velomech - Nothing has really happened since my last post...so....

09:41 am - Nothing has really happened since my last post...so....

just go back to work.


Im thinking of getting Cracker to hide the links to our journals. I didnt start posting this crap for a lot of people to read, it started out for a couple of friends to keep track on my attitude. I have realized that writing, even doing as poorly as I do, is a vent of some kind. I feel a lot better bitching, then reading it. Goes the same for sying something funny, which I did once, i think. I posted it, read it, and laughed. Once,I think.

From a blog readers point of view, I guess I enjoy reading them, when Im bored or I havent spoken to my friends in a bit, I hit their blog. Keeps me up to date, like im still involved in their lives. Which is cool. I have some links to blogs on the top of the page, these are either my friends who I care a lot about, or just good reading, either way, from now on, you should pretty much just visit here to get to them, end then go read their stuff.

I would feeel a lot better knowing no one is reading this crap.

So, Lets start with whats been going on this last week, and why I have been too busy to wriet about anything. Yeah, Dillen, Im one of those guys training. I can sit around an play, or drink a lot of beer, and eat a lot of food, and hope to ride in the same category as you. I have to train. So, quit rubbing it in. First, noone likes the super fast guys, yeah you, and fast guys are liked even less when they brag about how much food they eat and all the awesome beer they drink and still stay fast.

Ugh, Genetics. Ugh, Skills. Ugh, fast guys. I hate em. Im training my ass off to race turkeys like Dillen, Lindner, Hoffman, Rittenour, Sweetheart, and a bunch of others, and I keep reading how they are "playin", or "Drinkin" or whatever. This better be worth it yo. Im coming out fitter than I have been in ten years, if I still get smashed, Im gonna go back to riding fat and drinking beer and having fun.

I gained a couple pounds over the last week. Couple of "L" "B's" have snuck back on my ass, which I cant seem to figure out, unless its muscle, or bone density or something. My skin fat is getting lower and lower, but my wieght isnt changing.

Yeah, I have been to four parties in the last two weeks, but Im being reasonable about what Im eating.(And drinking.....amstel light....ew.)

I got 18 hours in last week, and on the jittery joes ride on sat am., I had enough. At this point on saturday I was in my 7th and half week of base I had 5 days left. The pace was high and i was getting irritated. So, I left base just a little, and stayed with the main group. I Have been taking a lot of vitamins and stuff, and Im approaching the point in my fitness where Im not peeing out all of my supplements. I havent changed the intake amounts, but Im not peeing yellow. Nate said this is because my body is starting to use and need all of it.

Good stuff.

So, heading back to Jittery Joes, I was getting ancy, and Nate rolled up, he asked me how many more days I had on base, he had forgotten, I told him maybe 5....he said, Your off base.

Im sorry, I shook my head, I though the said I was off base, "what?"

"Your off base, dont go crazy, be smart, and transtion in increments"....he kept talking about gears, and alternating efforst or something, but all I heard was blah blah bla....off base...blah blah blah...



IM OFF BASE!

Im sure, out of the seven people who read this, one of you doesnt know what base is, let me explain. I can break it down so you will understand it. Base is hell on earth. Im not a religious person, but Im smart enough to know I dont know everything, so, if there is a heaven and a hell, and I dont find out til it's too late, Ill be in base for eternity.

Base is hell. base takes something you love and turns it into something so painful and horrific you dont love it anymore. You cant ride your bike fast. But you have to ride your bike. You take a percentage of your heart rate, and ride at 60-70% give or take a bit, the entire two months your in base.

For some, thats ok, but I suck, so in order for me to ride fast I have to exceed my heart rate zone, which I cant do in base. So, I ride slow, for two months. Those freinds of mine, not in base, are all happy, and giggly and having fun. they can ride whenever and wherever they want.

Not me.
I have to ride a certain amount of hours, no more, no less, and I cant ride WHERE I want, it has to be around trails and roads that wont make me breathe hard.


Base Sucks.

Guess, what, I started it really early, and now Im out really early, so I can get ready for snake, and now I get to ride and have fun. yeah, i still have to watch it, but at least I can hurt. At least i can suffer a little now. My legs havent burned in two months, I havent gasped for precious air in two months. So, yesterday, I went out and hurt. I went out and gasped, and I suffered, and it was awesome. I punished my legs and my lungs and my heart. I punished them for making me ride base for two months.

It's was fun, and easy, they all strated crying real early in the ride. I didnt stop though, I went to mayberry and did hill repeats, then to TT Road, where I did steady state efforts, then back to mayberry, where they tried to get me to stop by making me throw up. But, i ate good, I had a lot more energy left, so even after I yakked, I kept turning the screws.

I think I over did it, but they had it coming. My lungs burned, my heart almost exploded, and my legs, hah, they started quivering like little girls....it was awesome.

I love pain. I love it. In years past, i havent had the fitness to induce really big amounts of pain. I have bonked, or shutdown early. I havent had the strength or stamina to push myself to the point where the pain is so great you cry. it's nice to be back at a level where I can hurt reeeaaalllly bad. the good news is if i keep it up, i will be able to hurt even more.

The only thing I like more than inflicting this kind of pain on myself is inflicting it on others...when a guy on your wheel is suffering and that one though creeps into his mind, it makes me high. you know that thought...."Oh my god, he cant keep this up forever"....That one, I have been on the other side of that thought, where I have been thinking I was gonna blow. I hope to be the one turning the screws this season, I hope there will be guys behind me hoping I slow down, or crack, or quit.

Pain is the greatest pleasure of all. feeling it. We cyclists are very lucky. We have tapped into a pain that the average person in this world couldnt fathom, our pain is different from any other pain imaginable. Pain can and will creep into every part of our bodies. It's beautiful to feel, it's awesome to witness and it's enjoyable to inflict.

Later
Hodge