Leaving for Italy in 2 weeks

Only 2 more weeks of work till I leave for the biggest vacation of my life, 2 days in Rome, 3 days running around Tuscany, then another full week enjoying the Abruzzo region from the comforts of my own house.

I love the smell of freshly mowed grass in the morning....

...smells like......MOWED GRASS. Here we go again. My pre-'cross-season program is coming along nicely, albeit rather painfully given the heat wave we're in. All the mtb miles, road miles, trainer miles do NOTHING to prepare you for riding at 99% for 60 minutes on bumpy grass with the occasional dismount, run-up, and/or remount. Finally "broke through to the other side" this past weekend with some really good speed and the legs are responding well to the running. The form is right where i'd like it to be. Can't quite do a full 60-minutes at full speed but that will come over the next couple weeks. I'll slowly build up to the point when I can do a full 60-minute race simulation at something close to race pace . Ciao

Friends shouldn't let friends race when there's a Severe Heat Advisory

I learned my lesson (the hard way) at this same race last year. This poor guy didn't. I had heard a story than once you've had some level of heat stroke, that you will always be more succeptable to it thereafter. I was scary-close to ending up in the hospital at this race last year, and haven't felt the same riding in hot weather ever since. Words couldn't adaquately describe the purgatory my body went through in the last 30 minutes of that race and hour or so afterward. Lesson learned!

Italy Trip now just 4 weeks away

Here my trusty little white westie dog makes some final travel arrangements.

Training for 'Cross season in full Shwing!

Check this out! What better way to develop ground-stomping speed for 'cross season? Do the local "Tuesday night Worlds" on your cross bike. Here I am motor-pacing behind a loyal teamate, running a 39 *12/26 (yes a single ring), and running 45 psi in the big 32c Michie's. I even did 90 minutes before and about 30minutes after this thing. I contemplated retirement later that evening :-) Ciao