Ultra Rider: In Search of the Ultimate Long Ride RSS

Biking is one thing. Bicycling 100 miles is entirely another. But what about the bicycle ride that last all day and all night? At some point, you cross a line and at that point, cycling, becomes ultracycling.

This blog chronicles the story of a guy, his bike and a strange obsession with finding the outside edge of his personal limits.

In this chapter, having broken the UMCA record, recovered from a bone-crushing crash and achieving a top 15 finish at the inimitable Furnace Creek 508 we find our hero grappling with the realities of completing a 100km foot race.

For the complete story, follow this link, and read from the back to the front. The story won't make anymore sense when you've finished, but at least you'll know as much as the rest of us.

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Getting Motivated

Getting serious has been pretty tough. I thought it would be as easy as setting the goal, telling a few people about it and letting the guilt push me into a training program.

Didn’t happen.

Turns out that no one cares nearly enough about my goals to guilt me into achieving them. Go figure.

I’ve started to find my training mojo over the last four weeks, with increasing intensity. I’m no where near max volume, but I’m finally getting near the zone where I need to be if I’m going to set a UMCA record this coming spring.

I’ve also managed to get my diet under control. 2,400 calories per day, 65% carb, 20% protein, 15% fat, all low GI as possible (no more white rice, potatoes - although bread is still hanging on…its the next to go).

I think everything is starting to click. I even managed to get my act together and go for an afternoon ride, two days in a row! Yesterday was pretty funny - it was chilly when I left the house, but quickly turned into a bit of a snow-storm. My enthusiasm was definitely tempered as the snow started to collect on the roads, forcing me out of traffic and onto the sidewalk. It was good fun though and definitely a test of my bike handling. Not so sure the TCR is as happy about being in the snow as I was.

Took out the single-speed today, swapping the dura-ace pedals out with a cheap set of SPDs so I could try out my new winterized cycling boots. 90 minutes at -11c and I was pretty warm. Temperature with the wind chill was probably closer to -25c at the pace I was going. I was definitely happy to get some nice homemade beef barley soup into me when I got back to the house.

Larry and I have started to make a habit out of cross-country running in High Park. Wednesdays are hill repeats and Saturdays is a “boot run”. Run, two laps around the park (10k), and at each turn, stop and do some other form of exercise - chinups off a tree, crunches, squats, pushups - whatever. Its called a “boot run” because that’s what you feel like doing after an hour. Its definitely a good workout, although I’d still prefer to skip it and go straight to Starbucks instead :-)

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