(without being a pirate)
Training Journal
Note: I received my sixth classic rejection letter on March 1;
once again, we were not drawn for Ride the Rockies. Darn.
But we have enough cycling events on the calendar this year,
I've decided to maintain our training journal
in spite of our absence at this year's RtR.
Maybe I'll give the journal a new name.
When I think of a punchy one.
5 January
Brett registered for Iron Horse Classic and Triple Bypass.
He's committed now!
6 January
14 frigid, windy and invigorating miles on the road bikes to Chatfield Reservoir
9 January
stairs at work
60 flights non-stop, 60 flights non-stop,
first time back-to-back non-stoppers since December 6!
10 January
stairs at work
60 flights non-stop
23 minutes on the treadmill
11 January
30 minutes on treadmill, 20 minutes on spin bike
12 January
22 brutal, chilly miles on road bikes past Chatfield Reservoir
13 January
Brett got 60 breezy miles on his road bike riding to Titan Road and back twice.
I got 30 breezy miles riding to Titan Road and back.
14 January
stairs at work
60 flights non-stop
20 minutes on treadmill
15 January
I PAID OFF MY CAR THREE MONTHS EARLY!!!
I didn't do the stairs, I didn't do the treadmill, but I freed myself from car payments!
16 January
stairs at work
60 flights non-stop, 60 flights with one 20-second stop at the 40th floor
17 January
stairs at work
60 flights non-stop, 20 minutes on treadmill
And my new Nikon D-300 arrived today!
This is almost better than paying off my car!
19 January
stairs at work with Brett! - one of my best dates ever!
Brett ran all the way up and down all 60 flights three times
while I walked up one and three-quarter times (60 flights, 45 flights).
30 minutes on spin bikes; 30 minutes on treadmill
No doubt Brett will be in shape for his first race in April!!!
20 January
Brett got 30 icy and blustery miles on his road bike riding to Titan Road and back.
22 January
stairs at work
60 flights/60 flights non-stop
23 January
stairs at work
45/45 non-stop in the morning,
60/60 non-stop in the evening
while Brett ran all the way up three times
26 January
13.2 muddy mountain bike miles up Waterton Canyon
27 January
Brett got 42 miles on his road bike,
Platte, Bear Creek, Dinosaur Ridge, Red Rocks, Chatfield, Platte.
29 January
stairs at work
60/20 non-stop while Brett ran up and down twice
31 January
stairs at work
60/60/60 non-stop in the morning (!!!)
60/20 non-stop while Brett ran up and down twice in the evening
2 February
stairs at work
60/60/47 flights non-stop with Brett
(who did 75 the first two times by repeating the top 15 with me)
mile and a half on treadmill while Brett spent nearly an hour on spin bike
3 February
2008 Ride the Rockies Route announced - Durango to Breckenridge
Only 2,000 riders will be chosen.
Because we didn't get drawn last year,
even though I used a highly fashionable envelope,
we decided to register online.
I was number 3,020, and Brett was 3,042.
At 4:30 a.m., two hours after the route was announced!
We spend the next three weeks on pins and needles,
waiting to see if we've been drawn.
6 February
stairs at work
60/60/60 non-stop while Brett ran 76/75/74
me - half hour on treadmill; him - half hour on spin bike
7 February
stairs at work
60/60/60 non-stop while Brett ran 78/75/74
10 February
Brett got 63 miles on his road bike riding to Titan Road and back twice.
I got 30 miles riding to Titan Road and back.
12 February -- Gulp!!!! -- Two months until the Julian Death March, and half a foot of snow in the works for Denver!
stairs at work
60/60/45 while Brett ran 76/78/60
13 February
I found a "sneak preview" of what this year's RtR route will look like at the Denver Post Online. (It's hilarious!)
Brett got 41 sunny road bike miles,
Bear Creek, Dino Ridge, Red Rocks, Chatfield, Platte River.
14 February
stairs at work
60/60/60 non-stop while Brett ran 75/77/75
me - 30 minutes on treadmill; him - 30 minutes weights
16 February
Brett got 43 miles on his road bike,
Bear Creek, Dino Ridge, Red Rocks, Chatfield, Platte River.
I got 16 miles riding Chatfield to meet him and back.
18 February
stairs at work
60/60/60 non-stop while Brett ran 77/77/77
me - 30 minutes on treadmill; him - 30 minutes weights
19 February
Brett got 31 miles to Titan Road and back
20 February
stairs at work
60 non-stop flights with 20-pound camera bag/60 non-stop flights feeling light as a feather!
Brett ran 80 flights/70 flights with 20-pound camera bag
22 February
2 miles cross-country skiing, Hartman Rocks
23 February
2 miles cross-country skiing, Spring Creek Pass, CDT/CT
Here is the view from Slumgullion Pass.
24 February
Brett averaged 19.1 mph on the road bike
31 miles to Titan Road and back
1 March
Brett did 35 miles out and back on the White Rim outside of Moab;
I did 20.
And then, real disappointment set in:
-----Original Message-----
Date: Sat, 01 Mar 2008 00:40:44
From: rtr at denverpost dot com
Subject: Ride The Rockies Application Status
Dear Deborah Atkinson:
I am truly sorry to inform you that your application for the 2008 Denver Post Ride The Rockies was not selected in the lottery.
As much as we wish we could include everyone who would like to participate, our concerns for safety on the road and comfort in the host communities are our first priorities.
When the lottery was conducted, we selected enough cyclists to compensate for cancellations. For this reason we are not keeping a wait list.
If you applied online, your credit card will not be charged. A formal regret letter will be sent by U.S. mail. If you applied via U.S. mail, your check will be returned with a regret letter in the next 10 business days.
We truly appreciate your interest in Ride The Rockies and hope you will give serious consideration to applying next year.
Kind Regards,
Ride The Rockies Staff
-----End of Message-----
2 March
Brett successfully completed
10.5 difficult, technical, frosty, gale-driven Amasa Back miles
while I wimped out and completed five flowers on a Hawaiian quilt square.
3 March
stairs at work
60 non-stop while Brett ran 77,
45 NOT non-stop while Brett ran 60 (argh!!! not a good day for me)
Brett - 30 minutes weights
5 March
stairs at work
60/60/60 non-stop while Brett ran 77/76/75
6 March
stairs at work
60/60/60/45 non-stop
except for one 20-second gasping spell
on 38 on the 4th try
Brett ran 78/77/77 and walked the final 45 with me
11 March
stairs at work
60 fights non-stop talking but not non-stop walking,
60 flights non-stop walking and NO talking
15 March
Brett did 32 mb miles at Pueblo Reservoir.
16 March
Brett did 30 windy and cold rb miles to Titan Road and back
while I did 20 to Chatfield and back, with three hill climbs.
19 March
Last Day of Winter!!!!!
Brett did 14 rb miles to Chatfield and back
while I did only 9 miles because I got distracted by an awesome sunset.
21 March
Brett did 30 sunny spring mb miles on the Sovereign Trail outside of Moab.
The two of us hiked to Delicate Arch for the full moon.
22 March
Brett got 60 sunny but cold mb miles doing two complete runs of
Mary's Loop, Horsethief Bench, Mack Ridge and Troybilt.
I did Vick's Vapor Rub and Sudafed.
23 March
Brett did 30 mb miles on Mary's Loop, Horsethief Bench and Mack Ridge.
I did 14 miles on Marys Loop, with three hill climbs.
25 March
Last Day of Winter!!!!!
Brett did 16.4 rb miles to Chatfield and back
while I did 14, averaging 13.5 mph!
26 March
Brett's rebuilding his mountain bike!
28 March
Brett test rode his mountain bike in Waterton, 14 miles.
Trails still snowpacked.
29 March
Brett did 25 mb miles on Mary's Loop, Horsethief Bench and Troybilt.
I did all 10 miles of Mary's Loop for the first time ever!
30 March
Brett got 43 chilly, very windy miles on his road bike,
Bear Creek, Dino Ridge, Red Rocks, Chatfield, Platte River.
1 April
Brett did 20 rb miles to Chatfield and back, with five hill climbs,
while I did a whopping 9 miles, sidetracked by wildlife yet again!
2 April
Brett did 20 rb miles to Chatfield and back, with five hill climbs,
while I did 10 miles, stalking wildlife along the greenway again.
3 April
Brett did 20 rb miles to Chatfield and back, with five hill climbs,
and I did the full 14 miles to the dam and back, with no picture stops.
5 April
Brett did 27 mb miles on The Edge, but not all on his bike.
He spent at least an hour and a half portaging his bike
through up to two feet of snow on the north Bookcliffs aspects.
6 April
Brett did 50 mb miles and 10,000 feet elevation gain on multiple loops
of Mary's Loop, Horsethief Bench, Mack Ridge and Troybilt.
I did all 14 miles along Mary's Loop
and renewed my membership in the Over the Bar Scar Club.
7 April
Brett replaced his mountain bike brakes.
I did 20 flights of stairs on sore legs.
10 April
Brett pre-rode the first two Julian Death March loops, 57 miles.
12 April - Julian Death March
Brett finished two laps of the Death March
for 21st place overall and 5th in his class.
16 April
YIKES!!! We lost the transmission in our car!!!
17 April
Together we hiked about 9 miles of the East Rim Trail in Zion National Park.
19 April
I hiked about a mile in Bryce Canyon National Park.
Together we hiked about three miles in Snow Canyon State Park.
21 April
Together we hiked 13 miles in Kolob Canyon.
22 April
Together we hiked six miles in Snow Canyon State Park.
24 April
Our car is finally fixed, and we're heading home!
26 April
Brett got 31.5 miles on the road bike to Titan and back,
while I got 23.3 to Chatfield and back and doing the hill five times.
Felt SO good to get back on the bike!
27 April
Brett did 28.5 miles on the mountain bike in Waterton Canyon and on the Colorado Trail,
while I did 27.2 in the canyon, going back one mile the second time so I can claim 50 miles for the weekend.
We both have to be ready for 70 or more miles in two weeks.
28 April
Getting serious about training again!
I did 36 flights, 12 at a time, carrying a load.
Brett did 30 rb miles to Titan and back,
and I did 10.3 because I got off late and took pictures along the way.
3 May
Brett did 40 rb miles on his Dino Ridge Loop,
South Platte, Bear Creek, Dino Ridge, Red Rocks, C-470, Chatfield, South Platte,
then another 41 rb miles with me to Titan Road plus and back.
I got 30.7 miles to Titan Road and back.
4 May
Brett did 38 mb miles in Waterton and along the Colorado Trail,
I did 20.3 rb miles in a creative Chatfield loop.
6 May
Before work, Brett did 18 rb miles to Chatfield, with three hill climbs,
and I did 14.3 rb miles to Chatfield.
At lunch, I did 60 flights of stairs by the dozen.
8 May
Brett did 30 rb miles to Titan Road,
and I did 20.2 rb miles to Chatfield.
9 May
Before work I did 10.2 rb miles almost to Chatfield.
After work, Brett did 31.5 miles to Titan and back,
and I did 24.2 miles to and around Chatfield and back.
11 May
I did 12.2 rb miles to Chatfield in search of sunrise and wildlife.
In the afternoon, Brett did 45.6 miles up Bear Creek,
Dinosaur Ridge, Red Rocks, to Chatfield and back home on the South Platte,
while I did 28.2 miles to and around Chatfield to meet Brett and back.
15 May
60 flights of stairs by twelves.
16 May - National Bike to Work Day
Before work, 20.3 rb miles to Chatfield and back.
After work, 20.5 rb miles to Chatfield and back,
while Brett did 30 rb miles to Titan Road and back.
17 May - Buena Vista Century
Brett got 45 rb miles going up Independence Pass nearly twice
while I did 27.3 rb miles going up the pass once.
My best ride of the year!
19 May
I did 38 flights of stairs non-stop,
and Brett did 30 rb miles to Titan Road and back.
20 May
Brett did 30 rb miles to Titan Road and back.
21 May
I did 20.5 rb miles in a creative Chatfield loop.
22 May
Brett did 37.7 rb miles on the Iron Horse Classic route
while I did 32, both of us in the rain and wind.
They're predicting six to nine inches of new snow on the passes by tomorrow night.
24 May
The 37th annual Iron Horse Classic was canceled due to winter weather.
And the car started making clutch noises.
25 May
Brett did 35 rb miles up still-closed Independence Pass
while I did 26 miles.
27 May
Car goes back in for new throw-out bearing.
What a bear!
28 May
biopsy
Car comes home. It was under warranty! Whew!
29 May
Brett did 30 rb miles to Titan Road and back.
I climbed 60 flights, non-stop!
And I'm okay! No cancer!
30 May
I climbed 60 flights twice, non-stop!
After work, Brett did 30 rb miles to Titan and back
while I did 12 miles along the greenway.
31 May
Brett did 30 rb miles to Titan and back
while I did 14 miles to Chatfield and back.
They said bumps would hurt.
They do.
1 June - Elephant Rock
Brett did 101.7 miles
while I did 53.
2 June
Brett did 30 rb miles to Titan Road and back.
3 June
Brett did 30 rb miles to Titan Road and back.
4 June
Brett did 30 rb miles to Titan Road and back.
6 June
I did 9 rb miles to the greenway and back
and did the stairs twice non-stop, 60 flights.
Why only 9 miles??? See here.
Brett did 40 rb miles, Bear Creek, Dino Ridge, Red Rocks, Deer Creek Canyon, Chatfield, South Platte.
7 June
Brett did 36 rb miles up Squaw Pass to Echo Lake
while Karen and I did 16.6, Karen's first time ever.
9 June
I did 15 rb miles to Chatfield and back
while Brett did 46 rb miles, Bear Creek, Dino Ridge, Red Rocks, Deer Creek Canyon, Chatfield, South Platte.
10 June
I did 12 rb miles to the greenway and back
while Brett did 30 rb miles to Titan Road and back.
12 June
Stairs in the garage, 11 flights non-stop, twice.
60 flights by 15s with Joan.
21 windy rb miles to Chatfield and back,
with a stop at Qdoba and dinner to carry home in my Camelbak!
13 June
I did 25 rb miles around Chatfield and back
while Brett did 33 rb miles to Titan Road and back,
with three hill climbs.
14 June
I did 30 rb miles up Squaw Pass and back,
first time ever from the Evergreen side
and first time since my surgery.
Brett did 81 rb miles up Squaw Pass and Loveland Pass,
two thirds of the Triple Bypass.
If we'd been drawn for RtR, we'd be setting up in the tent city today.
15 June
I did 40.4 rb miles around Chatfield and back
and back out to Chatfield again and back,
the same mileage I'd have done from Durango to Cortez in RtR.
Brett did 30 rb miles to Titan Road and back.
16 June
I spent all my free time today retouching photos,
wishing I was pedaling up Lizard Head Pass with the RtR gang. :(
17 June
Brett did 30 rb miles to Titan Road and back.
18 June
I did 60 flights of stairs non-stop twice
and 21.4 rb miles to Chatfield and back.
19 June
Brett finished building his new Trek Madone!
20 June
Brett took his brand new bike out for its inaugural spin,
30 miles to Titan Road and back, and loves it!
Meanwhile, I did a whopping 11 miles, distracted by an extremely patient heron.
21 June
Brett had to take his new bike in for service
and then did 71 rb miles with two loops, the Dino Ridge and Titan.
I did 71 rb miles with two Titan loops and a trip to Invesco.
Okay, now I know I can do my 75 miles next weekend!
22 June
Not our best mileage day, but both of us got in significant climbs.
Brett made it to the top of Squaw Pass before the first bolt of lightning hit,
and I made it to treeline on Mount Evans before I had to turn back for the very same reason.
23 June
Brett's new Madone is back at home!
24 June
Brett did 50 rb miles on his new bike to Confluence Park and then to Titan Road.
I did 52.4 rb miles to Chatfield, to downtown, and then to Chatfield again.
25 June - Bike to Work Day
Brett's done 30 rb miles to Titan Road and back so far (more expected tonight),
and I have done 40 rb miles to Chatfield, then north to 50th Ave and back downtown so far.
(more miles expected tonight)
What an adventure! On my return to downtown,
a police car was blocking the bike path,
and an entire block around 15th and Platte was taped off
as a crime scene! I had to hike my bike up a riverbank
to find an alternate route.
UPDATE: At the end of the day, I had 60 miles.
Lightning prevented Brett from extending his mileage.
26 June
I did 52.4 miles again, same route as Tuesday.
I have a total of 164.8 miles in three days.
(Man, if I'd known that, I could have done two-tenths more of a mile last night!)
I'm saddle sore, but I'm ready for Saturday.
28 June - MS-150
This is not a race, BUT Brett came in 4th after 73 miles
I wasn't last, and I didn't SAG. :)
Also found out my bike computer is not properly calibrated.
I'm off by more than two miles every 73 miles!
Remember a couple of days ago when I would have pedaled
two-tenths of a mile more had I known that's all I needed?
I did that, and more! At least six miles more!
Heh heh, 170 miles in three days!!!
29 June - MS-150
Brett did 101 miles and came in 45th,
but most of those ahead of him did 22 miles less than he did.
I did 80 miles and felt like I could have done 20 more if I needed to.
My best MS-150 to date!
I enjoyed riding with friend Karen,
and the food this year was phenomenal.
Now the pressure's off for me;
I can ride because I want to, and that's the plan.
Brett still has one more biggie on the calendar,
and I'll enjoy my bike while he gets ready.
2 July
Brett did 40 rb miles, Dino Ridge/Titan Loop.
3 July
Brett did 30 rb miles to Titan Road and back,
and I did 14 rb miles to Chatfield and back.
It was good to get back on the bike!
4 July
Brett did all 120 miles of the Triple Bypass!
I did 41 miles up and down Squaw Pass and part of Vail Pass!
Brett's first 120-mile day ever, his first time doing
three mountain passes on a bike in a day ever,
and my first time ever doing more than one mountain pass in a day on my bike!
5 July
We both did 12 miles on the greenway
and got chased back home by lightning.
6 July
I did 21.3 rb miles to Chatfield and back.
Brett did that plus 42 miles over his Dino Ridge loop
for a total of 64 miles.
7 July
I did 14 rb miles to Chatfield and back
and didn't get 20 miles because of this.
Brett did 30 rb miles to Titan and back.
8 July
I did 18 rb miles to Chatfield and back.
Brett did 30 rb miles to Titan and back.
9 July
Brett did 30 rb miles to Titan and back.
I sewed and then stalked an egret.
11 July
Brett did 30 rb miles to Titan and back.
12 July
This probably will be my final entry of the year.
It has been one wild and crazy season!
We definitely saved the best for last.
Brett finished the 123-mile Triple Bypass
in 7:42 and was the 7th rider to cross the finish line!!!!!!!
We'll both keep on riding,
but this is the end of the organized ride training season.
For us, anyway.
Now we get to ride where we want
when we want
and as far as we want
with no pressure, other than to have fun.
Tailwinds! 'Til next year...
![Independence Pass](http://Snowcatcher.smugmug.com/photos/297814648_yUKho-M.jpg"){kind=link}
