Hot Day in the East...

Today was my first day back to the CAF (Challenged Athletes Foundation) group ride which is held almost every Sunday.  I've been doing rides during the week but they have been around 1 to 2 hours long since my second knee operation a few weeks ago.  Today's route was supposed to be 77 miles with 2700 feet of climbing.  Unfortunately I was not in my best condition to be out on a day when the heat so high and a long day in the saddle.

Before we got on the road this morning we had the all important XX1090 Scott and BR Radio Immunity Contest to take care of.  We are down to 7 people at this point.  Today's immunity contest was spin the bottles.  Check it out.  Adam Beck, last years winner, fantastic bike rider and all around great person, put together a really cool device for our challenge this morning.  We spread the group out around the bottle spinner and then, spun the bottle.  Each person it stopped on was eliminated.  The winner was Keith Jensen.  But wait, there's more.  Keith then had to give immunity away.  We had him hold off on telling us until announcements with the rest of the group.

After we gathered all the riders together and talked about the importance of drinking today because it was going to be so darn hot, we had a chance to talk about the contest.  Adam did a great job again of telling everyone where we were at with things.  Finally we asked Keith to tell us who he had select and it was Danielle Weickgenant (why-can-not).  And of course she now has the immunity helmet to decorate.  Chris Glossner has had it for several weeks and this week took out the stops.  I and the entire group was really impressed.  The game is really on now.

OK, back to my story.  So our first SAG (Support and Gear) stop was at mile 26.  I was feeling pretty good there.  I had almost completely emptied my waterbottles so I refilled, hit the bathroom and took in some salty snacks.  Up to this point it had been pretty flat.  We then hit the hills and that is when I noticed I had little to no power on the longer climbs.  My endurance was there but...I was starting to loose touch with the group.  We had a mid point 39 mile stop for water and I filled up again a bottle and half.  Then on the last hill up to SAG at mile 52 I realized I was dying.  I pulled in well over 3 or more minutes behind the last person in my group and immediately went to the shade.  Yep, I knew it was time for me to call it a day and was taken back to the start in Vikki's truck.  It happens and I'm not too unhappy with myself.  My body just wasn't ready yet for that type of a ride.  It just feels bad when you're suppose to be the Ride Leader but thank God we had Mike, Mike, Jack and Adam still in our group to support.

We had our event this week for a few of the Ride Leaders; myself, John Welch, Adam Beck, Todd Northup, and Pat Jack.  We raised over $4600 which was right in line with our goals.  Excellent turnout of people, well over 75.  I think the owner of Toast Martin Gonzalez was pleased with the showing.

Next week, 95 miles and I will be ready.  Mileage this weeks needs to come up along with intensity and climbing. 

XX1090 Radio Contest is in full swing.  Eliminations started a few weeks back when the group was taken from 30 down to 15.  Last week the challenge was to see who could get the most votes on the radio site.  The top person(s) would have immunity and the bottom would be bumped.  Tom La Fever was the first to go.  The winner(s) was Jesse Martinez and Jesse Mindlin coming in tied.  Jesse Martinez was out for the day on Saturday so Jesse Mindlin was left with the immunity helmet and charged with decorating it.  Here is a picture of last years end result immunity pump.    As you can see over time it turned into something pretty spectacular.

Unfortunately I was out last week with a small knee operation.  When I had knee replacement in Feb of this year the realignment of the new knee pushed a few things around.  For the last 10 years there has been a piece sitting behind my knee.  It was a broken piece of bone or cartilage that has grown some over time.  With the new knee it pushed it over onto a nerve that runs down my leg to my ankle causing it to go numb sometimes.  Had to get it out.  The process at Scripps was fast.  I was in on Friday for an hour operation, stayed over night and was out the next day by noon.  Doc Copp said it was the size of half a golf ball.  I could have walked out but protocol calls for a wheel chair.  I start spinning today with plans to hit the road by this weekend and out with the group riding the following week.

Our Toast to CAF fund raising event is just around the corner, Aug 17th.  It's at a place called Toast and the whole concept is around wine.  If you like to try different wines, this is the place to tickle those taste buds.  You get a card with your entry, $30, that allows you to sample different wines by the ounce at kiosks.  Also included is food.  There will be a killer silent auction.  Items are still coming in but a quick look at some of the items are: hotel stays, cycling apparel, golf clubs and tea times at Torrey Pines, spa treatment, jewelery, electronics, iPod, bundt cake.  Lots and lots more.  Tickets can be bought via the web page link.

We're deep into our training.  This is a rest or down week and opportunity for the participants to recover from the hard weeks of riding.  It's supper important that after hard efforts the body recovers and build to become stronger.  This is a simple and yet powerful concept.  

I'm looking forward to getting back out there on the bike with the group.  I get a lot out of the energy these people bring each week and it's a challenge for me as well.  I'm recovering but still need to be a Ride Leader providing guidance. Enough laying around.