The final edition.

Finally, my replacement tri bike has arrived. It was not warrantied, but the shop helped me out with getting a new rig at a fair price, plus some nice little aero bar upgrades. This should hopefully complete my collection of 2 wheeled machines, and now I can throw cash away elsewhere (alcohol?).

The bike line up is now as follows:

• '06 Kestrel Talon - TT setup (triathlon)
  
• '06 Scott Cross Team (training, road/gravel road racing)
• '06 Specialized Stumpjumper Expert (mtb)
• '70's Olympian steel monkey-barred fixed gear beater bike
• '02 or so Giant NRS2 beat down and broken mountain bike (single tear.)

I love bikes, go ride one!

Good Song: The Rapture - Gotta Get Myself Into It

Amazing stuff!

The scene pre-show.

I feel like I'm part of the elite Washingtonian scene now. I'm in the club!!! Wellll, ok maybe not so much. But I atleast got a sense for what its like to be "in the club", and I LIIIIKE. Last night definetly lived up to the hype. It all started by myself first forgetting my phone and then metro-ing into D.C., but I had no way to get a hold of K. so she could let me in to her place. I tried calling everyone on the outside phone thing, but no luck there. I then attempted to get into a nearby library to email, IM or something...but you needed a student I.D. card - SWEET! So I metro-ed back to my place to get my phone, when I did finally pick her up it was 4:45. I said I'd originally pick her up at 4:00, woops!

Il Divo(NSync meets Opera)

So we find a place to park close to the museum, and as we're walking up we notice all these flashing lights, streets shut down, and noone allowed to cross the street. The President's motorcade was on its way, and damn is it quite a procession. It consisted of 5+ moto cops, then followed by a couple unmarked SUV's, a couple limo Bentley's/Cadillac's , then more SUV's with guys with BIG guns hanging out of them, some cars with radar equipment on the top, an SUV with a guy video taping the front of the procession, and finally an ambulance. All in all I'd say about 15-20 vehicles rolled up.

The President and Mrs. Bush speaking.

Once we're inside the place looks amazing, very theatrical, with smoke, and lights setting the Christmas mood beautifully. Take our seats, and wait for the show to start. Then the President's party roles in, we clap, some organizers talk, we clap some more, and finally Dr. Phil and his wife start to host. Taylor Hicks, Chris Brown, Il Divo, Corinne Ray Bailey, and Gretchen Wilson were all very amazing and talented, but in my opinion who stole the show was Bianca Ryan. She is 12 years old, and has the vocal chords to rival the Greats like Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey. Simply amazing!

The GRAND finale!

Following the show was an elaborate reception where we dined on wine, crab cakes, Baked Alaska! A Congressman and his wife from Wilmington, NC - which is where K. graduated from - sat down at our table, and we chatted nicely about how everything shuts down in the South when there is a dusting of snow. They also filled us in on their recent trip to South America. Nice people. I got his card, so who knows...maybe he knows of a nice Technology-related job up on the Hill. Gotta network ;). The show will be on TBS on December 13 at 10pm. Check it out!

They didn't allow flash photography during the show, so I could only keep the pics so steady. Sorry!

Great night all around!

Good Song: Badly Drawn Boy - Nothings Going to Change Your Mind

Christmas in D.C.

Wooo,

Somehow I managed to score a couple tickets to the taping of "Christmas in D.C." that goes down tonight. So I'm taking K. out for a night out on the town, heyyyyyy. Its hosted by Dr. Phil, so I can get some relationship advice, attended by our President George W., so I can get some "how-to-run-a-Country advice" (well, maybe I won't ask him), with performances by the American Idol winner (forgot his name), Chris Brown, Il Divo(who?), and a female country singer. I'm going to try and snap some pics, if Secret Service lets me...

More later!

Cheers!

Good Song: Heavens - Patent Pending

Free Sufjan.

For those emo indie-music hipsters out there, Sufjan Stevens is slated to headline a freakin' free show at the Kennedy Center on Feb. 5th, 2006. FREE! Check out the Kennedy Center page for ticket details....PEACE, I'm out.

P.S. If you want some good xmas tunes, pick up his 5 disc Christmas Song album, "Songs for Christmas". Its 20 bucks - you won't be disappointed.


Good Song: Sufjan Stevens - Did I Make You Cry On Christmas Day? (Well, You Deserved It!)

24 hours.

I need to remember this when I am sick in about 3 days, so I'm putting it here for the time being:

04:00pm - Deja Vu movie with friends
07:00pm - 20 Minute swim
07:30pm - shower
08:30pm - meet the fraulines
08:45pm - wait for the fraulines
09:15pm - Ethiopian dinner at 14th and P
10:45pm - Move the party to St. Ex
11:15pm - Stand outside in the cold to get in to said bar
12:00pm - First of many drinks
02:00am - house party in College Park
04:00am - National Airport to drop off international flyer
05:00am - Bed.
09:00am - Wake up
10:00am - Mountain bike ride at Rosaryville with the Doc.
12:00pm - lunch/football
02:30 pm - big nap
05:30pm - wake up
06:00pm - 90 minute run

And that brings my first "recovery" week and training block to a close.

Live big!

Good Song: MuteMath - Peculiar People

The family grows...

The newest member of my bicycle family...the new training/gravel road racing bike: The Scott Cyclocross Team. WEEEE!


Good Song: Taking Back Sunday - Liar (It Takes One to Know One)

Gobble Gobble

Turkey dayyyyy, wha' what!

Today I must battle the fiercest opponent I have ever encountered: Pre-Thanksgiving traffic from D.C. to Richmond. I'm going to just throw out a guestimate of 3 hour drive time, for what normally should be a 1:50-2 ride...and its supposed to be windy and rainy. BONUS!

Good news is that I'm taking my (broken) bike down to the bike shop I bought it at to hopefully have it warrantied and replaced with a new one. I'm crossing my fingers that I won't have to pay a dime for it, but that may just be wishful thinking. Shout out to Three Sports, good people down there.

Enjoy the holiday!

Good Song: Fine China - We Rock Harder

Hair balls.

Three "0" days in a row means I've been battling a nasty little sinus infection. After a few mornings of coughing up what could only feel like hair balls to me, I think I have almost beaten it. I'd like to thank Ricolla, orange juice, water, and clementines for my success. I couldn't have done it without you!

In a way, I'm happy it hit me now rather than later on in the "serious" training... oh well, its let me catch up on my television watching. Who knew Jeopardy could be so amazing.

Stay healthy.

Good Song: copeland - eat, sleep, repeat

RIP

..and this is what cracked Carbon Fiber looks like.

Good Song: Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - House Fire

Poor cage bolt.

At O'Dark 30 I finally realized where the freaking rattling was coming from on my bike. Of all things, it was a stripped cage bolt. Of course, I tried to unscrew it unsuccessfully and thus made the rattling even louder on the ride following this escapade. If I ever want to have people ride with me again, I need to fix this biatch ASAP. On the other hand, getting it fixed will mean going without the road bike for a couple days...but I guess it would just mean taking the MTB out on the pavement for some rides. Big "no-no" in my book, but when in Rome...?

Take it to the chorus!

Good Song: Doves - Far From Grace

Hands up - and wave, and wave, and wave!

D - C UNITED. Lost. Son of a... and I was there to witness it. End of their season. Start of mine! Coincidence? I think not! My feet were freezing through the game, as I got a whole beer poured on them during a first-half goal attempt. Hoping it would be for the best, and result in a goal I was sorely mistaken. Instead I came out with a pair of wet, hoppy socks - and one less beer.

Tomorrow morning begins my assault on St. Croix, and if I play my cards right - Kona. Its going to be a long road, with many wrong turns (to bars, and ladies) but we'll get through it together. Most of the time I'll probably just be wondering are we gonna get hopped up enough to make some bad decisions? And I hope the answer is an emphatic - YES! So let's raise up our drinks, and give some love to the good times and the bad times that lie ahead. This should be one crazy ride!

Training partners apply within. Lata!

Good Song: Headlights - Put Us Back Together

Hello, sun?

Is it too early to have S.A.D? You know, that whole Seasonal Affective Disorder. It must be serious, as there are entire websites devoted to it. I know the time only changed a couple days ago, but damn, this no-sun thing really hurts. I wake up - workout, dark. Go to work, no windows. Go home, dark again! Can't win... There is really only one clear solution to this: Buy a place in New Zealand. Its still summer there, and I think it will really help with "the womens" if I could tell them I have another place in the So. Hemisphere. Thoughts/feelings?

Well, back to staring at this kitten. Its the only thing thats going to get me through until March.

Peace out!

Good Song: The Polyphonic Spree - Mental Cabaret

A learning experience.

Well, the marathon is over. I am limping up and down stairs, and eating and drinking everything in sight. I came out of it with a 3:48:13. Which, depending on how you look at it could be good or bad. Good that its a personal best by about 30 minutes compared to my first marathon(this being my second). Bad that at the 15 mile marker I was on pace to run a 3:05 or so. I guess there is something in this whole "pacing" thing I keep hearing about. Plus I didn't eat or drink enough I think, and thus had a 1-2-3 punch knockout of hardcore bonk and severe leg cramps and a killer headwind in miles 18 to 22 - without an adequate (read: salty goodness) aid station in sight equals mucho walking. S'all good. I think with more running, and tempo during the longer runs I can easily keep that pace I was on for the rest of the race. Here are how the splits fell out:

START 5 Mile 10 Mile Half 15 Mile 20 Mile 23.5 Mile FINISH
8:35:16 AM EST 0:34:10 1:08:24 1:31:05 1:46:42 2:39:33 3:13:50 03:48:13
TIME Chip Time: 03:48:13 Clock: 03:48:27 Pace: 8:42

Placement Overall: 2556 Gender: 2071 Division: 167

I was also 436th female across the line. Holla!

And of course a shout-out to everyone that came out to give their support. It meant so much to see you cheering. Thanks!

You stay classy...world.

Good Song: All-American Rejects - It Ends Tonight

A fall day

Yo, whats up!

"Cold" is the word of the week. Seems as though Fall just ran right in without any care or warning. Makes for perfect running weather atleast! The nervousness has intensified as the race draws closer this weekend. How fast should I go out? How long can I maintain the pace I want to keep? Will I hit "the wall"? What the hell am I even going to wear!? Damn decisions, more stressed out about this then some of the bigger triathlons I've done.

On a less stressful note, the folks over at Set-Up Inc. just made the Virginia Triathlon Series results official, and turns out I won my age group. Normann watch out! I'm gunnin' for you now...
Maybe as the prize they'll send me a nice new pair of Zipp wheels. I could use those.

4 days!!

Good Song: Editors - Colours

Welcome back, welcome back!

Good times back at JMU this weekend, spent with friends new and old! Started it all off with a solid 50+ mile ride with a major 10 mile climb to the top of Reddish Knob with some slow(hah, yeah right) mofo's. The leaves and mountains were freaking amaaaaaaazing. Why didn't I appreciate all this scenery back when I was in school? Oh yeah, parties. No worries! Still felt good to get back on the bike after all the run mileage thats been thrown down lately. Usual homecoming festivities followed, and don't ask me where I ended up sleeping...because I'm not really sure myself. Mmmmm, fall. Gotta love it. Time to run... marathon in t-7days!

Good Song: The Decemberists - Summersong

Ironman World Championship

Some would argue this weekend is the biggest in the sport of Triathlon. The famous Ironman World Championship gets under way around 12:30pm EST, and pits the world's fastest, most dedicated, endurance athletes against each other. A couple of friends have been keeping my updated on all the happenings of race week, and it sounds just as amazing as I have imagined. I don't ask you send them specifically good vibes, but all the athletes over there competing this weekend. They all worked their asses off to not only qualify, but to be there and actually do their best. If you have a chance, check out all the action live via IronmanLive. Who knows, maybe I'll have the opportunity to experience this week in Kona firsthand some day. Could St. Croix be the ticket? We'll see...

A hui hou!

Good Song: Killers - This River is Wild

True Love.

Hah, this guy has his priorities straight.

Good Song: Silversun Pickups - Checkered Floor

Disaster...averted.

Well. Where do I start? Basically, I cancelled the camping trip as I was shivering in my sleeping bag, on a little ridge about 3000+ feet up, in the middle of a windy rain-driven storm after 7 or so miles of hiking...up. Don't get my wrong the trail itself was awesome, and would have been fabulous if the temps had cooperated and not been so freaking North Pole-ish! Oh well, I returned home the same day wet, cold, and tired. I'll be back to complete the whole loop soon enough, oh yes, I will. Next time I'll be ready. Ready to not get big huge blisters, and not carry a ton of stuff, and well, you get the idea. Until then, I train...for the marathon, or, to do that hike again? Who knows... here are some pics, maybe you'll get the idea:

Winding my way up the trail...leaves were BURSTING with color!

Mmmmm...dark, and ominous.

Looking up towards Lookout Mountain (say it with me, "32% grade".)

"Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink."

Mother nature has a sick sense of humor.

Good Song: The Kooks - Ooh La

Out to the mountains

Headed out to spend a couple days in the mountains along the 26 mile long Wild Oak Trail...the leaves should be changing, and hopefully the rain will have stopped! Pictures when I return!

Math is fun!

Subject: Math 1950-2006

________________________________

1. Teaching Math In 1950

A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of
production is
4/5 of the price. What is his profit?

________________________________

2. Teaching Math In 1960

A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of
production is
4/5 of the price, or $80. What is his profit?

________________________________

3. Teaching Math In 1970

A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of
production is
$80. Did he make a profit?

________________________________

4. Teaching Math In 1980

A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of
production is
$80 and his profit is $20. Your assignment: Underline the number
20.

________________________________

5. Teaching Math In 1990

A logger cuts down a beautiful forest because he is selfish and
inconsiderate and cares nothing for the habitat of animals or
the
preservation of our woodlands. He does this so he can make a
profit of
$20. What do you think of this way of making a living? Topic for
class
participation after answering the question: How did the birds
and
squirrels feel as the logger cut down their homes? (There are no
wrong
answers. )

________________________________

6. Teaching Math In 2006


Un hachero vende una carretada de maderapara $100. El costo de
la
producciones es $80. Cuanto dinero ha hecho?



Good Song: The Format - Time Bomb

Damn you title IX -- goodbye male sports...

6 guys sports v. 12 girls teams... how is that fair???

JMU ENACTS PROPORTIONALITY PLAN TO COMPLY WITH TITLE IX

Press conference attendees Rose, Damico, Moorman, Rivers, Bourne (l to
r)
September 29, 2006

HARRISONBURG — James Madison University's Board of Visitors voted today
to approve a plan to bring the JMU Athletics program into compliance
with Title IX.

The plan will take effect July 1, 2007, when the following varsity
teams will be eliminated:

Men's
Archery
Cross Country
Gymnastics
Indoor Track
Outdoor Track
Swimming
Wrestling

Women's
Archery
Fencing
Gymnastics

With 28 varsity teams, the JMU Athletics program ties for the rank of
seventh in terms of the number of teams among all 327 Division I
schools nationally.

"The JMU Athletics program is unusually large for a public university
of our size," said Joseph Damico, rector of the JMU Board of Visitors.
"With so many teams, we faced an insurmountable challenge coming into
compliance with Title IX. Fundamentally, that is why the Board voted
today for this plan."

The proportionality requirements of Title IX mandate that collegiate
athletics programs mirror each school's undergraduate population in
terms of gender. As of the fall semester 2006, JMU's proportions place
it fundamentally out of compliance with federal law:

Overall Enrollment
Female 61%
Male 39%

Athletics Participation
Female 50.7%
Male 49.3%

Jeff Bourne, JMU athletics director, said, "We explored every avenue in
search of an alternative to this action. Lamar Daniel, a well-known
consultant on Title IX compliance, has worked closely with us and he
believes that this plan is our most viable alternative for reaching
compliance with Title IX."

Once this plan is fully implemented, total participation in athletics
will move to 61 percent female and 39 percent male, in alignment with
current student enrollment. The university will then have 18
intercollegiate sports:

Men's
Baseball
Basketball
Football
Golf
Soccer
Tennis

Women's
Basketball
Cross Country
Field Hockey
Golf
Lacrosse
Soccer
Softball
Swimming
Tennis
Track, Indoor
Track, Outdoor
Volleyball

This decision affects 144 student-athletes currently participating in
these sports, as well as three full-time and eight part-time coaches.

"Now that the Board has voted to enact this plan, our main concern is
with our affected student-athletes and coaches," said Bourne. "We are
taking great care to preserve the financial guarantees already made to
our student-athletes. If you are a student-athlete on an affected team
and you are receiving a scholarship, you will continue to receive that
scholarship until you graduate."

Currently, eight students on the rosters of the 10 affected teams
receive a total of $13,500 in scholarships. Access to sports-medicine
and academic-advising programs also will be available to them. Any
affected student-athletes who decide to transfer to another program
will be provided with full assistance regarding the transfer process.
Affected coaches will receive severance packages appropriate to the
university's policies and procedures.

All of the financial resources recovered from the implementation of
this plan will be redirected to provide the full complement of NCAA
scholarships for women's golf, tennis and swimming. Partial scholarship
funding will return to men's golf and tennis, with a plan to enhance to
full funding by 2011.

To view online the press conference held Friday afternoon to announce
the plan, go to http://media.jmu.edu/special/8_924.asx. Attending are
JMU President Linwood Rose, Board of Visitors Rector Joseph Damico,
Associate Athletic Director Sheila Moorman, BOV member Wharton Rivers
Jr., and Athletic Director Jeff Bourne.

Marathons are for sissies?

sports nut: The stadium scene.

Running With SlowpokesHow sluggish newbies ruined the marathon.

By Gabriel Sherman
Updated Friday, Sept. 22, 2006, at 7:35 AM ET

Among autumn's sporting rituals there is one tradition that fills me with mounting dread: the return of marathon season. If you've been to the gym or attended a cocktail party recently, you know what I mean. Chances are you've bumped into a newly devoted runner who's all too happy to tell you about his heart-rate monitor and split times and the looming, character-building challenge of running 26.2 miles. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a slovenly couch potato who abhors exercise. I'm an avid runner with six marathons under my New Balance trainers. But this growing army of giddy marathon rookies is so irksome that I'm about ready to retire my racing shoes and pick up bridge.

According to Running USA, about 430,000 Americans ran a marathon last year, an increase from just 25,000 in 1976*. Next month, 40,000 participants will tackle the Chicago Marathon, and about 36,000 will run in November's New York City Marathon. The New York Times recently reported that the wannabes who get turned away from the big-city races—New York got 90,000 applications—have resorted to buying spots on the black market. As the ranks of marathon runners swell, I have to ask: What's the point?

Today, the great majority of marathon runners set out simply to finish. That sets the bar so low that everyone comes out a winner. Big-city marathons these days feel more like circuses than races, with runners of variable skill levels—some outfitted in wacky costumes—crawling toward the finish line. The marathon has transformed from an elite athletic contest to something closer to sky diving or visiting the Grand Canyon. When a newbie marathoner crosses the finish line, he's less likely to check his time than to shout, "Only 33 more things to do before I die!"

It wasn't always this way. In 1970, when 127 hearty souls lined up for the inaugural New York City Marathon, the marathon was the province of a few masochists dumb enough to try to run as far as most people commute by car. Back then, Americans who ran took running seriously. The icons of the era were Frank Shorter and Bill Rodgers, a couple of guys who happened to be the best marathoners in the world. Now, P. Diddy and Oprah spark tons of media buzz for finishing marathons in lackluster times. American record-holder Deena Kastor, who won the 2005 Chicago Marathon in 2:21, is completely anonymous.

The democratization of the marathon began in the early 1980s. The success of books like Jim Fixx's The Complete Book of Running inspired mass "Just Do It" participation. As the popularity of marathons increased, the speed of the race slowed to its current snail's pace. In 1980, the average finish time for a male marathoner was 3:32, according to Running USA*. Today, it's more than 4:20. In 2003, the start time of the New York City Marathon was moved forward an hour earlier, in part to grant thousands of stragglers extra hours so they could finish before sunset.

Aside from an elevated sense of self-worth, what do marathoners get from their efforts? There's no doubt that a lot of people train for marathons to get in shape. But the human body is just not designed for such high-mileage running. As a result of their crash course in distance running, a preponderance of marathoners suffer repetitive-use injuries like stress fractures, tendonitis, and shin splints. It would certainly be healthier for inexperienced joggers to run fewer miles at a faster pace.

Perhaps more troubling, the slow-marathon outbreak has created a host of new health hazards. Slowpokes face the risk of hyponatremia, or overhydration. This is caused when a runner consumes too much water, diluting the body's electrolyte balance (and potentially leading to a heart attack) unless he consumes a sports drink like Gatorade to replenish the depleted sodium. Slow runners are particularly at risk because the body loses sodium as it perspires. The longer a runner is on the course, the more electrolytes they'll sweat out. In the past decade, according to the Washington Post, at least four runners have died from drinking too much during a marathon.

Marathons might not be good for your health, but they are certainly good for business. A boatload of races have sprung up to assist would-be marathoners in their quest for mediocrity. The Rock 'n' Roll Marathon, for one, has bands performing every mile to keep bored runners entertained. Maybe if people ran faster they wouldn't need Zeppelin cover bands to keep boredom at bay.

Running was once a purist's sport—you needed only to lace up your shoes and hop out the door. No longer. During a recent run in Central Park, I dodged groups of marathon trainees festooned with heart-rate monitors and space-age breathable fabrics that looked like they'd emerged from some NASA lab. Along with this profusion of gear, a constellation of coaches, massage therapists, chiropractors, and other gurus now peddle services to the marathon masses. In New York, the Bliss Spa offers the "Cold Feet" treatment, a one-hour procedure that "uses alternating hot and cold therapies to help circulate and deflate aching, swollen feet and puffy ankles." Two groups that Bliss says deserves this kind of pampering: marathon runners and pregnant women.

In many ways, the slow marathon is the perfect event for the American athletic sensibility. Just finishing a marathon is akin to joining a gym and then putzing around on the stationary bike. We feel good about creating the appearance of accomplishment, yet aren't willing to sacrifice for true gains. It's clear now that anyone can finish a marathon. Maybe it's time we raise our standards to see who can run one.

Correction, Sept. 22, 2006: This article originally and incorrectly attributed two statistics about marathon runners to USA Track & Field. The statistics came from the group Running USA. (Return to the corrected sentence.)

Good Song: Sufjan Stevens - Adlai Stevenson

5 weeks out...

...until I run/hobble in the 31st Marine Corps Marathon. Ran a 17 mile training run yesterday in 2 hours 30 minutes -- which I consider a decent training pace. At first I was worried as to how I'd fair in this race, or if I would even finish, but I'm feeling much more confident in my ability now. How fast can I finish in, or even how fast do I WANT to finish in? We'll see how I feel come race day.

If you find yourself bored on the 29th of October, and feel the need to track my progress during the race via text message or email then head HERE. (Carrier charges may apply, duh.)

Peace out!

Good Song: Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly. - Whitewash

Glacier Trip-A-Go-Go Part 3

Day 7

Rest day today. A long hike with a group of others. 2.5 hours out to a ford(not the car), followed by lunch, a nap, some photos, and exploring. A turn around for the return trip, and a total of about 12 miles of hiking. It was warm and sunny, and the post-hike activity was, of course, rock jumping into the swimming hole. Awesome! Back to trail work in the morning, its the second to last day of it.

Day 8

2nd to last day of trail work. More fill lines and brush clearing lines, both of which I've just about reached my limit with. It has been a blast here, but I am starting to miss what I know as "home" more and more. And I'm not so sure what my apartment is looking like... Anyways, cheese cake was the desset for tonight's dinner, and it was superb. More jumping in the swimming hole.

Day 9

Last trail work day came and went. Spent most of my time working a section completely muddy and trashed by a couple unkempt mountain springs. Made some troughs to divert the run off away from the trail, and landscaped the area. Hopefully it dries out and is usable in a few weeks time. Had a short rain shower with some hail, followed by a great chili dinner. Said our official goodbyes to the trail and gave out a couple rocks, receiving one from Tom, and giving mine out to JR. There are some pretty amazing people here, and I've loved learning about every one. Note to self: don't forget owl wrestling, pick-a-dance, or the Yeti chant, or chicken evolution.

Day 10

The final full day in the backcountry. Tomorrow we begin the 7 mile hike back to civilization. It rained most of last night and today has been mostly cloudy and the coldest day so far on this trip. Fall is definetly in place here, and its not even September yet. I spent most of the day doing nothing. Used the morning to watch the proffesional trail crew load up and head out, then a group lunch on the rocks down by the creek. Took a 2 hour nap, read the second half of my book, and ended the day with a huge dinner consisting of Lentil soup, salad, garlic bread, greek pasta, and butterscotch pie. Wow. I miss home and am ready to return, but at the same time I hate to leave this place. The scenery, and the people I have encountered have made it a very special and magical place. I look forward to returning soon to explore the many other areas of the park. Sperry Chalet is one possibility!

Day 11

Rained all night down where we were camping. When I woke, I was quickly greeted by a beautifuly light coating of snow on the upper slopes surrounding us. Pretty cool to experience the first snow of the Fall/Winter season, and I"m sure many more will follow. Waited a while in the morning for the mules to come, and once they did we began the hike out. The 2 fords were easier than when we came in, and we were happily greeted by the trail guy who had his hand cut by the chain saw. Headed back to the park headquarters, and then finally to Kalispell to get cleaned up in a hotel, and have one last group dinner...MEXI NIGHT! A long day tomorrow, with many hours in a cramped airplane seat. Whats this about a tropical storm in D.C.? Hmm... Great trip!



Good Song: The Essex Green - Don't Know Why(You Stay)

Glacier Trip-A-Go-Go Part 2

...continued from Part 1 (duh.)

Day 4

The first day of trail work began with some delicious oatmeal and raisin cinnamon toast. Following that was a two mile hike with heavy tools (pulaskis, pickmatix-s, rock bars, chain saw, etc.) to our work site. While there we smoothed out a creek crossing, and created a Check Dam which consists of burrying a log in a steep section of trail and then back-filling with dirt. This, I learned, reduces the amount of sediment moving down the trail as hikers and animals use it. Trees are heavy I realized, and dirt/rock is no joke to move. We completed most of the work there while others created a rip-rap retaining wall, more check dams, and a "turnpike" which is basically a wooden and dirt bridge over a Spring. Its amazing how much a motivated group can accomplish. When we returned I took another quick dip in the stream and finished the day off with some boxed wine and declicious noodles. Cheers to Montana. Oh, and I have blisters, weee.

Day 5

My biceps are killing me. Spent most of the day shuttling large boulders from the creek to a stream crossing. All in all moving about two tons of rock combined with the other team members. Hopefully the work we did to secure a bridge will hold with the next Spring thaw. Got very muddy today and took most of the afternoon washing the mud out of my clothes back at the creek. Lots of casualties today as well for some reason -> 1 cut to the hand of a guide by the chainsaw ( he immediately hiked out to get 11 stitches we later found out), close call to the head with a pulaski for one team member, and very tired arms and legs of everyone else. Going to bed early tonight (8:40pm). P.S. It rained all last night and I'm still drying out!

Day 6

New work site today to work on a washed out section of trail along Nyack Creek. Moved some BIG rocks to form a low side border to frame the trail in. View from our site was inspiring. Looked farther up the valley with an amazing 8,000ft high bowl that was just picture perfect. Cooked dinner for everyone and made salad, garlic bread, soup, and spaghetti. Everyone has lots of compliments for it. I was apparently caught snoring last night, who knew? I had some awful dreams, and slept terribly in general so lets see of tonight is any better.




Good Song: Snow Patrol - Warmer Climate

Glacier Trip-A-Go-Go Part 1

Day 1

Finally arrived at Glacier and it is everything I though it would be. Lots of mountains, lakes, and woods! The group I met is quite friendly. They come from a variety of backgrounds, have tons of interesting stories to tell, and all have a common love of the outdoors. I'm the youngest as I expected, but that's alright. For now I'm just enjoying listening to the many experiences the others have had. We're staying in the group campground for tonight, then begin our trek to the backcountry in the morning. It should be interesting as it appears most of the group has experience camping, but I'm not so sure about hiking with a pack on. We shall see! I'm happy to be back outside again.

Day 2

An early start beginning with a 5:30am wake up, and swift trip to the trailhead. After some introductions to our trail crew leaders we began our trek into the wilderness. Complete beauty surrounded us, with towering mountains, and trees for as far as the eye could see. I forded my first river today(Middle Fork of the Flathead), and then a second time through a creek(Nyack). The water was freaking freezing, and it iddn't help that the rocks submerged in the water were covered in a slimy sheet of silt. A few close calls crossing, but noone took a bath. We then continued on for another 6+ miles until we reached basecamp at around 4000ft. We're camped next to a primitive ranger patrol cabin along the Nyack Creek. I can hear the stream in the background as I write this. Shouldn't have any problem sleeping tonight. But first I'm hoping for some Northern Lights. P.S Still no bear sightings!

Day 3



Wow, was it chilly getting up this morning. Even the hot chocolate and warm b-fast didn't keep my fingers and toes from going numb. The sun neglected to hit our valley until 9:40am, but when it did it was GLOOORIOUS! Took a short hike farther up the trail just to stretch our legs out, and came back in time to enjoy a filling lunch. This was followed by a talk about our trail work and animal safety. We had enough sitting and listening, so a few of us decided to scramble up the creek a ways. I switched from boots to sandals quickly as there was no hope of staying dry. The views along the creek were quite picturesque with many rapids and pools that were the deepest of blues. I took a jump into a little swimming hole on the way back, and it quickly reminded me that this was a glacier-fed stream. Sooo cold, yet so nice! Tomorrow we begin our trail work.

To be continued...



Good Song: Belle & Sebastian - If She Wants Me

Back in the D.C.

I survived the flight back, and the trip itself. Its no fun trying to land at night, in a tropical storm... although I did get a free roller coaster ride(?)

Pictures and words are coming shortly...after I get some sleep and catch up a bit, of course.

Be well.

Good Song: Smoosh - Find A Way

Into the woods

Today I knocked out what will most likey be my final triathlon of the year. An off-road tri down in Charlottesville. 16th overall, and 2nd in my age-group. One of the more fun courses for me.

I've done so many races this season I have practically lost count...some good, some bad, some fun, some, well, could be "more fun". Mentally I'm tired, and on the verge of burn-out. Its time for a break, I think. Time to focus on other things for a bit. In a way I'm glad I'm headed to the woods for the next couple weeks. An opportunity to evaluate where I've been this year, and more importantly, where I'm headed. Its going to be a blast, and an adventure I'm sure. But its going to be hard not talking with some people, and of course, taking a break from "all" of my loyal readers and fellow bloggers. No worries, 2 weeks and I'll be back.

Keep it gangsta'

Good Song: John Vanderslice - Plymouth Rock

Montana

5 days and couting til I'm off to Glacier National Park for some backcountry fun for 2 weeks. No bathrooms, no electricity, and no cars...just me, the mountains, and some critters probably. I'm hoping to see some bears while I'm out there...just hopefully from a distance, a LONG distance. Here's the rundown:

The Trip


We will be working among the towering peaks, majestic forests, and alpine lakes of Glacier National Park, which was created in 1910. President Taft set aside 1.4 million acres along the Continental Divide in Montana to protect and preserve the natural beauty of the area from mining and development. In 1932, the park joined with Canada's Waterton Lake National Park to form Waterton/Glacier International Peace Park.

True to the park’s name, glaciers abound here in the shadows of towering peaks. Abundant wildlife, including mountain lions, grizzly bears, wolves, and moose roam the park. We'll likely be working in the western part of the park, which has a wilderness feel and older trails than other parts of Glacier.

The Project

We'll be on the west flank of the Continental Divide in the Middle North Fork area of the park. The name comes from a fork in the Flathead River, which limits entry into the area. We'll need to ford the river when we hike in to our campsite (remember to bring Tevas or water shoes in addition to hiking boots). Our work will be mostly trail restoration: building turnpikes, water bars, drainage work, and brushing. We will work hard on the days we work, and play hard on our off days!

Itinerary

The closest commercial airport is in Kalispell, Montana, about 45 minutes from the park. Amtrak stops in the town of West Glacier, near park headquarters. Flathead-Glacier Transportation can provide shuttle service to the park as well. Call (406) 892-3390. You are responsible for arranging your own transportation to the group campsite, but information will be provided for those who wish to carpool. We’ll meet and provide the first official "get acquainted" dinner at a group campground near the park headquarters, in West Glacier, on day one. Please arrive no later than 5 p.m. The specific location and map to this group campsite will be provided later.

Breakfast the next morning will be at the campsite, after which we will shuttle to the trailhead for the hike in to our base camp. On that first day, we'll hike to base camp, set up our tents, and get oriented. The hike in will be approximately 4-7 miles, with just a small amount of elevation gain and will require fording the wild and scenic Middle Fork of the Flathead River. Water shoes will be required. Over the next eight days we'll work five days, taking three full days off for resting and exploring the surrounding area. We'll hike out on day 11; lunch that day will be the last meal of the trip.

Accommodations and Food

We will use our own tents during the trip at a group campsite the National Park Service will select. All meals and plenty of snacks will be provided. The menu will be largely vegetarian and participants will take turns assisting the cook. Group water will be provided for camp use, but please bring your personal water filter. We will use a park cabin nearby to store our kitchen, food, and personal items. If you have special dietary concerns or food allergies, make sure to include this information on your trip application.

Trip Difficulty

Overall, this trip should be considered strenuous due to the type of work we will be doing. It entails extensive use of shovels and pulaskis to install tread and turnpikes on trails in the park. The hike into our campsite, though moderate, will entail a water crossing. Participants should have had some past experience in hiking, camping, and backpacking, and be in great shape. Novice backpackers are welcome on this trip.

Equipment

In addition to your regular backpacking gear, you must bring at least one pair of leather work gloves and a day pack to carry your lunch, water, work gloves, raingear, sunscreen, etc., to the work site. We will provide food and the gear for cooking and a first-aid kit for emergencies. We will also supply water purification for camp and commissary use, but we request that you bring a water pump for personal water when you are away from camp. Our campsite will have a nearby water source. The leader will provide a detailed equipment list later.

Get outside!

Good Song: OK Go - Hello My Treacherous Friends

When the bells chime, don't board!

The Washington Metro Presents: Real Men of Genius
(Real Men of Genius)

Today we salute you, Mr. Arm Shoved Through Metro Door Commuter.
(Mr. Arm Shoved Through Metro Door Commuter)

Without your unwavering commitment to board a train that comes every four minutes, fellow commuters would have to arrive at their jobs on time.
(no one hopes you make it)

Armed with nothing more than an Express, you squirm furiously, undeterred by the total loss of circulation in your right arm.
(your fingers are turning red)

Please stand clear of the doors? I think not. While others may heed these warnings, you dare to push the envelope, and all others within five feet of the doorway.
(no one else matters)

So crack open an ice cold beer, oh gatekeeper of the Green Line, because Metro may Open Doors but you keep 'em that way.


Good Song: Small Sins - Small Sins

The perfect race t-shirt

To all those race directors out there, I do some races here and there and I think I have exceeded my limit of boring, 100% cotton t-shirts. I want, nay, NEED something more. So here is my recommended race partipant apparel criteria.

If its going to be a t-shirt then lets make it something a bit more useful. The days are behind us when triathlon were cutting edge, now they're simply trendy. Its not cool anymore to wear a "Some-random-town Triathlon" t-shirt, practically everyone has participated in atleast one by now it seems like. Instead, lets be able to wear them while we're actually training for our next race, and have them be of the finest blend of performance fabric. Doesn't matter what kind, just leave the cotton in the fields...and make sure it freakin' wicks! Colors...simple, anything other than white...because after a few workouts its no longer a crisp ivory, but a stained array unatractive color. Lets give orange a shot, or perhaps some crazy color that hasnt even been invented yet. That would be sweet. VERY cutting edge then.

Logos...no more blah pictures that show some random animal doing an excercise activity. Put in the effort to do something original, or work up some clever saying like, "Your mom does triathlons." Alright, thats not very original in itself but hopefully you're getting my point. We can do better people, and we can get this right...just take it one race at a time.

Ride it like you stole it.

Good Song: Midlake - We Gathered in Spring

A most famous, and meaningful passage...

But once your crew has rowed you past the Sirens
a choice of route is yours. I cannot advise you
which to take, or lead you through it all--
you must decide yourself--
but I can tell you the ways of either course.
On one side beetling cliffs shoot up, and against them
pound the huge roaring breakers of blue-eyed Amphitrite--
the Clashing Rocks they're called by all the blissful gods.
No ship of men has ever approached and slipped past--
always some disaster--big timbers and sailors' corpses
whirled away by the waves and lethal blasts of fire.

On the other side loom two enormous crags...
One thrusts into the vaulting sky its jagged peak,
hooded round with a dark cloud that never leaves--
And halfway up that cliffside stands a fog-bound cavern
gaping west toward Erebus, realm of death and darkness--
past it, great Odysseus, you should steer your ship.
Scylla lurks inside it--the yelping horror,
yelping, no louder than any suckling pup
but she's a grisly monster, I assure you.
She has twelve legs, all writhing, dangling down
and six long swaying necks, a hideous head on each,
each head barbed with a triple row of fangs, thickset,
packed tight--and armed to the hilt with black death!
...with each of her six heads she snatches up
a man from the dark-prowed craft and whisks him off.

The other crag is lower--you will see, Odysseus--
Atop it a great fig-tree rises, shaggy with leaves;
beneath it awesome Charybdis gulps the dark water down.
Three times a day she vomits it up, three times she gulps it down,
that terror! Don't be there when the whirlpool swallows down--
not even the earthquake god could save you from disaster.
No, hug Scylla's crag--sail on past her--top speed!
Better by far to lose six men and keep your ship
than lose your entire crew.

-Homer, The Odyssey

Good Song: Sun Kil Moon - Pancho Villa

Coming home

Flying back to D.C. in the morning...just needed these top 25 to get me back into the work mentality. Holla!

Are you a prostitute or a software consultant…

------------------------------------------------------


1. You work very odd hours.

2. You are paid a lot of money to keep your client happy.

3. You are paid well but your pimp gets most of the money.

4. You spend a majority of your time in a hotel room.

5. You charge by the hour but your time can be extended for the right price.

6. You are not proud of what you do.

7. Creating fantasies for your clients is rewarded.

8. It's difficult to have a family.

9. You have no job satisfaction.

10. If a client beats you up, the pimp just sends you to another client.

11. You are embarrassed to tell people what you do for a living.

12. People ask you, "What do you do?" and you can't explain it.

13. Your family hardly recognizes you at reunions (at least the reunions you attend.)

14. Your friends have distanced themselves from you and you're left hanging with only other "professionals."

15. Your client pays for your hotel room plus your hourly rate.

16. Your client always wants to know how much you charge and what they get for the money.

17. Your pimp drives nice cars like Mercedes or BMWs.

18. Your pimp encourages drinking and you become addicted to drugs to ease the pain of it all.

19. You know the pimp is charging more than you are worth but if the client is foolish enough to pay it's not your problem.

20. When you leave to go see a client, you look great, but return looking like hell (compare your appearance on Monday AM to Friday PM).

21. You are rated on your "performance" in an excruciating ordeal.

22. Even though you get paid the big bucks, it's the client who walks away smiling.

23. The client always thinks your "cut" of your billing rate is higher than it actually is, and in turn, expects miracles from you.

24. When you deduct your "take" from your billing rate, you constantly wonder if you could get a better deal with another pimp.

25. Everyday you wake up and tell yourself, "I'm not going to be doing this stuff the rest of my life."


Good Song: Can't think of any right now...

Door County, WI

Well, half way through a well deserved vacation to the tiiiiny little finger of Wisconsin on Lake Michigan. No folks, there is really much more to the Dairy State than cows, cheese, and strange accents... Internet access is limited in these parts so I'm relaxing with a whole bunch of tech geeks in the Sister Bay public library. Wi-fi is beautiful. Anyways, life is great without having to go to work, and time away from the big city is just as nice. I've posted a myriad of photos that have been taken thus far. Notice the absense of concrete and people from them. Oh, and we're fishing for Chinook Salmon if you were wondering...only caught two thus far, but the week is young! Get outside!

Cana Island Lighthouse

Who is winning? The uncle, or the salmon?

Sunrise on Lake Michigan

Cana Island landscape

Egg Harbor(On the Green Bay side)

Coming back after few bites and big waves

Looking out on "The Lake"

Good Song: The Stills - Halo the Harpoon

Great Quote

Yet the very next day, Landis attacked on the first climb back up the same mountain range, the 201km stage to Morzine-Avoriaz, and didn't stop until he left his opponents out of breath and in denial. The gamble was so audacious, so hardheaded and risky that as word of Landis' plan rippled through a peloton worn out after a week in the Pyrenees and Alps, several riders pulled up alongside and begged him not to try it.

''I just told 'em,'' Landis would recall, '''Go drink some Coke, 'cause we're leaving on the first climb if you want to come along.'''

-- from an AP story

DOPER?! Time will tell...

Catching Up

Ok, here we go...getting back into it again. Work/training/social life has been crazy lately, and so this had to give, unfortunately...please, stop crying.

Lets see if I can keep updating this more regularly now. One post at a time. Currently training for Culpepper sprint tri, and getting pumped for my weeks of vacations coming up in August! Woop woop!


Keep it gangsta.


Good Song: Muse - Starlight

Triathlon-ing

Half-way through the "Andy B. Endurance Event world tour"...it started with Eagleman, continued with Xterra East Champs. last weekend, Bath County Sprint tri this weekend, and THEN the grand finale with the 11th Annual Tour DAY Burg!!

Xterra was a blast, and it was great chance to change it up once in a while with an off-road event. Didn't really finish as strongly as I would have liked, but no worries...the road is where I'm more suited and I'll have my chance to shine bright and early tomorrow! Following this tri is a post-race celebration with a couple friends at a Dave Matthews show up at Nissan Pavilion. Hopefully I'll have some energy left to enjoy it.

Work is busy, and thus the reason I've been lacking in the posting department. My B(ad).

Get outside!



Good Song: Fine China - R-Rated Movie

Eagleman re-cap

Well, its over. In the books. I came away with a 5:02:and some change finish, and a 5th place in my age-group. A solid result, but not exactly my goal time. The amount of chop during the swim, and lack of tail-wind on the bike was something I just wasn't expecting, and both combined to take the proverbial wind out of my sails. No worries, I came away with one bad ass tank top sun burn and an award with a sweet eagle on it as a result. The race weekend was a total blast, and am glad I got to spend it with a lot of friendly faces. Time to get started on my active recovery for Xterra Richmond coming up. Its going to be another amazing weekend! Cheers!


Good Song: The Rosebuds - Shake Our Tree

Eagleman

1 day to go. I'm feeling strong physically, confident mentally, and those two combined make me a bit nervous. Which, when I think about it, is probably a good thing so that I stay on my toes and don't get over-relaxed come race day. I'm hoping for a strong result tomorrow, and wish that I come away with one of those precious Hawaii slots. Its going to take a perfect race, perfect(read: HOT) weather conditions, and a bit of luck. We'll see what happens! Thanks to all the warm wishes and good vibes sent my away. See you at the finish line!


Good Song: Paco - Who Do You Think You Are?

Daydream

Sitting in my cube at work(working diligently, of course) I sometimes wish I could just escape to probably the coolest little town in the U.S....Crested Butte, CO. All the snow sports you could want in the winter, and all the mountain biking/hiking you could ever need in the summer. Get me there!


Good Song: Ambulance LTD - New English

Its coming!

11^th Annual Tour De Burg – June 30^th – July 5^th -- Harrisonburg, VA

No Drama, no hooplah, just 6 classic stages to highlight the best rides in the area and provide the route that is the Tour de Burg. Fine dining at the homes of Harrisonburg friendlies will help ease your homesick blues and the pain in your legs. Please join us to start the second Decade of Slummin.

OK a little drama… A strong performance last year sent the Cupcakes home with 3 of the 5 jerseys – Churtle the Women’s Champion, Keefer the KOM, and the Mouth in green as the Sprint King. While Bishop’s umpth trip to the top of Podium gave the Burg the title and 3 of the top 5 spots. Cupcake Harlan Price was a serious threat only 5 minutes in arrears and is off to a hot start in 06. The disgracing loss of the green jersey has left the Burg scrambling to find a sprinter – with a number of Quinns in training, perhaps the jersey will stay in the south. A new Team Orange will be led by previous Tour Champion Jeremy Vimpty and various high strung veterans. Orange already has their eyes on the Sprint Jersey – expect some shady sprints! After Buschetti took home the title in 05, C-Ville managed only to defend the DFL. Now that the Wo has defected to the burg who will carry C-Ville in 06? Rumors have even slipped out of committee about podium girls (or boys) and strict drug testing standards. Enough speculation – who will be present on June 30^th at 5pm ready to ride?

The 2006 Tour will begin at 5:00 pm on Friday, June 30^th at Todd Lake near Stokesville, VA.

• There will be sag support & race supplies for each stage
• We will provide dinner/meal after each stage – locations TBA.
• We will be collecting donations (suggested $100 Tour or $20 Stage).
• Please attend and contribute as you see fit!

Rules-ish

General Classification

§ To be considered for the general classification – you must finish each stage in its entirety.

§ Individual with the best combined time (all stages) will wear the leaders jersey.

§ You must start the stage with the group (i.e. no riding on your own).

§ Sprint and KOM classifications do not count toward General Classification.

§ There may be times when a time cut is imposed in order to keep the group moving and to complete the stage in a somewhat timely manner. We expect to wait between 30 minutes to an hour during the regroupings. On certain timed sections (and depending on the scenario) if a rider does not finish a timed section in time (~1 hour) they may be rerouted or sagged.

Sprint – Fast Roadie

§ Points awarded to the top 5 finishers at selected sprint points

5 pts-1^st, 4 pts-2^nd, 3 pts-3^rd, 2pts-4^th, 1 pt-5^th

§ Individual with most points wears the Sprinter Jersey.

§ Safety First! Be careful on the pavement don’t cross the yellow line!

KOM – King of the Mountains

§ Points awarded to the top 5 finishers at selected KOM spots (in and out of timed sections).

5 pts-1^st, 4 pts-2^nd, 3 pts-3^rd, 2pts-4^th, 1 pt-5^th

§ Individual with most points wears the KOM Jersey.

DFL – Dead F… Last Place

§ Awarded to the last placed male in the General Classification.

§ Sandbagging encouraged- but be careful with possible time cuts!

11^th Annual Tour De Burg – June 30^th – July 5^th -- Harrisonburg, VA

Prologue July 4^th 5:00 pm Trimble Mtn Time Trial

The traditional opening Time Trial features 4 miles of twisty CCC style single-track. A 2 mile, 1000 ft climb followed by a 2 mile 1000 ft descent! Get fired up for the week, a good finish could go a long way.

§ 4 miles – 1,000 ft of climbing.

§ Starts/Park at Todd Lake Dump Area.

§ Dinner at Carpenter’s Home 8pm – 310 Ohio Avenue - Hburg

Stage 1 Saturday 10 am (riding) Mtn Shenandoah Mtn Trail

A whole lotta singletrack – good singletrack. Expect a long timed section(s) and Sprint in Deerfield. A 5 mile road ride leads to a tough 5 mile ~1500ft climb (KOM) then the classic traverse along ~20 miles of the SMT, finishing at Scotchtown Draft Road. A 25-mile road ride back to West Augusta awaits.

§ 50 miles – 5,000 ft of climbing.

§ Starts/Park at Braley’s Pond Picnic area.

• Dinner location TBA, 6:30pm

Stage 2 Sunday 10 am (riding) Road Mtn Valley plus Mtns

A rolly trip up mtn valley road will lead us to the steep climbs of Massanutten mtn. Hair raising gravel descents and mtn top finish will highlight 2 timed sections full of 1200 foot KOM climbs and lots of smooth summer gravels. 2 BIG sprint finishes for jersey pts and a 20 mile return trip on classic valley pave through Civl War stompin grounds.

§ At least 70-90 miles and 6,000 feet of climbing.

§ Starts at Shenandoah Bicycle Company.

§ Dinner location TBA, 6:30pm

Stage 3 Monday 10 am (riding) Mtn Union-Flagpole-Hearthstone-Narrowback

Jump on the MTB for a ride from town to Flagpole Knob. A leisurely jaunt west from the burg will culminate with a BIG sprint before the peloton climbs the feared Union Springs fireroad through Dundor Hollow all the way to Flagpole Knob (KOM). A cruise across Shenandoah Mtn to Reddish Knob (KOM) will lead to our 2,500 ft descent to Tilghman Road via Timber and Hearthstone Ridges. Maybe a surprise TT on Narrowback and a BIG sprint on the return trip to town.

§ 50 Miles – at least 3,000 ft of climbing.

§ Starts at Shenandoah Bicycle Company.

§ Dinner location TBA, 6:30pm

Stage 4 Tuesday 10 am (riding) Road Confederate Breastworks-Reddish Knob

A new parcour to Reddish Knob, features another mountain top finish and trip to the homeland for the West Virginians in the peloton. After a sprint in Stokesville, the Peloton will race through the National Forest, to Rt. 250 and west over a couple climbs into WV! Then upon the new route to Reddish, full of Pave and a 10 mile 2,500 climb. It could be a struggle back to the burg from Reddish but C’est La TdB – Get ready for a BIG sprint!

§ At least 80-90 miles – 6,000 ft of climbing.

§ Starts at Shenandoah Bicyle Company.

§ 4^th of July Cookout TBA

Stage 5 Wednesday 10 am (riding) Mtn Dowells-Hollows-Braleys

The perennial penultimate stage features 3 of the best downhills on the planet! Always a GC shakedown! An 8 mile parade from Braleys to North River Campground will lead to the first timed section – up Hankey Mtn fireroad – 5 miles big climb and down Dowells draft – 5 miles best single! Another 5 mile parade on rt 250 to Mtn House will lead us to the final timed section of the 2005 Tour de Burg. -4 Miles up Rt 250 to Confederate Breastworks, north across the SMT to Road Hollow down to Mtn House up 2 miles up Bridge Hollow and down Braleys to the Pond for the END.

§ 40 miles - 5,000+ feet of climbing.

§ Starts/Park at Braley’s Pond Picnic area.

§ The closing ceremonies and food to follow at Braley’s Picnic Area.