Road Biking 101

Published April 12, 2014

Ironman training – Marathon, check. Swim distance, check. Cycling, hmmm.

As most of my Colorado peeps already know, I’m crazy fearsome of road biking. I can bang out 22 miles/hour indoors but experience anxiety/almost panic when it comes to riding alongside cars.

Day 1 cycling – managed a tour of the neighborhood; negotiated road to sidewalk.

Day 2 cycling – Lafayette, Erie, Community Park, Coal Creek Trail & downtown Louisville before riding home.

Felt way out of my comfort zone speeding downhill on Baseline from Lafayette to Erie. Emptied my stomach, then took a 20 minute break to clear my head, right myself, recenter.

All uphill coming back. Hills? Wait, I’ve got this. Cycling uphill is much more focused, controlled, almost rhythmic. Soared to the intersection at 95^th & waited for my friend Matt. Hey – how ‘bout we ride downtown?

Awesome ride before tomorrow’s snowstorm.

Crushing fears & making peace with road biking. 4 months ’til Ironman.

downtown Louisville

G-O-A-L!

Published April 6, 2014

My first live soccer match & I attend a National game. FAAAANNNNNTASTIC luck!

Scored 2 tickets on stubhub & drove to Denver (with my friend Matt) to watch Team USA (defending Olympic champions) play China at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, home of the Colorado Rapids.

Skies were overcast, then sunny, then dark grey – lotta rain clouds. Layers on, off, then on again – typical Colorado spring day. Luckily the weather cooperated; rain held out until the final 2 minutes.

The American women dominated this day – China relegated to defending both halves.

Final score – USA 2, China 0.

Could have been much worse – Team USA outshot the Chinese 23-1. U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!

: my first live match – SCORE!

: Dick’s Sporting Goods Park – home of the Rapids

Scotts Bluff, Western Nebraska

Published April 5, 2014

A short hour east of Wyoming, we continued our Oregon Trail journey thru Nebraska.

Another obligatory photo at the state sign change, then 30 minutes to Scotts Bluff – arriving well before 5pm when park rangers close key roads & the Visitors Center.

Quick stop at the Oregon Trail Museum (a bit dated, built in 1949), then UP to Scotts Bluff. Whereas the drive across Nebraska had been desolate, monotonous & void of people, Scotts Bluff was a geological surprise. Towering clay cliffs, SPECTACULAR views, massive gorges slicing thru the rolling landscape below – WOW, WOW, WOW!

Ash & Tom nabbed their first Nebraska geocache before hitting rural roads south, ultimately merging with I-80 West to Cheyenne.

Dinner? Heck yeah. Stopped at T-Joes Steakhouse & Saloon where Ash, Tom & my friend Matt threw back a shot of whiskey & ordered a plate of red meat. when in Wyoming, right? 🙂 Started with “cowboy caviar” — Rocky Mountain oysters. Yep, an all-cowboy meal — even my fish was breaded & deep fried to death. LOL>

Forgot how much fun road tripping can be. LOVED LOVED this day – looking forward to summer!