75,000 miles

Last week, I passed 75,000 documented miles on my road bikes. Wow.....thats a lot in 10+ years...
But, the left knee is quite sore from the arthritis- so time for a break until mid January. Lets see what father time does for recuperation. Now to do some light lifting (no legs) to stay in shape and get back on the bike after the holidays.

On the way to 75,000 miles

Only 223 miles to go to reach a documented 75,000 bike miles on the road. Hope to have this in the next few weekends here in Boston (rode 22 today in 40 degrees and rainy weather- not real fun once you are soaked) Stay tuned- will update site soon

Switzerland

Spent five days in the Alps(Zermatt) and three days in Zurich - wonderful country to spend time. Did a lot of hiking in Zermatt which was great. Super weather- lows in the 40's each morning and sunny highs in the upper 60"s each day.
Cycled 22 miles on Saturday after getting back and 51 miles on Sunday- legs feel heavy!

Fall Riding

Been awhile since my last post. Been doing some nice fall rides and flat solo centuries- as the hills hurt the left knee to much. Great time of year to ride. Off to Switzerland in a few weeks and looking to do some possible light mountain biking in Zermatt - in the Alps.
I am up to over 7300 miles for the year- will probably cap out just around 8,000
Enjoy the fall riding

PMC Wrap up

Two good days of riding for PMC- and only one wrong turn on Saturday! Great time with Team Dragonfly....
Knee held up OK though it was quite stiff the week after. Getting back to "normal" stiffness this week.
Will ride the season out at 100 to 150 miles a week and try to minimize knee discomfort

Pan Mass Challenge

This weekend is the annual PMC- 190 miles in two days to raise money for cancer research for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. Great course and atmosphere.
The left knee has been very cranky the past few weeks- will look to a second opinion after PMC of what to do next. Is my riding career on the blink due to arthritis? We shall see...

Riding on the Cape

Off for 15 days of vacation on the Cape. Renting the same house in Chatham Center we have for the last three years. Will be doing a lot of flat riding which is great for my knee. In two weeks will be doing Climb to the Clouds- quite hilly, so two relatively flat and rolling weeks is welcome.

Brewery to Brewery

Rode the 149 mile Harpoon Brewery to Brewery ride on Saturday 6/20. This went from Boston, MA to Windsor, VT. What a super ride- and a great jersey to boot:) We were able to dodge the rain all day amongst a horrible string of weather we have had in NE the past 10 days. I rode about half the time with my MRC teammates- mostly on flats, dropping me on hills- then me catching back to them where I could. An excellent organized event and looking forward to it in 2010

Tour of the Quabbin

Rode the Kings Tour of the Quabbin on Sunday 6/7. 101 miles and over 7,000 feet of climbing. Knee felt OK- seems to be if I keep weekly mileage at the 150 mile mark.

Next up is riding the Climb to the Clouds loop http://crw.org/CTTC/climb2clouds.htm this weekend with some tri-geek friends from the area. I will also ride the real deal on July 19th.

RAW- race withdrawal

The knee has not cooperated- and I have withdrawn from the race as of last week. Major bummer. Need to start working to see what I can do to rehab the knee so I can ride again pain free. Stay tuned.

200 miles- but trouble

Rode 200 miles yesterday at 16.5 mph- and the legs felt great. However, the left knee did not, with much pain in the last 30 miles- just no power on the hills- and thats where it really hurt. Will go for an easy ride today (Saturday) of 15-20 and see how it feels. The goal is to ride 100 on Sunday- but thats all determined by how the knee feels.

6 weeks to go......

The Supartz injections seem to be working- was able to do a 180 miles ride last Friday , then 20 on Saturday, then another 100 on Sunday- and knee felt good during the rides- though a little stiff afterwards- which is OK.
Off to do a 200+ miler on Friday, 50 on Saturday and 100 on Sunday.....
Crew is all set and looking forward to it....

SUPARTZ

Check out www.supartz.com for a new way to treat arthritic pain in the knee. I will start this treatment in 4 weeks as an add on for the cortisone shot I had today to see if I can get through RAW..... stay tuned for an update soon.........

Knee Pain- Part 2

Had a cortisone shot on Wednesday morning- then did 4 hours on the trainer Wednesday PM, and 6 1/2 on Friday (today) Was looking to go longer but knee pain persisted when putting a heavy load on the knee (out of the saddle for example) Hopefully the cortisone "kicks in" fully soon- as I need to get outside miles in- which have been the ones that hurt my knee the most. Hope to ride 50 on Sunday (will take Saturday off) to give me 300 miles for the week. I need to get an outdoor century in comfortably (meaning no knee pain) by end of April or I am not sure RAW will be doable. The thighs and muscles are fine- it is just the knee pain that is tough to endure..

Knee pain:(

Finished two heavy weeks- 415 miles and 370 miles on Sunday 3/22 and was looking for a nice easy week of 100 miles or so. However, I seem to have hit some real arthritic issues with my left knee- the one I had surgery on last October. Funny, the arthritis hit me the week I was "resting" so thats not good to see.
Will attempt to spin tomorrow night and will look to see my orthopedic surgeon ASAP- possibly a cortisone shot or two to get me through RAW?
Stay tuned... looking to do 450 miles this week based on my training plan- but just not sure yet due to the knee pain....argghhhhh...

12 hours........and only 95 days to go

Did a twelve hour indoor spin- about 210 miles - 3 PM Friday afternoon until 3 AM Saturday morning- that was a mental workout more than anything else. Heading to the roads for 2-3 hour ride today- great to get outdoors. 410 mile this week- with 440 planned next week then a light week of 150 or so. Training going well- knee doing OK.... Glad it is springtime and can ride outside... 95 days till RAW

Miles and Miles.......

Taking an easy week after two weeks of 360 miles each- all indoors- capped off by a 10 hour, 185 mile indoor session last Saturday night into early Sunday morning.
Next week- looking to do two 400+ mile weeks as the mileage begins to pile up ahead of Race Across the West in 101 days.............And, hopefully spring is here permanently in Boston so I can begin riding outdoors....

9 Hours......

Nine straight hours on a trainer-ouch. Training for RAW requires mileage- and in Boston no real way to do it this winter except get on an indoor trainer. For me, the psychological ability to spend this much time on the trainer/bike is key- and at a heart rate much higher than I will race RAW is a good thing. Knee holding up, now off for a bowl of well earned ice cream

RAW Training progresses

Just finished two successive heavy weeks of 282 and 300 miles- my continue increase in miles is so far, going according to plan. The goal for the week of 2/2 is about 330 miles- with a light week following. So far, so good- and the knee is holding up.

Long rides.........

Did 7 hours on the spinner this morning. My longest ride this year- building up for RAW. Need to continue working on nutrition and fluid intake. Legs felt good- will do an 8-10 hour spin in two weeks...

Chiropractor...

Went to a chiropractor today- seems I have been favoring my left leg since the knee surgery back in October - and that seems to have things thrown off a bit- causing some lingering minor pain in my hip and thigh (though I have not missed any training)- but it was worth going in today to start a series of adjustments. Lets hope they work...... did a nice 2 hour spin this evening also...

RAW Training update

Just finished a 3 hour spin on MLK day. Training going well. Had a light week last week do to work travel to Poland (this was also a scheduled light week in my training blocks) Will now increase for three straight weeks before another light week due to a trip to Mexico (business/pleasure) Will be at about 320 miles per week by mid February. Heading to 500+ in late April through May ahead of RAW starting on June 17th. So far the knee is doing OK- sometimes cranky, but holding up for now.

Indoor century

Training for RAW continues- did a 6 hour indoor session today of approximately 110 miles. Knee felt OK the entire time- and after icing and stretching afterwards, still seems to be OK. Hope that streak continues. Did about 220 miles for the week. Next week will be a scheduled light week for recovery.

24 hour bug......

My 5 hour session this morning was cacelled due to a 24 hour bug that I picked up. Will take Saturday and Sunday off and resume training (regular schedule) on Monday the 5th.
So far, 12 solo people have signed up for Race Across the West.......

Race Across the West Registration

Happy New Years to everyone.
Yes- I have done it- and committed to the Race Across the West by registering this morning. Only 165 days to the start in Oceanside CA on June 17.
Training is going well- though I am cautiously optimistic about my left knee with the increased training that will be needed in the coming months. Will take it one day at a time.