It's Hell's Kitchen...and Gordon Ramsey dare not tread!

If you can’t stand the HEAT, get out of the Kitchen…and at a heat index of 104 F in North Texas, the entire region is now a very Hot Kitchen with no other rooms to retreat to…especially if you are training.

We sit right in the middle of July…theoretically ½ way through the summer and I am feeling the cumulative effects of the sultry temps.

The Hotter N Hell 100 mile bike race is a little over a month away. (I have to clarify bike race. When I mentioned a 100 mile race, I typically get the question, “Running or riding?”) I feel ready and have great training rides. This past Saturday, we rode 75 miles in the morning and on Sunday hammered 30 miles at 3:30 in the smoking afternoon. My legs and body feel great….a testament to all my bootcamps, running, weight training and infamous core work. But there is something else I have noticed…and I think it’s the heat.

I am tired a lot of the time…like dragging butt tired. I recover well, there is no physical soreness, I am adamant about hydration/electrolyte intake…and yet I am exhausted all the time. Not so much mental or emotional…but physical.

After Hotter N Hell 100 miler and ½ marathon trail race, I will take some time off…ok…maybe not completely off, but will definitely dial it back a bit …for a week or so…

So until next time…ride on…run on…

Let's Ride....into the wind...and no, it's not a Christopher Cross Song

Alright...week 2 on the old fixie...Saturday morning...was going to be a packed day...ballgames...birthday parties...and oh...the bike ride.

So at 0700 I found myself in the saddle heading North...into a 20 to 25 MPH wind....dang....this is harder than it's suppose to be....all my cycling/tri buddies...quit laughing ;-)...I have 2 gears...in the saddle and out of the saddle...but still enjoyed the thrill of the ride. Heading south...oh so much more fun....cruising no effort....24 mph...when it was all said and done the 2nd ride was a 41 miler...so much more to learn...and so much room for improvement.

On Sunday I got up at 0530 for a 10 mile barefoot run just to get the running legs going. (actually only the first 6 miles were barefoot (Vibram Five Fingers) and the last 4 with real shoes...I have begun to feel the difference in my form change...and I think that is a good thing. Back at the house...before everybody else gets up so I can cook breakfast for my wife on Mothers Day...and yes, I showered first...geeze...give be a break....you have already laughed at me for lamenting the fact I actually had to ride into the wind. ;-)

Full disclosure...and I am being serious about this...for an Ultra Marathoner....I feel out of shape...I can't tell you when the last time I went for a 6 hour run...and I would be lying to you if I said that there is not a small amount of concern with this. My overall fitness is as good as is has ever been...but my endurance is off a bit. I will reassess, but I think by the end of summer I want to be doing a 4 to 5 hour trail run with not much problem. This will spring board me into the fall training with the Rocky Racoon 100 mile Ultra event next February.

So I close with this...I have felt a little like a fish outta water with the new cycling thing. All you cycling peeps that have sent messages of encouragement have made a guy feel very welcome into this new sport I have undertaken. My good pal, Ultra marathoner and triathlete, Kari Kennedy is a great athlete and better person...She is going to get me into some group rides....she says....those are real fun....I inquired...."even on a fixed gear?"

The picture below is one of my favorites....My daughter, Hope who is an absolute riot...and at the age of 4...we are already on the same wavelength....YIKES!!!