Of Mice and Marathons

AM: 120' on the trainer. 224W. HR 147.

A really solid ride. Felt much better today mentally (yesterday wasn't really too bad). Really enjoyed the ride. Felt even stronger today than yesterday. Still waiting on my bike and to get my fat bike week back. The weather hasn't been spectacular anyway. 

Put in a strong effort hydrating today. I was down a few quarts from yesterday and today. 

Probably still need to fit in one run a week, but I really don't have much desire to unless it is with Megan and the boys.

PM: 120' on the trainer. 227W. HR 148.

Felt even stronger than the last two days. Call about getting the deck redone. Might take a while, but then again, every service or item takes forever these days.

We had Spring Conference today. I listened in a bit while Megan was running things upstairs and had the boys from pretty much 7-3, which was good but tiring. 

AM: 90' on the trainer. 237W. HR 156.

4 x 12 @ 94% w/ 4' recoveries. Strong workout. I have done it twice this year. Data was pretty consistent with when I did it about a month ago.

Got an email that my Lumberjack 100 entry moved from the waitlist to registration. Excited and nervous. 100 miles of trails on a fat bike is kind of crazy. Not sure if I will be able to do it logistically as I am not sure I can leave Megan with the boys for that long. It would be nice to have some help so every few months I could do things that make life feel normal.

Rainy outside. I would have been inside anyway as I am still waiting on my wheel and my bike (which I have made peace with, as it could still be months, I really don't know).

AM: 60' on the trainer. 106W. HR 96.

PM: 4 miles w/ Megan and the boys, averaged 9:53. HR 143.

Got a run in on our neighborhood loop. Thought the Polly Ann might be muddy after the rain. Picked up my wheel at KLM. Nice to have an outdoor bike back and rolling.

AM: 2.5 hours on the fat bike. HR 151.

A little anxious this morning, but felt much better quite early in the ride and had a really good ride. The roads around the Clarkston area were in excellent shape. 15.5MPH, which was solid. I think that was what I was doing on my gravel bike last year for the same or higher HR.

I guy I ride with came and measure to deck for the redo/repair. 20-30k I about crapped my pants. 

PM: 4 miles w/ Megan and the boys, averaged 10:01. HR 140.

AM: 120' on the trainer. 207W. HR 139.

AM: 120' on the trainer. 236W. HR 150.

Increasing pedal pressure throughout the 2 hours with a sprint or two. Feeling really good again. Mentally very solid. Lots of stuff to worry about, but the mental space to work at it. I am thankful for that.

Weather looking solid over the next few days.

We went to Toledo for a party for Megan's mom. We had a good time. We came back home instead of staying down.

AM: 2 hours on the fat bike at Orion Oaks. HR 133.

Kept it easy and just enjoyed it and watched out for people as the traffic picked up. I think Megan had a pretty good Mother's Day. The boys have definitely entered the toddler stage, however.

AM: 2 hours of dirt roads on the fat bike. HR 143.

14.5 MPH at a nice endurance effort. I went after a segment, but just didn't have it in me. Checked out Bald Mountain to see if it had dried out. It hasn't. Likely after a few warmer days we are scheduled for. It's really nice to be outside.

AM: 2 hours 20' on the fat bike on dirt roads. HR 156.

Just under 16MPH. I was 16.5 to 17 for a decent amount of time but the winds chewed me up on the way back. Headed west and the roads were (for the most part) in fantastic shape. I wanted to test my pace solo to see if I might be able to keep up with B group for the Thursday Night Ride. No word on the bike. I think it is coming in the end of never. Really good ride. Definitely got some sun.

PM: 4 miles with Megan and the boys, averaged 10:08. HR 141.

Did 2x stroller strides of about 20". The boys have been challenging, but they are expressing themselves.

AM: 2 hours 35' on the fat bike on the dirt roads. HR 144.

Out on the Polly Ann with an early segment attack. Still need about 5" on a 1' segement. Mostly pretty easy with one aborted segmen attempt later. Roads were in solid shape. Some of the ones east of Rochester Road were a bit sandy and graveley but not too bad. A really good ride throughout except for a landscaper almost crushing me as I went through a traffic circle on Adams. Big truck and trailer. I was not pleased. 

It's definitely tank top season. I had to say a few Hail Marys just before going into Oxford.

PM: 3 hours on the fat bike. HR 157.

Thursday Night Dirt!

I am sure people thought I was nuts, but I rode B group and we did just under 18 MPH for the loop and I kept up fine, even pulled away from a few people on the hills. I think people were floored with how far I have come from last year. It was so nice to get out and hang out with people. I won't be out next week, but plan to do the ride as normal throughout the summer.

Still looking for work. 

AM: 80' on the fat bike @ Orion Oaks. HR 134.

Mostly easy/recovery with two segment attacks, one of which I did twice because I didn't realize the turn was part of it. I missed by 2" on a 2' segment. I didn't try a third time as it was getting very busy and I did want to dust anyone at 20-25 MPH.

Did some mulching, which is actually kind of fun. 

AM/Lunch: ~2:45 on the fat bike. HR ~135-138.

Head unit ate my first 2.5 hours, which I was not pleased about. Tried to find the file, combine it with the second part of the ride, but no luck. Some exploring a bit, which made it difficult to get back at my planned time.

Got an estimate for composite redo for the deck with some rebuild. $24,000. More than we wanted to spend and my mom's very generous contribution was less than I remember it being originally. Going to explore other options. I don't feel right asking him to redo the quote with pressure treated and have it still be out of our range. Should have given him a budget up front, as I feel like we didn't respect his time.

We took the boys to their friend's birthday party. It was nice to see some people, though it was stressful as I really dislike being in a space where I am unaware of the potential toddler injury inducers are. 

AM/Lunch: 2:35 on the fat bike. HR 135. 

Roads were in prime shape. I rode down the hill by Oxford High School for the first time in quite a whil, certainly not since the shooting. It was a weird feeling. 

Felt better mentally on this ride than yesterday, which was a weird ride in itself because I felt great just not sure what to do about anything financially about house stuff. Not really landing anything part time and not sure if I will have more than 2 classes in the fall, which is a drastic cut in pay, one not sustainable. 

We've had a phenomenal week of weather. Hot, not humid. Really nice.

PM: 120' on the trainer. 210W. HR 134.

Got my new shoes out and the cleats on and adjusted, which took a bit as I didn't have them tight enough.

AM: 75' on the trainer. w/ 40' @ 282 watts.

Tried to do a 1-hour power test, but I couldn't quite concentrate. I was pleased with the effort. HR was 172, so I could have held the effort for much longer if I needed to. My shortest ride in quite some time.

15' up/20' down.

AM: 120' on the trainer. 128W. HR 105.

It's been raining off and on, so I haven't been outside. I would take the road conditions and weather we had last week all summer for sure.

AM: 2:32 on the fat bike. HR 144.

Bad decision. Roads were an absolute mess from the rain. I figured there'd be a puddle or two, but I didn't expect peanut butter. My bike and myself were covered when I got back, which ticked me off because I felt like it put a lot of wear and tear on the bike. Oh well.

I ended up going to Addison Oaks and did a few miles of the single track, which still makes me nervous. I like to try to hit trees.

Skipped Thursday Night Dirt as Megan had a doctor appointment. I guess the roads were decent, but definitely pot hold-ed as I was near the route in the morning. Looking forward to getting out next week with any luck.

AM: 120' on the trainer. 221W. HR 143. 

The boys went to Layla's. I worked on cleaning the garage a bit and worked on trying to figure out how to keep up with the house. 

AM/Lunch: 180' on the trainer. 217W. HR 141.

Volcano Route laps. Did one hot lap toward the end @ 328 watts for just over 6'. 

Lumberjack is definitely out as we are traveling to Maine. Really need to get a race on the calandar that I actually attened. Still nothing on the gravel bike. I imagine I'll be riding a 2023 by the time the special order gets filled. Oh well. Dumb call on my part for selling the old one too early. 

PM: 4 miles w/ Megan and the boys, averaged 10:33. HR 133.

Did 2x stroller strides.

Took the day off from riding. It's been a while I think.

AM: 2+ hours on the fat bike. HR 142.

Roads were dry except for an occasional puddle. Rolled on the Polly Ann to start just to make sure. It was in the 40s and I could have used tights.

PM: 4 miles w/ Megan and the boys, averaged 10:16. HR 135. 

Did 2x stroller strides.

AM: 2.5 hours+ on the fat bike. HR 147.

Wore tights, base layer, and rain jacket. Tights were fine, but the upper layer was slightly too much, but I unzipped my jacket when I needed to. Looks like a bit of rain the rest of the week for the most part. Trainer and running I think.

Did a slight reroute of the Ortonville loop I did last week or the week before. It is much safer with a longer stretch of dirt and less time on Grange Hall Road, before a decent into downtown. 55MPH roads with narrow shoulders, hills, and turns are not my most comfortable riding areas.

PM: 120' on the trainer. 229W. HR 150.

AM: 120' on the trainer. 205W. HR 139.

Route was hillier than I thought. Oof. The roads have been a mess, so I have been inside rather than trashing my fat bike.

AM: 120' on the trainer. 153W. HR 114.

Easy ride. 

PM: 2+ hours on the fat bike for the neighbor's ride. HR 108.

We went out and back on the Polly Ann. I was happy to easy pedal and get some sun. It was a beautiful day for it. Refereshment stop halfway. Went to their house after with the boys.

AM: 90'+ on the fat bike. HR 144.

We went to Toledo for a short visit (celebration of life and to see Megan's parents).

AM: 2+ hours on the fat bike. HR 144. 

Got back sooner than planned, so I attacked the Polly Ann segment. I chased an old dude on an e-bike who was running the stop sides. I almost ate it going over Greenshield as the transition is rough from grading. Still missed it. Should have gone back to the house and emptied my jersey as planned. 

We took the boys to the neighborhood park for a little bit. 

AM: 2.5 hours on the fat bike. HR 146. 

Dirt roads to Leonard and then back on the Polly Ann. Boys went to their friend's.