2/28/09 Cadence bike ride

This morning it was 30 degrees, perfect jogging weather.

I deciced to do a 3 mile jog.

I was warmed up and on the road by 6am.

Working on cadence for jogging, I got into a good pace and was able to keep it. Heading up the hill towards the turnaround area (pictured) I had a tailwind helping me out. When I turned around at the farmhouse, there was a headwind that slowed me down a bit, and cooled me off.

Towards the end of the jog, I sprinted a bit on the road and up my driveway that's a hill. There's a big crack across the driveway by the house and I use this for a start/finish line.

After lunch, I did a 3 mile cadence bike ride. I rode my Allez to the same farmhouse that is 1.5 miles from my house.

Leaving my driveway, it's downhill. Then when a take a left onto the road, I go up a small hill and then go down a long hill, where I go 34 mph.

When I started to pedal halfway down the hill, gaining speed, a car in front of me slowed down and I had to slow down.

Soon I took a left onto Blackberry Hill Rd. This section to the farmhouse (turnaround) is flat to start, goes downhill, then a long subte hill going up to the farmhouse.

Heading back, there are many holes in the road that makes riding tough.

When I turn back onto Berwick Rd., It's a very long subtle uphill, then the last section before my driveway is uphill, then a downhill to my driveway.

I sprinted up my driveway.

I plan on doing this ride on Saturdays and Sundays to work on my cadence.

As it gets warmer, I will be going on longer bike rides. Also I'll start working on jogging after I ride bike and practicing transitions, getting ready for the 2010 Pumpkinman Triathlon.

2/22/09 Jog, Nordic Walk, & Bike ride.

After watching the Tour of California all week, I needed to ride my bike.

So after I jogged 2 miles and Nordic Walked 1 mile, I geared up and planned on riding my bike for 3 miles.

I want to work on my bike cadence for training.

After going down the big hill on Berwick Road, I was freezing. It was 27 degrees and I thought I wouldn't have a problem since I jogged the same route earlier.

So the 3 mile planned bike ride turned into a 2 mile ride. My hands were freezing when I got back home.

Working on cadence is hard. Since most my ride is up long hills, it will be quite the workout. I need to try to keep a constant pedaling speed and it's tough.

1/24/09 South Twin hike.

Name of mountain(s): South Twin Name of trail(s): Beaver Brook to Gale River Loop Road, Gale River, Garfield Ridge & Twinway
Hikers name: Farmer Bob, Rocksnrolls, Glen S., Hiker Bob.
Hike date(s): 1/24/09 Weather and trail conditions: Sunny & cold. Very cold & windy on the summit.
Total miles hiked: 12.8 Trip report:
My original plan was to meet Mike P. at the N. Twin trailhead at the end of Haystack Road. I was suppose to meet mike at 7am at Mountain Bean. I drove by Mountain Bean and I didn’t see his car so I thought I would meet him at the N. Twin trailhead.
When I got to Haystack Road, it wasn’t plowed. I continued driving until I could find a spot to turn around.
I was able to turn around at Beaver Brook and when I did, I saw Rocksnrolls. I stopped and told him what was going on. I said that I’ll check back at Mountain Bean and I may be back if Mike’s not there.
When I went back, he wasn’t there so I drove back to Beaver Brook.
When I got there, Rocksnrolls was joined by Glenn S. and Vegamatic.
I told them that I wanted to join them. They were already geared up so I told them that I would catch up.
Once I was on the road, I was following their snowshoe tracks. It took me an hour and 20 minutes to catch up to them.
Soon the trail got steep and it was getting colder.
I saw Climbing Stallion taking a break. He mentioned that Mike P. went to 7 Drawfs to take the old trail to get to N. Twin Tr.
When we got to Galehead Hut, Hiker Bob was there. It was good seeing him again. We could see Garfield, SW Twin and S. Twin mountains.
We hung out for about 20 minutes and then headed up S. Twin.
Vegamatic headed up Galehead.
The hike up Twinway to S. Twin was tough and steep.
Once we got above treeline, the wind picked up and it got much colder.
Glen S. was ahead of me and I tried to catch up, but it was slow going.
I caught up to Glen at the summit. It was very windy and cold. My thermometer didn’t work. All the red was at the very bottom.
We hung out for about 5 minutes and headed down.
Soon we passed Rocksnrolls and Hiker Bob heading up.
On the way down we did a lot of sliding on snowshoes. A few times I was on one snowshoe and my knee was sliding in the snow. I thought that maybe my knee would catch a boulder so I tried not to slide that way.
Soon we were back at the hut. I was considering going over to Galehead but I wanted to save my energy for the return trip.
Not much happened on the descent. It did get colder.
We were back at our cars before the sun set.
This was an excellent hike with excellent company. It was also the longest I hiked with snowshoes on, and my legs felt like jello.

Check out my pictures at:

http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/569784107bLdTvi

Check out Glen S.'s pictures at:

http://picasaweb.google.com/Greatgulf/SouthTwinInWinter2ndTime?authkey=elAISjr8EJc&feat=directlink#

Nordic Walking

I decided to add Nordic Walking to my Triathlon Training.

My weekly training consist of 3 days of Strength Training, 6 days of Cardio/Hamstring Training, and on Saturday and Sunday morning, I jog two miles (this will increase with time).

I am planning on Nordic Walking 3 miles after I jog 2 miles.

Today I used my new pair of LEKI Instructor Nordic Walking poles and walked 3 miles on country roads. These roads have very long hill that makes for a good workout. These are the same roads I jog, and ride my bike.

I'm hoping to get into good enough shape to enter the 2010 Pumpkinman Triathlon in South Berwick Maine.

To check out more information about Nordic Walking, go to:

http://www.leki.com/nordicwalking/

9/12/08 Isles of Shoals

Jenifer and I went out to the Isles of Shoals for the day.

We got on the boat at 7am and rode into the sunrise to the Isles.

We went out to letterbox and we got most of them on Star Island.

Then we took a row boat over to Smuttynose and got one more letterboxes.

After returning to Star, we explored the island.

Then we shared our first Lime Rickey and it was great.

We relaxed on the porch of the Oceanic Hotel while waiting for the boat.

From the porch, I could see Mt. Agamenticus and Monadnock.

The boat ride back was fun.

It was an excellent day out at the Isles of Shoals.

http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/567451546ieTqqw

KTC ride 9/5/08

On Sunday morning, I did my usual ride to Kittery Traffic Circle.

When I went by the Vivian Hussey school, I noticed a bike sign with an arrow pointing in the opposite direction. Also there were many Poland Spring water bottles near the sign. (?)

I had no problems making it to KTC but on the way back, I experienced a head wind.

When I got back onto Rt. 4, I noticed Pumpkinman Triathlon Festival flags on the light poles.

When I got close to the junction with the Agamenicus Rd., I saw a police car with its lights flashing. Then I saw someone with an orange flag directing bike riders.

I stopped and asked the policemen what was going on. They told me it was the Pumpkinman Triathlon. When I left them, I joined a rider.

We chatted a bit and then we turned onto Blackberry Hill Rd.

While riding, I passed him. I looked back before taking a left on B H Rd. and he was way behind me.

I continued awhile and I saw another bike rider and I caught up to him. We talked a bit and then in front of the Hussey school, there were people giving away water, banana's, and sports gel.

I grabbed a sports gel and took a right onto Berwick Rd.

I was still riding with another bike rider but he took a right where I went straight to go home.

At that junction, there was a man flagging traffic. I stopped and asked him if he had any info on the triathlon. He said no.

I tried to clip into my pedal while going uphill and I fell down. On the uphill, I couldn't get started so I had to walk my bike up the hill.

Once at the top, I was able to get back on my bike for the short trip back home.

It was an excellent ride and I got psyched riding with others.

Next year I must compete.

Check out the pictures at:

http://community.webshots.com/album/567463334HEkxcl

Bike Ride to Wells Maine

Early this morning I took a bike ride to Wells Maine. Several days ago I drove the route to see how far it was. I also checked out the route to see if it was safe to ride.

This ride is a good workout. It has many long inclines and descents.

When I got to the Wells Maine sign, I took a break.

By the sign, there were several wild blueberries, and of course, I ate them.

This was a 20 mile round trip and it was fun.

For the two picture slide show, go to:

http://community.webshots.com/slideshow/566106242wFrcne