Week 6 and 7 recap - Ragnar Relays fast approaching

I missed last weeks update so I in order to keep things going I will do a combination update of the last two weeks.

Ragnar Relays is right around the corner and i feel really confident with my training. I have no expectations and truly am doing this for fun/training but I think I have positioned myself for a really solid performance. The legs are set for the relays and I am schedule to run a total of around 16 official miles but I figure with warm ups and cool downs i will probably be in the low 20's. There is also going to be a bike available so maybe i can pick up a few ride miles as well. Pacing with a bike is illegal except at night so it should be fun.

Despite the fact that i have a really cool race coming up and I should be really pumped to go I am sad to say that it is overshadowed by something. This economy sucks!! I have managed companies through some bad times in the past (think 2001) but I have never seen anything like this. It is nerve racking, stressful depressing and all consuming....all at the same time. Rarely will anything like this come out in my posts but I had to get it off my chest.

Anywho, I am sure we will push through this mess and I refuse to let it keep me down for long.

Last two weeks had good outdoor miles - both bike and run, plenty of indoor miles - both bike and run, an epic ride through high winds and driving rains in the dark with John and a drunken euchre filled weekend with friends. Economy, Eshmonomy.

Recap Week 6

Bike - 40 out, 4 X 1hr in
Run - 35

Recap Week 7 - easy week

Bike - 15 out, 4 X 1 hr in
Run - 20

That's all for now.

Week 5 Recap - outside miles

Despite the fact that Northeast Ohio was hit by a major blizzard on Wednesday, the regular Sunday morning ride group enjoyed the balmy 34 degree day on Sunday and got in a 40 mile ride. We were either on cross or road bikes and for the most part the roads were clear with only a couple of dicey sections that were snow covered and icy. Some observations from the ride:
1. Indoor miles are no substitute for outdoor miles
2. Getting only 25 outdoor miles in the month of January is not a good thing
3. Even though it is cold you should not ride 2.5 hours without drinking
4. 34 degrees in Feb. is somehow warmer than 34 degrees in Sept. or Oct.
4a. 40 miles in Feb. is somehow longer than 40 miles in September or October
5. During downtime some people maintain their fitness level better than others
6. Those people punish the less fit...without mercy
7. The trip up Ira Rd to home is really hard in February
8. My tip over speed is somewhere below 3 mph as I did not tip over on Ira
9. I need more miles...outdoors

Summary...was a difficult week at work. Lots of stress related to economic downturn including layoffs and cash flow problems but all issues were kept in check with the help of a great team at work, a supportive family and some pretty good training.

Bike - 40 outdoors
3 X 1 hr indoor

Run - 28.25

Swim - 0 this will change time to get back in the pool

Xcountry ski - 0 - canceled due to blizzard

That's all for now