Long Round-the-city ride today

I'm a little discouraged about my effort to prepare for the White Rim. That day consists of 104 miles and 6000+ feet of climbing. That day is Oct 4.

Today, I rode a jaunt around the city trails, which included three short climbs. Initially, I felt really good--awesome and confident in fact. Mile 35 hit after climb two and I was feeling so fresh, I thought, "I'm ready!"

Climb three ended and suddenly, I was feeling a little worn. At mile 40, I just wanted to get home. I was running out of steam really fast. My ass was starting to burn from the saddle.

Home at mile 45.5...and I downed a chocolate milk. I felt the burn in my legs thinking, "I can't do this again, no way."

I got on the scale and weighed 6 lbs less than this morning...lots of water loss. I wish it was fat, but tomorrow, as in the past, it will be back.

The last meal I ate was a a six inch sub at lunch with a bag of chips (around 550 calories) and I didn't eat breakfast. I did have a goo mid ride but that is only 100 cals.

I think part of my problem might be that I didn't eat during the ride, relying only on stored energy. Great since I'm trying to teach my body to metabolize fat and lose weight, but bad because it freaks out when that is all it has. Thus, I might have been riding too hard, especially on the climbs for that mode of energy burn. Fat stores are made for survival, not to bust ass on. When you body needs fuel and there is not enough blood sugar and not enough fat, it consumes muscle.

Next long ride, I will be taking the approach to eat often and push the mileage rather than burn up my body. I need to start shifting my goals from losing weight to using energy effectively and eating effectively.

No matter what, I need to gain the confidence that I can push through the mileage in October when the day comes. This is the phase of mental training.

Riding for week of August 20:

Total 107 miles

Tuesday Boulder city trails, casual 20 miles.
Thursday, Home to Heil Ranch, Heil Ranch, back via dirt road and other trails, 40 miles.
Friday morning, Ride errands to downtown, 13 miles
Friday, Hall ranch from town, three laps of loop, 17 miles
Sunday, Hall ranch from town, three laps of loop, 17 miles

The Feeling of Getting Fit

It's been a long time since I have been this fit. Perhaps 2003, when I was riding all the time, riding hard, and years younger.

Then the injuries started....recovery, injury, recovery, then work got really busy. Burnout, big time.

Finally this year, I got a breather and motivation. It started slow with the cold and snowy winter, but I finally got in the groove.

I have been riding hard for the last two months...I mean really hard. Riding to work every day, riding long rides when I can on weekends. Putting lots of miles and hours.

It's starting to pay off. Fifteen pounds less weight than December, 2006, I feel like I can almost ride forever.

Last night I went on a ride at Hall Ranch. My last ride there was in May or June and I felt like even in my lowest gear, I was dying on the climbs. I felt the pain in my legs. My heart rate was pegged. My eyes were burning from the sweat pouring off my forehead. I was breathing so hard, I got a runners stitch. I was so ashamed that I was once really fit and wound up like this.

In contrast, last night felt weird. The climbs, even in my middle chain ring felt buttery smooth. It was like I was paralyzed yet had control of my legs. I wasn't fast mind you, but I could feel myself move forward and up constantly without any sensation of pain. No heavy breathing. I was sweating, but not profusely--just a shiny coating covering my skin. It kinda felt magical, a sort of bliss. It was like my mind was completely free to think and listen to music on my mp3 player while I rode the escalator to the top.

It made me high.

Three laps on the loop, a ride around to the other parking lot, and 17 miles later, I joined everyone for beer at Oscar Blues.

What a memorable ride. No wonder it's an addiction.

Bust My Gut Update 11

I should rename this to "training for the white rim-in-a-day" ride.

Last update was here:

Bust my gut update 10

Besides trying to ride more to get back in shape, a buddy and I (Rob for those who know) decided we are riding the 104 mile white rim trail in CanyonLands, Utah in one day the first week of October.

Thus I have been riding a whole lot more--training you could say. My goal is over ten hours a week and over 100 miles a week offroad, working up to 15 hrs a week and 50 mile plus rides on weekends.

I am riding a lot more easy, but long rides. Hours and Hours on the trails. Lots of mp3 music pounding my eardrums while I pound the pedals.

But the good news is I feel great, down to 179 lbs and after a ride today dehydrating even though I drink a ton, I weighed 176 at one point. I would love to hit 170 before the ride date.

But forget the weight loss idea. I rode today, 40 miles and when I was done, felt great. Not sure I could do it again...nor do it again and then do 24 miles more after that...But that is what training is about.

Latest From the Hanger

Some green light of the lidar's laser.



Chrome propeller cone.

Lidar Test Flights

This week the NOAA Twin Otter aircraft is in town and we are flying our new ozone profiling lidar doing system tests and making some local measurements.

The Twin Otter




Me taking notes




Dodging storms



Red Rocks Amphitheater