New Race Schedule Posted: FIRM 2010

Fiske Independent Race Management has just posted their 2010 race schedule here.  It’s actually only the first half of the season posted, with promise of the second half being posted in the next couple of weeks.
Right of the bat in April, there is a repeat of the Mud, Sweat and Gears Duathlon on April 25th, except [...]

Transitioning

Today I did something sad, but necessary:  I set up the trainer in the basement and rode my bike inside.  It’s only mid October and we’ve already had our first snowfall.  Insignificant in accumulation, but a huge psychological blow.  Winter is coming early, and it rarely leaves as early as it comes. 
I haven’t been in [...]

Recon Report: Ashland State Park

Yesterday I traveled to Ashland to check out the course for the Mud, Sweat and Gears Duathlon being held October 4, 2009.  The park is a nice little state park, and was closed to vehicles due to budgetary constraints.  I parked outside the gate with the other vehicles, pulled the mountain bike off the truck [...]

Recon Planned–Ashland, MA

Tomorrow I’m heading to Ashland, MA to check out the course for the Mud, Sweat and Gears Duathlon.  I’m doing this for a few reasons.
1.) I’m prone to anxiety–and knowing where a place is and how to get there makes me less anxious.
2.) I want to see what I’m up against.  I don’t think it will [...]

Flirting With Athena

Athena Statue
Originally uploaded by sipclip&go

Sorry boys, it’s not that kind of post.
What I’m talking about is chosing a category when I registered for the Mud Sweat & Gears Duathlon. Signing up is a fairly simple process. But you must categorize yourself so they can place you with “like” competitors. This isn’t a hardcore race–it’s managed [...]

Defining My Racing Strategy

Mt Toby Trails
Originally uploaded by sipclip&go

Last Monday Gail & I made it out for a planned brick: a short trail run followed immediately by mountain biking. We’re prepping for the Mud Sweat and Gears Duathlon in Ashland, MA on October 4th. This is my first attempt at multisport, and my first race since in about 8 [...]

Running Vs. Riding

OK, my last post:  a little angry.  The rain has been depressing.  My apologies.  I’m usually much more cheery   A positive by-product of the terrible weather is that I’ve taken up running again, something I’ve done on & off since high school (3 years Varsity track).  I don’t particularly care for running, but [...]

Back to Riding

View of Quabbin, Windsor Dam
Originally uploaded by sipclip&go

Oh June was a long, hard month. I think I had an easier time in February than I did in June. I definitely exercised more in February. But now we’re into July and getting a little more sun than rain (thank God!). And at last, my class is [...]

Kinda, Sorta, A Brick

June was a bad month for me.  Everything else in life was great–but as far as getting a workout in?  Forget it.  Sure, I went mountain biking a couple times in Colorado, and once with my SCAG Ladies group, but I only got on the road bike once.  Once!  The rain is partly to blame, [...]

Entering Ware (Where?)

I took Friday off and did a 38 mile out & back, which brought me through 4 towns, Ware being the outermost of those towns. I cruised through the backroads of South Hadley, Granby, Belchertown and then hit route 9 past two of the Quabbin entrances and over the Swift River. I turned around at [...]