Cross Country Skiing

I have found a new winter love! Cross country skiing at Sprague Brook on the hiking trail. It is a great workout, you get away from all the people on the regular trail, and you get to see some beautiful scenery! What more do you need.

I just wish snowshoe running was as easy as cross country skiing is. I do not realistically seeing myself competing this year in that snowshoe marathon. I am having trouble hitting 6 miles on the snowshoes, much less 26 miles. There is a 10K race this weekend in Rochester that I am hopefully doing and that will give me a good gauge on my snowshoe running fitness level.

I really need to bring my camera with me though so I can provide some nice pictures to this blog of mine. Would make it look a lot neater than just my stories!

Happy New Year

Well training has begun in ernest for the TransIowa. I took the bikes out over the weekend and got over 50 total miles in. It should be more, but it is better than nothing right now with how the weather can be this time of the year. My plan is to ride both weekend days and then a couple days during the week - weather and work permitting. I will ride before I go swimming when possible or at night after work. Then I will run on the opposite schedule.

One thing for sure is that I will have to increase my caloric intake. I dropped 2 pounds last week being sick and I need to regain that. I do not want to be any lighter right now.

I need to remember to take my camera with me because there were some beautiful pictures I could have snapped yesterday. Next time :)

Snowshoeing and Snowbiking

Well it is here! We got about 8" of snow today and I was out snowshoeing (painfully I might add :) ) and then I had the bike out the last 2 days also. I feel like taking it out again but I don't think Jane will be too hip with that so I am going to take it easy and let the legs rest.

I wish I brought my camera home from work so that I could take some pictures and post them but I forgot! Maybe next week I can get some good pictures for this blog!

I am doing some maintenance on the bike right now. I want to keep it running smooth this winter even thought it is going to get salt and grime all over it. I think I will take it to the shower and give it a good once over!

You guys have a great weekend and enjoy this beautiful weather!

Weather

This is my first rant in this blog so I figured it might as well be about the weather.

So we have had some awesome snow falling this early in the year and then we get this disgusting heavy rain that ruins the good base for snowshoeing and cross country skiing!!! And I am not very happy about it either!

Then yesterday I get to go to Houston, TX for 1 day and it is 43 degrees there. Now I don't mind 43 degrees in Buffalo (especially if it is not raining) but when I travel for 20 hours in 1 day I would like to see the sunshine and be able to enjoy being outside without a coat on!

Now it is snowing again and we are supposed to get some heavy snow this weekend also. I hope the rain stays away because my sister is coming to town the week after Christmas and I would like to do some skiing or snowshoeing with her.

Training is progressing for the snowshoe marathon and TransIowa. Just working on building up the base to be able to complete both and will look to competing in both next year with more speed over that type of distance and time!

This is all about the journey to the destination right now. What that destination is? I will let you know when I figure it out!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year if I don't post again!

Training Has Begun In Ernest

Well this weekend the training has really begun for both the snowshoe marathon and TransIowa.
Yesterday I did a 4 mile snowshoe run then took the mountain bike out in the afternoon during a lovely lake effect snow storm and got in a little more than 1 1/2 hours ride time. I bit it hard in the park on some ice on the road but all was good.

Today I was going to do some cross country skiing but Jane was having a party and I felt I should help her out so I did a workout after Jake's basketball game (which he was the star of :) ) and did my interval walk, 3/4 mile swim, and 26 mile mountain bike ride home from the Y. I was pushing the Felt with low tire pressure so it was pretty slow and high effort but it was fun. The legs are sore tonight and I have a long run scheduled tomorrow. Need to figure out if I am doing it on snowshoes or the road - somehow I think snowshoes will win out in the end.

Have a great weekend.

BTW - I got sponsored by Brooks so look for more information on that coming up real soon!

Trans Iowa Version 5

Well I made it into the Trans Iowa Version 5. The race is scheduled for May 2nd-3rd. My goal is to complete the race in the alloted time but a set distance and time has not been determined yet. I am also registered for a Snowshoe Marathon the first week of March in Vermont.

What does all of this mean - A lot of a variety of training. I started snowshoe running, did some cross country skiing this weekend at Sprague Brook Park, will continue to work on my upper body strength, and keep at building my endurance base on the bike and running.

My main concern is overtraining leading to an injury so I need to listen to my body and take it easy when necessary!

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

I AM IN

Well it is official - I am in for the 2009 TransIowa Version 5.

Here is the link to the blog for the event: http://transiowa.blogspot.com/

So what exactly does this mean? It means a lot of biking to be sure coming up this winter. Coupled with the snowshoe marathon in March this will be a full winter of training! The marathon plan is simple. Just follow the marathon plan I did last year, but incorporate runs on snowshoes to get stronger. I know the biking I will be doing will help with the snowshoeing as well so that will be good cross-training.

I am still going to get in the pool and work on my swimming, but running and riding will be main focus for the next 6 months.

My next goal is to decide which bike will work the best for me in the future. I need a mix for road (selling the Cannondale), commuting (selling the Bianchi and Raleigh), cyclo-cross racing, triathlons, and endurance events. Sounds like a daunting exercise but I know the perfect bike is out there - just have to find it, get the finances together, and make the motion!

If you have any suggestions please let me know!