Here Comes Santa Claus, Here Comes.....

swiped photo from spidermonkey's blog...

Well Christmas is almost here. I don't know what's up this year but I'm just not down with all the festive cheer. Things are very good though. I have so many blessings to be thankful for too. My job is hanging by a thread due to the economy, but everything else is great. Austin is good, Angie's doing great too. My family is fine, I just don't get it this year. Good news is I'm not running around sayin' Ba Humbug . Maybe I have caught the winter blahs early?

My quest to lose some weight is going ok. I'm down three pounds so far since December 1st. Anything in the -neg range is good news. I'm not one to over-complicate things. I like it simple, "KISS" (keep it simple stupid). The more simple the better it is to me. I do tend to over-analyze things though, due to the fact I can think about crap too much while driving at work. Like losing the weight I want to lose. I thought long and hard, 'how do I get back to the weight of '07?' Eat less and workout more? Simple huh? I didn't have any plan of attack, nor did I incorporate any training or diets into '07 but yet I lost 15 lbs! The only thing that I can remember changing was what time I ate at night. Nothing after 7pm! I only broke that rule on Thursdays after finishing the TNR (Thursday night ride) @ Buck's Pizza, now called Knight's. I rode the piss out of Buffalo mtn though. I would hit the front and back sides three times each before I would let myself head home during the week. I did that almost every week for about 4 months straight.

I even entertained the thought of maybe getting a trainer, but I see these "professional" trainers trying to pick up new clients. I have only seen "trainers" have a great effect on two people in the last three years. To me, if a trainer is recruiting clients, he's\she's being interviewed by potential clients every time he\she competes. Their performance is their resume' to me. I personally don't think trainers are worth the $$ unless you have a very serious goal in mind like winning some National championship or some SERIOUS personal goal. To do that you should be SERIOUS and DEDICATED or its a waste of time, just my opinion, opinions are like rear ends- everyone has one! But I'm a real person with a normal life-with child, normal job with more than normal work hours living in the real world-with bills-NOT AN EXCUSE! Just being realistic yo. I'm not a professional cyclist and will never be, nor do I strive to be. I have watched riders around my area get better, beat everyone around here, then strut around and develop serious attitudes. Seriously acting like they could drop a large world class pro peloton.....I'm serious man! When in all reality they only beat a bunch of really good local guys. Now don't get me wrong, I love to go fast and its ALOT of fun hammering with a large group of riders. I guess what I'm writing here is that I want to get the speed and weight that I had last year (07) but I don't want to get over-serious training and lose sight of having fun and make it all "work" so to speak. I ride, because I love riding my bike. I race because its fun. It also adds the benefit of staying fit mentally and physically. I guess its one thing at a time. Get the weight down, watch what time I consume my meals and get ready to do alot of climbing near my house (it's only 4 miles to the top of Buffalo from my drive). I will though, add some (already have) Pilate's for my core since I'm weak as a 2nd grader in my core strength. Plyometrics will also be added, I have been doing this about three weeks now and I really enjoy doing it. This plan worked last year without it being a 'plan', so common sense says it should work again. I'm not looking to hit a ton of races but the ones I do hit I would like to perform well in. My secondary focus is to be in great shape for CX season next year to compete in the 45+ class. I graduate next year......yeah.

Endurance racing is out for me this year. I was at a 12 hr event this year and watched this dude pitted beside me, run 11 laps (10mi. laps) and looked strong after each lap in 95 degree humid as hell weather. I don't have that in me and I'm not afraid to admit it!!!! You have to workout and train a completely different way for that crazy stuff. I think it hurts ya if your going back and forth between normal and endurance racing. If I try that again, I will be with my friends stopping for beers and not being rushed to get more laps. I will cheer my buds on at these venues fo sho though. So one thing at a time I guess. When the weight goes the fitness on the bike will follow. Get ready Santa will be here soon...........

Later G.................................