Old Pic

I was scrolling thru some photos yesterday and stumbled across some of the shots Deanna had done at Eve Studios a couple of years ago, and I figured it was worth posting one - above is one of my favourites.

Deanna's Birthday Paddle

I finally got a chance to put together a brief video featuring Deanna on her birthday paddle.  I shot the footage to use in a monthly video that I edit for one of my fitness classes, but I used some outtakes from that to feature Deanna below.

It should be noted that the boat Deanna is using is clearly faster than the other two she's up against, so my apologies to Graham and Mark who I've clearly set up to lose in this video.  Go buy your own boats :)

Oh, and I also noticed that in the final sprint I clearly impede  Graham's progress at one point. I seem to recall it was either that or hit a log, so Graham lost out.

Premium Rush

Hmmm, this movie could either turn out to be great, or not so great, and for the record I don't endorse aggressive, illegal urban riding, but I'll still mark my calendar for this one.  I like Joseph Gorden-Levitt, and hey, it's also got the creepy marshal from Boardwalk Empire.

Paparazzi needs to get a fitness trainer, or least go for a walk occasionally

A paparazzi tries to interview Lance Armstrong mid-run...

Mission Accomplished

One of my training goals this year was to ride the LaSal Mountain Loop road ride while Lael and I were in Moab. During our vacation planning I discovered that the Moab Century Tour would take place in mid September, and so it was set that we would be there so that I could ride the course fully supported. Tom and I were on this loop a couple of years ago, and if you remember Tom's posts from their trip in spring he has done it a second time. So it was my turn to step up to the plate and tame this ride again.

Every time Tom or I have been on this loop we have ridden clockwise but the tour organizers have set it up in the reverse direction so all of the tough climbing is done in the first half. On Friday afternoon I checked in with the event organizers, got some instructions about road conditions and signed for my timing chip. Yes that's right, anyone who wanted could wear a chip and have their times posted and compared to other riders. Just a word of warning when you see the results you need to know that not everybody was timed so my chip placing does not totally reflect my overall finishing place.

The forecast for Saturday morning did not look promising and rain was falling when the alarm clock went off at 5:00 am. Full wet weather gear was my choice for the day as I know that with 4000 ft of elevation gain it could be wet and cool at the highest point and the descent would be tough if I was chilled. I probably got wetter from inside my gear than from the rain but that's life.

There is no way to describe how tough the climb to the top is as the road climbs 4ooo ft in 22 miles and 3000 of those feet come in the last 7 of those 22 miles. I can't tell you how many times I wanted to turn back and quit, I just didn't have the legs this time around, but I found a groove and kept turning the pedals over. Several hours, three support stops and one stop to change camera batteries and I was half way done. It was mostly down hill from that point.

Anyway, I finished the ride in bright sunshine and that was that. Oh yeah, here is my result just in case you are interested. http://www.milliseconds.com/participants/final_list/division/138488

Dark Cross Report

Well, I'm no pro, but for half of each lap last light, I sure felt like one. The grand stand run up achieved the desired goal of totally nutty yelling, screaming, bell ringing, camera flashing, mayhem. The general impression I have in my head of that run up is of one continuous bellow from Morgan Porath. And there were enough people lining the back side of the hill to make that part pretty boisterous too. I think I even heard a girl shout "Graham! You're my hero!" Of course, it might have been "Craig!" or "Greg!" both of which can sound like Graham when yelled from afar. I wasn't wearing my trademark pink head scarf thingy (my wife just said "panties" when asked what it is called) either, so I guess it is actually unlikely that the adoration was directed at me.

As far as the actual race, I have to say it felt like a Cyclocross Race. Not a road race, not a mountain bike race, a Cyclocross race. And I don't think I have ever completely buried myself so many times in one race: Of course off the start. Then to try (unsuccessfully) to enter the long straights with another rider for some cooperation. Twice trying to bridge back up to Milo(?) and Adam Gregory after nearly careening headfirst into that metal tower at the base of the grandstand. Then, at the finish when I didn't dare look back for the last 300m to see if Milo(?) was still on my wheel.

Aw shucks to Craig Penner, Adam Gregory, and Brad Enns and their punctured tubes. Better luck next week.

Well done Fort Garry, Red River and Andrea (hey it's like you have a club of one)

Dark Cross / Tim's / 40

No filming or video, and only this one lousy picture to show for last night's Dark Cross.  That was the only lousy thing about the evening though.  I just wanted to spectate last night, and cheer on Graham and others (couldn't even help but cheer on Greg Sherwin, even though he and Graham battled it out for the last half of the race - I always tried to cheer just a little bit louder for Graham). 

It was a great event - all that it was promised to be.  The track part of the course looked deathly boring, or maybe it's just that I know that would be where I would perform worst, but the rest of it looked really fun, and of course the lights, the music, etc. bumped it all up a notch.   It was inspiring enough that I think Deanna and I might do the remaining two races this season that have an open category (neither of us have purchased a license this season), but then again I'm kinda settling in to the spectating scene, and beginning to understand how all the fat, beer swilling, cigarette smoking fans in the stands at pro sports events can somehow feel a connection to the sport.  Well, that comparison might not be entirely fair to myself, because I do happen to ride bikes, even if I've been too apathetic this year to line up on a start line.

Anyway, Graham churned out a very good 7th place finish for the 2nd weekend in a row last night. With a little luck we might even get a race report from him posted here.  Dean came out to watch as well, and we ran back and forth between different cheering positions on the course to watch the sole TrainingCoop jersey make us proud.

The highlight of the evening however was off the track, on the way home, when we found a Tim Horton's that was, without explanation, filling everyone's orders for free.  That's right, no one was paying for their food or drink.  No idea why.  The guy behind the till would just say "no charge" as he handed everyone their order.  Maybe it was in honour of Deanna, who somewhere right around that moment turned 40.  For the record though, she still looks alright.

Update: TuPhat sent a pic of Graham in the comments section, and I figured I'd post it below.  Nice shouldering form Graham.

French (Metis) Kiss

Luc is a pretty easy guy to get along with, and for reasons I can't really articulate I think this pic does a good job of summing him up (pic stolen from the Taints of Steel photosteam, which has plenty of other good pics from last weekend's 'cross race as well).

Holiday 2011

Too much holidaying and not enough riding. During our visit to Durango, CO, Lael and I spent the day riding the rails from Durango to Silverton, CO on a vintage steam engine. The day was incredible if not a bit surreal. 3.5 hours each way riding a narrow gauge railway along the Animas River with an elevation gain of several thousand feet over approximately 50 miles. We took many photos and I did my best with my GoPro to record the event. Now you might be thinking to yourself what does this have to do with the TrainingCoop. Well, every year there is a bicycle race "The Iron Horse Classic " in which cyclists that race the train from Durango to Silverton. So I started to think TrainingCoop goals 201_? Here is a short video from our train ride.

St Adolphe Mud Fest Video Recap

cross canada by canoe

Sheesh - tomorrow we plan to paddle for a couple of hours before noon, and although I'm not trying to pretend that's any sort of accomplishment the following story makes we wonder if it's worth it to even get out of bed for such a brief journey.  On the other hand, I really am looking forward to tomorrow's paddle, so I guess it is worth it :)

Cross Canada Canoe Trek: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/story/2011/09/09/ottawa-cross-canada-canoe-trek.html?cmp=rss

Alright, so here it is...

I'm training.
For 'Cross. Now don't get to too excited. I vow to stop when it starts to suck. Which might be soon. Maybe very soon. And I'm not really riding more than 3 or 4 hours a week, so it's not like I'm going pro any time soon.But the rides that I've been doing lately can only really be described as training - unless they are races, in which case they would be described as racing.

Just thought I better fess up. Please forgive me.

Caddy Lake

It's amazing to think that this is where Deanna and were earlier today - looks like another world.  A very nice world.