Goals 2010...

Let me start by saying I HAVE THE WORST HEADACHE EVER! The command staff won't let me off either, Suck! But I know we are short staffed so I can take one for the team. On to business...

Lets see, I have a 250 mile charity ride for the National Law Enforcement Memorial, from Chesapeake Va. to DC coming up in May...

Goal 1: From the first of the year to May 12th I'd like to log 1000 miles. But that's only 200 miles a month you say, But let us not forget I work a rotating 12hr shift on perm nights. And I have my Daughter 1/2 the time too. So. I'm setting goals that are reachable (at first).

Goal 2: Drop the Lbs! I'm at a whooping 222lbs as of today, even with my primal(ish) eating plan. I need to get back to the gym/core/running/cycling side of life. I'm setting My goal to be 185lbs by July. I used to look like Walsh when I was racing, so if I can get down to 185 I know I'll be fast again. It's been burning in the back of my mind for the past 6-7yrs now(don't ever date or marry someone who doesn't believe you or your sport!), I miss my old life and I need to be that guy again. Plus I loved the people that I was around and that side of life/sport/racing! Beautiful, laid back people... I miss a lot of my old friends too.

Goal 3: Start and finish in 2 TRI's and 3 Mtn. Bike races. I have the knowledge and race experience to do this, I just need to meet goal #1 & 2 to meet this one. Oh and If I can swing it, a CX race would be a fitting end to a comeback season too!

Goal 4: I know I already do enough volunteering to choke a goat at these 26.2/13.1's in the area but I would also like to do my first 5/8 or 10k race. I mean damn I live at the beach, I should be able to find one or two of these things to run in this year! I don't even care what time I get, I just want to get out and do it!

So, how do I plan on doing all of this you might ask? By getting up off my fat ass and just getting outside more to start with(it's also helping that I'm canceling my cable in Dec too!) and by finding more support to motivate me here. By reconnecting with old teammates, shop mates and friend, and hopefully making new ones in the process! I need more people to challenge me by reading my blog and cheering me on! I've lost that get up and go over the last few years and I WANT IT BACK! So if you are reading this, join me on this journey and follow my blog(tell your friends to follow me too). Give me words of motivation, tell me to get up and go running on rainy days, call me and ask me to go for a ride and I guarantee you I won't let you down! And let me finish by saying, My headache is gone and I feel great! thanks for reading.

Yawn... Hmmmm... Ok I just woke up and yes I am still alive and well. I'm going to start posting more blogs on here shortly.
Thanks,
Don

Hey everyone I set up a new food blog Chew' ur food, Go check it out and try some new recipes if you want! Oh and I'm still working on the Police Unity Tour update... Stand by for the fun!

Heard the horrible news out of Bend, OR. about maybe the greatest all-around US cyclist ever, Steve Larsen...

I rode 22miles today @ 18.59mph avg. I'm at work and keep getting kicked off the network... I'll add more later.

Today: working, so I'll sleep most of the day(and the T-storms don't help out for training). Yesterday was a rest day. But Monday I rode pretty hard. Monday started off with me again getting off work @ 6am(after working 12hrs), and heading out for the group ride out of Fat Frogs Bikes.

They have a few rides that jump off a couple minutes apart... Class "A", then "B"... "C" and so on. Well I was felling great from the ride the day before, and was eating better too, so I jumped on the "B" pace(cat 3) group... hmmm. After getting spit of the back and dropped like a bad habbit I waited for the "C" group(cat 3-4) to catch me. I jump on their wheels and sat in for a few miles and was felling the pace... then we started rolling it up. Oh did I mention that the group was all ladies :) and one was the '08 Va. State road Champion(get her name next time)?! I just got my bike and still don't have a CPU(I'm looking at a garmin 205/305), so I don't know how fast I'm going. We continued to paceline for about 18 miles until I just didn't have it in me anymore. But we were only about 2 mile from the end and didn't mind "limpping" back to the shop.

I got back and started chattin with the "girls" and found out we were pulling it in at around 23-25 for most of the ride! WTF! Not bad huh? I mean not bad at all for a guy who has only riden maybe 6 times ing the last 8yrs! I felt good afterwords but tired. I think I'll try to tone it back just a little for the next few rides until I get a better base on where I'm at. Right now I have to remember it's all about the miiles and not the speed. again I work tonight, so I'm off to bed. More to come later...

Gett'n um in...

Yesterday I got off work @ 0600 and went straight out to catch the 7am road ride with some of the Unity tour team. It was really nice out, and I was feeling great even though I just work 12hs on the night shift. There were a few people already there when I showed up, so I started getting ready so not to hold anyone up. Albeit we didn't role out for another 20 minutes. My legs began to get cold(grab my arm warmer instead of legwarmers) and if forced me to warm up a little earlier than I'd like.

Finally we rolled out and started to get some blood pumping, that with the sun coming over the tree line my legs started feeling slightly better. Oh and I also fix my bar tape and tuned the front derailleur since the last ride and the new whip feels great now! Some (8)miles into the ride I noticed my left calf give me that "hey you!' cramp twitch... but I just rode it out. Did a couple sprints out of the saddle, and bridged a few gaps when the calf totally locked up. Pulling over was a bitch, then as I was getting off to massage it out the right one lock up too! After walking them out for 5mins I was able to jump back in the the group and finish out the rest of the ride working some intervals and pace lines. All in all I felt good and strong which was a nice surprise at the end of the day!

Sitting at work...

Here we go again, another 3 day weekend of working nights. At least I have a computer that I can use to surf the web! I'm looking up info on the new "Trader Joe's" said to be coming to Va Beach, but can't get the opening date anywhere. I'm stoked about it though! Thing is if I can get my meats and Veg from there and save some coin to boot I'm all about it! Plus, they have all the other ingredients I need for my "Primal Diet" also... and cheap wine.

Yesterday my Dad came over to see the new pad and instead of dropping a tom of money on going out to eat I suggested we just grill out(...Primal style). So he bought the food(along with a new printer/copier/scanner as a surprise to me) and I got the fire going. We threw down... steaks, chicken, grilled squash/zucchini w/mushrooms and a monster salad with home made croutons! It was awesome! Dad told me it was the best he had had in a long time! Nice. There was enough left over for me to take bring to work tonight, and steak to grill for lunch tomorrow too! Dad hooked it up!!!

Over the next few weeks I'll be monitoring my weight and energy levels to see just how much I need to adjust for my workouts/training schedule. I need to get in some good riding and saddle time prior to the Police Unity Tour starting May 10th. And will benefit from the new life style change I'm sure! I'd also like to wish James luck this weekend with his "2" back to back races at the Sea Otter Classic in Montery Ca. The kid is a beast! Again Good luck bro!

Lets try this again...

So, I've been away from my Blog for about 7 months and a lot has happened in my life since then. I've gotten a little older, as well as my little girl Kennedy who is now 4 years old. In December I bought a house, it's not hard to say that it has been a strugle in adjusting to the new bills! And I also got a new road bike too(pictures coming soon). With all of that I feel very liberated with my options in life. I am writing this from work and will make it short today, But with all that is new and good life can only get better. I'm looking forward to getting back into competitive/race shape this year for cycling and Tri's. Also going to be seriously revamping my diet too, using the "Primal" diet and James's Vo2Max page to help me out. Well back to work.