OH NO SINGLE SPEED

I found a deal on craigslist that I couldn't pass up.

I have been looking for a single speed for a while but couldn't get a really nice custom bike like I wanted. So I got this ride and its pretty cool. I need to shrink the gearing but other than thats its ready to go.

Running through AJ

Well that went relativly well. The Lost Dutchman Maraton was a blast. The weather was some what nice, it stayed around 45 deg. the whole time. The start of the race was awsome, sitting around 20 campfires with a bunch of runners shooting the the shit for a couple of hours was pretty cool. It was super low key and relaxed event the starting gun took its time. The first 7 miles through a hilly and winding road in the Arizona desert made the time really fly by. It was a little muddy due to the rains the night before but not to bad. The crowd of people at the race was the best part, everyone was friendly and willing to talk and most had left their ipod at home. The course goes from the Peralta trail head to the US 60 then to Gold Canyon wanders around for a while dropping you back off ant he US 60 at mile 15 ish. From there you head into the mighty town of Apache Junction. I never realized just how hilly this area really is. I guess im always in a car. Well once you hit AJ you start the log gradual up hills to the base of the Superstion mountains they seem to go on for miles. Once the road comes to a dead end you turn around and head to the finish. The last 5 miles seem to have about 4 miles of up hill and one measley mile of going down. The final 2 miles the weather really started getting bad. One of Az's famous wind storms was ripping up right into my face. All in all I finished just before the torrent of rain fell. The real cool thing was Becky and the kids suprised me along the way. They would just pop up out of no where. Similar to the 2 chubby guys at the PF changs last month. I was happier to see Beck and the kids though.

Lost Dutchman

Tomorrow Im going to run the Lost Dutchman Marathon it should be a pretty cool run. Rain and cooler temps are in the forcast. SO we went out and drove the course before hand Its going to be a tough one I think. The first 7 miles are going to be a muddy and a nasty hilly mess. The rain was really coming down. Then there was the herd of long horn cattle holding their ground in the middle of the trail I'm talking 5-6 foot horns. I dont know about you but anything that is willing to stand toe to toe with a full size truck and not move off the road is not going to think twice about tearing up a runner. Along with all of that jazz all of the washes look like they are going to be running. All in the first 7 miles. I AM SO STOKED FOR THE ADVENTURE!!!!!!!!!!  Nothing says running like steers and flash floods. The rest of the course is hilly and your typical marathon( there are quite a few washes to cross). Becky is bringing the kids out to meet me at the finish they were going to meet me in multiple places but the weather really sucks so they are just coming to see me at the end. Its going to be  a wild time!

Spinning!

Who in their right mind thought of this, 34 people put their name on a list the get a chance to ride a stationary bike while listening to an eclectic selection of music( Usher to Led) all of the while a crazy woman screams directions at you for an hour. WTF. Spin class is a very different place people dressed for the tour de France, people wearing sweats, and some people wearing I don't know what. Yet all of the people are doing the same thing pedaling fast then slow then standing then sitting then adjusting the bike resistance up and down and up and down doing whatever crazy lady says. Any way it was actually a great workout I had lots of fun I’ll probably go back to tomorrow’s class.

SanTan Scramble

WOW I love the desert in the winter! Super cool and extra dry. When I got out to the San Tans it was a nice 25 deg. perfect for the start of 25k. It's always neat to see and feel the nervous energy that hovers over people waiting for the start of an event. Most of the runners huddled like penguins around the 3 propane stand heaters gathering info on the course or comparing running resumes.  I talked to a runner named Kim that I met in the starting coral for the PF Changs marathon a very cool lady with a passion for running. I also chatted with a man who wears homemade huarache sandals when he runs.(watch out for cholla balls.) The crisp air and the rising sun gave the morning a surreal feeling before I knew it the time had come to start the race. I dropped my jacket near my bag and started the run. The pack stayed pretty tight for the first mile or so but quickly thinned out. The first section of the run is a long uphill through a sandy wash and over a rocky slick granite slab then down a fun winding single track into a bunch of washes. The washes become a bit tedious almost like running 12 foot waves for a mile. Then another long steady up hill. All in all this section of the course was a cake walk. The real fun come in at mile 8 where the trail leads up a supper steep and chunky section of trail. This was awesome the fear of cheese grating your body as you slide face first down a mountain always make thing interesting. Once I got to the top and saw the wicked downhill. I paused for a second thinking how to tackle the situation while in deep thought over I remember what grandma always said "Fuck It" and headed down as fast as could. It was fun. Once I got to the bottom I had to turn around and head back up the trail. I bombed down the other side following the downhill trail to the aid station. I had a plan I was going to stop change out my water bottle and grab a bite to eat. Somewhere on the long rolling decent my mind decided it didn't want to stop so I flew past the aid station. I was on the final lap so for the next few miles I followed the uphill trail talking to a cool guy from Washington who is a firefighter for the forest service. At the top of the hill he was kind enough to snap my picture. While taking my picture break my IT band decided to announce its presence with authority. So I sat on the side of the trail and stretched it out for a few minutes. It loosened up, i got up and dogged a bunch of high school cheerleaders out for a hike and ran the final miles of the loop pretty easily. Before I knew it the finish line was in front of me and I was crossing it. DONE.I headed straight to the aid station for some nourishment and a cold beverage grabbed my gear and went home.  SEE PICS BELOW

SanTan Scramble

Ill do a write up later with all of the details



WORLD CHAMPION CUL-De-SAC RACE

Two kids one dog and a dad toe the starting line. The cool afternoon sun would be down soon we had 1 hour to complete the challenge. The racers were strong, anticipation filled the air. On your marks legs trembled, get set a lone howl was heard in the distance. GO the star wars blaster sounded and the runners were off the first annual Cul-De-Sac Challenge had begun. Three runners and scooter blasted around the tiny course.  The rules were simple use any human or dog powered mode available to traverse the path for 1 hour and place a mark on the driveway after the completion of each lap. Leila chose as her weapon a  turbo charged racing scooter, Max started on foot but switched between his tricycle and bicycle, Rex and I hoofed it on foot. Leila scooted off to an early lead her pace was stunning her left leg hammering down on the pavement. Max took off like a rocket rounding the first turn like a train on rails his pace too fast and soon he would hit the wall. Rex did his normal craziness for the first few minutes then settled into my steady pace. Lap after lap we race around in circles, neighbors peaked out of their windows and doors giving us unsure looks one even closed up her garage bothered by the intense sound of racing(and giggles).  Max was the first to retreat into the med station for treatment and hydration. Leila, Rex and I kept up our furious pace. Max would soon return with his high end ultra light racing tricycle (big wheel) to knock out a few more laps but after his blazing fist laps he went back to the aid station. After a half hour Rex was panting hard in desperate need for water so I went into the aid station and filled a bowl of water for him he slurped the water and laid down next to it, he needed a break. Leila kept at it but I was slowly chopping at her lead at 55 min we were tied at 45 laps. Max wanted back in the game so I helped him around the course for the final few laps. The race timer sounded, Leila and I ended up tied at 48 laps. It all would come down to one final lap winner take all. Max started us again, time stood still, Leila with her monstrous left leg flew down the course she was setting the pace and it was going to be a sprint. We took turns leading but in the end she beat me to the finish! Leila Is the WORLD CHAMPION CUL-De-SAC  RACER! After 6 miles of scooting and running we went in the house and had dinner. Both Leila and Max claimed their prizes a hug and giant smoocher. What a great race!