Read Leader

Camping and Run

2011-07-08T06:26:00.000-07:00

Stealth Camping

Last night it looked like a great, if windy night, to go string my Hennessy hammock up between some trees in the woods. It was the first time this year that I've camped out. Sleeping outdoors in the hammock is great fun, cool, listening to the breeze and the whine of mosquitoes (protected from them by the netting), all in the comfort of the hammock. Late in the night I found it a little chilly but that mostly just made me want to stay in the sleeping bag. When I get closer to doing bikepacking trips I'll probably look at a different bag, and maybe a ground pad and bivy. We'll see.

Right about when the sky started getting light I woke up, huddled in the sleeping bag for a few more minutes, then slipped on out of the bag and hammock. I strapped my spot onto my arm and headed out for a morning run up through town and back.

It was a great morning for a run. I stuck to the huaraches for the first leg down to the trail and then ran barefoot for a while until I started feeling a couple hot spots that I noticed the other day. Not really wanting blisters I slipped the huaraches back on and continued running. I made it back up to our street before the plantar fasciitis acted up in my right foot. I ended up walking a bit then to let it relax, but not nearly as much as my last run. Ended up with a better time. Took care of our animals and sat down to ice my foot, drink a banana/blueberry coconut milk smoothie, and write this. Good way to start the day.

Endurance Training

2011-07-07T06:06:00.001-07:00

I never considered myself an endurance athlete. Or really any kind of athlete. Sure, I did track and field in school, I lifted weights, I went without a car and walked or rode a bike pretty much everywhere until a few years ago. But the bar set by my parents was always so high that I didn't really think of myself as an athlete. Both of my parents are my heroes, and they both run tons of miles. They'd totally run me into the ground. My dad has completed several ultras including the Leadville 100 mile run!

Gradually I started following other folks online like Kent Peterson and Jill Homer, doing fantastic things like the Tour Divide. And the bug bit. It sounded incredible, impossible, but I started following the race. I watched Ride the Divide several times and started dreaming. Could I possibly do something like that? At my age? At my weight? Hard to imagine!

Then on a bright sunny day I took a self-portrait so I'd have a recent picture to include with an article. Wow, I look fat!

At that point I wasn't really exercising and my eating habits needed changing. I'd heard about primal/paleo diets, eating with an eye toward eating the sort of foods we evolved to eat rather than what we started eating after agriculture came about, and thought it made a lot of sense. I talked it over with my wife and she agreed to take the plunge. We eliminated most processed, refined foods, grains and sugar. I read Mark Sisson's The Primal Blueprint and started looking at other books. And the pounds came off.

Back in May I posted my first 'before/during' picture of the changes, down 27 lbs at that point. I've gone down more since then, having lost 30 lbs now (with some weight gain during the short story workshop).

I'm feeling so much better these days! Running, cycling, all of it seems much more possible now. I went out this morning and ran 3.54 miles. The brakes on my trike are out of commission right now but as soon as I fix those I'm planning to ride much more than I've been riding lately. I figure I have another 10-20 lbs to drop before I get to pretty much an ideal weight and I have a long ways to go yet in building endurance and strength.

For the first time I'm starting to feel like it is possible. I think Kevin J. Anderson has the right idea in combining activity with writing. I don't know that I'll dictate my books, but I certainly want to keep active, keep moving and exploring.

#30DaysofBiking: Day 3 Fail

2011-04-03T18:20:00.000-07:00

It didn't take long to miss a day! I was busy yesterday, doing other things, and just didn't get out on the trike at all. Doesn't matter. I'm going to keep trying to get out each day for at least a few miles.

I do have a small mechanical problem with the trike I need to solve. The chain keeps coming off one of the rear idlers. I'd left the guard off when I removed the chain tensioner and shortened the chain, so I need to put that back on. I thought the chain was tight enough that it wasn't necessary but that's clearly not the case.

#30DaysofBiking: Day 2 Sun Breaks

2011-04-03T18:18:00.000-07:00

Sun Breaks

Once again I didn't find the time in the morning to ride, so I headed out after work. It had rained off and during the day, even had hail coming down at one point. When I was setting out it rained on me a bit but I soon got under a break in the clouds and enjoyed some sunshine. Despite the sun it felt colder than yesterday and the wind was blowing harder. It wasn't too bad on the way out but was much harder riding into on the way home. I only went a few miles before turning around and heading home again. Fun, but I'm really hoping for some better weather!

#30DaysofBiking: Day 1 Cold, Refreshing Rain

2011-04-01T18:16:00.000-07:00

Water Over Trail

I first read about this over on Kent's Bike Blog and thought it was a fun idea. I've done similar challenges in the past and I had actually already signed up for a wellness challenge at work to do some activity each day so this fits in well. I can do both challenges at the same time! Bonus points! Then in May there's the Thurston County Bicycle CommuterContest to do, and in June I think I'll do my Mock Tour Divide Challenge again. I guess I'll put some miles on the trike!

I didn't get an early start this morning so instead of a morning ride I headed out for an evening spin. I didn't go far, just out down the trail a bit and then back. Cold, refreshing rain pounded on me as I headed down the street. A short distance on I reached the trail and turned toward Yelm. I considered riding all the way to Yelm and back, but ended up figuring I didn't need to push that hard tonight. I might ride to work tomorrow, so I didn't want to wear myself out too much. I know, it isn't far for many people but six miles was enough for me tonight!