Just your ordinary weekend

Well nothing extremely exciting happened this weekend, but it was packed as usual.

Friday: We met up with a few friends for happy hour, and I had my new favorite drink, a proper pint of Guinness. I have been drinking Guinness off and on for a few years now and had forgotten how much I enjoy it.

Saturday: Woke up bright and early to do the Lost Creek stacked brick. The weather once again was pretty nice, with the temperatures moderate for Austin this time of year. Of course that means low 90s instead of 100s. Put since we have had so much rain the humidity is just oppressive. On the news the other day they reported that the weather we have had this summer is akin to that in areas that surround tropical rain forests.

This run, bike, run workout was a doozy. The first run seemed pretty easy, and my confidence was pretty high as my running has really seemed to come around. On the bike I made the mistake of going out too hard, and the route is very hilly. I guess I had spent too much time watching the Tour and thought that I could fly like those guys. Anyway my legs simply did not have the "snap" like they usually do. The second run is where the pain really set in, and I ended up getting a pretty bad side stitch but after a few seconds of walking and a Hammer Gel I was able to drag my butt to the finish. Afterwards we all sat around recovered, had a beer, then headed out for a great breakfast/lunch at Trudys.

Saturday night we went downtown for the first time in ages and had a great time with some of our friends.

Sunday: Instead of getting up early and driving to Pflugerville for the group long ride, I figured I would just sleep in for once. I did not wake up until 10:30 and felt fantastic. Watched a movie, took a short ride, walked the dog, did yard work, took a nap, etc. All in all a very relaxing and needed Sunday off.

Toughest Du in Texas

Here is my race recap for the Toughest Du in Texas, an event that certainly lives up to its name...

The weather was pretty perfect for a mid-July day. With all the rain we have been having the temps have been really low for this time of year. Race temp was probably in the upper 70s or low 80s. Unfortunately I got to the race site a little late and did not get a very good warmup, but such is life.

The first run was not that tough just an out and back over pretty flat terrain with one little hill at the midway point. I went out a little faster than I wanted to but nothing that hurt me later in the race.

The bike was along 360 and was pretty darn hilly, couple that with the wet conditions and I made sure I was extra careful on the descents. Next a turn into Rob Roy and one killer hill. When I hit the hill there were 5 others around me, 3 walking their bike up, one man that sounded like he was going to die any second, and me slowly but surely pedaling my way to the top. After a few turns I made my one big error in the race and missed a turn that was not very well marked. I quickly realized my mistake (of course seeing the other 10 or so folks that also missed the turn made me feel a little better) and hurried back to the correct turn. This mistake probably cost me about 2-3 minutes. Then it was back to the transition area for the second run.

The second run was a real bear, with a long extended downhill that would be a monster to run up on the way back. The monster reared its ugly head and I am sure sap running up a tree was moving faster than I was. But I never walked and that was my goal.

All in all a great day. Congrats to Triscuit and Lulu for winning their age divisions. I have learned that even though running is not my strong suit I am getting better, and that Cokes are delicious at the end of hard events. Overall I was 37th, and 5th in my age group.

Katy Flatlands Century Recap

This past weekend a group of eight Camp Punishment members headed down to Katy to participate in the Katy Flatland Century. Here is my recap...

Notes from Saturday:

1. Houston sure has a lot of roads under construction.
2. The Imperial Rome exhibit is not an Imax movie.
3. At Antonio's chicken is a vegetarian option.
4. If Lulu wants to camp, do not argue.

Notes from Sunday:
1. Riding in the pouring rain can be fun. (Until you get home and have to drain the water from your bike.)
2. Glenda is one tough cookie, and I am glad she is okay.
3. Helpful SAG people do not always know the correct ride route.
4. Kris is a good sport even after receiving a standing ovation.
5. Pickle Juice Sport is apparently the miracle cure.
6. The water at rest stop (mile 86) was the most foul, vile tasting water I think I have ever drank.
7. Dropping the "Pickle Hammer" at mile 92 is just not right.
8. 105 miles is a long distance regardless of terrain.
9. Beer and a grape snow cone are great finish line treats.

Overall it was a great time. Carri and Michelle did an amazing job riding the 60 mile route, and Panther, Erin, Kris, Glenda, and Lulu all did great on the century plus route. I think everyone in the group, besides Michelle, rode their greatest single event distance ever. That is quite an accomplishment and a darn fine showing from Camp Punishment.

Summer Blockbusters

So last night we took a break from working out and headed to the theater to see Transformers. Generally, I would say that the movie was enjoyable, but why do all summer blockbusters have to be so long? It seems that in recent years all of the big event movies are about 2+ hours. That is simply too long. Last month we saw a sneak preview of "Live Free or Die Hard", which was a good movie with one issue. Yup, you guessed it, it was too long. Whoever makes these decisions, I assume the directors, need to realize that footage can be trimmed. Both of these movies would have been much better if they were 2 hours or under. Learn to cut out the fluff gentlemen.

While I am on the subject of movies, why are all of these movies now PG-13? Of course it is that way to get a wider audience but some movies it just does not work. You have the action but then you have the watered down kiddie stuff. Why don't they make two cuts of the movie, a PG-13 and an R and release them at the same time? That way if you have kids and want to see the tame version great, but if you are an adult and can handle a few f bombs, blood, etc. you can see the R version without having to wait until the unrated DVD.

Lunch Time Ride

Well today I got out and rode my 15.5 mile loop by the house. This loop includes the "Autobahn", and a lap around the Veloway, and of course the distance to and from the house. This is the first time in awhile that I have gotten out and ridden by myself, and let me tell you I have missed it.

Lately, I have been either riding with a group or riding with the wife. Both of these are fun but to me nothing is quite like the solitude of riding alone. In groups, you are always either riding a little slower than you like, or a little faster, it is always hard to peg your "just right" speed. With a bunch of events coming up in the near future I am not sure how much solo riding I am gonna get in in the next month but let me tell you I sure enjoy it.

BTW the Autobahn has to be the only out and back route that I do that somehow you get a head wind in each direction. How is that possible.

Random Musings

So I have not posted in awhile so I figured I would. Here are my thoughts in no particular order.

1. Widespread Panic puts on an amazing live show.
2. The Backyard is still a great venue but nothing like it was in the past. Why did the developers have to put a huge mega strip mall right on top of the venue. Can we not preserve any of the town's music venues? Liberty Lunch - gone, South Park Meadows - a Super WalMart, and do not even get me started on that.
3. Why am I such a poor runner? Any ideas? Any thoughts on how to get better?
4. If you plan to ask your wife out for a run with the expectation of finishing ahead of her, make sure that you do. Or you will be asking yourself Question 3 alot.
5. If diet is 80% of the equation, with exercise being the other 20% why do I still eat and drink too much?
6. Holy sh*t, Town Lake is still rushing.
7. If I woke up early in the morning to work out would I feel energized all day or simply be more tired since I did not sleep as long?
8. Is it possible to work out a ton and regress and not progress?
9. It's only 2 months to the first Sunday of the NFL regular season.
10. It is amazing how much fantasy football changes how you watch games on Sunday.
11. It is also amazing (or maybe sad) that because of fantasy I can probably name at least 4-5 offensive players from every NFL team.

Well I have vented and feel better. Maybe this new positive glow will help me run faster.

Nutty Brown Throwdown

Yesterday, the Austin Duathletes headed out on an experimental ride that I named and Panther picked the route for, the "Nutty Brown Throwdown". On paper this was a nice ride out on little traveled roads Southwest of Austin. But that is why these things are not contested on paper...

A group of approximately 15 of us set out from the Nutty Brown Cafe a little past 8 AM and headed towards Pedernales Falls State Park which would serve as our turnaround, this would give us a total route distance of about 50 miles. The views out there are really pretty, but Fitzhugh Road, though lightly traveled is constantly up and down with very little flats to just rest.


The first thirteen miles I dropped back a bit and rode with my wife as the "A" group rode ahead. After she made her turn and headed back, I decided to drop the hammer a bit and try to catch the faster group. This was my first mistake as this really killed my energy later in the ride. I caught the main group as they were stopped above a hellish downhill that led to a low water crossing.

Of course I also learned that Panther had just wrecked himself and Erin and Kris. Good going, coach. Luckily everyone was okay.

After the water crossing it was only about 3-5 hilly miles to the turnaround. At the entrance to the park a series of unfortunate events led to Shorey falling. And I feel terrible because I was the cause of at least one of these events. Sorry, Shorey.

After riding to the park office to get some cold water (adding about 5 totally hill laden miles to the route) it was time to head back to the Nutty Brown. The ride back seemed like a never ending scene from a cyclist's nightmare...hills, hills, hills, and heat. Erin had apparently had enough and completely dropped the hammer and tore back to the NB. Kris also was picking up what she was laying down as she also really sucked it up and finished strong. I had to make one extra water stop, as I sweat like a fire hydrant has been opened, but made it back shortly after them. Afterwards we all caught our breath and had some good grub and a few drinks at the Nutty Brown.

So in total we had...
50 very hilly, difficult miles
5 riders go down (1 being a Texas Iron guy that rode with us a bit)
3 SAG casualties
1 very patient wife holding tables for us as at the Nutty Brown