't have cold-weather gear. So I opted for training on a stationary bike at the gym. Finally, my work schedule isn't a traditional 9-to-5 - it's more like 6-11am, 1:30-3:15pm, 7:08-9:36pm. That's one day. Sometimes difficult to find time for a ride in between all that. But I've made it work when I could.

Believe it or not, even a few months into this I'm still learning new things, some of which I hadn't thought about when I first started training. Like going to the gym to log miles when the weather doesn't cooperate or when my schedule doesn't allow time until after dark. A few weeks ago it hit me that I could pedal at the gym and, although not as demanding or enjoyable as hopping on the Cannondale & riding through Red Rock, it does help to maintain my endurance and can be just as picturesque - in a different way, of course - usually when a hottie gets on the bike ten feet away... talk about an incentive to show off a bit and pedal faster, hah!




There are some drawbacks to logging miles at the gym but none of them will keep me from continuing to do it. My first visit, I did learn the bikes only allow you to log a one-hour workout with a five-minute cool down. That night (wearing my official ALC shirt above!), I logged 15.67 miles in the 65 minutes the LifeFitness cycle's computer allowed. Not bad. Didn't feel anything like riding up and down hills on the road even if the screen on the bike computer kept telling me I was climbing a hill. The other thing I learned is an hour on one of those stationary bike seats is much less comfortable than an hour in the saddle on my road bike. Quite surprising actually considering how small and firm the road bike seat is compared to the large and cushy seat on the gym bike. But I persevered. Even went back for another round.

Doubling down at the gym 'cuz 65 minutes isn't enough!

The next time I visited the gym, I chose a more difficult level (7/10 instead of 3/10). Still didn't feel as challenging as the road bike. But it must have made some difference because my pace was a little slower. Only reached 14.93 miles in 65 minutes. So I reset the machine and kept going - not for much longer, just 22 minutes. Added another 4.77 miles to the workout and got to finish the episode of Tosh.0 I was watching while pedaling (yes, one benefit of the gym is being able to catch up on your television shows while working out!). So I can do this and continue to since it's a decent way to workaround any of those challenges I might have in finding time in the day to ride or getting a workout in when the weather says it ain't happening outside.

And I've hit some milestones in my training too... finally passed 400 miles! Seems like so much. Then, I think that I still have to work my way up to 545 in seven days. Oy! I WILL get there though! Just gotta stay focused on the training and pedal pedal pedal!

Speaking of milestones, I hit another one in my fundraising too. I think I've mentioned before that there's been a major slowdown in contributions to my ride - most likely due to the fact that I've hit up everyone I know like seventeen times! And many of my friends and family have contributed. Quite a few of them even came back to provide a second donation! But I'm still making progress. I've been holding Pampered Chef fundraisers and donating the proceeds to the ride - I think my total donated through those is close to $400. And, although I'm fallen in rank to #12, I'm still very pleased to be in the Top 20 Fundraisers! But the milestone...I passed the $6,000 mark just a few days ago! As of today, I think I'm at $6,060 and some loose change. Feeling so good about that. Even more, my team is closing in on a major milestone in fundraising as well... there are thirteen of us and our combined total so far is over $19,400! And we're just starting! A few of the guys haven't even registered yet or are just getting started on their fundraising. Man, feels so good to see us working together to hit these goals! Our team, Manning Up Allstars, is currently ranked sixth in Top Team Fundraisers and four of our team members are in the Top 100 Fundraisers!

All in all, progress I'm pretty damn happy with! We still have over six months until we set off from San Francisco but I'll hit that 545 miles and that $22K mark in fundraising - I know I will because you all have proven you're with me on this! All of that support is what's going to get me there.

Speaking of support - and the "parcel" reference in this blog's title. I've said before that reaching out beyond my own circle of family and friends is going to be key to reaching my final fundraising goal. Some of that I can use your help with - think about sharing my fundraising link on Facebook and reach out to your community to support the cause. Or have a chat with your employer about holding a fundraiser in your office or securing a matching contribution from them. I know it seems like a lot  and totally understand if you're just not up for it. Trust me, I've definitely had to go outside my comfort zone to continue raising funds and it's made me very nervous and even felt a bit cheesy at times. I mean, I'm not a salesman as anyone who's attended one of my Pampered Chef shows has seen. But I've done it because it's going to benefit the ride. But I've gone even further than that. I've hit up complete strangers to support the cause. Not only complete strangers, but celebrities. One thing I've realized, it's hard to get a response from a celebrity. But just the other day, I did.

Do you know who Matthew Mitcham is? He's an Australian guy. You may have heard his name over the summer... from the Olympics in London. Diver. Gold Medalist. And, most recently, author. I've never met him. Although, I wouldn't say no to a meet-and-greet, heh! Handsome guy. Seems very down-to-earth in interviews. And from what I've read about his book, very candid and honest. I've also learned he's very generous. On Tuesday, Matthew autographed a copy of his book Twists and Turns and shipped it out to me from Sydney (it's not available here in the U.S. yet). Oh, he did more than autograph it. He put a personal note to one of my sponsors - thanking the recipient for supporting AIDS/LifeCycle. I haven't received it yet - that's the parcel I'm waiting for - and don't know exactly what the message says but I'm checking the mail daily. I wasn't going to mention it until I had the book in hand but I'm a little excited about it! I plan on placing the book in our online auction in the hopes that someone might be interested in not only reading his story, but in having a memento that recognizes their generous support in the fight against HIV & AIDS. Kinda cool, eh? I'm gonna have to send that guy a thank you card.

Branching Out

Lots of miles. Lots of hills. Lots of water. Lots of soreness. Lots of learning. Lots of support. Lots of goals. Lots of firsts. Lots of progress. Lots of inspiration.

I've definitely experienced a lot during these past couple months of training. Each of these experiences has prepared me for the big event. And much of this preparation has been with the help of my friends and community... fundraising, gear acquisition, support, inspiration and cycling knowledge.

But my training rides have always been solo.

It's time to change that and branch out into a community of cyclists.

I actually love going solo on my training rides. They're very peaceful experiences with amazing scenery and allow me some time in my own head. No work. No fundraising. No dog parenting. No distractions. At the end of a ride, I generally feel very centered and balanced which is something we can all use once in awhile. In many ways, I feel I could continue riding by myself until the event begins.

However, next June I'm going to be riding with over 2,000 participants. That's got to be a logistical challenge for the event planners and roadies. Riders have a challenge to meet as well... it means learning the rules of sharing the road. Yes, I've been reading quite a bit about group riding... things like bar-to-bar, pacelines, peeling off, pulling through and use of hand signals for pointing out obstacles, hazards & maneuvering. In my head, I can picture myself doing all of these things with precision. In reality, will I do them when I'm heading into my third hour, my fortieth mile, and fighting off a bit of road hypnosis? Probably not. Unless I have real-life experience and, like everything else we try to master, I practice, practice, practice.

From the beginning, I've told myself that once I felt comfortable on my bike I'd start learning to ride in groups. Well, if I'm completing 40-mile rides it's pretty obvious that I've found my place in the saddle. So a few weeks ago when I met a fellow cyclist during one of my rest stops, he pointed me to a website for Las Vegas cycling enthusiasts. That afternoon, I signed up as a member but I haven't yet joined them on a ride. Anxiety about learning something new? Or being judged? Or missing my solo rides? Probably all of the above. This weekend, that changes.

In a way, this also means taking a step back in some my training. To learn group riding, I really should start with the beginners. The rides will be shorter and the pace slower. But, if I'm going to do this properly, I'm going to start where everyone does... at the beginning. On Sunday, I'll be joining the Biking Las Vegas group for a beginner's ride. The route will be much flatter than I'm used to, the pace will be 4-6 mph slower than I'm currently achieving, and the distance will be the shortest I do these day. But I know I'll be getting so much out of it! The ride leader will be giving a tutorial on riding safely in a group and helping with tips on shifting and gearing. And after the event, I'll walk away having my first experience riding with others!

The following weekend I've signed up for another group ride... with a twist. The BLV group is hosting it's 4th Annual Halloween Ride! Since I'll have a little experience riding with others, I've decided to join this event which includes riding in costumes! It's like the school-day Halloween parades except we'll be on road bikes... woohoo! In addition to getting more experience in group riding, I'll also be taking my first step in preparing for the Red Dress Day during the AIDS/LifeCycle event!

Finally, I also think I may join another group event in the coming weeks. This one is an organized fundraiser called the Honor Ride for the Ride2Recovery and benefits combat veterans who have sustained injuries while serving and protecting our country. There are a few levels of participation including an 18-mile ride for beginners, a 35-mile route for weekend warriors, and an 80-mile ride for the real experts. I'm still on the fence for this one since it's a benefit event and I can't take any focus away from my ALC fundraising efforts. However, there is no minimum for raising funds and my registration fees will benefit a cause I support. So I might just do it... feel free to let me know your thoughts in the comments section about whether or not it would be a good idea.

Gaining experience in riding with groups doesn't mean my solo rides will be ending. Quite the opposite I think. Most likely, I'll ride by myself just as often and the group training events will add to my training schedule. Plus, I'll still be planning rides with my cyclist friends like Brian, Kristen, Jason & Lacy. Wow... I've got a lot of pedaling to do in the coming months!

There may be one other benefit in branching out with these group rides. My friends, family and colleagues have shown incredible support for my ride and that support has achieved amazing progress in fundraising. But contributions have slowed down over the past couple weeks because so many have already become sponsors. I am working on getting creative with my fundraising events but, by participating in these group training rides, I'll meet many others and my community will grow. And maybe along the way I'll meet some who believe in the reasons I'm participating in the AIDS/LifeCycle event and they'll support the cause. Or maybe I'll even find a local cyclist who'll join me on the ride! In the end, I know I'll make a few new friends and that's the best part of it all.

Walking On Sunshine

How could someone complete this ride without inspiration?

Honestly, I don't know if they could. And I've already written about some of the people who inspire me - Holly, my sponsors, friends I've lost to AIDS. Over the next eight months, I'm sure I'll write about many more. But during my ride today, I was reminded of someone who inspires me to push harder, pedal faster and ride farther. Another pretty damn amazing friend who's been in my life for a very long time.

When I set out today, my goal was to hit 15 miles. My plan was to have an easy ride today and a longer one tomorrow. I thought maybe... maybe... I'd push myself to 20 miles depending on how I felt on the road. I'm just now averaging 20 miles a ride so no need to push it. Plus, I was setting out very late this morning... 9:30 a.m. Let's not even get into how I'm going to be "inspired" to set out during the actual event by 8 a.m. for seven days in a row. That's a whole other blog entry. Anyway, as my fellow desert dwellers are well aware, it heats up quickly here in Vegas. Fifteen miles would put me home around 10:30 - and 80-degrees. Twenty miles would be 11 a.m. and 85-degrees.

So I set off. You know the routine. Pedal, pedal, pedal. Pedal.

Pedal.

Pedal. Pedal.

Stop for a red light.

Pedal. Pedal.

Pedal.

Well if you didn't know the routine, you definitely know it now. Actually, at one point I wanted to lift off the saddle, rest my legs a sec and give the tush a little break but I was soooo into my cadence, I forgot to stop pedaling when I lifted up. My mind told my legs to stop. But. They. Didn't. Pedal, pedal, pedal. Almost sent me off the shoulder into the dirt & rocks. Quick reflexes (and a WTF?) saved me from a face-plant in the dust.

Anyway, there I was pedaling and listening to Best of the 80's on my iPod when I got to Blue Diamond & Durango. I knew I was close to 7.5 miles but since my phone with my mileage app was in my saddle bag, I wasn't sure how far I'd gone and didn't want to end up back home to find out I was short on my 15-mile goal. So I kept going. A few miles up, I knew I was safe and if I turned around there I'd definitely hit my goal. Must've had a reserve tank or something today though because I decided I'd go a little farther and hit that 20-mile mark.

Pedal, pedal, pedal. I learned that 99 Luftballons is a great song on a slight incline. 

It was around Nena's little song of protest that I realized I knew I was safely past the ten-mile mark and could turn around and glide up into my driveway with another twenty miles under my belt. Then out of nowhere I remembered this friend. A guy I've known since my childhood; as long as I can remember actually. When we were seven or eight, we used to throw household furniture into weird configurations, create flight-control panels out of cardboard, and play astronaut. At twelve, we'd hang out in my basement away from the parental units. As a teenager, I smoked my first cigarette with him and we tried alcohol for the first time together. We were very close and he knew all my deepest secrets.

And those thoughts and memories of him kept me going. Well, that and the fact that I felt I still had the energy and knew the ride back was mostly downhill. I also knew there was a good place to turn around a couple miles up and I decided that would be my milestone.

But it wasn't. When I got there, I was still thinking about him. And I kept going. figuring I'd head back when I got to the entrance of Red Rock. That would give me a solid 25 miles.

When I pedaled up to the gas station at the Blue Diamond/Hwy. 159 junction, I realized I'd been thinking about him for miles. Now, to give a little history, this is like many long-term connections we have in our lives. As we got older, I lost touch with him for sometimes short, sometimes long, periods. There were times that I got so angry, I would just shut him out for days, weeks or months at a time. Other periods in life I felt like he was the only person there for me. Through good times and bad, I was always forgiven for mistakes I'd made, supported during some of the toughest choices I've had in life, and even lauded for the most insignificant of achievements. When I rode up to that gas station - that predetermined point of turning around - I didn't. Instead I thought, "This ride's for him," and turned down Hwy. 159.

At this point in my training, I don't have much variety in my rides (that will change VERY soon!). This means I know my routes pretty well and, when I turned into the Red Rock Canyon entrance, I set a new milestone. The little town of Blue Diamond. Actually, I first thought I'd ride up to that place I spotted the burro on an earlier ride because there's a bit of a hill after that and I didn't feel like climbing it. But, after thinking about it, I knew Blue Diamond was just another mile up the road and once I climbed that hill, I'd be on the downhill of my ride.

Then I got to Blue Diamond and this lifelong companion's voice told me to keep going. Just a little farther. Bonnie Springs was two, maybe two-and-a-half, miles up the road. So I kept going... for him.

I made it to the entrance of Bonnie Springs, snapped a couple pics and thought, "What the hell." Turning into the entrance, I was excited because I'd never taken this side-street. It added another mile to my ride & was pretty darn cool too. Being a natural spring area, the vegetation grew thicker, the Joshua trees more dense, and civilization just a little further away.

I stopped here for my break. I hadn't packed much since I hadn't planned on a very long ride. But I had my trail mix in my jersey pocket and, fortunately, had filled both water bottles for the ride. More pics. A bit of resting. Waving at some of the cars passing by. Learning that M&M's may not melt in your hands but the ones in the trail mix sure as hell melt in a little baggie on a hot day.


As with all pit stops, I pulled my phone out of my saddle bag to check my mileage. 15.1 miles. Wow. There was no choice but to ride all the way home which meant I'd clock in at 30-miles making this my second longest training ride to date. Woohoo!!! As I hopped back on the CAAD-y (that's my nickname for my bike, heh!), I was grinning ear-to-ear. Then, turning out of Bonnie Springs back on to Hwy. 159, Katrina & the Waves came on the iPod with the classic Walking On Sunshine (yes, Wags, I thought of you!).

And I WAS walking on sunshine! Here I was hitting twice as much as my original goal. Right f*&#ing on! As Katrina belted it out for me, I started to dance while in the saddle. Seriously. Couple of fist pumps in the air. Singing out loud. Snapping my fingers. A lttle shimmy in the shoulders. Grooving to the greatness of the 80's and of this amazing ride. Other cyclists might have thought I was a freak but who the hell cares? This was MY ride and if I wanted to dance, then damn straight I'm gonna do it!

The ride back, as always, was a piece of cake after that 1,200 foot uphill climb. During this time, I sometimes just coasted and thought of my buddy. So very glad to have him in my life... to have grown up together... shared so much... overcome even more. On the way home, I decided to change up the route to add a few miles too. I did that for him to prove I could. And when I pulled into my neighborhood, I did a victory lap around the block like I always do. Then I did another. And one more for good measure.

I set out to ride fifteen miles. I arrived back home after 34.1 miles. Even more, I set personal records on two segments of the ride. Two other segments I achieved my second-best times ever. Got my third-best time on the Cattle Guard Sprint. Then there's the little thing about passing 260 total miles in my training so far. And I owe it all to the man who inspired me today. So I want to send a big shout out to the guy who pushed me harder, set my goals higher, and inspired me to do more than I ever thought I could....



Me.

Labor of Love

It's Labor Day! A national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity & well-being of our great country. I hope those of you who had the day off were able to spend some quality time with those you love. And maybe a dip in the pool, a few steaks (or some yummy Portobello mushrooms!) on the grill, or an ice-cold beer on the patio - because for all the hard work you do, a treat is well deserved.

Douche

For those who had to clock-in today, my apologies. My opinion is that just as many people who get the Christmas holiday off should get the Labor Day holiday off too. I mean - most of us are workers and today is a celebration of us. That said, there are some who believe today is actually in honor of the business owner and corporate CEO. Those silly Republicans! I mean, they know the U.S. Constitution and the Bible from front to back, and back to front, right? But the purpose of a little holiday seems to elude them. Feel free to ask the owners of your company why you had to work on Labor Day though. They probably have a very understandable explanation about how much money they could make during this holiday.

I digress - but only because I was slightly disgusted by Mr. Cantor's tweet earlier today and I needed to blow off some steam.

Now back to the real topic of this blog. AIDS/LifeCycle training, inspiration and passion!

And, let me tell you folks - today was a day full of passion for the ride! Just like the Fourth of July, I decided to take advantage of the day off work by riding in Red Rock Canyon. Unlike the Fourth of July, today was a bit warmer - it was 85-degrees when I set out and 94-degrees when I got back to my car. That was partly due to the fact that I got a later start. My fault since I didn't prepare last night like I should have - didn't pack my food, didn't mix my electrolyte drinks, didn't put all my gear together in one pile, didn't check the air on my tires, didn't pack essentials in my saddle bag. I also kinda sat around drinking coffee for awhile this morning - I mean, have you seen the sunrises from my house? I had to enjoy it this morning! My tardiness might have had a little something to do with the kids who egged my car last night too. Didn't notice it until I was loading my bike into the back of the SUV and had to clean it off before I parked my car in the hot desert sun for two hours. Fried egg stuck to my car wasn't something I wanted to deal with after my ride, heh!

But I got it all together (and all washed off) because nothing was going to keep me from my goal today! You see, today's ride was in honor of all of those who have so generously donated to provide assistance to those living with and affected by HIV/AIDS and the other friends who have shown their kindness by providing gear needed for an epic ride like this. So there I was, geared up and ready to go....

And go I did! Having just gotten back on the bike recently, I didn't think I was ready for the 36-mile accomplishment I made on July 4th so last night I set a different goal as a way to recognize those supporters - one mile for each of them - 22 donors & 4 gear sponsors - 26 miles. And there was no way I was going to let them down!

However, I forgot that the route I chose meant I had a long upward climb! One-thousand, two-hundred and five feet up. Seriously. Up and up and up. The steepest grade was close to six percent. And don't let people fool you - just because there's a downhill on the other side, it is not as easy as a completely flat ride. That climb slows me down tremendously - and I don't make up the time on the downhill. Yes, I go faster - but not twice as fast! I mean, there are speed limits and safety to think about! And my bike, cool as it is, just can't hit those speeds.

But climb I did. And each stroke on those pedals was powered by all of you who believe in me. I might have only been riding 26 miles to represent those who have donated so far - but that's only because there's no way I'm ready to ride enough miles to represent all of those who have wished me well, cheered me on, sent kind words, and shared my fundraising & blog pages with their friends. Hell, I don't think I'll ever be able to ride that many miles!

The ride was beautiful but the cars I encountered on the ride were pretty sweet too. I mean, can you imagine just pulling over on your bike to take a little break for some trail mix and see these pull up in front of you? Ferraris, Lamborghinis & Jaguars. I'm proud of my new ride but it paled in comparison. Y'know what made me feel proud though? The fact that I got to that rest area on my own power - my own two legs - and did it for a good cause. But who knows, maybe they were driving their luxury cars for a good cause too - ya never know! They could probably do 545 miles in a couple hours!

As Red Rock always does, it provided wonderful natural vistas. Big sky. Soft clouds. Joshua trees. Canyon rock. And, honestly, you can see for miles (well, when you're not climbing uphill). It's a big part of what makes that climb so worthwhile.

At every stop, I thought of each of you. Sometimes a song would come on the iPod that reminded me of a bottle of wine shared with you or a camping trip we experienced together. For almost two hours, I was reminded of the beauty in the simplicity of the world - and the graciousness of a simple act of kindness.

Those simple acts provide something far from simple. Did you know a $20 donation pays for an HIV test for someone who may not be able to afford it on their own? And during this test they receive counseling and support on how to stay negative or how to protect their partners if it turns out they're positive? Did you know that one of the benificiaries, the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, provides HIV tests to nearly 10,000 people a year? Your twenty bucks helped one of them know their status.

And providing greater support - digger deeper into our pockets - isn't always as simple as it seems. Just as the services they provide aren't simple. A $100 donation can cover the monthly co-pay for life-saving medications to someone who can't afford it. It could provide counseling for three months to a newly diagnosed client trying to find their way through these new challenges they face.

For those twenty-six I rode for today, your support not only helps others live - it helps them to live well. Not well in the "big four bedroom three bath house, pool in the yard, traveling to Europe" kind of way. No, living well for them means they are given the opportunity to feel well enough most days to get outside of the house. That they can use the little bit of the disability money they might receive to rent a RedBox movie they couldn't afford to see at the theater. That they can go to the SF AIDS Foundation to get support to keep their electricity on during the one month they couldn't make ends meet with the $1,100 they get in disability. In all my years working in the HIV/AIDS field, quality of life was always a topic we discussed - and it had a very simple definition: the ability to live with a little more dignity and a little less stress.

For you 26, I made it today. Those 26 miles; each one now gifted with your names. I did it at one of my best paces too. And set a personal record on one stretch of the route; a second best on another stretch. But I didn't do it alone. But you know that, don't you? Of course you do, because you were right there with me. Today each spin of those wheels, each spoke that supported my weight, was a Labor of Love. Love for you. Love for my community. And love for knowing what we as humans can accomplish when we work together.

Work/Life Balance

We all work. Even if you're a housewife or currently unemployed, you work... and probably damn hard. Manage a home. Take care of pets and kids. Shop for groceries. Change the oil, clean the garage, fix that squeaky hinge. Work work work work work.

And then we find time for life. Time to hang out in the pool. Read a book. Get to the gym. Go on vacation. Enjoy 30 minutes alone. Call our parents. Watch Real Housewives.  Go to the pub.  Have dinner with friends. Get out on a training ride. Life life life life life.

Which one usually wins?

I'm one of those who struggles to find work/life balance on a regular basis. I chose a career that often requires long hours and bringing work home. Living in an era of constant connectivity through email and cell phones means a client request can come through at any time - and sometimes that means 6 a.m. on a Sunday. I have no problem with any of these things because I enjoy what I do and I knew these were a part of my chosen field. Really just making a point that it often takes priority.

And then there are the responsibilities at home. Again, they take priority over leisurely pursuits. Unfortunately, I've also placed them secondary to work responsibilities. This means that I'm often playing catch up when I find the time. Sometimes it seems like my to-do list rarely gets shorter and at times even gets longer. But, in the end, I get the things done that I need to get done. Some of those other things really do need to "wait 'til tomorrow."

During my normal day-to-day, I still do my best to find time for me. Whether it's reading a couple chapters before bed or taking a trip to the dog park (yes, that's a leisurely pursuit), we all need to find time for ourselves. With my commitment to the ride, some of that time for the next ten months has been dedicated to training and gearing up.

Every once in awhile, a little something extra comes up as a third priority and knocks the "me time" down a notch. For me, the most recent example of that has been my hunt for a new job. Searching online, sending out resumes, networking, interviews... they've taken up a chunk of that free time the past couple weeks. All for a good cause but there's been a small price to pay...

I haven't been on my bike in two weeks.

The ride's not until next summer so there is no worry that a couple weeks off right now is going to affect it. But just as I was getting into a groove and really loving my rides, I fell out of my routine. Happens to all of us, doesn't it? We start a diet, join a gym, get immersed in a TV series... and one little thing gets added to our plate that knocks us off balance. The most important thing to remember when that happens is that it's just temporary and we always manage to find the balance again.

Many times, we also find a major benefit from shifting priorities for short periods. In this instance the benefit has been a successful job hunt! I received and accepted an offer this week and will be transitioning jobs at the end of the month. Now I can get back to that balance.

I Think I Can....

Each day I ride, I feel more and more like a cyclist. I'm still not there yet but today I thought, for the first time, "I think I can."

I haven't been on many rides yet. There are still eleven months to train and no need to rush it since I'm not exactly the most athletic guy on the planet. I have time to build up my stamina and endurance. Those who know me also know I'm not into cardio at all. Usually that's a blessing because I don't really need to do cardio. But when one sets an insane goal of riding a bicycle an average of 78 miles per day for seven consecutive days, cardio becomes a necessity. Today, that lesson hit home hard.

It's the Fourth of July. A holiday. I took advantage of the day off work by committing to ride more than I've ridden so far. Thirty miles was my goal (not much more than my last ride - like I said, I'm in no rush). Instead of leaving from my house today, I chose to drive to the office and ride from one end of Red Rock Canyon to the other... and then ride back. Actually, let me be honest -  I decided to ride as far as I could, turn around, and head back.

Funny thing about cycling is once you're out there, you're committed. If I rode 10 miles into the canyon and wore myself out, I'd have no other choice but to ride another ten to get back to my car. I know I can do 25 miles though because I've already done it so I kept that in mind. Plus, I came extra prepared today... I brought two water bottles (one filled with an electrolyte drink), plenty of trail mix, and my iPod. I believed in myself. I had faith. I was motivated.

What I didn't realize was that today was going to be one of the most humid days we ever experience in Las Vegas. The humidity was about 55% (those of you in Miami & Baton Rouge will say, "Pshaw!"). But seriously, when you've spent six years in this "dry heat" and the temps get well past 110F during the summer, the humidity hits you like a steam press.

I arrived at the office parking lot around 6:30 a.m., got out of the car and spent ten minutes stretching. Pulled out my bike, loaded it up, put on my shoes, harnessed the water bottles, and set off with a smile (and some Depeche Mode playing on the iPod).

Mile One: No problem.
Mile Two: No problem.

Mile Three: While waiting at a stoplight, I had to move over onto the sidewalk as about thirty riders in a group came up on me and passed.
Mile Four: I pushed myself to stay with that group.
Mile Five: I pushed harder.
Mile Six: I wanted to turn around and go home.

I did nothing different today. Had my breakfast and coffee before I left. Made sure I had plenty of sleep last night. Brought extra provisions. But here I was at the six mile mark wanting to quit. Honestly, I'm going to blame it on the humidity. You see, the thing about that dry heat everyone talks about is that you don't sweat as much. But here I was at 7 a.m. and already drenched. I don't know why but it really sucks a lot out of you. Of course, I had also just tried to keep up with a pack of experienced riders. In the end, I tried to keep in mind that each day is different... our energy levels, our motivation, our drive... and maybe today was one of my low days in all areas. So I started to turn around.

Before I did that, I decided to stop for a few minutes and replenish. I drank some water, ate some trail mix, and rested. While I was there, I took these pics:

After just a couple minutes rest, I realized I could probably make it a little further so I continued onward. Like my ride a couple days ago, I was riding UP into the canyon even if the incline wasn't terribly bad. My pace was slow, my clothes were wet, my faith was failing. Fortunately, during this climb, there were slight downhill sections. These rejuvenated me. Probably allowed me to breathe a little easier too. Plus I could see that in the not too distant distance, the incline was ending and the route was flattening out. So I persevered.

And persevered.

And persevered.

I stopped again around the 12 or 14 mile mark to hydrate and fuel. And to take a photo of the burro crossing sign (trust me, I was using any excuse at all to stop for a few minutes!):

What I was beginning to feel at this point was a renewed love of Las Vegas and the desert. Yes, we have all that neon craziness on The Strip... but we also have some amazing natural beauty that's, literally, right up the road. The mountains, the big sky, the open spaces... we can change our view in a matter of minutes here. And this ride was proving how wonderful that experience could be.

And on I go. I came to a little town called Blue Diamond and realized I'd made it 80% of the way to the end of the canyon. Suddenly, I laughed. I smiled. I think I may have whooped & hollered. My energy, drive & faith in myself had returned.

I continued on to the "T" in the road. I was familiar with this area since I was here on my last ride (it's where I saw the burro). At the intersection, I turned around and headed back to a driveway I had seen for another break. This was a real rest stop... I think I stayed there for ten minutes. I parked my bike, sat on the ground, drank & ate, and watched this group pass me by:

One day. One day I'll ride like them. One day I'll ride with them!

But not today. Many of them waved as they passed by. This is a little bit of community. Riding alone, I've never really talked with the other riders but most of us wave, nod and say hello when we cross paths. Even from the other side of the road. It definitely brings a sense of belonging.

At this point, I knew I was going to exceed my goal because I had looked at the route the night before. And, as I said, I knew I had no other choice but to ride back to my car. This knowledge, combined with the rest stop, gave me what I needed to finish my trek - even if it was again an uphill climb.

As prepared as I thought I was, I really had no idea what I'd gotten into. My iPod ran out around mile 22. My water ran out around mile 30. I knew there was a viewpoint with facilities not too far ahead so I didn't worry much... until I got there and realized they had restrooms but no water fountain. Ugh. Although I didn't get any water while I was there, I did get these pics:

Once again rested, I set off on the final leg of my journey. There was one other short stop after a tough hill, then the rest was all downhill. About 2 hours and 20 minutes after I left, I arrived back at my car feeling proud that I not only met my goal, but far exceeded it. Thirty-five miles. I'm more than a third of my way to my first century. I no longer think I can. I know I can.

Mileage goal: 30
Miles completed: 35

Time: 2:23
Avg Speed: 14 mph

Climb: (not sure)
Notable sights: Burro crossing signs, 3 or 4 packs of experienced riders, the clouds hanging over the mountains, my car at the end of the ride.

Lessons: this cycling app has some issues so always confirm route distance after returning home; for rides longer than 30 miles, I'll need a Camelbak or a place to refill on water.

(Not quite accurate route map from Strava)

Distance!

First time i can say this but I got some DISTANCE today!

26.4 miles to be exact.

Not too shabby. Although I have to admit, the ride up to the canyon was anything but easy. It's a slight climb (2-4 degrees) but seemed like a nightmare in some parts. When you're just climbing up and up and up and up, it doesn't matter how steep the incline... it just matters that you don't get to experience "down" for a long, long time.


But I made it and, in addition to my route image today, I'm also going to share some pics taken during my ride!

Mileage goal: 20
Miles completed: 26.4
Time: about 1:57
Avg. speed: 14.4 mph
Climb: 884 ft.
Notable sights: the donkey
Lessons: The downhill is much easier (and faster!). Donkeys aren't very photogenic.

Like Riding A Bicycle

Wait... it was riding a bicycle.

Not much to report except I can still ride a bike. Didn't wear my fancy new cycling outfit; instead I kept it simple in gym shorts and a t-shirt. Just wanted to go out for a quick spin in the neighborhood without getting too far from the house. After getting the bike ready yesterday, I was a little anxious about traveling too far. The tubes are in bad shape and the tires are showing signs of dry rot. The last thing my barely-there motivation needs is a walk-of-shame while carrying a bike with two flats.

Mileage goal: none
Miles completed: 7.6
Time: 29:13
Avg. speed: 15.6 mph
Climb: 119 ft.
Notable sights: Mandarin Express, Rice 'N Noodle, Baidu Chinese Bistro, Jenni Pho
Lessons: check route for dirt roads before departing; don't skip the caffeine in the morning.