The night before

Well, as I type out this on the hotel computer the hourly forecast says hi of about 6 degrees, low of -18ish.  Snow should be good, not great for this non "fat bike" rider.  Starts at 7am tomorrow (-18 at start).  You might be able to find live results on the Arrowhead blog.  Click the link on previous post and then the blog link.

 

Wish me luck.  Just looking to finish this bad boy.

 

BTW.

Leaving

Not sure if they will have updates during the race, but here is where you would look.   http://www.arrowheadultra.com/ 

You may have to check their blog.  Race starts on Monday at 7am.  I am leaving now with J-No.

I am in a hurry, gotta go. 

BTW

Hmph.

I don't know what to think. It is weird. Arrowhead is in 8 days. Weather looks like cold, but not super cold, and that will change a couple of times. You can't be die hard focused on events all year, and I feel like took this one at a step back. I don't know. Riding on snowmobile trails for around 24-30ish hours? I like to race what I enjoy riding. Not sure I love to ride snowmobile trails. Give me LaCrosse, Levis/Trow, Cable Classic, and such. The thing I truly am excited for is the fact the fitness should have a big head start this year for those races mentioned before.

Yeah, I know. I sound like that guy who is all depressed and is expressing it through the keyboard. No, just not super pumped. Pumped, just not super pumped. Lately, I've been thinking more about racing Ragnarok lately than Arrowhead (Ragnarok is a super cool course, and the next race on my agenda).

That being said, if the legs are there and it works out I hope to make a mark on this edition of the race.

Click the pic.

An update, act like you care.

Hmmm, 5 hours with J-No on trails today at roughly 20 degrees. Ran into JP, Eric A, and Scott M while we were out. Got to see 7 sleds drag race by us (literally) on The Real Lake Shady. Nutrition was dialed, making me happy. Made some needed changes to the Gary Fisher Rig which improves things dramatically, making me happy. Had an aha moment in regards to clothing for Arrowhead, yes, making me happy.

Maybe a pile of hours tomorrow morning on trails, teach cycling in the afternoon, pile of hours Monday, and also Tuesday. The last 2 weeks were not what I wanted and it annoys me. My body has become complacent. Time to show it who the boss is.

If I get around to it tomorrow I will show off my $3 stove/pot/windscreen that I made for Arrowhead. It is light, works awesome, and has character.

Mmmm hmmph. Yes. I agree. You do waste a lot of work time on blogs.

Some quick math

After checking WebMD.com and talking with my gynecologist, I might have THIS in my right eye; causing excessive tearing.

ADD

Only a one hour ride at 10 degrees.

EQUALS
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What does that mean? Well, here is another equation to work out.

_______________________________________________________


This race and it's much colder temps.



PLUS


MAY EQUAL


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Yeah, instead of dealing with my eye freezing shut and the awkwardness of that, or huge stalactites hanging off my face, I may just be a pirate. I don't feel like trying to spend the entire race trying to keep my non-dominant eye functional.

Oh, and I am growing facial hair for warmth, you like? Nothing to impressive as I remember 8th grade classmates with full on face rugs. The wife is not so found of my man hairs.

I am trying to think of my new nickname. McDreamy and McSteamy are taken...

BTW

Cold? Not yet.

So I finished up a ride with J-No this morning. Out the door at 4:45am to be greeted with -15 below temps and a -35 windchill. We rode on snow mobile trails up Douglas, over to Oronoco, across Lake Shady, and to Pine Island via trials by Hwy 52. A stop at Kwik Trip was needed for my partner where the locals were a little in awe, but actually seemed to recognize us from the paper. One guy asked me if it was cold. My answer, not yet. Rode back to Rochester with J-No slowing his pace to match my quickly reducing speed. I guess my workouts this week caught up with my legs.

Got home at 10:30am and was having a hard time with the heatwave of -10 and -24 windchill. Lessons learned, but confidence built. My clothing selection was almost right on, but some small changes with that and other gear should have me set. One piece of gear that did not work in the super cold temps was the camera.

The pictures are from a 4 hour ride earlier this week. It was 4 degrees with a -15 windchill. Rode to Oronoco and had to turn around after almost crossing all of Lake Shady.


JP has a problem with his heterosexuality, so a non-butt shot was in order.



I thought of the Dixie Chicks and their song "Wide Open Spaces" when I was rolling through here. Not that I like those nutjobs, just thought of their song.


Hi my name is.....my name is.....my name is.....ticka ticka, Lake Shady.


On the way back, just thought it looked cool.

BTW