Just me goofing off at the park...I wish..

I can't say I was feeling like an Ironman, but I was definitely feeling like a man. I was running a little late, and couldn't run in, so I hoped on the Mtn. Bike and passed a guy on a $6,000 road bike with all the latest gear. Hopefully I can get in a good workout tonight or tomorrow morning.

I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend. I had a nice long bike ride with a good friend up Suck Creek Mountain and the back side of Signal Mountain, which which was followed by some nice skiing on the lake. Then on Sunday I swam and did a quick (7 min/mile) 5 mile run in some seriously hilly terrain!

For a nice technical update, the feed of this blog will be updated at Chattablogs.com

Chattablogs is ran by the nice folks at Coptix. Josiah Roe's blog is definitely my favorite blog related to Chattanooga.

Additionally, you can always get the RSS feed here

One of the best stories I have ever read about:

My Life-Changing Testimony: A Christian Perspective on Triathlon
I was humbled last year. My body shut down on me just before two World Championship events. I was originally in top form to medal in both, but my strength was sapped from me.

I'm excited about the weekend. I'll be doing two of my three favorite things: Training Hard and Eating Hard! I had to actually buy the ingredients for my wife's awesome banana pudding - needless to say I'll never be eating that again. O well!

Have a Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

Had a KILLER work-out yesterday. It usually takes me about 40 min. from my office to get up Lookout Mountain when I'm by myself. Yesterday, I did it in 26 min. with my training partner. We then went back through TN, then took it easy on some flats for about 20 min. at a nice 17 mph pace, and then did indian drills for 30 min. back home. Of course, the indian drill are really just REALLY intense interval runs since there is only 2 of us. All in all, it was a blast! Then the run came, which wasn't such a blast. I ran 6 miles after that, and thankfully didn't quit, but I was in-some serious pain, as my body is clearly not ready for a Olympic distance triathlon yet. But I will be soon, and I can definately tell a difference since I have actually been doing ab-work.

I think I have found the challenge of all challenges: Eating all organic on a food stamp budget!

I LOVE IT!! It encorporates two goals at once (eating organic and saving money)! I will be embarrased if I can't do this, as even the governor of Oregon can do it!

Here is a couple that has been doing it for four weeks now.

The complete Waterfront Triathlon course just got posted and I think they actually measured the run course this time!

What a surprise it's about half of the distance as last years - yet no one at Team Magic is admitting anything wrong with last year's course! O well, it will just make my improvements even more remarkable.

I was going to swim after work last night, but it seemed a little cold and I wanted to get home to finish a good book I just started.

Today I have my first major Triathlon workout so everyone Pray, chant, or do whatever you do for me, because I will need it!!!

I had a great bike ride yesterday after work and a slow run into work this morning. I was going to run after the bike ride yesterday but it ended up being too late.

The bike ride entailed a new route into Flintstone, GA where one of my friends live (picture above).

I'm pretty excited about triathlon training this summer. It will be tough, but well worth it. Next week, there will be a lot of new upgrades/updates to this blog so GET READY!

I've got a new favorite training time: Sunday before church. The weather is great and no one is on the road at this time. Usually I'm watching political shows and eating donuts, but since I have given up by powdery friends and all politiceans pretty much lie ( or at the very least get nothing to very little accomplished) this new time is significantly more productive for me.

So I decided to check out the new bike section for the Chattanooga Waterfront Triathlon. And it officially sucks! Not to be a complainer, but Chattanooga is one of the prettiest city's in America, and once again, the organizers have chosen one of the worst routes possible. Last year was Amnicola Highway (for you non-Chattanoogan's) that's basically an industrial park. Now, it's on an a major highway, with rolling hills, which is good for all Chattanoogan's and extremely bad for everyone else.

Trust me, for all Chattanoogan's who think the hills "are bad, but not that bad" you clearly haven't cycled the path yet, and have only driven the course.

For me, I would rather go climb Lookout Mountain! I mean if your gonna climb at high noon in July with 100% humidity, you might as well be in the shade and have a fun ride down, right?

So here is the link for the worst bike course for a Chattanooga Triathlon.

As for the run course, which is "partially new" who knows, maybe this year they actually measured the distance and we may only have to run 6.2 miles instead of the 10 last year!

I didn't do the 3 State 3 Mountain race, as my friends advice took hold:


Me + going down a mountain at 45 mph on wet roads with 2,500 other cyclists
= not a safe scenario

O well, now it's Triathlon time, which is what all of this training has been for anyway.

The Wall Street Journal has a great article on commuting by Bike.

A couple of interesting facts:

40% of commuters in Amsterdam use their bike.

In Copenhagen, more than a third of workers pedal to their offices.

In Boulder, CO 21% of commuters commute by bike

Such few time, and so much to blog about...

I had a great time at Bike2Work today.
What's not to like: Warm Homemade Cinnamon Rolls, Fresh Fruit, Smoothies, Very Nice people (no road rage here!)

I loved it.

Everyone was talking about the Century this weekend. Everybody said they would drop out if it started raining. Not me (i thought) - However, then they started talking about death rates, and then I said well, maybe that wouldn't be such a bad idea!

Another Funny Video here

More National Bike Month media coverage, this time originating from the great state of Washington. From the Tri-City Herald, 05.01.07:



Tri-City commuters to pump the pedals

The extra effort Shellie Feather of Kennewick puts into commuting to work by bike is worth the savings she'll get by avoiding the gas pump.

"The gas prices are outrageous," she said. "It is nice to have alternative means to get to work so you're not committed to spending that gas money."

Bicycle advocates hope to cash in on the recent spike in gas prices -- now exceeding $3 a gallon -- by convincing more people to bike to work. Bike commuting also can help with losing weight and preparing for work or unwinding from it.

"It is a great way to get your day started and ended," said Dave Espinosa-Aguilar, a software engineer for the city of Richland.

(Becky Driscoll with Kennewick's REI) said she wants to expand the challenge into a community-wide event. "Getting more people out of their vehicles and onto their bikes would make them happier and healthier," she said.

She said any bike would do. She said one unemployed man purchased a $15 bike and rode it to apply for and be interviewed for jobs. He ended the month healthier and employed, she said. (Read more.)

Rising gas prices will certainly lead some people to investigate bicycle commuting. Unfortunately, as researchers from my employer discovered: "Gas prices hardly affect demand: UC Davis survey says pump costs have to soar a lot before Americans change driving habits."

I'm pumped!

Already this week my best friend and my wife have commuted to work by bike!

They both were pleasantly surprised by how good they felt afterwards!

My wife doesn't want to start everyday like yours truly. But, we will save about $20/month if she just does it once a week.

Folks, it is easy math:

Commuting by Car = Stress

vs.

Commuting by Bike = Stress Reducer!

Friday is the official Bike2Work day for Chattanooga. The party will be at the Southside of the Walnut St. Bridge. BONUS = FREE BREAKFAST and it's AWESOME!

I hate the CAR!!!

This morning I HAD to commute by car, to get some important papers from my house to my office. Over 40 minutes later I actually got to my office. I'VE RAN FASTER THAN THAT!!!