Race Day in Logan

So tomorrow is the big LOTOJA race. It is a ride from Logan, UT to Jackson Hole, WY which is the longest sanctioned race in America 206 miles. I had no idea this race even existed. Like I said, I'm not a professional and I just decided to take this plan into action as of a few weeks ago.

I did some reading and saw the course. I've driven the course many times. I love that ride in my car. I'm sure I will love it in a year from now.

I called my friend Kory and asked him about the race he said he has participated in the race. I asked him if was doing it this year. He said no but he's been thinking about getting back in shape. (It's funny, when I saw him he looked like he could run a marathon.) I told him I would be extremely interested in it. He mentioned a rough training guideline. Training over the winter and then doing 100 mile rides in the summer leading up to the race. I'm really serious about this and I want to take on this challenge. He said he could hook me up with a bike and go on some rides with some of the guys from the shop. This is just what I need. I just need to commit myself and not give up!

I finally told my dad about this goal and he asked if my knee was ready for this kind of stress. I really think it is. It feels good and I would love to try this out.

I finally let my pride go and decided to ride my wife's pink bike just to get back on the rode again. It was strange but I was winded almost right out of the gate. I haven't been eating right and I know I haven't had enough fluids. But the other problem is my wife's bike is a bit smaller than mine. I had to adjust the seat since my 10 year old son had taken it to school. It really felt weird that low to the ground. After the adjustment it felt better but the distance and position my body sits on the bike is completely different. It took me a while to get use to it. Also the gearing on the bike is not the same as mine. Her bike is a 15 speed and mine is an 18 speed . I really noticed the difference in the gearing on the top end. I kept my GPS with me and noticed I never got up over 19 mph. I have ridden that ride before on my bike and clocked myself at a faster time. I only went 6.2 miles and it took me about a 1/2 hour to ride. I wasn't really pushing it because for a few miles I was on my cell phone talking to my dad, helping him with a computer support issue. I thought it was a bit ironic riding my bike, usig a cell phone and doing phone support... now that is multi-talent at it's best!

At any rate I have set a few bench marks for myself and I have a better idea of what I need to do. I'm really hoping that in doing this ride it will help me understand really what it takes to qualify for the Olympics. If it is all just a political process then I'm sure I'm not going to qualify. But if it is raw talent and I have what it takes I really believe I can do it. This is my test. I still haven't told anybody about this blog, other than my wife, or my desire to qualify for the Olympics because it is so far off, I'm sure they would say I was crazy!

I noticed no one has even bothered to vote, so... I'm really wondering if anyone is reading this. If not I think this is a great journal of my ambitions. Maybe someday someone will look back on this and get an idea of my thoughts as I embark upon this journey.