Fitness Training News

Friday, May 29, 2009

4071 YTD and Then The Big Fat Car Accident! OK. Haven't been here for a while. Did the great ride on the Ward 150 and then a few shorter rides and then I got hit by a car.

Broken ribs, lots of bruises, lots of cuts, and many many stiff body parts. Oh yes.... and my identity, my bike, well, it's toast. Burnt toast that is. A throw a way.

I wondered when my time would come.I think everyone I know has been there. Just never thought it may happen. And let me tell you, it does hurt.

So now Steve is trying to rebuild one of his bikes (we actually ride the same size bikes) and get me going again until it/the accident is all settled. Have to change several things. The pedals, the stem, the bars, and the seat. I think almost everything else can be the same.

I am very very sore. I have had a lot of x-rays and seen lots of docs. This really is no fun-not that anyone would think so.

I am trying so hard to heal and maintain my life as normal as I can. I am very resilient. I am of hardy stock.

I got on a bike today for the first time in 7 days-since the accident. Oh man, not an easy thing. It was on a very upright, hard tail mountain bike. I was able to go 45 minutes before getting sore. I mean, we're talking 13-14 mph, not the usual 17-19 that I'm used to.

My own training plan had me doing 150-200 last weekend and another 100 on Wednesday to get another stacked week in before the Brevet season headed into full swing-into the big miles. Didn't do it. Got one mile and of course today's recovery ride and assessment ride. uuhhhggg!

I rode by the accident sight and found myself wondering about it. Don't want to think too hard right now.

Well, I'll keep posting as I gain progress. Have to get back on the horse when things feel better. It's what I do. I am a coach. I am a rider, I am an athlete. It IS how I make my living. # posted by Michelle Grainger @ 8:24 PM 1 Comments

Monday, May 18, 2009

3975M Hard Ward 150 Minus 50. Last week was one recovery ride and about 30 hours of yard work and house work.

Relatives are coming to town and the yard needed Spring cleaning and planting. Lots and lots of time in that area this week.

Was pretty easy to recover from the Fleche and then just did a couple of really easy short spins.

Last Saturday Steve and I rode in the Ward 150. That's three loops of Ward to Lyons and back up to Ward. It's about 5500 feet of climbing per lap. We only had time for 2 laps. I don't know how Steve went to work after wards. I was so brain dead that I actually forgot my front wheel and we had to drive back for it.

The rides was very cold and some rain in the first 50. Due to that we were not on top of out liquid replacement and by the second warm lap we both had leg cramps. That's the first time, ever, for me.

Came home from that, worked a bit in the yard and then hiked the Girls for an our. Got back just in time to go to the launch of Vanessa Kemp's, and Bill's, Inyangi Launch Party. organic and homeopathic skin products. It is really great stuff. They will do well.

After the party I came home and actually fell asleep on the couch.

Up the next morning, Sunday, to water the yard and then headed out to ride. The ride was great as it was a touch faster than I may have done after the century on Sat. My legs cried a lot. Too bad. It's good to stack the training from time to time.

After the ride I headed to the laundrymat to wash 10 dog beds. (yes the Girls are spoiled). Took 2 hours so I ran errands and went to Home Depot for more mulch-for the yard.

Got home, worked in the yard and cleaned the house until midnight. I was so tired but happy to get it all done.

Today, off from work and finished up the yard, watered and walked the Girls.

Now ready to go to the airport. # posted by Michelle Grainger @ 11:37 AM 0 Comments

Sunday, May 10, 2009

3804M. Great 24 Hour Fleche. Great Fleche and more photos later. Only 1/2 of the 24 hours was rainy. Loads of fun.

The Fleche was just yesterday and it feels like a life time ago. That's why I love riding so much. Time seems to stop, or at least go really really slowly.

So, I packed on Thursday night. Packed because we had to ride a full 24 hours to be official Fleche finishers. 5 riders start and three must finish. Not so bad as all of were really strong riders and evenly matched.

We started out of Louisville at 8 Am on Saturday. Nice start and not what the forecast had predicted. It didn't rain until about 7:30 PM.

It was about 47-50 degrees and a medium wind from the north east. We headed out of town towards the north. Heading for Masonville.

Still quite a bit of snow on the mountains-where we're heading.

Once to the north of Masonville, we headed up the canyon to Stove Prairie.

It's a nice gradual to steep climb up a small canyon past new houses and small horse ranches and then gets into cabins and small farms from the late 1800s.

It was great. We all had about the same climbing pace, even Greg, who lives in Iowa. Go Greg.

About half way up the climb you get away form the prairies and get into some wooded areas. Then up high, back into the high grasslands. I can see why the homesteaders came here. Very peaceful.

At the top, we ate and took photos. Then down the other side to the Poudre Canyon and river.

We had a stiff headwind most of the way down. Had to take turns pulling into the wind. At the bottom, we headed to Verns, near La Porte.

From Verns, we headed back out to the eastern plains of Colorado. Went to towns like Wellington, Windsor, Kersey, and Johnson's Corner. Lots of places for us to get food. A key thing to these rides is food and a constant pace.

After leaving Kersey, we started to get sprinkles and then a little later, at about 8 PM we started to get rain. Not bad for the day.

We made it to our sleep point a bit before midnight. Time for a short break and then get up and head out for more food.

We have found a good tea for a wake up caffeine pick-me-up. It's by Zing. Really good, not too sweet and keeps us awake.

One of the last Control Points was in Lyons. You know you've been riding a lot when the employees at the Lyons Shamrock know how much you've been riding this year. They asked me how my vacation riding went.

It got colder as the morning continued on. Not bad, though as we had enough clothes and also only had to go until 8 AM.

After the end we took more photosof the team and headed over for a hot breakfast together.

Once again another great ride was finished and another one in the planning. # posted by Michelle Grainger @ 11:30 AM 0 Comments

Friday, May 8, 2009

3577M and the Fleche is ON!

Packed and ready for the Fleche.

What: two pair of leg warmers (supposed to rain), one Gore arm warmers, shoes, short booties, regular booties, Rainlegs, reflective triangle, reflective vest (it is Graduations weekend), three rear lights, two front lights and a helmet light, all CatEye, Rudy Project helmet, rain shower cap, lightweight yellow )2 Jacket, Illuminite vest and wind jacket, lightweight but plastic rain jacket from France, two Buffs, short gloves, liners, over-mits wool, and over-mits rain proof, two pair of Rudy Project glasses, and two leg reflective bands, rear trunk on bike, small triangle bag for frame (really small), and tires changed to Conti 4000 with reflective side walls.

There will be some Cliff food brought along and drink mixes.

Will go with two pairs of shorts light weight and the KHS shorts on top. Smartwool undershirt and a jersey on top.

Leave at 8 AM and it is to be 50 all day and "drizzle".

Off to work now. # posted by Michelle Grainger @ 9:15 AM 0 Comments

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

3552M. Great 300K on Sunday. The start of our Black Forest 300K Brevet.

It was a great cool, but not cold start to the 300K on Sunday.
I had only seen some of the course when I used to do the Elephant Rock event. I'd forgotten how beautiful the area south of Denver was.

The start was a little drizzly but not bad. I dressed in Gore Windstopper leg warmers, a Smartwool top and my KHS jersey, arm warmers, two pairs of shorts, my awesome new O2 rain jacket, booties, and a rain shower cap. Kept those on the whole day.

We rode through the rolling hills of the western hills of Castle Rock and then over to Elbert County.

One of the hills we rode up near Roller Coaster Road was an 18% grade, at the very top. Crazy!

Finally the sky cleared for a while.

We saw cool things like old barns that time had left behind.

The Black Forest Store is somewhere you really want to stop into for a bite to eat or a quick soda. very friendly people there and we reallay want the store to do well.

We finished in 13 hours. I think we'll be a bit faster in the future, once we get the hang of the controls. 11 hours and 15 ride time.

This weekend we do the Fleche. 5 of us and it will be about 435-40 miles, in 24 hours. Not a lot of miles for the time but there are rules about when to start and stop, how long to stay at the controls, and things like that. Here's to another long ride weekend and good weather. # posted by Michelle Grainger @ 11:43 PM 0 Comments

Friday, May 1, 2009

3366M And a Busy Weekend Ahead.

Last few days it's looked like it's going to rain. That's going to be the forecast for the weekend.

Spent the week sleeping a lot and hiking a lot. The 700 mile week of vacation took a lot out of me. Really! Did some light riding, testing out some new orthotics on the trainer and a great ride with Steve and J on Wed.

Got this great 5 oz rain jacket that truly is water proof and wind proof. It's by O2. Really awesome. Go check it out at http://www.universalcycles.com/. They got it to me in 2 days and they sent great emails letting me know that I'd have it by the 300K Brevet this weekend. They really are a great company! I'll buy from them again.

Tomorrow I'm taking a class on supporting the spine, strengthening the pelvic floor muscles and more. It will take all day so I'll have to pack tonight after work.

It's supposed to rain, so 185 miles in those conditions should be interesting.

Well, off to hike the Girls and then off to work.

# posted by Michelle Grainger @ 9:29 AM 0 Comments

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