Tuesday Ride

Wow - I'm impressed - I had my own little wind tunnel training this morning! Gusts were up to 20 mph when I was on Troy Fredrick - the corn fields made my own little wind tunnel ----- Mother Nature didn't get the message that I don't like wind tunnels!

Fun Weekend

This weekend has been busy and fun. Goose is coming off the Mthd's Mayhem week - resting as he has needed it. I am in full swing with my job, AJ, and his school (lunch room duty until they figure out the transfer of the epi-pens). New promotion for my job meant lots of extra hours. Little riding done by me this week but that is OK.

Saturday had Goose working and me at AJ's first soccer game. Got some cool photos so I sent them to the Editor, she decided to use one (YEAH). I was getting text messages from a number I didn't know to call back - I didn't call - then a call from "Mo" - I finally put 2 and 2 together and the strange number was Ron (aka Mthd).

We finally went to Mass on Sunday (which I have figured out it has been almost 3 months - due to riding/racing every Sunday). Sad when the Priest greets you with "Hello Strangers"! Talked to Crilli's parents after and heard about their great adventures in NYC - guess Crilli's Mom loved the subway - as she said - it was fast and fun.

Sunday afternoon I met Mthd to edit the photos from last weekend. Awesome programs to edit - they are on my wish list. After Goose and I went to AJ's Scout Roundup - was able to get a group photo (difficult with 6-9 yr olds) and sent some to the Editor - she is using one again - yeah.

Ron - thanks for taking the time to walk me through your programs - I know it takes lots of time to walk a newbie through it.

Hope this week brings some bike time for me and Goose.

Mthd's Mayhem

Not sure where the summer has gone, except a lot of time on the road, both on the bike and in the car. Not many blogs - Egg writes them so well with the pictures, I don't even try anymore. Everyone that wants to know how Goose did in his races, they know where to look, so really no need to write about them either.

But, what I will write about is pre-Mthd's Mayhem Ride. This course has been designed to test every particle of your mental and physical being. It won't be easy, you can count on it being hot, you know it will have extremely difficult climbs (as as Big Tim said - 27 Awesome Descents), and you know it was designed that way for a reason. Anyone who has stood by and watched someone go through treatment, survive or die from cancer is familiar with the difficult journey this is. Having lost both of my parents to caner, they never once made the choice to quit or give up. They both fought this battle with dignity to the very end. It wasn't easy, it definitely wasn't pleasant, it was an uphill battle the entire time, but they didn't quit.

This is what I expectt from the guys on Sunday. Yes it will suck, it will be difficult, it will be hot, but, it doesn't compare to the journey that my parents or Ron's dad took to the end. You have a choice to stop, they didn't - they had to continue their journey, that is a part of life.

So when you feel like quitting, please remember the ones that no longer have that option and dig a little deeper into that suitcase of courage, they did and so can you.

So I am DAYS Behind

As Egg informed me this morning, I am way behind in my blogging. Sorry :-).

We celebrated Goose's Birthday with an Egg made Duathlon - Bike 4.4 - Run 2.2 - Bike 4.4. The ones that braved this were Egg, Big Tim, Smoothy, Red Dawg, and Goose. Got a call from T-Bolt that he wasn't going to make it - next time Howard.

Had to chuckle, Red Dawg, Smoothy and Jeff all had their own little transition system - Red Dawg chair, Red Bull and P&J Sandwich (in memory of the old transition days). Jeff had his old man's chair with everything neatly arranged (then arranged again, then again - Jeff tends to move things 1/16 of an inch at a time).

Smoothy brought his bucket - said after West Milton Triathlon last year, he learned a lesson.

Egg is showing his "guns" off before the race. He looks ready to roll - errr walk/jog and roll.

Of course the typical before the start picture - see Vince they aren't all the same!

Obviously, you never know who Egg will get - Goose reaps the benefits of this day.

Egg was off first, then Big Tim, Smoothy, Red Dawg and Jeff.

Smoothy was on his single speed - he's nutz

Now here comes the best part - the run. Of course the tri guys seemed to enjoy this portion - Red Dawg doing well-

Who'll take the boy with the skinny legs? Goose and Smoothy coming back into the "transition area"

AND DRUM ROLL PLEASE ---------- Egg jogging and smiling - this will go down in Mad Cow history books - probably won't ever see this again.

Big Tim was "smart"? He was on the grass most of the time, switching to the road at the end and protecting his knees.

Reliving the "Official Mad Cow Duathlon" after everyone finished.

This was a fun day for us. The Cows gave it up and did something they probably didn't want to do, probably never will do again. Jeff enjoyed them coming into his little world for an hour. It wasn't about winning (OK maybe just a little since Goose won) but about living and having fun. Thanks to everyone - you helped make this yet another memorable birthday for Jeff.

Afterwards Smoothy headed home and the rest of us had lots of laughs at Bob Evans for brunch.

Arrival Day in Asheville

We got started a little later than I wanted but still had to stop for the traditional Cracker Barrel Breakfast! Dropped Jeff's truck off in Waynesville and headed south. Great weather, beautiful skies - clear view - lots and lots of unmarked state patrol cars. Amazing how the slow cars hug the fast lane. Oh well, once we hit the mountains, the view was beautiful.

We got here about 3 hours before Egg - got everything unloaded and put away. Talked to Egg about 80 miles out and Egg and Goose decided to ditch the ride for tonight. It was about 6:30 and we decided to get dinner and comeback and chill for a while.

Craig being the good sport elected to sleep on his air mattress. Had many comments about him blowing it up, but will reserve them for now. After dinner we were watching the Tour and Egg decided to eat a burger and cookies (glad the food won't go to waste this week)

Egg was tucking Goose into bed at 8:30- should I leave the room for a while? Haha.

As you can see, Goose didn't last long.

So what to do after Goose went to sleep? Of course Egg and I had to pick on Dobo! Between FB, email, twitter, we had a good chuckle.

Looking forward to today. Heading out for Dobo's house and riding a new route for Egg and Goose. Should be fun. Hopefully it will be a little cooler in the mountains.

Zanesfield in the Books

Ride will go down in the books as really hot and windy. Everybody stayed well hydrated and finished with "smiles" that it was finally over. As we headed home the showers hit. I think the rain probably would have felt good if they had been caught in them at the end.

I70 was a parking lot heading West - luckily it appeared that nobody would be seriously injured. I was amazed at the people backing back on the interstate or turning around and driving the wrong direction. Wonder what they thought when the State Patrol and tow trucks headed towards them. Vittles with Egg after Big Tim and TKO dropped him off.

Can't wait to read Egg's blog about the ride - cast of characters today.

More later.

West Milton Triathlon

Just a short note - Jeff and Rick came in Second Place. He is thrilled with the times and placement. Not back for an old guy :) Busy day - Triathlon in the morning, Joe Weinel's surprise 40th Birthday Party and then off to Jeff's 40th class reunion - yep Joe was born when Jeff graduated High School.

Have pictures and stats on the race that I will work on Monday - now off to ride - then to a vintage baseball game with Rebecca and family.