Rolling Along

Training is finally starting to roll after a short setback due to a bout with a little cold. Back in the gym lifting, hitting the trainer for 1-leg pedaling drills etc (which are getting tough as i put a 2lb weight on my helmet to help strengthen the neck muscles to try and avoid Shermmer's Neck), the CX bike for great long winter rides under "high-tension" circumstances (snow) and some hill climbs to keep in touch with intensity. Todays ride with Sumo, Brownie and the Mexican Mafia was awesome- the river bottoms are always great with fresh snow.
I'm pretty fried after a 20hr week, so i'm looking forward to a few easy days, a massge from Larry (The Fix) and then heading to San Diego for some quality volume and mountain training - on the RAAM course....oh, and 70 degrees, 4 layers of clothing not necessary!

The Plan

Well, with this huge of a race, all the prep and training, a sound plan is in order. I'm in the final stages of assembling an amazing crew, vehicles are coming together and other support is coming in. I've decided to drive a van round trip from St. Paul so i don't have to ship all my bikes, racks, light bars etc. As luck would have it, my parents agreed to drive the van out, help at the start and then fly back...watch my 2 year old twins for a week, only to fly out to the finish and repeat van driving duty...totally amazing!
Lots to figure out, but I'm heading to San Diego in a few days and hope to ride the first few hundred miles of the race - for confidence more than anything. Time Station I to Lake Henshaw has over 6,000 feet of climbing in just over 50 miles!
Perhaps the greatest puzzle to figure out is the training plan - should be easy right, after all it is what i do for a living?? Not so much. I've got a base plan done that started last summer after Fireweed, but have since made 4 or 5 modifications as things change. Luckily i have a good friend and amazing athlete for a neighbor, Chad Giese so having someone to bounce ideas off is easy. So, here it is in its simple overview form.
The Plan

Fireweed 400 - Success

The Fireweed 400 this past summer is what gets me to this place - winning it qualified me for RAAM this year and got me inspired....Check out the recap here.

Well, 214 days left, so far away, but yet not really when i think about all that needs to be completed - maybe thats the draw!

Other Shoe Drops!

The a.m. ride today was a good reminder that fall in Minnesota doesn't mean 65 and sunny....I love it! Guess this means it's time to get the woollies out and be prepared to ride in the cold.

On a RAAM crew note, had a huge day yesterday...Both Owen Hanley and Peter Abraham agreed to crew for me. They are both elite ski racers and great people. I coached them both at Carleton. Owen crewed for me at the Fireweed 400 this summer in Alaska and Peter is a good friend of Owens - this is a huge piece for me- I'm stoked!

Gathering Info

I had the opportunity to chat with 2003 RAAM champion Allen Larsen last night - oh what a wealth of knowledge he possesses. From rookie to champion to covering the race for the media, he has seen lots, done lots, knows lots! I could still be asking him questions. Unfortunately, he had to cut his racing career short due to Shermers neck, but he is hoping to find a solution and get back on the bike. The take home message, efficiency, efficiency, efficiency! Don't diddle around, keep moving. He also reminded me to be prepared that in RAAM even the best laid plans will go by the wayside- so expect it. I'm still working on nutrition solutions, sleep and ride schedules/amounts, solutions to the heat...oh the list is long!

Well, it is a start. I hope to keep running ideas by him as I progress down this road. The more info i can gather the better off i will be in my mind. Knowledge is power!

"If your bike isn't moving, your loosing time as someones else's bike is. The east coast never gets closer when you are stopped." -larsen