Training Log Archive: tommyturbo

Squak Mountain: Back into the lush and green, this time with Tracy on her birthday. Just like on Thursday, it was nice to take it easy and focus on the beauty of the woods.

Grand Ridge RT-Duthie: A reunion of sorts. It's been nine days since I have ridden GR, which must be a record for a period when I was in town the whole time.

Squak Mountain back yard: Taking advantage of incredible proximity. Living on Squak in the midst of a lush green forest has its advantages. I'm still feeling Tuesday's pretty brutal MTB ride, so getting the blood flowing with easy paced walking in the woods felt good. What were we thinking when we lived in Downtown Seattle for ten years without the sound of the wind and rain in the trees (or rather, without trees at all)? We're spoiled forever now.

Triple serving of Olallie Jolly for 2018's first Tough Bastard Ride (dedicated to Chris Ragsdale). To help prepare people that I am coaching for a really hard event, I build into the plan what I used to call a "Hard Ride." "Tough Bastard" is more descriptive and accurate. Basically, it is an Hors Categorie ride, a ride that is harder than a typical hard ride, and one that should be difficult to complete. There are some physiological adaptations from this type of ride, but mostly it is designed to be a mental thing. Based on how I faded the first time up the climb, I knew that it would not be easy for me to complete this ride...but that's what I wanted! The third time up, I felt like a snail could climb faster than I was, but I caught and overtook two guys half my age. That helped to put a smile (briefly) on my face as I struggled onward and upward. Perhaps I should just call these rides "Chris Ragsdale" rides, because he is the toughest bastard I've ever seen on a bike.

Hobart-Renton-Newcastle: A hunting we will go. A bald eagle was gliding above me as I rode on the Cedar River Trail. I guess he was actually fishing, not hunting, unless he was eyeing me.

DT with Tracy