Summit Man

My soul brother made it to the top of the highest peak in North America on Sunday. Congratulations my friend. You are an inspiration.

Epic

Saturday I did the longest training ride of my life. A group of eight of us rode from South Anchorage out to Hiland Road, up that son of a bitch, back down (where we were hitting speeds in the neighborhood of 50 mph) and then back the same route. By the time I got home nearly six hours later, I had ridden 108 miles and done 6,000 ft. of climbing.

The day was beautiful and charged with spontaneous attacks that had us sprinting to chase each other down. The group was great and it was quite a day.
Thanks to Tony B. for planting the seed with a post on www.bikeak.org

** On another "EPIC" note, today my great friend Kevin M. went for the summit bid on his attempt to bag the peak of Denali. Send him safe thoughts. Check it out here: www.mountaintrip.com - the blog that has updates is under "Expedition Dispatches" and his trip is the May 6 West Buttress Expedition. GO KEVIN!!!

Mother's Day

It's been a little while... recently we had a Cinco de Mayo party (Michelle made loads of great food and there was a pinata for the kids), I went and hit the first dirt of the season May 6 with Rick up by King River (long, steep climbs - ripping, technical descents), I got spit out the back of the pack at the Kincaid Loop road race (just like last year) and Alex just got back from visiting the Great Grandparents in Scobey, MT. where she learned to drive a four-wheeler, truck, and tractor - at age 10.

Yesterday was the 14th anniversary of my Mom passing away. I chose to reflect on that with a 55 mile bike ride (more like a solo breakaway) from about 7:30-10 p.m. last night from my house out the Coastal Trail to downtown and back - and then just for a little extra and knowing the wind would be at my back when I finally got there, I rode out Old Seward to Potter Marsh and came back on the highway with a strong tailwind. I was jamming along at about 27 mph when over my headphones I began to hear a low, grumbling. It was a passenger train returning from the Peninsula. I dropped it to the small cog and went as fast as I could. I was ripping along at 35 mph trying my hardest to keep up with the train but it was going just a bit faster and by the time I got to the rifle range, I was out of gas.

I thought about happy stuff on that ride and sometimes things I was thinking about made me feel guilty and sad... but in the end it was a good process and I'm thinking more happy thoughts today. Happy Mother's Day Mom... and all my other surrogate Mother's.

Fort Rich Crit 4/07

When Tony and I arrived at the race, we thought that they'd do it like they always had in the past and have the expert class go out last. We both got there at 9:45 a.m. and were told that we would be going out first at 10:00 a.m.

The weather was nice in that it wasn't raining but it was definitely chilly with temps. in the high 30's. The format was "Last Man Standing" where after 45 minutes of racing around a .8 mile lap, the last guy through on each lap gets pulled. I think we started with 12 or so guys in our group and soon it was down to 4 - Two Kaladi guys and Tony and me... Tony got 2nd and I took 4th.

It was a fun day and I'm looking forward to more.

http://in2funphoto.smugmug.com/gallery/2746923#146013445-L-LB

April Moose Run

Here's a link to a site with a photo at the start of Moose Run... http://in2funphoto.smugmug.com/gallery/2741254#145788732

As Promised

Here's the shot of my "new" bike that I said I'd post when I found the camera... actually, my wife found it.

Today was the first Moose Run TT (10 miles) and I beat my time from last April by 48 seconds. The weather was perfect with clear skies and very little wind and it's a good place to start looking toward the summer season and working toward more PR's.

Have a nice Sunday. I'll be doing a crit out on Fort Richardson and then riding around Eagle River with my buddy Tony.

4.20.39

My dad was born in Ireland in 1939... 68 years ago today. He was able to make it through 56 of those years before that evil bastard cancer took the rest of them. Today I wore the wedding band my mother gave him.

On this anniversary of his birthday I was missing him more than I have since he walked into the clearing at the end of the path.

Happy Birthday Dad. I love you and I miss how you made me laugh.

Waiting for May

There have been a few major changes in my life recently. I got a new job (again) and really like it. A friend of mine who is an attorney contacted me about a month ago to offer me a paralegal position in his firm downtown. The phone call falls into the category I like to call "serendipitous confluence" appropriated from my man Neil Peart. I was already looking for a new job because the thing at the Daily News wasn't working out too well. A man can only go for so long without adequate sleep and running a sleep deficit for six months was all I could handle.

Also, I recently had an appointment with a psychotherapist (with more to follow) because I finally recognized that being irritable and generally unpleasant to be around due to depression and wanting to blow my brains out about 30% of the time is not a good thing. Working through whatever issues are hiding in my subconscious and some good meds should hopefully do the trick.

One thing that will definitely help with my mental/physical/emotional health is the fact that the temperature is rising little by little, the daylight is lasting longer and the summer cycling season is upon us up the Last Frontier. I got my "new road bike" dialed in at RTR and love it. I'll post a photo as soon as I find the digital camera. That helped my blues and trying to set some more PR's this summer will do the same.

Here's to clear hearts & minds and the euphoric grin that comes from another great ride... and the fact that the new RUSH album comes out in 12 days!!

P.S. Thanks to Mr. Tim over at www.alaskabikeblog.blogspot.com for throwing my silly little not-very-often-updated page on his list.

Last Saturday

Mt. Redoubt in the far distance (also seen at sunset
in recent post "Last Night")

Anchorage below with Susitna in the distance

Two shots of Peak Three

This past weekend I went for a hike up the backside of Flat Top. I went with two friends but was unaware that they would be running up the mountain. I had my hiking boots on and they had running shoes with screws in them. Fortunately for me, I brought my ipod and a camera to capture the beautiful views as they flew up the incline like mountain goats, leaving me to grind up at my own pace while enjoying the fresh air and the tunes in my ears.

Self-restraint

"Self-restraint, according to all virtuous persons, is the highest of virtues in this world. Through self-restraint, O foremost of men, a person acquires the highest happiness both here and hereafter. Endued with self-restraint, one acquires great virtue. The self-restrained man sleeps in felicity and awakes in felicity, and moves through the world in felicity. His mind is always cheerful. The man who is without self-restraint always suffers misery. Such a man brings upon himself many calamities all born of his own faults. It has been said that in all the four modes of life self-restraint is the best of vows."

They Rule

They may be old enough to be my father but they shred harder than musicians half their age. They're a band that I've found people either love or hate and I feel fortunate to be a lover of their music. Over 30 years together and still making exciting music. Can't wait to get the full album in May.

YES!

My wish was granted today and I got the news from Bobby before I saw it online... RUSH will play Red Rocks on August 8th!!! We saw them there on the last tour and were lucky enough to be in the 17th row. All of my good vibes and well wishes are going to Bobby to score some good seats for this show. Can't wait for the new album to come out in May and the live performance in August!

The Crown

A few weeks ago when I was having my teeth cleaned, I told the dentist about a pang I was having in one of my lower left molars when I ate cereal. He took a quick look and noticed a large crack. I went in today to get my first ever crown and it was quite an experience. 90 minutes with my jaw jacked open and the dentist shredding my tooth with a loud drill. It's a temporary crown that I'll "try out" for a month to see if it takes and whether or not I need a root canal. If not, they'll throw a permanent crown on and that molar (crushing the bank at nearly $2,000.00 when all is said and done - thank goodness for insurance) will be the king of my mouth. Happy brushing and flossing!

The New One

Can't wait to build it up... aluminum lugs w/carbon fiber tubes... frame weighs 3 lbs. and the fork (Ouzo Pro) weighs about as much as a package of saltines. Woohoo!

Last Night

At around 5:30 on Saturday night I went for a sunset ride on my winter bike. It was about 15 degrees and I was able to watch three moose munching on alders. It was a nice little ride but my toes were getting cold so I took a shot of the sunset from my secret spot and headed home for a hot shower.

Spring is near...

With Daylight Savings Time coming on March 11 this year, we up here in the north will be pleased with the additional hours of daylight. I'm looking forward to a busy month of March and the spring to follow.

P.S. Can't wait for the new RUSH album to come out in May and then my travels to the states to see them live yet again... it's going to be a great summer!

Goodies

Thanks to Bobby for the ear candy he has so kindly sent me recently... truly appreciated!