Red Rock Loop Ride..

Now that Hump Day if over it seems like training this week has been next to none and I wonder WTF! The weather this past weekend was totally shitty here, with winds 30mph+ and who knows what the guts were clocked at but Sunday-Tuesday was just not fun weather.

On Saturday I was able to meet up with Formulaic and Stef and get in a good lake swim, cold though but didn't seem to be as cool as Coeur d'Alene last year, but it was close. I remember the burning feeling and once my feet and body got used to the water it was my hands that took longer than normal to adjust but once they did I was off and swimming. It was nice coached workout with Swim Las Vegas and as we stayed together as group it was comforting feeling of swimming with others just as a race plays out once people string out in lines. We practiced drafting, short sprints and long continuous swimming. After we went to spectate at our local clubs mini-Duathlon which turned out to be a good number of participants.

Sunday as I said the wind rolled in and I ended up going to the gym for a good long workout and was satisfied. Monday did some more gym work but no cardio stuff. Tuesday, umm.. not sure what happened.. but Wednesday!!

Wednesday is the famous Red Rock Loop ride which leaves at 6pm from one of the look out points. Form has been asking me to do this ride since I got back to Vegas and since I know Red Rock I have been reluctant to do it, ok, SCARED! Why? Because in the first 4 miles you climb like 2000 ft.! So he finally talked me into it and we plan to ride. Oh, and it gets a little dark or can be totally dark by the time you make the come back down so Head Lights of some sort are highly recommended. Form says, No worries.. I have one for you. Great I said.

So we get there get ready to go and Form gives me the little head light to clamp to my bike with the batteries. I open to put them in and go hey, Form..! Wrong size batteries, you needed to steal the other size from the office. As he proceeds to die in laughter I am wondering nervously how I will be able to see coming down the mountain at excess speeds blindly! just then the group of cyclists start pulling out and now there is no one really to ask for a lamp, batteries or anything so JT just goes without.

The warm up to the park loop entrance is nice and fast with the help of the wind pushing. Once at the park its an immediate start of climbing for about a mile then a short false down hill and somewhat levelness for about 1/2 mile with the immediate return of uphill. We catch a couple of the other rides, ok, so they were on Mountain Bikes, but we still caught them and they left before us, that counts. Then about mile 3 is a nice 2 or 3 minute down hill recovery which is well needed for due to the next 1.5 miles of continuous climbing at a nice steep grade. I found my rhythm and started to grind away. A few times I worked on climbing out of saddle but my HR went through the roof, not like it wasn't on the top of the ceiling to begin with but it pushed it over board so I sat back down to steady it out. At one point I heard Form yell and I only heard something about a crash, So I briefly looked back and as I did I drifted farther to the right side of the road where the dirt gravel was and Yup, guess what? My tire snuck into the gravel and down I went. Good thing I was going so freakn slow it actually felt like I laid down! LMAO. Now this has a couple of good things really. 1) I was going so slow uphill that I didn't get hurt or even scratch. 2) I was able to get a recovery rest in and being my HR down and 3) I got to take a drink of water. Once back in the saddle its the final 1/4 mile climb to the top where the rest of the group is wait and brings on another nice recovery rest. Form and I don't hang too long b/c it is still light and I don't have a head lamp so we take off knowing the rest of the group will eventually catch us.

The down hill trip was fast and fun. As I said the Pelaton caught us and we jumped in but talk about trusting other rides to lead the way. I stayed with them for quite some time and at one point the first rider to catch me said Hey, jump in! So I got in behind him and we worked together going down the hill but then on one of the flats the rest of the main group caught us and then it was about 6 of us all freakn` haul ass at 40mph in almost darkness! CRAZY!! then we had a good uphill climb and I got dropped! Crap. Now I was the guy in between the lead riders and the main pack, the Lone Guy with NO HEADLAMP any only a blinking red tail light to follow from the ride about 1/4 mile ahead of me. I worked as best I could to catch back up and I finally did but I really think they slowed down. Once back at the car I began to feel like I was going to puke! Not really sure why but there for about an hour after the ride I did not feel well.

Overall a super fun ride and I think I really should have gone sooner when Form suggested it. Light or no Light you can do the ride and be safe. But Form.. Bring the right batteries next time! LMAO!..

rockon`

A week in Vegas..!!

Wow what a week! Lots of good training and getting things done.

With Rage just around the corner I have been able to ride the course a couple of times and even get a brick done this week, although it did kick my butt. It only tells me that I am not fully ready for it but with the 4 weeks to go I will be just fine, I hope!

Formulaic and I were able to catch The Watchmen on IMAX this week and turns out its a pretty good movie. It was an early break in training being as it was at the beginning of the week. Swimming this week has been a little hectic, although I have been getting in the pool I feel a little behind on endurance to get the job done but I think I will come around as long as I keep hitting the water. Saturday I will head to Lake Mead for a lake swim but I am sure it will be choppy as the wind is going to be kicking up a lot! Sunday will be brick again out at Rage Course.

On Saturday the Las Vegas Tri club is having a mini-duathlon so I will help volunteer for that as well being as I will be out at Lake Mead.

Now on to some cool stuff that happened last night. It was the viewing of the movie (documentary) Siliverman Triathlon put on by race director Frank Lowery. Frank has made one of the Toughest if not the Toughest course around when it comes to triathlons. It's not by his intent but it's just what the Las Vegas terrain has to offer as he states in the film. The movie was great, inspirational and motivating. Interviews with Dave "The Man" Scott, Chris McCormack, several of the Challenged Athletes Foundation - Operation Rebound, with one of them being Oscar Sanchez who competed in the ParaOlympics in Beijing and took home a Gold and Bronze! All the athletes were really nice and amazing how they have accomplished so much with so much adversity and all with the Glory of defending our Country.

After the movie everyone was invited to hang out at The Blue Martini Lounge. A really nice place that is quite the happening spot. It was fun to hang out with all the athletes and even meet some locals athletes that were featured in the movie, race director Joyce of Calico Racing who is very nice and truly a great RD who listens as well as a great athlete herself and newly movie star Stef! But of course I cannot forget about THE MAN.

As I am ready to leave Dave is talking with a few people and I quickly tap him on the should, introduce myself and thank him for all he's done. It was quick and short. Nice guy. But wait.. theres more. As I was leaving Dave and Frank were walking out ahead of me and when they got to the entrance there was a table with Silverman info and CAF info that needed to be packed up. Frank quickly got it together and I offered my assistance, well why not! Dave was helping. So we grab all the boxes and stuff and head outside, go down the escalators and then have to wait a few minutes to see which direction the car is. As I am waiting, with Dave.. he starts talking about how busy and nice the Blue Martini place is and cant believe there is that many people out on a Thursday night, even though it was almost Friday Morning, HA! I said yeah, its Vegas always something to do. I asked, Dave so are you training for anything right now (well I had to take my shot in asking quickly) He said no not really specific but just staying in the game of things and his business is busy. He did remark about how the training session scheduled at 5:30am was going to go over being as it was late and he had just got into town in the mid afternoon. By this time we had picked up the boxes and headed to valet to load up. Once loaded I said bye to Frank and Dave and thanked them for an awesome movie. (Dave was the main narrator, btw)

So I didn't get any pictures but it was great to see and meet all these people!! I had a great time and look forward to seeing the locals around training.

OK speaking of training.. I have a ride to get in..

rockon`

When 1 Thing changes..

it's interesting how everything changes. Since moving back to Vegas a lot has changed. Some small changes, some big changes. Some mental changes and some physical changes. All have been good, even though I didn't want the change, who am I to say that change is not going to happen, Do I think I'm God or something trying to control things?

As things have unwound this past couple of weeks I have notice a different me. Actually maybe not different but the that person that used to be there long ago when I was training for CdA. That person that used to feel different about things and who used to read the Bible and pay attention to things. I welcome it back with open arms and put forth the extra effort to enjoy the mental clarity that I believe I need right now.

With this comes a focus on different things in Life. On Training, on feeling better about me. I guess you could say it's "ME TIME" as CoachLiz will know what I'm talking about. haha! As you can see to the right on the counter for my training, the numbers are going UP! Which is very welcomed!! I have been able to get some decent rides in this week, as well as swim with the new found fishy Formulaic, joined the gym and lifted some weights along with my strength plan and even pound the pavement in my new shoes! All invigorating and once again Welcomed!

I'm training like twice a day, like I don't have a job, oh wait, I don't at the moment.. haha.. now only I would get paid to do that but far from being anywhere close to fast for that to happen.

I look forward to the next week for more training and any other changes!!

Hey Stef when are we going riding..???

rockon`

Welcome Back to Vegas..

The recent change in things has been quite fast but settling back in to Vegas fun. To make a long story short, it was just time to make a change for myself and make life a little less confusing and stressful.

Since I have been back I have been able to get a 6 mile run in, swim with Formulaic and break in some new bike tires on a 63 mile ride yesterday. It was great to be back in the saddle and be out there with no worries for a few hours. Today, I am looking at getting back in the pool and maybe a run but just trying to determine how I feel as I didn't get much sleep last night with the time change and going to bed late and recoverying from the ride.

It's nice to be back in it's on aspect as the change in terrain with mountains is nice to ride in. Don't get me wrong the Beach and ocean, sun are totally nice and it's great to be out there but the cost of living and expenses are just crazy. I will miss it in its own right and I will miss Jenn.

I have officially signed up for Rage 70.3 in have some serious training to get done in the next 6 weeks. Along with a couple of centry bike rides with Form I should be able to do OK there. I have some friends that I met in Coeur d'Alene coming in and it will be great to hang out and race together. I'm looking forward to it!!

rockon'

Long Story Short..

I'm back in VEGAS!!! more on that later, super tired and need to destress!!

rockon`

Life in the Fast Lane..

ready to lose your mind.. !!! That's about what it's been for the last couple of weeks. My cold has been getting better and really only seams to be just nagging a little at me every now and then, but mostly I notice it when I do get out and train. My heart rate is much higher than I would like it to me but again, what can ya do.

I have noticed that when running lately my pace is faster and that must be due to the dang Yasso 800's I have been running every week, that I actually have been sticking to weekly on the runs. Yesterday while out running I noticed that I was running faster with an easier feel other than my HR being high, I felt good. I only ran 4.5 miles but hey, its something.

Now with still no work available at the time being you would THINK I would be all over my training right? Some days I feel it and some days I just want to sit around and read, or get on the computer and do nothing, I guess that's part of being depressed or sad or something, shit, it sucks though, I have to train. I have a 70.3 race I'd like to do in 7 weeks! My last long ride of 30 miles last week wasn't too bad but pretty much all flat and the RAGE course is far from Flat! I know sitting around here playing Mafia Wars on facebook is not going to get me any where close to being ready for Rage, but hey, I am moving up in the crime underworld, ha!

One thing I did find over the last week is at Livestrong.com and its this online calorie tracker where you just enter your food and it calculates all the nutrients you eat per day and even subtracts out exercising, calories burned and shows you all this stuff. I totally dig stuff like that and have been trying to stay with it to track my nutrition progress or lack there of.

A few other things on the stress level side but we'll talk about those later. Oh, and a cool thing, John John Molina will be fighting on ESPN Friday Night Fights on March 27!

rockon`

What a Birthday Week..

By Thursday night I was starting to get a scratchy throat and not feeling well.

Being as Friday was my birthday things I was starting to feel more sick. Being as I was having my bday dinner that night I had to kind of suck it up and go with the flow. John and Danielle came over, cooked up some great ribs! After the cake and some cool gifts..PodiumQuest drink system, Road Tires, The Blues Brothers Dvd, and an AFFLICATION t-shirt. All super nice gifts which made the bday and me feeling ill much better!

Today, will be taking it easy as I am feeling a little more sick as I must admit the Cold has arrived! Ughh!!

rockon`

Thats RIGHT!!!

ITS MY BIRTHDAY!!!!

John John Molina

On Friday Feb. 6th, John John Molina made his Goossen Tutor Promotions debut and his Showtime Sho Box debut at the Tachi Palace in Lemoore, CA. John John was 14-0 (10 TKO's) and after this fight, which he ended in the 3rd round with a power body shot that I can't even imagine what it feels like to get hit that hard, improves his professional record to 15-0 (11 TKO's).

John John is a great all around guy with passion for boxing. He takes his job seriously and is putting in the time and training to become a future world champ. I look forward to following along in his career!

There was some other cool stuff that happened this weekend but I am waiting on some pictures to tell the story, I will give you a hint though, it involves this guy.

rockon'

Mulholland partial ride.

It's been an interesting 3 days in Feb so far, already surpassing my swimming and biking miles from last month (like they were so impressive) Formulaic says I should stop now that way next month I can break them again, LOL.

I actually feel tired and I should rightfully so with actually training! Today, I had to change things up as there is rain headed this way tomorrow and I didn't want to ride wet so I flopped the workouts and headed out to the Mulholland Century Challenge route (check out the profile picture, it doesn't look all that much but what do they say, looks are deceiving) that Form somehow talked me into signing up with him for April 11. It was about 82* so a little hotter than I have been used to these last few weeks but once riding it was all pretty good until the hills came. Oh wait, that was after about mile 3!

Then it began a nice snaking back and forth up the side of a nice big HILL! Although my legs were feeling tired from yesterday, where I did some bike work on the trainer (note to self: I remember now why I don't like the trainer) I managed to somehow make it farther than I thought up this winding road. I did have to stop a couple of times to..well... gasp..gasp..breath.. Umm Check my tires, yeah, that's it, check my tires as they felt a little soft. Once I determined that they were OK, I continued to ride. It was nice seeing some cool motorcycles and speedy Ferrari's come zooming by in this area as there is some great scenery.

Towards the last part of the winding road I was climbing I had to stop and check the tires again and of course they were OK but once I made it to the point where I had to turn back it was time to fly. Of course, it's all down hill now! It was great to recover coming down hill, oh, except for the old guy Who could not wait 8 seconds more for me to pass him and cut across the road in his big brown Cadillac with the Handicap pass on the window to pull into his driveway. DUDE ARE YOU SERIOUS? I was completely flying down the road in the middle, no less, so I know he saw me. It was a heart pounding situation as you can imagine. Once getting back over the 1st part of the snaky road it was on a part where there was lots of traffic since it was about 3pm which only means I will park where I saw a bunch of other cars who were off mountain biking and trail running next time I go as the first 3 miles of the route is not all that much to talk about.

I made it back to the car and it was a lovely California drive home in the traffic. All in all it was a good day even though I now felt totally wiped out and my legs and head were beginning to ache.

I did learn or recall one thing. I need to drink more when it's hot. Just b/c your climbing doesn't mean you can't drink, in fact, I probably need to drink more. I also remember how hungry I can get after a ride but was careful not to eat the entire fridge.

rockon`