Lets Shine on '09

With the calender having changed it's numbers, it is time for me to reassess my numbers. Overall, my health and fitness progress to this point is going rather well. I feel stronger, less labored after last years efforts. This should carryover to next seasons ridding with stronger start in March. Weather permitting I should be able to get some road miles in in March. Currently I'm far more productive with my current training regiment, than to ride around the block for the sake of a ride. Not to mention what the salt does to equipment...!

This winter I'm doing a lot of cross training. I'm back in the gym after a 7 months away. Does it ever feel GREAT!!!!! Also have over 20 miles of X-C skiing in too. That's a blast!!!! I bought the skis at the end of last winter and only used them once. This year we have lots of snow, and now that I've figured it out...its loads of fun and a superb workout to boot. I did notice towards the end of last season where my shoulders and neck lost quite a bit of strength. My son Peter has joined me this year. He's 6'4' and skinny as a rail. we should be able to get a little muscle on him. Already he's sniveling about his poor muscles being sore. This a good sign, it means the workouts are doing there intended purpose. A few goals in the gym are to restrengthen neck, abs and lower back. Isolate calves, abductors and inductors. This , along with the regime I'm doing on the trainer is already showing great benefits. Yes the trainer is not the same as riding on the road. If I just sat there and spun at an easy pace then I would not be accomplishing a dam thing. I find the hour I spend on the trainer in a vigorous workout, to be a far greater workout than an hour on the road in the cold. I've always worked outside up until the last few years, and fully aware of the decrease in production in the cold. All this is designed to get me in better condition to climb hills. Real hills, not these little bumps in the road I currently ride on. Like the ones over near Warsaw, Middlebury, Attica and Weathersfield, those are the ones I hope to ride up with better results next season. Then I may be able to tackle the likes of Ithaca, Westfield, and North Creek without feeling like I died when I reach the top. If market conditions in the business world improve this year the quantity of miles may decrease, so next seasons rides will be orientated more towards quality of training rather than quantity.

A new twist this winter is to train for the Rochester Spring Classic Duathlon in May. That will be 2m run/ 10m bike/1m run/ 10bike/ 2 run. The goal here is not to finish last. Piece of cake!!!! I also have my eye set on a couple 5 and 10K's too.