Playing Catch Up - Tour de Cure and MS 150 Rides

It's been over two months since my last post and I am ashamed to say that the time just got away from me. Wish I had a better excuse, but I don't. Although I am a fairly disciplined runner, I am not a very disciplined blogger. I try to do updates and I prepare for and complete races and rides, but that does not always happen in a timely fashion.

So much for excuses. Since April, I have participated in two charitable rides and enjoyed both of them. The first was the American Diabetes Association Tour de Cure. I had wanted to do this ride last year, but could not work it out on my schedule. The nice thing about the Tour de Cure is that it is right in my back yard in Suffolk. I was able to ride with Team Kerneos and we had a great time.

Team Kerneos at the American Diabetes Association Tour de Cure in Suffolk

The ride started at Kings Fork High School and took us through the back roads of Suffolk and Isle of Wight County. The weather was nice, although a bit warm. The Tour provided us with well-stocked rest stops along the ride. Our team had opted for the century ride, but heavy rains the night before had flooded part of the course and so the organizers had to cut out about four miles and detour us around the high water. All and all, I really enjoyed this ride and plan to do it again next year. My understanding is that the event raised over $300,000 for the Diabetes Association.

Team Kerneos at one of the rest stops.

The Tour de Cure served as a good warm up for my other chartiable ride, the MS 150. The MS 150 was held May 31-June 1 on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. This was my third MS 150 and, perhaps, the most enjoyable. 

The MS 150 begins in Cape Charles and winds its way toward the Ocean side of the Eastern Shore and then back across to the Bay side before finishing the first day at Camp Silver Beach in Exmore. We fielded about 19 riders for our Kicking Asphalt team and a smaller group of us decided to do a century the first day followed by 75 miles on Sunday. The second day started at Camp Silver Beach and retraced the route back to Cape Charles.

The Kicking Asphalt Team at the MS 150

The MS 150 ride is also a well-run event with good support and plenty of stops along the route. The Eastern Shore is a beautiful place to ride, although, at times, you have to deal with some pretty significant headwinds. We had great weather both days, although Sunday was the better of the two. For those who are not up to riding 75 miles, the MS offers shorter distances as well. If you are looking for a great ride that benefits a good charity, I would recommend either the Tour de Cure or the MS 150.

Looking Forward at 2014

Okay, enough with the nostalgia about looking back and thinking about what HAS BEEN DONE. It's a new year with new challenges and it's time to focus on what I want to accomplish in the coming year.

Mile 19 at the 2013 Shamrock Marathon

I want to continue to push myself on my running. Although I can generally sustain a solid sub-9 minute mile pace, I need to find ways to get the lead out. If I am going to have any hope of breaking a 4-hour marathon, I have got to get my mile splits down. Following the 2013 Shamrock, I noticed that they have been creeping back up and I need to reverse that trend. That means dropping my holiday weight and eating healthier in 2014.  I have a notoriously bad sweet tooth and portion control issues.

Our Cornerstone Marine Corps Marathon Team at the start line.

Speedwork is critical. Our Cornerstone group has been doing speedwork on Thursday mornings and I need to keep that going. I am not a fast runner, but that workout pushes my limits and, boy, do I need some pushing. I was complaining one morning that speedwork really hurts and my friend, Amy, was not hearing it. Her comment: "it's supposed to hurt!" I won't forget that. Thanks Amy!

Cornerstone Striders "Speedwork" Thursday

Although I try to rotate my workouts between running, spinning or cycling and swimming, I have completely neglected weight work and flexibility. During both the Marine Corps marathon and the Seashore 50K, I noticed discomfort in my upper legs and hips. While running is great for the muscle tone in my legs, it does little or nothing for the upper legs. Lately, I have been doing some weight work on my legs and that seems to help. I have never been a big yoga fan, but I need to rethink that. While endurance is important, so is flexibility.

On the cycling front, I want to maintain my endurance on long rides. The Cap2Cap Century pushed me in 2013 and I need to keep from backsliding. I want to do the Tour de Cure Century this spring and one more century before the year is out. I love my bike and my wife got me a Camelback for Christmas that I am looking forward to using. Hopefully, we will get some more mild days this winter that permit a ride.

Ready for my first sprint tri

I remain an aspiring triathlete. I completed my first sprint in August, so I am not a complete rookie, but I have yet to do an open water swim. That needs to get done this year. I am planning on doing the Smithfield Sprint in April, but that is a pool swim. That means, I need to find either another sprint or an Olympic that gets me out of the comfort of the pool. I have heard good things about the Patriot, but I just need to find the right open water race.

Well, I clearly have my work cut out for me in 2014. I am not sure that I will achieve all of these goals, but I hope to make a dent. I turn 52 this month and I want to celebrate that by working toward a stronger and more fit me. The bar is set higher and I'm not sure I can clear this height, but I'm sure going to try!