Tonight was a volunteer event and early race signup by our triathlon club at the Red River, site of Sunday's upcoming triathlon. Essentially, the club members showed up to pre-register for the August River Citites Triathlon (a special perk for members) since the online registration opens up tomorrow, June 1st, and the remainder of the 1,000 slots will probably be taken within two hours. But the get-together was also due to Sunday's tri and we had to clean up the approach to the beachside start area. We didn't want the racers stepping on glass and other non-naturally ocurring objects where they might cut their footies or suffer some other malady. After all that, we chowed down on burgers and visited amongst the group. It was a good turnout...I guess we had about 50-60 (more?) there. Jonnene pre-registered for the RCT and for $85 I guess she has to do it!
Before that I did one last ride south of town to loosen the legs before the races this Saturday down in Alexandria. I'm only doing the time trial and road race stages on Saturday and skipping the Sunday crit so I can watch Jonnene do her tri race in Shreveport. Since my race is an omnium...don't ask me to explain...I'm not obligated to do all three stages. Riders accumulate points instead of time gaps, so maybe I'll get lucky and have enough points from two stages to win something. I got $25 for 3rd place at the Lafayette time trial and that's my first cash winnings in a few years! I'd like to do it again!
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Memorial Day was nice. Put the flag in the window (this flag has actually flown over the US Capital!) to show my patriotism and wore my "flag" socks during the morning's bike ride.
After doing hill repeats on Sunday, I wasn't sure how my legs would feel on Monday, even for an "easy" ride. Every year we have these unofficial rides on Memorial Day and Labor Day, where we cover about 45 miles doing a loop around Cross Lake. It can be fast or slow, but it's a good way to loosen your legs if you've had a hard weekend. And I'd had a hard weekend! After that 76-mile speed-fest on Saturday I thought I'd be crippled up for a while but the gams recovered fairly well. Anyway, we had about 35 people show up, including a few triathletes and the fast guys on Team LaS'port. My intent was to ride with Jonnene the whole way and, as it turned out, she was up to the task of getting the distance up and done. The first 15 miles were pretty quick, especially as we got out of town toward the lake. The group started to break up then we would all regroup at the Longwood Store about 23 miles into the ride. Then it was on to Blanchard and some of the more challenging hills out there. One rider slipped off the edge of a raised portion of the asphalt road and took a tumble...he got a little scratched up but he's okay. Another had a flat. Generally speaking, my legs did okay but I could feel the soreness in the quads. I did a few hard efforts but generally stayed in the pack, and made no effort to go with the fast boys when they took off.
We got a new TV for my grandma yesterday. Well, it's not actually new and my step-dad actually got it. My grandmother has been needing a new set for a couple of weeks now since her old one lost its infrared-remote-control "eye" where she had to get up to change volume and turn the TV off/on. At 93 she doesn't need to be doing all that (she's earned her right to have a properly working TV with remote). I started to collect funds from relatives so we could get her a new set until Jim met up with a guy who had just gotten himself a new flat-screen and gave his old set to Jim when he told the guy about his mother-in-law's situation. So it all worked out for the best. The Good Lord always answers prayers though we are often deaf and blind to the answers...sometimes the answers are pretty darn obvious! We wanted to get her a new TV and suddenly one appears out of nowhere and free to boot! Ooooh, yeeaahhhh.
I spent most of last night working on a job that I thought had to be ready this morning. Got about 4 hours of sleep, going to bed at 1 am and waking up at 5 to finish it up. Then I got an email from the client saying to hold off for the meeting and we'll get together on Friday! Well, I would have liked to have known that last night! But the good thing is that the work is done to date and I don't have to worry about it for a while. Now I have to get some other things done....and get caught up on the sleep!
My first road race since September is this weekend down in Alexandria. I'm not expecting great things but I'm a little amped for it. Fortunately it's 44 miles so I should be able to handle that okay, but us Masters 45+ are being grouped in with the Masters 35+. Depending on who shows up, that could be good or bad. Odds are the pace will ramp up a bit but I think I can deal with that as long as the hills aren't too bad. It'll be good prep work for the district road races in Natchez the next weekend.
After doing hill repeats on Sunday, I wasn't sure how my legs would feel on Monday, even for an "easy" ride. Every year we have these unofficial rides on Memorial Day and Labor Day, where we cover about 45 miles doing a loop around Cross Lake. It can be fast or slow, but it's a good way to loosen your legs if you've had a hard weekend. And I'd had a hard weekend! After that 76-mile speed-fest on Saturday I thought I'd be crippled up for a while but the gams recovered fairly well. Anyway, we had about 35 people show up, including a few triathletes and the fast guys on Team LaS'port. My intent was to ride with Jonnene the whole way and, as it turned out, she was up to the task of getting the distance up and done. The first 15 miles were pretty quick, especially as we got out of town toward the lake. The group started to break up then we would all regroup at the Longwood Store about 23 miles into the ride. Then it was on to Blanchard and some of the more challenging hills out there. One rider slipped off the edge of a raised portion of the asphalt road and took a tumble...he got a little scratched up but he's okay. Another had a flat. Generally speaking, my legs did okay but I could feel the soreness in the quads. I did a few hard efforts but generally stayed in the pack, and made no effort to go with the fast boys when they took off.
We got a new TV for my grandma yesterday. Well, it's not actually new and my step-dad actually got it. My grandmother has been needing a new set for a couple of weeks now since her old one lost its infrared-remote-control "eye" where she had to get up to change volume and turn the TV off/on. At 93 she doesn't need to be doing all that (she's earned her right to have a properly working TV with remote). I started to collect funds from relatives so we could get her a new set until Jim met up with a guy who had just gotten himself a new flat-screen and gave his old set to Jim when he told the guy about his mother-in-law's situation. So it all worked out for the best. The Good Lord always answers prayers though we are often deaf and blind to the answers...sometimes the answers are pretty darn obvious! We wanted to get her a new TV and suddenly one appears out of nowhere and free to boot! Ooooh, yeeaahhhh.
I spent most of last night working on a job that I thought had to be ready this morning. Got about 4 hours of sleep, going to bed at 1 am and waking up at 5 to finish it up. Then I got an email from the client saying to hold off for the meeting and we'll get together on Friday! Well, I would have liked to have known that last night! But the good thing is that the work is done to date and I don't have to worry about it for a while. Now I have to get some other things done....and get caught up on the sleep!
My first road race since September is this weekend down in Alexandria. I'm not expecting great things but I'm a little amped for it. Fortunately it's 44 miles so I should be able to handle that okay, but us Masters 45+ are being grouped in with the Masters 35+. Depending on who shows up, that could be good or bad. Odds are the pace will ramp up a bit but I think I can deal with that as long as the hills aren't too bad. It'll be good prep work for the district road races in Natchez the next weekend.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
It's been a while.....
Yeah, yeah, I know....it's been over a month since my last post! This one will be short for now but I'll get back in the groove shortly.
Essentially, in short order, here's what's been a-happenin'....
1. The wife and I spent 9 days in Tucson, AZ on a year-delayed honeymoon. We had a great time and stayed plenty busy. Also ate some great food, saw some great scenery, and stared at some great big cactuses...cacti. It's a very nice place to hang out, fer shure.
2. Did my first USCF event of the season as a Cat. 3 dude, a time trial down near Lafayette...about 20 miles. Got third place in that category...not all that fast (around a 23.7 mph average) but I was pleased with my effort. The wife, Jonnene, also entered the women's category and got 5th out of eight. She done real good, uh-huh.
3. Jonnene finally got her work permit from the immigration office and her stuff arrived from Oz via a United Van Lines truck. So most of my furniture went into storage and hers has taken over, just like my friends said would happen. That's okay, though, 'cause her stuff is way better than mine. Plus we ARE keeping a few things of mine...for now.
4. She also did her first triathlon in the States today and got first place in her age group! I gave back to the sport and volunteered at the race, working as the turn marshall at the turn-around of the bike leg. Yeah, I was the turn marshall nazi, alright. The power is mine!!!!! "Turn around zee cone, or be punished..."
5. Some friends of mine here in town are planning a big party for us in June, so we had to take some time to work out the details with them and get registered at a couple of places. I think we'll get more gift cards than actual product but that's okay. It shall be used in a useful way.
Anyway, more to come in the next few days as I catch up.
Essentially, in short order, here's what's been a-happenin'....
1. The wife and I spent 9 days in Tucson, AZ on a year-delayed honeymoon. We had a great time and stayed plenty busy. Also ate some great food, saw some great scenery, and stared at some great big cactuses...cacti. It's a very nice place to hang out, fer shure.
2. Did my first USCF event of the season as a Cat. 3 dude, a time trial down near Lafayette...about 20 miles. Got third place in that category...not all that fast (around a 23.7 mph average) but I was pleased with my effort. The wife, Jonnene, also entered the women's category and got 5th out of eight. She done real good, uh-huh.
3. Jonnene finally got her work permit from the immigration office and her stuff arrived from Oz via a United Van Lines truck. So most of my furniture went into storage and hers has taken over, just like my friends said would happen. That's okay, though, 'cause her stuff is way better than mine. Plus we ARE keeping a few things of mine...for now.
4. She also did her first triathlon in the States today and got first place in her age group! I gave back to the sport and volunteered at the race, working as the turn marshall at the turn-around of the bike leg. Yeah, I was the turn marshall nazi, alright. The power is mine!!!!! "Turn around zee cone, or be punished..."
5. Some friends of mine here in town are planning a big party for us in June, so we had to take some time to work out the details with them and get registered at a couple of places. I think we'll get more gift cards than actual product but that's okay. It shall be used in a useful way.
Anyway, more to come in the next few days as I catch up.
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