The following message came from Ali, one of Elena's clients. It is messages like these that make the training and riding worth while:
Hi Mark. It's Ali, one of Elena's clients. I lost my Mom two years ago. You are riding for so many people. I know how much Elena misses her Dad. You are an awesome hubby!! Cheers, Ali.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Last post before the ride
I ride the Tour of Courage tomorrow so this will be my last post on preparation.
On Friday, I had my last pre-ride appointment with Glenn. He took it light and gave me a hip adjustment just to make sure everything is aligned. I was going to get on my bike for half an hour but it didn't happen. I'm not too worried about missing the day since I have been more focussed on making sure I have enough energy and water stored. On that note, I have been eating a lot of high carb food and drinking a lot of water over the last couple of days. More pasta for dinner tonight.
I picked up my ride kit from the BC Cancer Foundation today. I'll be riding as number 9 and the number sqaure is red. All 90 km riders get red numbers but there is some significance to the colour. In the Tour de France, the most aggressive rider from the previous day's stage wears a red number instead of white. Number 9 also has some significance. Each team riding in the Tour de France has 9 riders at the start. Lance Armstrong's teams (US Postal Service then Discovery Channel) had numbers 1 through 9 for 6 of his 7 wins. Lance would wear number 1 as the previous year's winner. His teammates would wear numbers 2 through 9. So, I can pretend to be one of Lance's domestiques tomorrow.
I tuned my bike tonight and took it for a quick spin to make sure everything works. Everything is packed and ready to go. Tomorrow, I will arrive at UBC at around 8:30 and lock up my bike. I was able to get Jordi into the breakfast with Elena and I and that runs from about 9:00 to 9:45. Lance will be there for the breakfast with all of us who managed to raised $5000. After breakfast, Lance gives all the riders a pep talk at around 10:00 then we start to ride at 10:30.
The organizers expect the first of the riders to return around 12:30. I doubt I'll be in that group. But, if I can hook up with a few riders who are going at a good clip, I can draft with them for part of the way and save some energy. That means I can go faster. Who knows - maybe I can come in under 3 hours.
At the finish line, there will be a barbeque and entertainment for all ages. I'm sure it will be pleasant having a couple hundred stinky and sweaty cyclists hanging out with their families.
Thanks to everyone who has supported me. I have had a lot of fun, despite the pain, getting ready for this ride. I hope I get a chance to do something like this again.
On Friday, I had my last pre-ride appointment with Glenn. He took it light and gave me a hip adjustment just to make sure everything is aligned. I was going to get on my bike for half an hour but it didn't happen. I'm not too worried about missing the day since I have been more focussed on making sure I have enough energy and water stored. On that note, I have been eating a lot of high carb food and drinking a lot of water over the last couple of days. More pasta for dinner tonight.
I picked up my ride kit from the BC Cancer Foundation today. I'll be riding as number 9 and the number sqaure is red. All 90 km riders get red numbers but there is some significance to the colour. In the Tour de France, the most aggressive rider from the previous day's stage wears a red number instead of white. Number 9 also has some significance. Each team riding in the Tour de France has 9 riders at the start. Lance Armstrong's teams (US Postal Service then Discovery Channel) had numbers 1 through 9 for 6 of his 7 wins. Lance would wear number 1 as the previous year's winner. His teammates would wear numbers 2 through 9. So, I can pretend to be one of Lance's domestiques tomorrow.
I tuned my bike tonight and took it for a quick spin to make sure everything works. Everything is packed and ready to go. Tomorrow, I will arrive at UBC at around 8:30 and lock up my bike. I was able to get Jordi into the breakfast with Elena and I and that runs from about 9:00 to 9:45. Lance will be there for the breakfast with all of us who managed to raised $5000. After breakfast, Lance gives all the riders a pep talk at around 10:00 then we start to ride at 10:30.
The organizers expect the first of the riders to return around 12:30. I doubt I'll be in that group. But, if I can hook up with a few riders who are going at a good clip, I can draft with them for part of the way and save some energy. That means I can go faster. Who knows - maybe I can come in under 3 hours.
At the finish line, there will be a barbeque and entertainment for all ages. I'm sure it will be pleasant having a couple hundred stinky and sweaty cyclists hanging out with their families.
Thanks to everyone who has supported me. I have had a lot of fun, despite the pain, getting ready for this ride. I hope I get a chance to do something like this again.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Morning Ride & Last Physio
I went for an easy ride before physio this morning. I rode around the UBC loop once starting at 10th and Blanca. I followed that loop with a smaller one heading east at 16th instead of going all the way to 4th. I looked at my computer when I was done and it indicated I did the ride in just over 50 minutes at an average of just over 30 km/h. Somehow, when I got into the office to type this up, the numbers had changed:
Distance: 27.23 km
Time: 54:51
Average Speed: 29.8 km/h
My physio was fairly light as well. A little deep tissue work, especially on the vastus lateralis. I have one more chiro appointment on Friday and I plan one more easy ride before Sunday just to keep everything loose. It's almost time.
Distance: 27.23 km
Time: 54:51
Average Speed: 29.8 km/h
My physio was fairly light as well. A little deep tissue work, especially on the vastus lateralis. I have one more chiro appointment on Friday and I plan one more easy ride before Sunday just to keep everything loose. It's almost time.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
The Entire Route
I test rode the entire route today. It would appear that the organizers did not accurately measure the distance. Either that or my bike computer is not properly calibrated. My computer says I rode over 98 km today - a big difference from the anticipated 90 km. Even so, it was a good ride. The longest I have ever done, no pain, and I kept a good pace. I really tailed off on the final approach, especially from about Camoson up to Thunderbird Stadium. I was averaging about 31.4 km/h until that stretch.
For the rest of the week, I am going to do short, easy rides just to keep my legs limber. The hard training is done and it's all up to the big ride on the 23rd.
Details of today's epic journey:
Distance: 98.28 km
Time: 3:14:13
Average Speed: 30.4 km/h
For the rest of the week, I am going to do short, easy rides just to keep my legs limber. The hard training is done and it's all up to the big ride on the 23rd.
Details of today's epic journey:
Distance: 98.28 km
Time: 3:14:13
Average Speed: 30.4 km/h
Friday, September 14, 2007
A Great Day
I reached $5000 last night! Thanks to everyone who sponsored me. You have all helped me get to an amazing milestone. If you look back in this blog's posts, you will see where I started. I thought $1000 was a lot. Then the donations started coming in and I kept raising the bar. At the start, I would not have dreamed I could raise $5000 but you have all proved me wrong.
I want especially to thank the Kirschner family for their love and support. I know this means a lot to them. It means a lot to me too. I am motivated to ride my ass off on the 23rd.
I spoke to the co-ordinator of the event today. The Lance Armstrong event on Friday has been canceled but, in its place, I have the opportunity to have a more informal breakfast with Lance on Sunday morning before the ride. I like that better. I would not have had that opportunity if I did not reach my $5000 goal.
I was pretty pumped about reaching my fundraising goal so I put that energy into a morning ride today. I scouted the Richmond loop - the 3rd leg of the ride. It's dead flat and longer than I anticipated. I kept a good speed without pain. Things are looking really good on all fronts.
Here are the details of my ride:
Distance: 40.84 km
Time: 1:16:32
Average Speed: 32 km/h
I want especially to thank the Kirschner family for their love and support. I know this means a lot to them. It means a lot to me too. I am motivated to ride my ass off on the 23rd.
I spoke to the co-ordinator of the event today. The Lance Armstrong event on Friday has been canceled but, in its place, I have the opportunity to have a more informal breakfast with Lance on Sunday morning before the ride. I like that better. I would not have had that opportunity if I did not reach my $5000 goal.
I was pretty pumped about reaching my fundraising goal so I put that energy into a morning ride today. I scouted the Richmond loop - the 3rd leg of the ride. It's dead flat and longer than I anticipated. I kept a good speed without pain. Things are looking really good on all fronts.
Here are the details of my ride:
Distance: 40.84 km
Time: 1:16:32
Average Speed: 32 km/h
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Quick Test Ride
I took a little time yesterday taking the bike for a spin to see how the new pedals and shoes feel. I fine-tuned my cleat positions and I think I have them in the right alignment.
This morning, I woke up early and drove out to UBC. I rode one lap of the 1st leg of the ride route. I knew I could only fit in the 15 km lap because I had to get to physio by 7:30 so I pushed it. Part of the design was to test the shoes and pedals. Another part was to test my fitness. The third part was to become totally familiar with that part of the route.
It went really well. The stiffer shoe and wider pedal base means that I transfer more power into each pedal stroke. I don't lose any energy to the flex of the shoe (because there is no flex). I felt no pain in my leg. My Achilles' heel is my leg endurance. I have good lung capacity but my legs get fatigued. There is not much time to work on that aspect so I have to be pretty happy with the way my body is feeling. I already had a good sense of the UBC leg of the route from my weekend ride. I feel pretty confident about the twists, turns and bumps. I see no problems with the route so far. I think I am ready to tackle the long ride.
After my ride, I saw Dave. He has put me in maintenance mode so it was a pretty light visit. My exercises are going well and my hip alignment seems pretty stable.
My goal from here on in is to check out the Richmond leg of the route on Friday then do the entire route on Sunday. Next week will consist of shorter rides at an easy pace to give my body some time to work up some reserves for the 23rd. The countdown is on.
My ride today:
Distance: 15.43 km
Time: 28:38
Average Speed: 32.5 km/h
This morning, I woke up early and drove out to UBC. I rode one lap of the 1st leg of the ride route. I knew I could only fit in the 15 km lap because I had to get to physio by 7:30 so I pushed it. Part of the design was to test the shoes and pedals. Another part was to test my fitness. The third part was to become totally familiar with that part of the route.
It went really well. The stiffer shoe and wider pedal base means that I transfer more power into each pedal stroke. I don't lose any energy to the flex of the shoe (because there is no flex). I felt no pain in my leg. My Achilles' heel is my leg endurance. I have good lung capacity but my legs get fatigued. There is not much time to work on that aspect so I have to be pretty happy with the way my body is feeling. I already had a good sense of the UBC leg of the route from my weekend ride. I feel pretty confident about the twists, turns and bumps. I see no problems with the route so far. I think I am ready to tackle the long ride.
After my ride, I saw Dave. He has put me in maintenance mode so it was a pretty light visit. My exercises are going well and my hip alignment seems pretty stable.
My goal from here on in is to check out the Richmond leg of the route on Friday then do the entire route on Sunday. Next week will consist of shorter rides at an easy pace to give my body some time to work up some reserves for the 23rd. The countdown is on.
My ride today:
Distance: 15.43 km
Time: 28:38
Average Speed: 32.5 km/h
Monday, September 10, 2007
Today at Chiro & Gear Update
I was able to see Glenn today. He did the same active release and fascial work but there was almost no pain. It looks to me like the injury is all but gone. So, I am encouraged that I will be able to push it on the 90 km ride on the 23rd.
I also finally received my new shoes. I intalled the new pedals on my bike and spent a little time adjusting the cleats. I will take the bike for a little test spin tomorrow to see how the pedals feel and make any fine adjustments. Hopefully, I will be ready for a more significant ride in the next couple of days. But, I don't want to push it too hard with new gear in case I cause a new injury.
I also finally received my new shoes. I intalled the new pedals on my bike and spent a little time adjusting the cleats. I will take the bike for a little test spin tomorrow to see how the pedals feel and make any fine adjustments. Hopefully, I will be ready for a more significant ride in the next couple of days. But, I don't want to push it too hard with new gear in case I cause a new injury.
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