Welcome!

Hello and welcome to my attempt to complete the Death Ride. It's a one-day bike ride in the Sierra Nevadas which takes its participants over five mountain passes. For a map, see http://www.deathride.com/elemap.html

I'm sure I don't have to tell you that something called Death Ride is difficult. It will definitely be the hardest physical activity I've ever done. I've done a climb up one mountain but not 5!

Here's a training schedule from previous participants:
1) Dec - Feb (Gym & Spinning, Sunday road rides whenever possible)
2) Mar (On the bike 3 days/week [continue this thru July], complete an 80 miler)
3) Apr (100 -140 miles per week, including a 100 miler, start hill training - Bogus once a week [continue thru July])
4) May (120 - 200 miles per week, including a 125 miler, lots of hills - 8-14 thousand feet per week
5) June (CHaFe150, Double Bogus, 120 - 200 miles per week, 12- 16 thousand feet per week)

I started work one week ago. So far, I've made it to spin class 4 times and been out on the road once. The problem with spin class is that have to be to work at 6:30. Spin class starts at 5:30, so I stay until 6:00. Then I rush to work, shower, and am ready to go at 6:35. I'd like to get to the gym by 5 am, but it hasn't happened yet.

My road ride wasn't much more productive. It was 26° outside and after a few miles my toes were so cold I had to turn back. I only went 10 miles.

This morning I should have gotten up for spin class but couldn't get out of bed, which is unfortunate because I could have stayed for the whole thing as I didn't have to be to work until 3 pm.

Other goals I have are: 1) to lose some weight, now at about 180 for a BMI of about 26; and 2) to do some running, including The Race to Robie Creek and maybe a full marathon like the Great Potato or St. George.

So I guess my plan, at least for the rest of the winter, would be get up 3 times a week for 1/2 hour of running from 5 to 5:30 am, followed by 1/2 hour of spin class or more when possible. Then maybe a long run or bike ride once or twice a week when conditions permit. Once the weather is better I'll be able to ride the bike reliably as I can ride to work most days, which will be about 12 miles each way. We'll see how well I can keep it up...