Whackin Balls.

We rode bikes for a short 3.5 hours today, it would have been a bit longer, but Sean's still having leg problems so we cut it short. I was fine with that because I was a little tired after yesterday. After a lunch of international foods: Chocolate chip pancake, eggs and tomato, spaghetti noodles, jerked sauce, it was time to whack some balls around a tennis court.

Sean trying to run Nate over with a cart

Airplanes

I like bikes

More gravel.
Whackin balls
Then ice cream
See any resemblance, I sure do.

Tomorrow, Mexico?

The Shoot Out

shot me out the back hard...
This morning we woke up before dawn to catch the shoot out ride.
There were a whole ton of people, I heard estimates of 200 or so. Everything was going well for a little while, then I really had to pee. I saw a red light up ahead and took action. Worse timing ever. The light is where the ride picks up, after a long pee I chased hard, got tired, then got caught by a group of fast guys who pulled me back to the group. However, it was to little to late. I spent the next 10 min yo yoing off the back then just could not hold it. I found groups along the way and still went pretty hard. It was a good time.
After the ride I met up with Sean who had leg problems early on and turned home. We rode around 40 more km and I finished my first century of the year in 5 hours and 50 seconds.
Then it was grocery store, happy hour, and mini golf...

Sean fell asleep on the way to the ride.
Waiting for a train.
Gosh, that was hard...Home for the week.Sean and his chocolate chip tuna pancake.
I handily destroyed him in mini golf.

Vitamin D

Provided by the friendly sun was plentiful today.
The whole condo thing is still messed up, we never got the one we were originally supposed to get. I think it is a scam, but stubborn Sean still thinks it is not.
Anyways, death cramps were all gone today as usual. Good, but confusing. While we were waiting for our condo to be cleaned we went to a Mexican restaurant. Then unpacked and rode bikes, it was fun.

Birds like chips too...

Sean keeps having cleat problems.

Then we found gravel!

We went up for 6 km, then found a place to stop going up. Sean and Nate went back, I kept riding, I rode up to mile 11 on Mt. Lemmon, I found pine trees.

Marshmellow Mateys, the best post ride food on the planet.

Tomorrow we have to get up at 6ish to go do the shoot-out ride. It will hurt...

Cacti

We left the snowy tundra of Northfield, and after way way to long in the car we arrived in Tucson, AZ where it is warm and sunny, and there are lots of cacti. After realizing we may have been scammed on getting our condo we went for a bike ride. Words are boring, pictures are fun.

Sean learning to drive a stick

Sir, are you aware that Nebraska sucks.

Some mom named this town.

Sean really wanted to see The Thing, I tagged along and it was definitely the most amazing thing I have ever seen. I can't tell you what it is though, I had to sign a contract...Sean being legitimately angry about not have a condo.

Death cramps hurt.

I had lots of stopping time to take pictures going up Mt. Lemon.

Temporary relief...

Sean.

Also here is what St. Olaf published.

Halb Marathon

Yesterday was the first, and probably last, "It's too cold to ride bikes so lets run a half marathon, Half Marathon."
The title pretty much sums it up. It was cold. Sean and I needed to do something, so hey, why not go for a nice little run.
Instead of pulling the usual marathon start time, we waited around until the much more agreeable hour of 2. Off we went on our merry way, running a loop that we often ride. It is quite a hilly loop for a longer run like that, but it was fun. Around halfway we started picking it up a bit more, slowly faster and faster. I was feeling great, so coming into the last 3 miles or so I picked it up again, I was still feeling great so I just kept picking it up. The last half mile I just about sprinted.
It was quite an enjoyable run, and I am really pleased with how my body handled it. I remember half marathons being much harder then that. Nearly dying after 10 or so miles. I guess this just goes to show how fit I am not compared to in high school.
After eating a bit and drinking some, I went out and measured the course with the car. It was just over 12.9 miles. So the sub 1:40 I thought I got was not true. Gotta tack 45 seconds or so on to my final time (don't worry, I did a cool down trot so I for sure had over 13.1 miles). Anyhow, with the extra 45 seconds my time was 1:40:17.
My time for the Half Marathon in Duluth in 2004 was 1:45:36
in 2003 it was 1:45:22
I can't find the time for 2002, but I remember it being slower then those above.

Grandma's course is much easier then the one we ran. So I am quite pleased. I like being in shape...

After the run my legs were a little sore, but not bad. I woke up this morning and felt great, like I did not even run yesterday. During lunch I got a call from The Ghost to come join him and Linda on a nice little ride. So I tagged along with them for a bit, then had to come home and work. Tomorrow it will finally get nice, so it is time to put in some good hours.

Typo

on the Powertap picture, now corrected

Epic

First epic ride of the year today. Read about it on Sean's page or stay tuned for some pictures.

Departing at noonish with a wonderful temp around 43 degrees it was good to be out. Light wind, mostly dry roads. For early March bike riding it does not get a whole lot better.
Kyle and I met up with Sean, and found out the Ghost would be joining us. Cool, the more the merrier, plus rides with the Ghost are always entertaining.

On the way to go ghost hunting I got realized I was wearing to much...

So I decided to strip.Kyle was my hanger

Then we rode bikes for a while. Sean has the desire to ride over 200 watts all the time now, so we did that for around 2.5 hours. Then it started misting and getting windy (after a wind switch). We slowed up to eat and dress up. The slow did not last for long, because when the Ghost get wet, he gets hungry....

Caution: Will rip off your legs.

For the next just over an hour we were going quite hard. Well mainly the Ghost out front and Sean and I hanging on for dear life. By the time we got home my legs were shot, hands numb, toes cold, and I was very pleased.

Before parting ways, Casper asked what the powertap averages were, while that is what it said...

Another mode said that I averaged 214 watts for the 3hr 35 min. That is with dicking around for 30 min before as well.

From the East

Today the wind finally changed from a westerly blow, to a strong steady wind from the East. The past two days have been really windy, yesterday was gusting around 40 mph and today a steady 20 or so. Should only make me stronger right?

Anyways, it is pretty entertaining to look at the powertap graphs, especially the speed. Slow for a while, then a sharp increase all the way home.
In some places the wind blew snow and covered the roads, it was warm enough today that much of it melted, but there was still some ice/snow patches to deal with. They just make things interesting.

Slush

Massive house

Recovery drinks

Back in the saddle again.

It has been quite a while since I last posted, plenty has been happening, I have been just to lazy to post. I guess I will start updating a little more often...

Anyways, I have been doing a fair amount of skiing to put myself back into shape after the end of cross and China. I have ridden only a few times as it has been snowy and cold. There will be a break in the weather here and there, and I have ridden then, not nearly as often as I would have liked, but skiing is fun.

Friday it started to get warm, a heat wave of 27 degrees swept over the cornfields, I took advantage of it and rode twice that day for a good 3.5 hours. My legs hurt at the end, but woke up Sat. feeling great. Sean and I did 2hr 50 yesterday as well. And somehow I set my new max power output. From 1303 it went up to 1316. I guess skiing and lifting is good for sprinting. I nearly forgot, I had gone skiing earlier that day too. Either I am going to collapse of exhaustion on todays ride, or I am in much better shape then I thought.

Here is a video from ski practice yesterday morning. Two freshman said they would pay me $20 each if I landed a 360. They had just watched me do one on a completely flat surface, so why they thought I would fail is beyond me. Freshmen....

Not much

has been happening, thus nothing interesting to post.
All I have been doing is skiing, waxing skis, and driving the team to ski races.

However, I did ride my bike today, for nearly 3 hours in all. It was quite warm, but not for long...

Colder and colder...
more info

Thursday it is back to Duluth for a few days, then skiing around up in da Nord der.

China

Here are a few pictures from China, in chronological order.

Morning in Beijing

Great big wall

Enjoying Chinese hospitality

We got drafted Urümchi station

Windy day
Big Mao

Kashgar

Santa does Exist!

We spent a lot of time in taxisDesert

Chasing camelsChinglish

Why bother with sewage tanks, the tracks work just as well

Unfortunately that peak is much further away than it looksA sping

Bus trouble
One of the few places I enjoy shopping, I love bargaining...