I Am Shipping Up To Boston

The atmosphere was electric. These Bostonians take their baseball seriously and the only thing that comes in a close second is the bratwurst on a bun you buy behind the Green Monster of Fenway Park.







Bren and I had flown into Boston early on Saturday morning, an afternoon nap and a subway ride later, and we found ourselves in Section 15, Row 8 of the legendary Fenway Park. They were playing my beloved Texas Rangers, who won the four game series 3-1…but that night was the Red Sox’s night, and I was not disappointed. Extra Innings, singing “Sweet Caroline” in the 8th inning…all part of an incredible experience of a baseball fan.

The 5 days, north of the Mason Dixon Line, with just me in my wife was a great break from work, day to day life in Texas, and parenting. My mom and dad watched the kids and we resided along the Charles River.

We did all the normal Boston things…the Freedom Trail, the Boston Commons, trips to Harvard and MIT…and even a day spent on the Cape…of course lots of seafood…and all that entails. What a wonderful time with my wife.





A break from “life” also meant that training waned a bit as well. I did do one upper body weight work out and one morning I did run 6 miles along the Charles River. Additionally to that, you need to be in good shape to go on vacation with Bren and me. We walk….a lot…average of over 10 miles a day.

So this weekend, I was back on the bike after a 2 week hiatus. Saturday was a 65 mile group ride at an average of 19 mph and a pace line of about 24 mph. It was my first pace line and I think I kept from screwing it up too bad. On Sunday…well a solo ride of 32 miles with an average of 19.9 mph.

We are a month out from the Hotter N Hell 100 mile bike race and ½ marathon the next day. I am riding for 2 individuals that are currently one of the 28 million in the battle of cancer…Carolyn Boyd and Sarah Grace. On Saturday Evening, we went to a celebration dinner for Sarah Grace…she has completed 6 months of chemo therapy. She is a beautiful 8 year old girl…who is sweet and tough as nails…and inspires me to push on…even when it hurts. LIVESTRONG!

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…

ATHENA - Greek Goddess of War

I know I have been delinquent in posting. It’s busy for TEAM ELLIOTT….really busy…and throw in training…being a dad…and a husband….and the blog suffers so be it….you will get over it.

So here are some random thoughts…

The Tour de France is in full swing. I watch it every year, but this year have a whole new perspective on it. It is always on in our house in the evening, and this week my 4 year old, while watching it, exclaims, “Look Mom, there’s Dad!” Too Funny…I wish Hope!

So on Saturday, we had some rain…and not wanting to reenact Stage 2 of this year’s Tour decided to do something different…I ran 10 miles, then went up to the Y and did 30 minutes of fast paced upper body work, and then 2 spin classes back to back….for a total of about 4 hours of aerobic work. The instructor did not show up for the second spin class…so yours truly taught it. My first every class…my wife was in there and said I kicked everyone’s butt. I wanted to do some lactic acid threshold work….so a lot of the hour was going into and coming out of anaerobic….poor class.

And so I have decided on a name for the Trek bike…I have been reading the Percy Jackson Series with my 9 year old boy Luke (we each read the book seperately then discuss - he loves it) ...they are a series of books that meshes Greek Mythology with current modern day culture with the Hero a 13 year old boy...geared towards boys Luke's Age...it has been fun...but in the middle of book 2...the perfect name for my Bike...

ATHENA

Greek Goddess of War...and yet, still sounds sultry too...

With my Marine Heritage...perfect…

So this weekend…ride on….run on…but don’t sit on the couch for crying out loud….unless it is to watch the Tour after a smoking workout!

The View of the Wheel Ahead from a Rookie

It was the last couple of miles of a 30 mile day and Steve and I were pulling the group. The computer read just a bit over 19 MPH. Steve looks over at me and tells me the couple on the Tandem bike are about to take off…”Dave, try to stay on their wheel.” Two seconds later that tandem bike blew by us as if we were rocks on the road. I looked over at Steve, sweat dripping off my brow as the Texas mercury registered 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and responded, “Alright!” I immediately changed to a higher gear, out of the saddle, and pressing hard. Another cyclist had surged as well. Looking up, Marcel in his black and white jersey had excepted the challenge as well…and our two bikes were wheel to wheel to wheel with the tandem bike that had two engines to crank out high RPM’s….in a high gear.

The legs were already spent….the 62 mile solo ride the previous day and now another 30 in the Texas heat. This afternoon ride with the group had proven something memorable. It was the maiden voyage of the Trek in a group setting. My mind was racing, “You show up with a Trek Carbon decked out in racing components, you better have the engine to operate it!” For most of the 30 miles I had been up at the front…not trying to prove to anybody but myself that I had the engine. The ride is easier draftingwithin the peloton, the front guys have it tougher, but that’s what I wanted on this ride…the harder I work now, the less pain during the race…an adaptation to a Marine Corps mantra, “The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war.” And so, this was what I asked of my self…from the start to the top of Windhaven hill. Make it hurt more now, and it will pay off later.

We were wrapping up the ride, the 3 of our bikes had surged from the group…with about a mile and half left. I gear up another gear…and look down at my computer; we had just passed the 25 mph reading. Lactic acid poured forth into my leg’s quads, they burned like fire, they screamed like a tormented demon from that fire. The heart rate was high…too high…my breathing labored with quick shallow breaths….and my body went into severe oxygen dept. The mind had become fuzzy and told me to quit…”Dave, you have ridden well…coast on in for God’s sakes.” I tasted salt as sweat dripped into my mouth with every labored breath. My vision was blurry, either from sweat dripping into my eyes or the oxygen dept, I couldn’t tell…but that blurred vision was on the wheel in front of me…on Marcel’s wheel…”Dig deep Dave, I told myself…hold it together!!!” And for the next mile I did…until the tank was empty, completely, and every effort I had was not enough. My mind demanded but my body just could not respond. The mind screamed, cursed, shouted for my body to give more, but there was nothing left to give as the tandem and Marcel began to pull away….and so for the last ½ mile I coasted…the engine had blown…but for the first 28 miles…well…we have room for improvement but the Trek Carbon actually had responded with the new engine….and that was a good thing….a satisfying thing.

A New Bike...and French Braids...

Ok...EPIC Father's day Weekend...and I really don't know where to start. It was a busy weekend with running, cycling, softball and just being a Dad.

Heck...let's go chronological:

Saturday at 0600 I found myself at Northshore Trail at Grapevine lake with Kevin, Matt, and Jennifer...to cut to the chase...13 miles on the trail...with our mild spring, I still have not acclimated to the heat/humidity yet. We all suffered and had a good time...does this make sense???

Then back to the house...Macy's has started the Softball playoffs. The 1st grade Speedy Hamsters were 1st place in the regular season thus being awarded a first seed into the bracket...and a victory on Saturday Afternoon.

As soon as the game was over, Luke and I went to go look at a bike a guy was trying to sell. A bike of the caliber had been neglected and the owner thought maybe somebody else could find a better use for it...a TREK carbon with Shimano Dura Ace components...a lot of bike...with the specs HERE for you bike freaks. Sold...it is official, I now have a real bike!

I have not gone for a real ride yet as I need to get the cleats for the DuraAce pedals.

Sunday, I slept in and relaxed as we had Father's Day stuff to do. Off to church...then back to the another Speedy Hamster softball game...with not so good results as the previous day. On a much less important note...last week I posted on Facebook...that "My name is Dave, I am a Marine and can French Braid my daughter's hair." Yep...I French braided her hair for the game...and here is a picture for proof...

After the ballgame, we went swimming with some friends...then I got off for a 30 mile recovery ride on the ole Fixie...

Wow...what a weekend...

I want to close with this...that meant more to me than you can imagine...

My Wife, Bren got me a Father's Day card with Superman on the front...and the inside reads, "I wish you could see yourself the way I do!" That gal is the wind to my back, the anesthetic to the pain, the octane to run the engine and the lead that shields the kryptonite...I love that women!