Countdown

Less than 50 days until the 2007 24 hours of Great Glen (24HoGG). 47 to be exact. What the heck is 24HoGG you ask? Check out this video and you'll get the idea. At the 2:30 mark my ass makes its featured appearance (I'm the third rider down the chute). A Quicktime version is here.

My Weapon of Choice: A Turner Burner. Race day will see the bash guard off, the platforms replaced with Shimano 757s, and possibly the Conti 2.3" tires swapped for something a bit quicker.

My teammate Todd* and I will be racing in the two-person class for the 3rd straight year. We finished a disappointing 10th out of 15 two man teams in 2005. This was mostly due to a spectacular crash by yours truly that almost caused me to drop out with uncontrollable back spasms and general deceleration sickness.

Last year we flirted with a podium spot, taking 4th. This year we hope to hoist a prize, though work and my home expansion have conspired to keep training miles low. Still, seven weeks remain to ramp up and I still have some hope we can improve on last year's performance. The recipe is easy: Get on bike, ride 3 hours. Repeat daily for six weeks. Sprinkle liberally with a few 100+ mile days seasoned with big climbs. Don't forget to throw in some rest days! Let cool the seventh week and then race for 24 hours. So simple!

ptb

* Todd, please recall that that you, and I quote, "threw down the gauntlet", last year. You *should* be faster than me! I'm *much* older and substantially heavier than you :-)

Hail Yes!

If you are a runner/biker/swimmer you typically refer to the fastest you can go over a particular distance/time as "race pace". And that's it, it's as fast as you can go (unless you are being lazy).

Step 5.

But, in an exciting development, I have discovered something faster than race pace! Yes, despite what you may have heard you can actually give 110%! Here's what you do.

1) Wait for a severe thunderstorm alert.

2) Put your running shoes on, get your bike, head to the lake, whatever.

3) Start running/biking/swimming.

4) As the skies darken pick it up to race pace.

5) When the hail starts pelting you and lightning is striking close enough that there is no perceptible delay between the flash and the boom, then, and only then, open the throttle. You will find that you have unexpected reserves of speed and endurance.

6) Head for home.

ptb