Volunteering at the 2009 King Pine Triathlon

Today I was able to volunteer for the transition area at the King Pine Triathlon. It was a blast and I learned a lot.

Check out the photo's at:

http://sports.webshots.com/album/572734158VekmCu

5/9/09 Pumpkinman Tri Sprint Course ride.

This morning I rode my bike to Spring Hill and rode the Sprint course for the Pumpkinman Triathlon. It was the second day getting use to my new Aerobars.

Knights Rd. has a nice shoulder for bikers and runners.

Emery Bridge Rd. was interesting.

There's a lot of road damage and in a few area's the road banks.

I took a left onto Boyds Corner rd. and it was uphill. When I reached the top, it leveled off and I picked up speed. I knew Thurrell Rd. was on the left so I kept an eye out for it. I started to go faster, then there it was. My back tire skidded when I braked to make the turn.

Going up Thurrell, there's a horse farm at the top of the hill. Going down the hill was fast. I hit 32mph.

Feeling pumped, I took a right onto Great Hill Rd. Oh man, what a long ascent.

I made it up the hill then I started to pick up speed. Then I had to brake hard again for the quick turn onto Hopper Sands Rd.

Pretty soon I was back at Spring Hill. I took a short break, then headed home. It took me 53 minutes to ride the Sprint. Pond Rd. reminded me of Paris Roubaix's cobblestones.

The Sprint course is a challenge. There are more uphills then downhills and it was tough.

I can't wait to ride it again.

Oh, my training.

I thought I mentioned earlier about my training, I didn't.

Last September while coming back from a 33 mile bike ride, I road into the bike ride for the Pumpkinman Triathlon. I road with a couple bike riders and they told me about the event. I got inspired to start Triathlon training.

Now I do 3 days of Strength training, 5 days of Ab/Ham training, and on Saturdays and Sundays I jogged 3 miles, Nordic Walk 1 mile, and when the weather cooperates, I'll work on bike cadence with a 2 or 3 mile bike ride. As I get into better shape, I'll ride longer miles on my bike. I do a 33 mile ride from my house in Berwick to the Kittery Traffic Circle and back. I'm also going to get a pair of Aero bars for my bike.

An addition to my training.

I added a 8 mile bike cadence ride to my training. When I get home from work on Tuesdays and Thursday, I'll gear up and do an 8 mile cadence ride. The cadence ride is over many long country hills.

The ride is an excellent workout. I started last Tuesday.

I worked Saturday so when I got home , I did a ride. It was tough. When I came back on Blackberry Hill Rd., there was a strong headwind. I kept up my cadence but the wind slowed me down. But the weird thing was that when I started the ride, I went the fastest I've ever gone on a bike, 36.6 mph. I beat my last fast time of 35.9 mph.

Thanks to my Specialized Allez Road Bike.

3/14/09 Monroe/Jefferson hike

I met BIGEarl, MadRiver, and Trailtrotter at 7:30am at the Marshfield Station parking. The plan was that BIGEarl and Trailtrotter would hike up Monroe then head south to Ike, Pierce, and Jackson. MadRiver and myself were just going to do Monroe but MadRiver wanted to go over to Jefferson after, which I thought was a good idea, since it was sunny, not too cold and not windy.

If you want to read BIGEarls trip report and look at pictures from our hike, go to:

http://www.rocksontop.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=5604

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.