Recently in Tour De Rook Category

To the stats:

• Total Distance: 14.09 miles
• Elapsed riding time: 01.05.17
• Top Speed: 23.7 mph
• Average Speed: 12.9 mph
• iPod:

1. REM - "Out Of Time"
2. Sarah McLachlan - "Surfacing"
   

• Wind: 3 mph SSE
  
• Humidity  63%
• Temperature: 64 F

Okay; I have been battling an intestinal bug for the past week. I will not go into details, other than to say it is very mild. In fact, my gut does not feel upset at all. However, I am feeling weaker. Or rather, was feeling weaker. Today I did not feel weak at all. My average speed was slower than normal due to taking a road I thought was paved, only to turn out it was mostly gravel. Only the two ends were paved, just long enough for me to not see it turn to gravel. Washboard gravel. Needless to say, it profoundly affected my speed. And my butt.

Otherwise, today was a wonderfully pleasant run. The wind was calm when I started, with a temperature of 61. I stopped three times to stretch, learning that I have a long way to go before I am limber in my hamstrings. But than, I have always been tight in that area, even back in high school. I never could get them to stretch properly. I suspect that is part of why I have lower back problems.

Well, it is 10 after 9 in the morning and I have breakfast to make, an apartment to clean, and laundry to wash. May your day be pleasant.

To the stats:

• Total Distance: 10.55 miles
• Elapsed riding time: 0.45.21
• Top Speed: 16.5 mph
• Average Speed: 13.9 mph
• iPod: Minnesota Classical Public Radio 99.5
  
• Wind: 6 mph SSE
  
• Humidity  30%
• Temperature: 78 F

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To the stats:

• Total Distance: 16.65 miles
• Elapsed riding time: 1.15.34
• Top Speed: 27.6 mph
• Average Speed: 13.1 mph
• iPod:
1. Indigo Girls - "Rites of Passage"
2. Hootie & The Blow Fish - "Cracked Rear View"
   
• Wind: 7 mph SSE
  
• Humidity  22%
• Temperature: 78 F

What is there to say? I went a whole week without doing a leg. The weather and my schedule conspired to keep me from hitting the road during the work week.

As a result of not hitting the road earlier this week, I felt lethargic during most of today's run. After about 10 miles I moved beyond lethargy to simply having no energy what so ever. Thankfully, the stiff wind that had been coming out of the Southwest shift around and mellowed out. That, and it more or less was to my back.

However, I believe part of the problem was that I had a stomach bug yesterday. I did not feel physically unwell - aside from the increased ringing in my ears - but I did get a mild case of the runs and my girlfriend told me I had a bit of a fever. Indeed, on the way down to Rochester, what I thought was going to be a simple case of passing gas turned out to be a little something else. I had to make an emergency stop at the Rochester Wal-Mart and buy myself new underwear and pants. At least I received a nice surprise; I now fit into a 36 inch waist with room to spare! At the start of this year's Tour I was finding a 38 inch waist too tight of a fit. So, you can imagine my joy.

Anyway, I am hoping to avoid a repeat of last week's failure to ride. I will see what life throws at me, though.

To the stats:

• Total Distance: 15.72 miles
• Elapsed riding time: 1.08.01
• Top Speed: 27.6 mph
• Average Speed: 13.8 mph
• iPod: George Winston - "Autumn" & "December"
  
• Wind: 7 mph ENE
  
• Humidity 60%
• Temperature: 61 F

First, I actually created a playlist of the two George Winston albums and played it on shuffle today. Perfect timing too. The last song ended just as I was pulling into the parking lot of my complex. When I left on this leg, the sky was, as I mentioned in the previous post, bright blue without a cloud in the sky. When I returned it was mostly cloudy. However, there was only a brief blast of wind as the clouds condensed into existence. They did not move in from the horizon so much as they formed right over head.

Also, since I have a smart phone with an excellent camera, I took some picture of the Vermillion River. In both cases, they are where I stopped to stretch. I try to stop at water ways when stretching. It is not always possible on some of my circuits, but I make due. Though the water is nice and relaxing to look at, it really is about having something to put my feet up on when stretching. The bridge barrier is good, but I find the guard rails to be just the right height.

Funny, but today I only had to stop twice during the run to stretch. And in both cases the numbness that used to cause pain in my toes when I first started this year's tour is barely beginning these days. I actually rode a straight 10 miles without needing to stop and stretch. And when I did, it was just a bare tingle.

All in all I have managed to achieve what I set out to accomplish with the tour; lose weight, get in better condition, and generally feel better physically.

So, now; about those pictures:

I did a leg on Friday. Here are the stats:

• Total Distance: 10.09 miles
• Elapsed riding time: 0.44.50
• Top Speed: 23.4 mph
• Average Speed: 13.4 mph
• iPod:
1. Led Zeppelin - "Led Zeppelin II"
2. Led Zeppelin - "Led Zeppelin IV (Runes)"
• Wind: 3 mph N
  
• Humidity 56%
• Temperature: 56 F

Now, if you will all excuse me, I am going to go on leg 33. It is a beautiful, sunny day at the moment, and I want to take advantage of the nice weather.

To the stats:

• Total Distance: 15.72 miles
• Elapsed riding time: 1.05.19
• Top Speed: 26.4 mph
• Average Speed: 14.4 mph
• iPod:
1. Toad The Wet Sprocket - "Dulcinea"
2. U2 - "Achtung Baby"
   
• Wind: Calm
  
• Humidity 61%
• Temperature: 63 F

Okay. I took a week off. Not really by choice. Tuesday night I developed a gut ache that kept me home from work on Wednesday. I spent the entire day sleeping. I was up for only a few hours on Wednesday from late afternoon to early evening, watching "Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight." Damn they are good movies. Anyway. I still did not feel 100% until today. Though I did not do over 20 miles, I can tell you I felt damn good on today's run. I actually had to force myself to slow down so I did not burn out early.

I figure I might have a few good weeks left before the weather turns against me and I will have to give up the Tour for 2011. However, I have free use of the fitness center where I work, so my plan is to hit the gym once the weather turns.

Okay, before getting to the stats I took a short run on Wednesday last week that I am not counting as a leg of the Tour de Rook. It was less than 5 miles and consisted of dodging deer and sand flies. I had planned on a long run that day, but got caught up in "Angry Birds," an app I bought for my Nook Color, after work. Damn but that game is addictive. Needless to say when I finally pulled myself away from my Nook, the sun had set and it was twilight out; hence the deer. Anyway, I still have stats for that: distance - 4.18 miles; time - 0:20:37; max speed - 25.2; average speed - 12.1

Now, to the stats:

• Total Distance: 21.43 miles
• Elapsed riding time: 1.39.42
• Top Speed: 28.6 mph
• Average Speed: 12.8 mph
• iPod: Lord of the Rings Soundtrack through to "The Hornburg"
  
• Wind: 11 mph WNW
  
• Humidity 44%
• Temperature: 84 F

All in all a good run. I did not push myself. With the wind in my face for the start of the run, I decided to simply take it easy. Thankfully, the wind was only really serious issue for about 7 miles. Heading both north and south I had a cross wind, with an occasional shift due to tree lines. Of course, I finished the last 6 miles with the wind to my back. I can say I honestly feel better after this 21 mile run then when I started in the spring. A 6 mile run then would leave me exhausted and weak, with cramps not only threatening, but actually hobbling me for about 10 to 15 minutes after the run.

To the stats:

• Total Distance: 25.38 miles
• Elapsed riding time: 1.55.22
• Top Speed: 27.5 mph
• Average Speed: 13.2 mph
• iPod:
1. The Beatles - "The White Album"
2. The Monkees - "The Monkees Greatest Hits"
3. The Wallflowers - "Bringing Down The House Horse*"
   
• Wind: 6 mph SSE
  
• Humidity 76%
• Temperature: 68 F

I made it just past the 20 mile mark when my butt became sore and the bottom of my feet became numb. I stopped along side the road to stretch and only managed to cause my left foot to cramp across my arch. Even now, after being home for a bit, I can feel the echo of the cramp. Also, my thighs and calf muscles are aching. I am tying to push myself to improve, but it sure as hell is not going easy. The next thing, after I publish this post (obviously already published from your point of reading) is to soak in a very hot bath.

*Okay, okay. So I got the name of the album wrong! Sheesh. See how with-it you are after a 25 mile bike ride.

To the stats:

• Total Distance: 15.97 miles
• Elapsed riding time: 1.09.14
• Top Speed: 26.5 mph
• Average Speed: 13.7 mph
• iPod: Elton John - "Captain Fantastic & The Brown Dirt Cowboy" and Paul McCartney & Wings "Band On The Run"
  
• Wind: Calm
  
• Humidity 83%
• Temperature: 71 F

To the stats:

• Total Distance: 13.01 miles
• Elapsed riding time: 0.54.31
• Top Speed: 18.6 mph
• Average Speed: 14.2 mph
• iPod: Led Zeppelin - "Led Zeppelin II" & "Led Zeppelin IV (Runes)"
  
• Wind: 9 mph SSE
  
• Humidity 87%
• Temperature: 83 F

You think I would leave you without an update on Le Tour de Rook? Ha! Think again old foolish blog readers.

To the stats:

Sunday, August 28, 2011

• Total Distance: 15.91 miles
• Elapsed riding time: 01.09:14
• Top Speed: 27.6 mph
• Average Speed: 13.7 mph
• iPod on shuffle:
  

1. John Lennon - "Move Over Mrs. L."
2. Live - "Stage"
3. Led Zeppelin - "Moby Dick"
4. Eric Clapton - "Malted Milk"
5. Paul McCartney & Wings - "Mamunia"
6. Smashing Pumpkins - "Siva"
7. Live - "All Over You"
8. Don Henley - "How Bad Do You Want It?"
9. The Rolling Stones - "Slave"
10. Don Henley - "All She Wants to do is Dance"
11. Indigo Girls ' " Three Hits"
12. The Rolling Stones - Black Limousine"
13. Smashing Pumpkins - "Window Paine"
14. Better Than Ezra - "Happy Endings"
15. Better Than Ezra - "Speeding up to Slow Down"
16. Matchbox Twenty - "If I Fall"
17. The Beatles - "Across the Universe"
18. Cinderella - "Gypsy Road"
19. John Lennon - "Mind Games"
20. The Beatles - "Come Together"
21. Paul McCartney & Wings - "Picasso's Last Words (Drink to Me)
22. Sheryl Crow - "Can't Cry Anymore"
23. The Tragically Hip - Every Time You Go"
24. Paul McCartney & Wings - "Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five"

• Wind: 6 mph E
  
• Humidity 53%
• Temperature: 74 F

To the stats:

• Total Distance: 8.77 miles
• Elapsed riding time: 00.36:07
• Top Speed: 17.7 mph
• Average Speed: 14.5 mph
• iPod:
  

1. Cold Play - "Parachutes"
2. Cities 97 Sampler - "Volume 18"

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