Recreation Through Endurance

Getting to ride new places is always a fun. Last week, my boss tells me he needs me to go down to North Carolina for a meeting and it's too far to drive down and back in one day so I'll need to spend the night. Coincidentally (or maybe not since I do it about once a week), I was looking at the Xterra race schedule and saw that there's a new race this year near where we were going. Time to pack the bike!

It's somewhat well known that the Appalachians are older than the Rockies, but have eroded through the eons. What I found out though is the Uwharries are the oldest of the old. 500 million years? 20,000 feet? Damn!

My intension was to find the trails and ride them. That way I would have some idea of what I was in for if I end up doing the race in May. Either, the race course isn't determined yet or isn't announced. What I did end up finding is a bike trail system that (I later found out) wasn't near the race venue.

I had printed off a trail map, but the thing about trail maps is you never know how good they are until you get there, especially since this one was made in '98. Are the "proposed trails" there? Are the existing trails still there? Whether it was the park or UMBA that made the kiosk, it was one of the best I've seen. Not just trail maps, but it broke down the different loops into different routes for different milages (which I noted and ignored). Even the directions of the trails were explained. Nicely done.

Looking at the signs, I was getting cold so decided it was time to go. Got dressed, pants, long-sleeve shift, jersey, jacket, woolie-boolies, gloves, no bandana! "It's about 40, I'm sure my head won't get cold," and took off. About a mile in on the fireroad to the trails, I turned around, went back to the car, tore apart my only t-shirt to stick under my helmet. Those vents let a lot of air through at 15 mph.

The trails are basically a figure-8 with the fireroad cutting through the center. I did SuperTree first clockwise (described as fireroad climbs, singletrack descents. It was enjoyable, but nothing too exciting. Not really twisty, but the rolling hills and straight descents made for a fast ride. The trail near the creek crossing was icy and for a second I thought I was about to take a accidental bath. This would've been especially bad since I knew there was no chance of anyone else being out there that day.


After Supertree, I took the fireroad to the dead-end to see if the "proposed trails" were there. I started down one, but it kinda faded into the trees, so I turned back and took the fireroad back to the Keyauwee trail head. Went counter-clock-wise for "fireroad climbs, singletrack descents." This trail was a blast. Sometimes fast, sometimes steep, almost always technical. A couple times, I felt that love/hate burn in the legs. Then, I had to do it again, backwards and much harder. The climbs weren't long but were technical and steep, and at the top of one of them, with the cold-weather-phlem and the ache in my legs, I believe I made a noise that sounded just like "Keyauwee".

Liz and I seem to take quite a few trips and at the end of them, we always say "That was fun, but let's do something different next time." This was the first time either one of us had been on a cruise and about half way through the week we talked about it and it's definitely a trip we will make again. This one we went with my parents, my sister, and her boyfriend, so it was unique also in that it was a group/family trip. Since I don't get to see my family much, it was great spending this much time with them doing something so fun.


The ship was huge, 11 "decks" tall, over 2000 guests (1500 of which were from Texas), over 800 staff, two pools, casino, two story dining room, buffet restaurant, spa, salon, gym, 1000 seat theatre, 1/4 mile jogging track which I ran exactly 0 laps, rock climbing wall, at least 6 bars including a nightclub, stores, and a "centrum" which is a huge open area all the way through the center of the ship, and probably lots of other things I don't remember.
I think we spent as much time at the rock climbing wall as we did at the pool. Liz, Jana, Chad, my dad, and I all tried it at least once. Jana ended up taking 3rd in the women's competition, and I ended up with second on the last day of the trip. This is one of the tougher routes up (not during the competition):


There were also two (optional) formal nights, which we did. I had to rent a tux, which didn't fit that well, but Liz looked great! I think by the time our 73 course (not accurate), 2 hour (accurate) dinner was over, we wanted to change clothes and get drinks.


We had stops in Key West where we went kayaking in the marshlands (pictures not back yet) or did some shopping. I also twisted my ankle pretty bad screwing around on a perfectly stationary, completely fake bike

In Grand Cayman, we went snorkeling and hung out on the beach. The waters were beautiful and perfectly clear. Swam with the stingrays and amongst the barrier reef. Somehow, I managed to be bleeding after we finished snorkeling...

Near Cozumel, we went to see the Tulum (means "Walled City") Mayan ruins, which was the least adventurous of the shore excursions, but had the best view and sites by far. Check it out:


I'd recommend the trip.

Please excuse the absence. We'll be on a boat in the Caribbean...

Date: Jan. 11
Mileage: 14.67
January mileage: 51.4
Temperature upon departure: 25

I woke up early today for two reasons, one of which is that I went to bed early last night. I get pajama-dressed, make coffee, drink coffee, eat breakfast, check the forums, , and finish my morning routine. Time to... um... it's only 9...? Waaaay to early to do anything productive.

Time to ride! Weather check... 25 degrees? I think this is the coldest it's been this year. Y-time? ok... Then I remember Jill, who seems to be immune to the weather. 25 degrees might even be a warm day for her, so I bundle up, layered gloves, toe warmers, shoe covers, and all, and hit the trails for slower than normal, colder than normal, sweatier than normal ride. Though there was no snow, I did see some frost, even a frozen puddle or two.

and it felt great!

Not Richmond:

Typically, I've spent time reflecting on the past and how my life has been changing before moving forward into the next 12 months, but it just doesn't seem neccessary this time. Liz and I had a great year together and I'll leave it at that.

Of course, someone needs to reflect on our past but why should I do that when historians like Dave Barry do it so much better. Leave well enough alone. Excerpt:

. . . the Tour de France bicycle race is once again tainted by suspicions of doping when the winner, American Floyd Landis, is clocked ascending the Alps at over 200 miles per hour. Landis denies that he uses illegal drugs, attributing his performance to, quote, "gears."

This was the first year I kept track of my training/exercize for the whole year and I must say they were some pretty decent numbers. Including race miles, they were:
Running: 69 runs, 466.5 miles
Mountain Biking: 76 rides, 1346 miles
Road Biking (includes stationary bike): 23 rides, 840 miles
Swimming (some guessing needed): 57 swims, 84500 yards or 48 miles.

Here's to another year with my great girl,

with good friends,

and senseless craziness...


...because the road goes on forever and the party never ends.