Up a Mountain / Down a Beer

Time to get back into the swing of things!! That last post as Brownie pointed out was pretty pathetic, I guess I should stop the belly aching whining and just deal. So here it is, Since then I took a step back from the ‘puter (which was cathartic) and spent time outdoors hiking around and riding a bit. I also took some time to do nothing, no work no scheduled play no nothing. I threw my schedule out the door and wandered. I looked at the clouds and the wild flowers noticed the birds and abundance of lady bugs. I even relocated a few of the ladybugs onto my aspen where some aphids had taken hold and joyously watched the lady bugs feast!!! I also enjoyed a run-bike-run day. After all of this quiet time I have re-focused and now am back in the saddle.

That being said I have a few events scheduled in the near future:

• Summer Round Up 12K
• Ride the Monarch Crest Trail on the single speed
• Guide a trip up Mt Massive (Colorado’s 2nd highest peak)
• Race in the Pikes Peak Ascent
• Race my 1st marathon Xterra TRS

and way off in the future run a 50 and 100 miler. I am sure you are wondering where all of the cycling is and trust me it will be interspersed. I am not to sure of the racing this season but perhaps this fall. Goals are after all the next sunrise and the desert after the feast, but I usually just do things and rarely train. Hmmm on second thought I don’t think I have ever really trained. I am not suggesting this will change but I am attempting to at least focus and work towards the 50 and 100 mile goals.

Now that the fog of self loathing has lifted I also want to send out a book recommendation. I am currently reading Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. This book is an inspiring and wildly humorous look into the depths of a little known tribe of ultra running booze hounds hidden deep in Mexico’s Copper Canyon. Relatively unchanged for hundred of years this amazing tribe has managed to figure it all out using no money and having none of the major social issues that plague modern society this is a simple tribe of runners and drinkers and Christopher McDougall weaves an exceptional tale through this mystical tribe and their exceptional running ability.  Dont think this book is only for runners, it was written to open the mind to the beauty and grace of the human machine in its finest form.

Although Summer has just officially begun (June 21), I feel like we are on the downward slide. Slipping into shorter days with delusions of colder weather on the horizon, it will in fact get warmer yet! I am not sure why I am at the psychological impasse concerning the changing weather, but I think it is due to the fact my wife is working a lot. Code Man and I are busy everyday working on the house/yard and we spend Friday through Monday on the farm tending the crops and working 2 local farmers markets. I also am recovering from an ankle injury which has kept me off of the trails.

This has all led to the realization that I am also getting fat. Well maybe I was before but now being less “fun” active I am realizing that I have slipped into a pasty white bowl of lardy chubbiness. I do still have a killer farmers tan and yes it is from farming and unfortunately not from riding. And my beer fridge currently has 10+ gallons of cold beer in it. Usually the beer would not last so long but it is difficult to find the time, yes you heard me I am having difficulty finding the time to drink cold beers!! I should explain, I am not drinking beers at the end of the day because I have a 2yo and have been flying solo with him most evenings due to my wife’s recent work schedule. I know a few beers wouldn’t hurt but in all reality I need to be here for my son should he need me which ultimately equals me being SOBER, and we all know the slippery slope that one beer can lead to many.

Back to the beginning, I feel summer is waning because it seems like I am far from the free floating who knows who cares general feeling of the summer months. Instead I am busy with child rearing, tending a farm and keeping up the house work. But now since you have allowed me to suck you deep into this depressing scene I implore you to take full advantage of your summer, get outside plan to play, if necessary call in sick if you work, go for a hike and get crazy enjoy those small yet balancing things such as a cold beer at the end of a long day. Appreciate it and absorb it all for all to soon we will be embraced by the cold dry winds and winter will be upon us all!

Pretty sweet that this competition is coming to the Springs! It is to be held at the 7-Eleven velodrome from Aug 18-23, 2009. If you are wondering what this is all about here is an article on track racing and this one is about the championship moving to the Springs. Imagine a bunch of quad heavy cyclists running skinny tires around a banked track with no brakes. Yeah NO BRAKES!!! This is going to be awesome!!!

Oh and if you wanna get your track fix on the 7-11 U.S. Olympic Training Center Velodrome Colorado Springs is open for training weekly.

• Tuesdays - 1pm - 5pm
• Thursdays - 1pm - 5pm
• Saturdays - 9am - 6pm
• Sundays - 9am - 3pm

Racing is held at the Velodrome on Tuesday and Thursday evenings - Registation at 5:30pm.

Now if the big boys on the big bikes is too much for you there is always the PIXIE racing held at Ground Up Designs shop every Monday evening in their soon to be world famous dizzy drome!!

GET SOME!

Well folks I coulda told you this was coming! Apparently the European Union has decided to impose a ban on selling iodine as a means to kill little nasties in your water starting October 25th of this year. For years the CDC has been griping about iodine use simply because it is something that people might dose improperly or use for a prolonged time. Being one of the lightest means of disinfecting backcountry water it is no doubt going to be missed by campers in all 27 of the EU’s member states, what this does mean is that filter makers, UV sterilizers and all of the other companies have a new found opportunity to impress upon the ever growing hoards of hikers that their product is the best. Which hopefully leads to new advancements and ingenuity in product development as well as hopefully a price drop across the board.

And you should also be aware that this could ultimately lead to the US banning it as well…unless of course this is seen as a position of weakness to which the US will never submit and we shall for ever be proud of our water dressed in brown and lack of goiters.

Everyone has at some time experienced some form of dehydration, whether it is due to a few to many cold beers or a few too many miles on the trail. Heck even simply sitting on the couch you can dehydrate. These are the basic tried and true signs and symptoms of dehydration:

1. Craving Fluids (already 2% dehydrated)

2. Fatigue

3. Unstable emotions

4. Diminished production of urine

5. Dark, smelly urine

6. Taught skin

7. Delay in return of pink color after pressing your fingernail

8. Deepened groove on the center line of your tongue.

If out of water look to these recommendations to prolong your survival:

1. Decrease the amount of food that you eat.

2. Limit physical activity.

3. Wear light-colored clothing.

4. Walk during the morning and during the evening when it is the coolest.

5. Find shade to rest in during the hottest part of the day.

The reason hydration is so important is the fact that we are basically a big bag of fluid and with out replenishing our internal fluids we will dry out and well plain and simply die!

There are 3 categories of heat related issues:

Heat Cramps: brief but painful involuntary muscle spasms. They usually occur in the muscles being used during the exercise, and are a result of insufficient liquid intake.

Heat Exhaustion: difficulty breathing, headache, feeling hot on head and neck, dizziness, heat cramps, chills, nausea, irritability, vomiting, extreme weakness or fatigue.

Heatstroke: rapid and shallow breathing, rapid heartbeat, unusually high or low blood pressure, lack of sweating, mental confusion and disorientation, unconsciousness, physical collapse.

These will often progress rapidly from one to the other and often times the victim does not realize what is going on until there are well on their way to heatstroke which is basically one and a half feet in the grave!!

Most people think that drinking water will help them avoid these issues and for the most part it will, however drinking only water leave you open to Hyponatremia which is the result of not replenishing your salts and electrolytes, with out replinishing these you are killing yourself as well. So remember water is GOOD but you need to take in electrolytes as well to maintain a healty balance.

Another point I want to make is that just because you are not drenched in sweat does not mean you are not losing water! You will dehydrate in any and all environments from desert to rain forests and from the concrete jungles to alpine summits.

Remember BEAT THE HEAT DRINK WATER!!

After this last weekend Arapahoe Basin has officially closed down for the summer, which also officially marks the end of my ski season. A-Basin is known for a yearly battle with Loveland for claims of first US resort open, as well as staying open late enough to offer 4th of July skiing when snow conditions permit. It’s one of my favorite mountains because of their unique mix of extreme terrain while still maintaining a very humble, small-mountain attitude. The picture above was actually taken the week before closing, during the pond skimming contest. (I wanted to write about this last week but I was on the road.) As with most events, pond skimming at A-Basin wasn’t the big production that Vail puts on with PA systems and product and sponsor banners everywhere, rather it was a small crowd of friendly folks supporting each other and cheering everyone on. The fellas above opted for swimwear (probably a smart decision) while others went with afro wigs, mini skirts, and even one prom dress. Skiers, snowboarders, and a biker all hit the pond…..wait, a biker?!?

See you next year Arapahoe Basin!