December 22nd, 2009 by Patrik
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Time for the annual 100/100 Run Challenge (login required) on Slowtwitch.com. Now in it’s 4th year, the challenge is to run 100 times in 100 days. The rules are simple, run a minimum of 30 minutes and it counts. Once a day for 100 days, or double up a day and earn yourself a day off – or finish over 100. The challenge started 12/15. Nathan is also participating!
Last year I managed 88 runs, 529 miles. This year, I’m shooting for the full 100 runs. Today is Day 8 and so far I’m getting my runs in. The first 7 have been on the treadmill, and today I finally got one in outside, 4.14 miles along the Charles River. It was cold, windy, snowy, but glorious to be off the treadmill. As an added bonus, I’m 41 miles away from hitting 1500 running miles on the year. Go me!
December 21st, 2009 by Nathan
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Since I’m stuck without my bike for two weeks, I thought I’d post a picture of a recent ride up above the Golden Gate Bridge into the Marin Headlands.
I have a goal to make it all the way out to the Marin Headlands Visitor Center and back to San Francisco. On this particular ride, I only made it part way. But the views were still fantastic.
November 25th, 2009 by Nathan
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It wasn’t so bad. It wasn’t raining. I wasn’t stuck on the shoulder of a major highway. I even had a view of Alcatraz and San Francisco. All while I changed my flat tire.
I guess that’s why I carry my mini-pump, spare tube, and tire levers. I hadn’t changed a tire in several years, but apparently I still know how to get it done. Sorta like… riding a bike.
Aside from the one look of pity from a walker who I passed as I flatted, I didn’t get a lot of love from fellow cyclists. I guess when they see you have a pump out, they know you’re all set.
Speaking of getting some love from fellow cyclists, why not follow us on Facebook or Twitter. Then you’ll always be in the know when one of us gets a flat, puts 100 miles on a brand new Specialized Tarmac, or ditches his car and commutes to work by bike.
October 20th, 2009 by Nathan
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I’m going to talk about me (Nathan) for a minute. To monitor my progress as I get back into running, I started using a GPS and heart rate monitor to monitor my speed and heart rate. I’ve notice my heart rate gets going at about 180-185 BPM at a 9:30 pace. At that pace, I can hold a conversation, I can speed up if needed, and I seem to be able to sustain that pace for a few miles.
At 31 years of age, I’m pretty sure my max heart rate is supposed to be somewhere around 189 BPM (220 minus my age) and I shouldn’t be able to maintain anything above 90% of that which puts me at about 180 BPM. But, 180-185 BPM seems to be where I find myself running.
Until today.
Today I went out and my feet were pounding the pavement a little faster and my heart was pounding in my chest a little slower. On a 3.75 mile run, my pace averaged 9:07 with a heart rate of 172 BPM. I dropped 10 to 20 seconds off my pace and 5 to 10 BPM off my heart rate. Nice. Love seeing progress.
Maybe one day I’ll be as fast as Patrik and Dave. I have all winter to catch up. For now, I’ll just be a little proud of a little improvement.
October 12th, 2009 by Nathan
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Nathan’s new bike arrived this afternoon. After jumping up and looking out the window anytime a truck drove by and one false alarm when a UPS driver delivered a package to the neighbors, my bike and pedals showed up in a couple boxes. The UPS driver loaded the boxes onto his dolley and said, “Oh. These are light.” Yeah. They better be.
The new bike is a 2006 Specialized Tarmac Pro. Obviously, it’s not a new bike, but it’s new to me. So I say that counts.
Next step is to put it together for real. Right now the bolts are tight enough to hold it together but not to ride. I also need some handlebar tape, a chain pin, and a quick tune up. Then I need shoes, a helmet, and shorts and a jersey. Plus a floor pump, a frame pump, probably a spare tube, a seat pack…
October 4th, 2009 by Patrik
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Hello from New Hampshire. Just arrived at the Smuttynose half marathon in Hampton NH. Race starts at 10am, about one hour from now. Waiting for David to arrive. It’s brisk and breezy here, but looks super flat around here. Here’s hoping for a PR.
I’ve been up since 4:30am. Kids didn’t want to sleep last night so that’s not much fun. My wife stayed home with the kids in lieu of coming to the race. 2 hrs driving each way and three hrs hanging around Hampton probably not the most fun in the world. Though it won’t be easy staying home with two tired and grumpy children. I’m pretty sure I owe her one. Or two.
The walkers are about to start so I’ll go check out that exciting start. And maybe go change.
I’ll update later, hopefully not midrace. Read on for the exciting conclusion.
» Read more: Smuttynose Half Marathon
September 22nd, 2009 by Patrik
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David and I (Patrik) are planning a century ride… my 2nd ever 100 mile effort, and David’s first. Tentatively we’re plannig to ride the TFCE route sometime next month (October 2009). The goal isn’t really to ride for 100 miles straight. It’s more of a … at our current fitness level, can we ride 100 miles without killing ourselves? I think the plan is to ride about 35-45 miles, have a meal, ride some more, have another meal and then ride some more. You know, since we’ll have to do that every day as we traverse the country, we should start practicing it.
September 22nd, 2009 by Patrik
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Welcome to our blog. We’re just a couple of average Joe’s crazy enough to commit to riding our bicycles across this great land of ours. Follow our blog here, on Facebook and Twitter as we train, plan, prepare and ride across the United States in 2011.
