Platinum on the Run

On sunday I decided to head out to the SBAA 12 mile cross country running race to toe the line with Santa Barbara running legends such as Eric Forte, Shiggy Suzuki, The Hammer and MDub.

The course was two 6 mile laps around a very challenging and hilly eling park featuring some gnarly fast open downhills, and some steep punchy climbs.

I went out a fast with the MDUB. The plan initially was to try to play it a little conservative, but I realized quickly if I wanted to have a shot at winning I would have to lay it all on the line. MDUB and I charged from the gate and got a commanding lead by the time we reached the first climb. About 4 miles into the race I started falling off the pace and in a big way. My legs were on fire and I realized that it was going to be everything I could to do to just hold it together. The Hammer and Forte passed me on the long flat section on top of Elings. They slowly began to try to close the gab to Matt, but never quite made it. He won handily in 1:22. Eric cut the course and once he realized his mistake abandoned the race and jogged home. Ben Finished around 126. Shiggy came by me on the second to last climb  looking strong and fresh as different parts of my legs and body were shutting down. I held on and limped it in around 130 for a 5th place overall.

In hindsight I probably would have been better off if I had started a little more moderately (boy if I had a dollar for everytime I wrote that in a race report) but I don't think that is in my nature.

Results:

Chester Gillmore: 5th overall 1:30:36

Training Update

Coming along slowly but surely... Or at least I was until I decided to run a 12 mile xc race.

Mon:
Tues:1.5 hr Lunch hammer fest  + farren repeats
Wed: 2+ hrs: OSM, PC, Reapeaters
Thurs: 3- hrs: OSM, PC, ECC, Gibralter blah blah blah
Friday: Raquet ball + easy spin
Sat: 3+ hrs: Roco ride, hard on the hills (got dropped by the young guns), Hard to ventura, then split off and road SST through ventura and Oxnard etc.
Sun: SBAA Elings park XC foot race: VERY CHALLENGING 12 Mile course: I ran somewhere around 1:30. 5th overall. destroyed my legs trying to keep up with Matt running sub 5 minute pace down the hills... Probably will set my cycling training back 2 weeks recovering from this one.

The world famous Marco was there in his blue jeans taking pictures.Then I spotted him relaxing at the coffee shop.

In the words of Rumi...

...In times of sudden danger most people call out, "O my God!"
Why would they keep doing this if it didn't help?
Only a fool keeps going back where nothing happens.

The whole world lives within a safeguarding, fish
inside waves, birds held in the sky, the elephant,
the wolf, the lion as he hunts, the dragon, the ant,
the waiting snake, even the ground, the air,
the water, every spark floating up from the fire,
all subsist, exist, are held in the divine. Nothing
is ever alone for a single moment.

All giving comes from There, no matter who
you think you put your open hand out
toward, it's That which gives.

-Rumi

Training

Mon: 2.5 hours: Climbed the Gib, then headed to the dreaded Sea Ranch
Tues: 50 minutes easy spin to work
Wed: Run up Jesusita in AM. Big Gear intervals in HR in evening
Thursday: OSM: 16:20
Fri: Raquet ball
Sat: OSM repeaters (bad legs)
Sun: Worlds, plus torro, Romera, mtn, Gibralter (to the no shooting sign) - Need more watts

OSM

16:20

It has probably been two years since I have gone up OSM sub 17.

This is for the people of the sun, we coming back around again.

There are those...

There are those who prefer a nice espresso after dinner and those that do not.

Training... getting back on the steed, little by slowly

Had the week off of work so tried to get some longer rides in. Sort of out of the SB cycling loop so mostly riding hills to build solid base. Marco always said that the hills were the best way to build base around SB and you can't go wrong listening to Marco.

OSM around 17:48 this week. Gonna try to get a schedule dialed in for training. 

Both bikes need quite a bit of work mechanically speaking...

Sat: 2.5 hrs, Started Rocco to first pass, long way home.
Sun: 3 hrs, Griffith Park Observatory hill repeaters
Mon: Zzzzz
Tues: 1 hr, Trail run with the Blue Bear
Wed: 4 hrs, in Palm Springs, easy
Th: 3.5 hrs, OSM, WCC, ECC, OSM, blah blah blah
Fr: 40 minute run with the Thathcer man while mom got foot massage!
Sat: 4 hrs, Gib, ECC, Paradise Rd, Stage Coach Blah Blah Blah
Sun: 2.5 hrs, Worlds to Goob (Broke an axile in my front wheel, called wife and got ride to Marcos, borrowed  wheel ) Rode OSM, Painted Cave, ECC, Paradise blah blah blah

ENCOURAGEMENT-- THIS MATTERS!

Frome Danielle Laporte:

right now:

There are Tibetan Buddhist monks in a temple in the Himalayas endlessly reciting mantras for the cessation of your suffering and for the flourishing of your happiness.

Someone you haven't met yet is already dreaming of adoring you.

Someone is writing a book that you will read in the next two years that will change how you look at life.

Nuns in the Alps are in endless vigil, praying for the Holy Spirit toalight the hearts of all of God's children.

A farmer is looking at his organic crops and whispering, "nourish them."

Someone wants to kiss you, to hold you, to make tea for you. Someone is willing to lend you money, wants to know what your favourite food is, and treat you to a movie. Someone in your orbit has something immensely valuable to give you -- for free.

Something is being invented this year that will change how your generation lives, communicates, heals and passes on.

The next great song is being rehearsed.

Thousands of people are in yoga classes right now intentionally sending light out from their heart chakras and wrapping it around the earth.

Millions of children are assuming that everything is amazing and will always be that way.

Someone is in profound pain, and a few months from now, they'll be thriving like never before. They just can't see it from where they're at.

Someone who is craving to be partnered, to be acknowledged, to ARRIVE, will get precisely what they want -- and even more. And because that gift will be so fantastical in it's reach and sweetness, it will quite magically alter their memory of angsty longing and render it all "So worth the wait."

Someone has recently cracked open their joyous, genuine nature because they did the hard work of hauling years of oppression off of their psyche -- thisluminous juju is floating in the ether, and is accessible to you.

Someone just this second wished for world peace, in earnest.

Someone is fighting the fight so that you don't have to.

Some civil servant is making sure that you get your mail, and your garbage is picked up, that the trains are running on time, and that you are generally safe.Someone is dedicating their days to protecting your civil liberties and clean drinking water.

Someone is regaining their sanity. Someone is coming back from the dead. Someone is genuinely forgiving the seemingly unforgivable. Someone is curing the incurable.

You. Me. Some. One. Now.

Training update

Last week I mentioned that I climbed OSM in 19:58

I went up yesterday after work in 18:19.

Next week I may or may not ride OSM. I will have the week off so I may try to get a bunch of longer rides in. Although by goal next time I ride will be 17:20.

We will see what next week brings.

------
Wed: Hope ranch loop
Th: OSM in 19:58
Fr: Raquetbal
Sat: Hike
Sun: Worlds + the hills coming home
Mon: Raquet ball
Tue: Lunch ride + farren
Wed: Zzzzzzz
TH: OSM (18:19) + Painted cave and home through Hope Ranch
Fr: OSM Tripeaters
-------
Legs feel good.

1 month until road racing starts... 3 months until mountain bike racing starts... It is amazing how body composition changes and so quickly... Maybe my metabolism is changing as I get older as well? I hear that happens...

Less cookies, more HTFU! Lets see what happens...

Fire it up...

YOUR FIRST VEGAN MARATHON?

Thinking about running your first Marathon? Maybe you have run Marathons before but now have seen the light, are vegan, and thinking about running your first ever Vegan marathon?

The good news is some of the worlds top endurance athletes are vegan, so you go that going you. 

The next thing to do is head on over to no meat athletes Vegan Marathon Road Map and check it out. It might be the most important training book to ever read. Then again, it might not. Or might it...?

Different Stokes for different Folks

Oh the things you hear on group rides... especially in December.

The thing about it is most places ( and grant it, this is only hear say as I have only really ever trained in Santa Barbara) in the winter bike racers are not pushing the intensity. They are building base, working on FTP, etc etc. Anything but hammering. But in Santa Barbara the group rides tend to be the fastest around Dec or Jan. Every year it seems to be the same and every year I hear things like:

"sheesh, look how fast everyone is riding, don't they know its winter"
"These guys are idiots out here, who rides fast in Decemeber"

You get the point right? Substitute any negative Nelly expression for this one and I am sure you have heard it uttered this winter (possibly even from me).

Oddly enough these people continue to show up on the group rides were some one is willing to push it.
Maybe winter just gives an excuse to wank, or a reason why they couldn't hold the wheel or be on top of their game.

If you can't stand the heat, get out the kitchen. If you don't want to ride fast stay away from the group rides. Sunday worlds is reasonably fast all year long. Most of these people just want to go out and have fun and group ride and are not necessarily hard core races and I think its great that people want to have a go at the sprints in December. More power to em'. Some people also don't have the time to put in 25 hour base weeks in the winter to to those with less time to burn, a little more speed could not be that bad.

Avoid conflict in your home life...

Learn how to follow directions...

How did you start your day?

This morning saw a little quite meditation, followed by some bomb bean, followed by a little Luis and Velma:

Ever Bike ride in Santa Barbara? Ride Old San Marcos Pass? OSM ANYONE?

Well I did today. All out. AFAP (as fast as possible).

19:58

Oh yeah.

If I can break 16, form is decent enough to race generally speaking.

So the real question is how long will it take make 20 percent gain in form. Bare in mind I will be putting forth absolutely minimum effort?

One way would be to ask Marco.

Another way would be to attempt to make this happen and post weekly updates on time and training etc.

I think we will go with the latter.