Where's the motivation?!

I've been very unmotivated to ride the bike lately, but that could be because it is getting to be like winter and because I've got so much school work and getting little sleep because of it. I swear, every year about this time I fall into a human version of hibernation, where I just want to sleep all the time. And it has gotten to be like that, whenever I'm not in the classroom, in the University Center for breakfast, lunch or dinner, or when I'm not in the library doing work, you can find me in my room sleeping. So it's hard to get myself out anymore for rides.

However, my biggest paper this semester is due next Friday (Nov. 21st) so I've decided that maybe I'll just do one ride this coming week (Tuesday or Wednesday), while working on my paper the whole week. When I finish this week, then I plan on getting restarted with my regular training to prepare for the collegiate season that starts in March. This training will consist of some outdoor riding, but I plan on doing a lot of indoor training video sessions. I just bought two training videos off of eBay, so once I get those this week I will have 4 videos. Two are the Chris Carmichael videos (Time Trialing and Sprinting), while the other two are Spinervals videos (Ride Strong and Recovery/Technique). I could probably come up with a decent training program using each videos at least once a week and have at least one or two rides outside a week. My winter training will also consist of some weight and resistance training as well.

So if anyone out there is a certified coach or know a good deal about training with videos and such, please give me your suggestions. Again, the videos I have are:

Carmichael Training Series: Time Trialing
Carmichael Training Series: Sprinting
Spinervals 1.0 Ride Strong
Spinervals 8.0 Recovery and Technique

I also want to incorporate some weight and non-cycling cardio (i.e. Tae-Bo with Billy Blanks with a friend of mine) training, so I will most likely be training just about every day. I just have to remember about recovery, and maybe every other week having a day off or something. Anyways, give me your suggestions if you have any.

WISH ME LUCK ON THIS THEOLOGY PAPER, GONNA BE A KILLER!

Have a good weekend y'all!

Phinally, 28 years later!

Where were you in 1980 when Tug McGuire pitched the last strike over home plate of the 1980 World Series? Where were you 28 years later when Brad Lidge finished off the second night of Game 5 with a strike out to win Philadelphia's 2nd World Series Title?

I wasn't born for a little more than 4 years after the 1980 World Series, but I was in the living room of my home with my dad watching the 2008 World Series, Game 5 (Part 2). And the feeling is unexplainable!!!! I've never been this excited in my LIFE!

And Cole Hamel gets the 2008 World Series MVP (and a 2010 Chevy Corvette which he said he'd give to his wife since it was her birthday today)!!! Congrats to him and the Phillies organization!

I also want to congratulate the Tampa Bay Rays. In my mind, they are still winners! Why? They only been a team for about 10 years now, only one year as the Rays (were previously the Devil Rays). They also had the worse record in the MLB last year, and have suffered a string of bad luck with their records, players, managers, etc. in the past 10 years they've been a team. To go from being the worse team in the MLB last year to being the best in the American League and second best overall, that's just amazing. I hope the Phillies and Rays match up again next year, it could certainly be different!

There has been announcements that Friday could be the day of the Phillies Parade. I hope to get a chance to go, even if I have to skip my classes to go. It would be well worth skipping the classes for this chance to be part of a HUGE celebration!

Congratulations Philadelphia Phillies, you've PHINALLY DONE IT!

Break's over, cooler stuff

I decided I've been off of the bike long enough (almost 2 weeks) and was back on it on Friday for a group ride with two of my friends, and then today for an hour on my own. Last time I rode, it was pretty warm, but almost 2 weeks later of being off the bike it has certainly gotten cooler. Anyways, it was certainly good to be back on the bike after a much needed break. I should take breaks like this more often than I do now (which is hardly ever).

Off topic (of cycling), Phillies are now 2-1 in the World Series, and I know they'll win the title. I even think they could go 4-1 in game 5 at Philadelphia, denying the Rays any opportunity to win again or to play on their home field this season. This will certainly be awesome, the Phils winning a World Series title since their last (and only) one 28 years ago! If they do, my brother and I said we would go to Philadelphia to celebrate and to see the parade that they'll probably hold in Philly. GO PHILS!

Off-Season stuff

It is officially my off-season time right now, as it has been for the last month or so since my last race late August. However, I caught myself recently still treating this as during the summer season and have eventually worn myself out. I started feeling depressed and seriously unmotivated to do any riding a week or two ago and didn't know what to do. I had to actually FORCE myself to get out for rides anymore. When it used to take me like 5 minutes to get dressed and be out on the road, it was taking me more than 30 minutes to get dressed and get out on the road because of the lack of motivation.

Having figuring this out and my body's desire to get me to STOP! and slow down, I've decided this Monday will be my last ride for the rest of this month. I haven't been out since last Friday up until yesterday, and then I went out for a big group ride today (a 2:30 ride that took over 3 hours because of regrouping and breaks). Tomorrow I'm off because of family and officiating a soccer tournament, and then Monday I hope to get out with my best friend for a slow ride. After that, the bike stays home while I go back to school on Tuesday. Hopefully the last 15 days or so of the month will be long and short enough to work mentally and physically for me. And what luck, November 1st is a Saturday so I can do a good first-day-back ride!

My off-bike training will consist of some lifting and weightroom cardio, and I'm considering getting a set of rollerblades because my good friend, Joe, at school rollerblades a lot and I would like to get back into that (last time I rollerbladed would be no less than 10 years ago. Besides, rollerblading works the back and core muscles (for balance and posture) as well as the legs, so it would definitely supplement my cycling.

Kind of off topic, today was another veloswap at the velodrome in T-town. It's like a flea market style, where bike vendors and personal vendors come to sell stuff. Bike shops will go to get rid of their overstocks of older model bikes, accessories, clothes, etc. while personal vendors come to get rid of junk piled up in their garage. I went to help out with my good friend Kim who had a table set up for her personal stuff, and to help out my club team that had a table set up for baked goods, several bikes (all but one was sold, I might be buying the Fuji Track Pro that was not sold yet), and several other stuff. When I went walking around, my Air Products Track program coach Jorge had a table set up for his club team, and he had for sale two San Marco saddles for sale, brand new for $30 (later research shows MRSP between 60 and 80). Because he knows me, he dropped it down to $25 for me. I think I got a good deal on this. Then later on I was looking at shoes and bought a pair of Nike Shoes for $60, half off of the original $120 deal. So for about $200 work of stuff, I've paid $85! I'm going to put the saddle on the bike if I get time to tomorrow, and try it out and adjust it until it feels right. Then for the test on Monday when I go riding. I figured that if I don't like the saddle I could always sell it on eBay for the same price, or hopefully a bit of a profit.

Now, I must go to sleep since tomorrow I go out for breakfast with part of the family... Good night!

(when you get a chance, go to http://fcskim.blogspot.com and congratulate Kim for winning Nationals in the team and individual pursuits in Colorado)

Rose Long

Last week, a friend of mine, Rose Long from UVM, whom I had just met last Spring during one of the collegiate races, was hit by a car and sustained a lot of injuries. She was in the hospital for a few days or so, and was recently released.

Insurance won't be able to cover all of the costs, especially for the oral surgery she needs. If you can donate, even just a buck, please do so at http://www.roselong.com, a website set up to raise funds to help cover the costs due to this horrific incident.

My heart goes out to her and her family. I hope and pray for a speedy recovery, and hope she'll be back for the Spring 2009 Road Season. She was the ECCC leader last spring, and I hope she'll be able to defend her title this year.

Good Luck Rose, and get well soon!

Confirmed, Welcome Back Lance

It has been confirmed that Lance will be making his comeback, and has been quoted to saying that he would like to try and win his eighth Tour de France title in 2009. I am so excited!

News report on comcast.net here:

http://www.comcast.net/articles/sports-general/20080909/Armstrong-Comeback/

Anyone else getting excited?!

Lance's Comeback?!

According to cyclingnews.com, anonymous sources have rumored that Lance Armstrong will be making a comeback for 2009, including to race in the Tour de France next summer. Is it true? Here is the article from Cycling News.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/printedition/la-sp-newswire9-2008sep09,0,7175841.story

You be the judge...