Pugsley and Me.

So, let's see...
Tuesday I got out on the Pugsley for 3 hrs 15 minutes. I started at the St. Joe Park 'n Ride. Snowmobile trails the entire way. They are in great shape!
After work I met the family at Lake George for some ice skating. From there we went to Jule's for some hot coco. A very good day.

Wednesday I got out on the Puglsey for the exact same time, weird. Rode the trails by Palmer to Jack and Jim's in Duelm back to Cloud. Trails were still good but getting soft, too warm. Jen and I watched "Grown Ups" when the kids were down.
Have to say I wish Jen didn't have or want to work. Having more time to do stuff together is pretty sweet. Oh well, summer will be here soon enough.

Currently it's raining, yuck. I still plan on getting out for a ride but not sure for how long or what. I have today through Sunday off, so lots of time to chill with the family.

Have a good one.

Later.

Rejuvinated.

Amazing what routine can do for a person that thrives on routine. Back at it yesterday: gym, work,and home.
With Jen and the girls on vacation I was able to get to the gym earlier than normal. Warm up, weights, cardio, and sauna...all before work at nine, nice.
After eating last night we took the kids to Tangled. It was actually a pretty good movie. Avery was tired so she cuddled with me the whole time. I also had my awesome sweat pants on, that I got for xmas, so I was pretty comfortable.
A very good night.

Off to the St. Joe park 'n ride this morning. Snowmobile trails run through the area so I hope to hit them up. Not sure on the trail conditions but I will find out soon. If still too soft it will be gravel.

Over 'n Out.

Beached Whale.

Disgusting is one way of describing how I feel. No exercises for a few days with a bunch of Holiday treats and other garbage tossed in does that to me. The sad thing, it's my fault. No one forces me to eat cookies, fudges, peanut brittle, et. al..
But today is Monday and a new start. Shortly I will be off to the gym. Jen and the girls are off all week so no chauffeur duty for me.
I do hope to get out sometime and snowshoe Plumb Creek again. It's suppose to warm up later this week then cool down. If we get out during the warm up the trail will be concrete once the cool down hits! Unless it snows...again, but no, I am not complaining. Let it snow.
The rest of the week I will either be skiing, riding gravel, or riding snowmobile trails.
When and where TBD.
Have a good week.

Later.

DRINK THE EGGNOG AND PUKE.

NOT SUCH A BIG FAN OF CHRISTMESS...JUST SAYING.

IT'S ONLY A DAY, THEN THE CHAOS STARTS TO SUBSIDE. NEW YEARS BRINGS ON SOME MORE BUT SO IT GOES. THE ONLY CHRISTMAS I WANT TO HAVE WE STILL DON'T KNOW WHEN WE WILL HAVE IT. JUST JEN, THE GIRLS, AND I. LEFTOVERS. AND I "HAD" TO GO TO CHURCH TODAY, UGH. I SURVIVED AND DIDN'T DRINK ANY WINE.

TIME TO START PUGSELY RIDING...BIG TIME. MAY HIT UP THE WOODLAND TRAILS TO XC SKI ON THE WAY HOME TOMORROW.

LATER.


SORRY ABOUT THE ALL CAPS. OH AND I'M TYPING THIS ON OUR NEW LAP TOP...SO I GUESS XMESS ISN'T TOO BAD.

SO NOW...LATER.

Best Christmas Movie...ever.

The other day at work we were talking about Christmas movies, and well, my general dislike of them. Maybe it's because I've seen them way too many times and am in the process of watching them all again with the kids. This brought up "Bad Santa". Freaking awesome holiday movie...watch it.

We tentatively planned to have our "family" Christmas last night. But time is the one thing we cannot buy and we ran out. So now who knows when we will be able to do it. Per usual the Holidaze are jam packed, starting tonight with the Winter Solstice party.
After the kids were down and out last night I busted out of the house, skirting cleaning and wrapping detail...again, to work on the trail at Plum Creek. Put in two more hours. I made something like 1.5 loops. I focused on the hills, etc. so a lot of there and back. It was pretty warm out so once it cools it will be bomber. Well that's if no one walks on it or tries to bike it. Not yet...soon.

Later.

Whoa, Post # 666.

Yeah, not a big deal but the title is trying to make it one.

After dropping Brinna off at school I headed over to the south fire hall/River Bluff parking lot. I decided to snowshoe and not ride. I haven't shoed in any of the River Bluff side so I stomped that in first. From there I headed to the Plumb Creek side. I shoed it once already and Brian after. With two times through and the bit of heavier snow we got it was packing pretty well. I spent three hours getting the trail bike ready! I hoped to get out again this morning but too much going on. One, maybe two more times through and we should be set to rumble at slow speeds. Should be fun!

Reality has now sunk in. The Arrowhead 135 is about a month away! The living room, much to Jen's chagrin, is laid out with all my gear. I believe I have it all and am ready in that regard. Just got my reflective vest yesterday...the last piece. Well, there's always the "one more" item, but hey if need be I could go as is! Still not 100% sure on the shoe situation. Really hoping for some cold temps to dial it all in. I don't think I'm nervous, maybe anxious to get it going. But overall, just really looking forward to it.
Jen is not in the "totally" freaking out stage but to me has unwarranted concerns. But I tend to go into things a bit naive. Like the time I went on a mountaineering trip with the "what could happen attitude". How about a wicked storm, lead man fall into a crevasse, avalanches, peeing in plastic boots,...still haven't been on another trip like that, but I digress.
I mean I could get frost bite and at worst if things go shitty hypothermia, but they have patrols out. I have done my fair share of winter camping to know what to do and what not to do. With the required gear list I could just hunker down and chill for a day or so and be A OK. I guess time will tell. The thing I am not good at and will be a hard decision to make, if needed, is when to call it quits and throw in the towel. Never and easy choice. But in an event like this an important one. Knowing this I think will keep me safe.

Later.

SNOW.

More snow today!
Oh me and my decisions.
What to do tomorrow?!
I think a blazin Pugsley ride is in order.

Holidaze suck for eating healthy. It also sucks that I have no will power when it comes to food, and well spending money, but spending money doesn't go to my thighs!
I weighed Friday. 186 lbs. Goal weight is 185 or 180. I'm going for 180. Taking a hiatus from the scale till after Christmess.

Classic skied for the first time this year on Saturday. Great tracks and great kick equals a good time. Two hours of classic skiing, for the first time of the year, also equals sore hip flexors! Whoot!

No real point to this post or ramblings...just blogging.
Oh and it's suppose to SNOW today!

Last bit: this is blog post number 665. So next post is 666!
Whoa.

Out.

Model Material.

Last night was makeover time for dad.
Damn, I'm hot.

Out.

When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Ride a Pugsley.

I've been a bit delinquent with blogging this week...get over it, I'm busy. Ha!

Anyway, I did get out skiing on Tuesday and had a pretty good time. The conditions of the trails had me in a bit of a tizzy but I was able to vent elsewhere and not in a public forum. The trails have since been improved. Thanks.

Wednesday I had morning kid duty so it was the rowing machine and weights at the gym. After the kids were in bed I planned to go pack down Plumb Creek some more but something more important came up...a sauna! We sacrificed a pig (potato sausage)and roasted it over the hot coals (sauna heater) in attempts to appease the snow gods. Well I think the sausage had too much potato and not enough meat. We got squat for snow. Next time.

Thursday I had off from work, yeah the "whole" day! This was a planned/asked for day off. I need to get some big hours on the Pugsley in preparation for the Arrowhead 135. Weekends are not the best time to be riding on snowmobile trails, as there are, well, too many snowmobiles.
I headed out around 8:30 down County Road 8. Took a left on 16 to Briggs Lake/Palmer. There I jumped on my first section of snowmobile trail. The trail was slow but rideable (is this a word?). Spots were soft but it had been groomed my some big snow machine pulling an even bigger metal drag/sled, I saw it in action. Why do they groom snowmobile trails? So the groomed spots were solid, groom away boys. Crossing open fields was a crap shoot. If it was wind blown, great. If drifts occurred and have been ridden over, I just sunk and spun. Walking time. Eventually I was doing more walking then riding so I jumped back on the roads after about 45 minutes of trail. I hit the trails a few more times but overall they are just a bit too soft. More time and use and they will be good to go. It's still early.
I then buzzed Foley, passed through Gillman, avoided Royalton, skirted Rice, then back home. Tons of gravel. Finished with 6 hours 10 minutes. The Pugsley is slow, only 70 or so miles.
I am overall happy with how things went. I would have been happier to have been able to ride more of the trails, but not bummed either. Compression socks covered with wool socks is the ticket for my feet. While it wasn't cold, my feet never once got cold. I was hungry a lot of the time. Not sure if this was out of some boredom, the cold, or I was just hungry. Chamois butt'r would have been a good idea. Hands fall asleep a lot then get cold, but worked through it. I did come to the conclusion that the Arrowhead is going to be tough. Slow and steady, aka the turtle, will be my goal.

Not near any roads I spotted these beauties. The Pugsley looks HUGE!

Later.

Pathetic Decisions.

I was able to get one full lap in at Plum Creek on the snowshoes. It takes about an hour and 15 minutes or so. A few more passes and it should be good to ride. Pretty excited to try it out.
Today I work noon to close. Usually this means a ride of 3+ hours. But with the new snow and reports of stellar ski trails I really want to ski. This is why I don't like doing "events". I feel I should be putting my time and energy on the Pugsley in preparation for the Arrowhead 135. But today I have decided to ski instead and I feel a bit of guilt and doubt creeping in.
I ride a ton and in winter feel I am able to step back a bit from riding day in and day out. I am not "burnt out" on riding at all, but I don't want to become burnt out either. I guess movement is movement so it's all good...right?
I do have a big day of riding planned so that will really test things out. I need to get all of my gear laid out and start the process of figuring what goes where and how I'm going to carry it etc. Before I know it January 31st will be here and I'll be scrambling all over cramming gear here and there!


Hoping the snowmobile trails are worn in!
Later.

Snow Gives Me Too Many Options.

So I stated that I had wanted to get out in the cold on Sunday and test my gear and myself. Well that didn't happen. At the time of the statement I didn't realize the amount of snow we were suppose to get. I had to take advantage of the new snow! Instead of biking I headed over to Sand Prairie and busted out the BC skis. I was the first tracks there! That's always a plus.
The temp was hovering around -1, which wasn't too bad but the wind out of the North kept my finger tips nice and cold.
It was pretty fun. Half the time I couldn't even see my skis. Pulling the skis through the deep snow I expected my hip flexors to be sore today, but not yet. I did only ski and hour. Lately on Sundays I just feel like being lazy and hang out. I did shovel the back of the house when I got home. Zoe is aging, and a big dog, so the snow covered stairs don't work for her anymore. I even shoveled a path for her to get to her "peeing" spot.
So today I was thinking of riding this morning but again have changed my mind! I do work at 9 so my time is limited. Jen's mom is up to watch the kids today so I am able to leave early. I'm headed over to Plum Creek to start the process of busting in a trail, making it usable year round. Usually this takes a few passes so anyone looking to snowshoe should go stomp it in at Plum Creek.

I do have riding plans for later this week. I will get out. With the amount of snow we have there are just too many options. I do want to get out on the skinny skis too. Just not enough time.

Later.

Winter Run.

I just had to do it this morning. Laced up the shoes and went for a trail run, er maybe slog would be a better term. Ran through Riverside then the North Loop MTB trails. Just awesome. Logged an hour.
Here's a pretty shot of my mug.
Enjoy.

Later.

Oh yeah, stop by the shop, I have the coffee on and it's hot!

For Eric.

Not sure why but I really dig sniper rifles. This is the new one for the U.S. Army. Apparently we are getting waxed in Afghanistan from shooters up in the cliffs, using gravity as an aid. Well this beauty can shoot almost up to 4000 feet! Nothing like being able to remove another life and never have to really deal with the ramifications of that.

Just imagine what I could do to a watermelon with this thing...well if it didn't give me scope eye.

Not Sure About Today.

Weighed in this morning and am back to where I was before Thanksgiving. Back on track I guess.
What to do today? I think I may take today off...but then again, maybe not. I'm trying to not go to the gym as much. It's perfect for the days I work 9-5 and drop Brinna off at school. I still get an hour to hour and a half work out in. I think my plan is to go to work, wax my skis, work, come home, hang with the family, snowshoe if time allows, go to bed, wake up, go skiing, and go to work.
Plans with kids, work, wife, dog, etc are made to be destroyed...I'm still trying to accept that and roll with the punches.

Later and Out.

Same Ol Recap.

Survived and enjoyed the first xc ski outing of the year! So far this morning I am pain free too! Ventured to the North Loop. Put in 3 laps then under the culvert to the Orchard loop. Also put in 3 laps then done for 1 hour 45 minutes.

The trail conditions are pretty good. The North Loop has debry showing but that is to be expected. The Orchard loop was pretty awesome. The groomers thus far have done an awesome job with only 5" of snow, thanks.

Headed to the gym afterwards for some core work. The 'ol ab muscles are bit sore today...so yeah I lied a bit.

Tomorrow is weigh in day. Starting to lose interest in this. I have been pretty good but maybe not great. If I weigh and it's the same or, god forbid, higher I will get all pissy and whatnot. So is it worth it? Shit, I must push on. Goal weight of 180 or 185 is pretty attainable. I have cut back on lifting and have changed my style of lifting so this should help facilitate weight loss. Damn, I am one neurotic person! But one that has the potential to be a model must look his/her best!

Today is a gym day this morning. I may go snow showing tonight, it all depends how the ball bounces on the home front. I'm ok with whatever. Avery's chin has healed so maybe some more sledding!

Sunday is suppose to be COLD! The plan is to go out early and test myself and gear. Sounds fun, serious.

Out.

Look Doc, No Pain!

Ventured out yesterday, half expecting to turn around early due to knee pain. But, for whatever reason, the knee didn't hurt at all, didn't get sore the rest of the day, and is still great this morning! Just old age I guess.

Took the Pugsley North to hook up with the snowmobile trails there. The trails, however, never really materialized. I rode a section for bit, slow going, but it ran back onto the road. From there the trail split north to Rice and East towards Gillman/Foley. Knowing the Gillman/Foley trails a bit better I opted for that route to try and keep my time in check. Still have to work. The trails towards Rice appeared to me more traveled but I didn't have the time. The trail I was hoping to get on never showed...just a bunch of ditch riders I guess. Something about struggling 5-7mph in a ditch with a road 5' away doesn't appeal to me. One lone snowmobile followed the trail away from the road across a farm field. I tried it for 10' then bailed back to the road. Not enough snow and not set up...maybe next week.
So onto the gravel roads I went. It was actually a really good ride. Minimal wind, found some new roads, and the knee didn't hurt!

The self-portrait. I look more spent then I felt, I think.

Ended up with a tad over three hours. I didn't check the mileage but on the Pugsley I'm sure it wasn't very much.

News has it that the North Loop (oh yeah, closed to biking for the season) and the Orchard are in good condition for skating. The skis are all waxed and ready to rock. I'm prepared for a slow outing, due to the single digit temps. First ski of the season!

The rest of the week I work the day shift so that makes riding a bit more difficult. Not too sure on the plans yet. I'd like to get out for a night ride at Plum Creek/River Bluffs to test the trail. Maybe I should snowshoe it in first. Decisions.

Oh yeah, Monday night I took Brinna and Avery sledding. We had a blast. We were the only ones there the majority of the time. Usually there are a ton of people. My favorite is when all the parents stand at the top of the hill smoking, yelling at their kids...not this time! Brinna and Avery crashed with Brinna rolling over Avery's head. A little chin rubbage but nothing serious. We kept sledding! Good times. Maybe we'll go again instead of riding. Like I said, decisions!

Later.

Now What?

My knee hurts.
I know, I have bad knees and they tend to hurt.
I also know, I ran last week, which usually makes my left knee hurt.
This hurt, however, is different. It's a new one...oh goodie.
I'm guessing it's from the 6 hours of Pugsley riding this weekend. While that's not that much normally, this was slow, constant, and hard going. Walking, running, or kneeling don't hurt. But if I was to play basketball I think my lower leg would separate from my upper leg. Pretty sweet huh?
So what to do?
I was going to go snowshoeing last night but Jen got home late from doing whatever it is she and Kate do when they try to avoid exercise. I was bummed, ok a bit pissed, but time heals and it was for the best!
Today Jen agreed to get the kids ready and bring them both to school so I could get out early and ride in some cold weather, currently 7 not as cold as I hoped. However, my knee still isn't right, so I will go out later to test the damn thing and see what happens.
Fingers, tendons, and ligaments are crossed.

Later.

Snow Weekend.

Friday afternoon the snow started as predicted...wow! It continued on into the night, ending with about 5" of powder in the STC. I still planned on riding the pugsley to Sauk Centre. In an effort to save the pug from excess salt and debris I had Jen drive me to St. Joe and the start of the Wobegon.
I was hoping more snowmobiles would have been out. Only a couple of passes had been made. I was washing out everywhere. I let air out of the tires but it still sucked. Had the snowmobiles not tracked up the entire trail I could have biked in the untouched snow, but that was not the case. To go from St. Joe to the SJU exit took me a half and hour...normally about 15 minutes or less. At this rate I wouldn't have made it till dark.
Screw it and on the salty roads I went. They actually weren't too bad till I got near the towns. The pugs is a salty, sandy mess, ugh.
I really didn't look at a map before I left so I just took roads here and there. The pugs with 10 psi and a strong headwind made the going slow.
It took me 4 hours 7 minutes to go 39.9 miles. That's about 9.6 mph average! Cruising. I was happy with the ride however. I learned a couple things about my hands, what food freezes beyond edible and what doesn't. I practiced keeping my mental cool too! Still needs some work on that. My foot situation was solid. A few things need adjusting but I should be good. This week is suppose to be pretty cold so I will need to get out and test the set up for sure.

Sunday I was up making pancakes, (whole wheat, flax seed, applesauce, yogurt, blueberries, and cinnamon), yum. After, we loaded up the super van, and headed to Tommy T's tree farm.

Even Zoe go to come!

Post tree cutting refreshments.

Back home I saddled up on the pugs again. This time I was shooting for two hours. The legs were a bit sore but nothing too bad. I went to the Sand Prairie Preserve. I expected more snowshoe and hiker tracks but only the main route was stomped in. Which was good, as riding in fresh, untracked snow was easier to hold a line. Well, most of the time. I had to get off and walk a few times. The going was terribly slow, but again that's winter riding. It takes some getting use to it mentally but I'm moving in the right direction.

This is the quintessential winter riding w/Pugsley shot.

Real straight line.

Yeah, I know...it's ski season.

Ended with just under 2 hours, but that was more than enough.

Monday is a no riding day, gym, then sledding at night with the kids. Maybe some snowshoeing to make smash some trails in at Plum Creek/River Bluff Trails.

Hope to get out on some of the snowmobile trails this week. With the cold and time they should be pretty solid. I plan on getting out on the XC skis too! Finally snow...now there is so much to do!

Get out.

Later.

Tick, Tock...Tick, Tock.

So having time constraints seems to be the theme for this week. Today is a teacher workshop day so the kids are home and Jen had to leave early. Jen's mom comes up around 8. Before I was made privy to this I planned on getting up early to be out riding by 6. I'm not too bummed as that doesn't sound too appealing.

Iam looking forward to biking to Sauk Centre tomorrow. I think I may go no matter the amount of snow we get. The more we get the earlier I will have to leave to make it in time for our turkey meal...again. And let's face it, the Arrowhead 135 will happen no matter the conditions and the clock it ticking...two months away!

So I think I may go out for a short run. I know, breaking my own rule of once a week, but I don't want to go the gym...too much this week. It's now December and I will begin to lift minimal weight. No more "bulking" up!! I weighed this morning and up a pound. Not bad, considering Thanksgiving happened and I haven't really been too good this week about not eating whatever. I eat healthy, just too much. That and anytime I go to my parent's house I have candy and ice cream...ugh, no will power, but it freakin everywhere. Where was that when I was living at home?

Later and Out.

The 'Ol Run Around.

Having to drop off both girls yesterday and a somewhat chaotic work schedule my riding plans for the morning were forced to be changed. I planned on taking out the All City on some gravel but opted for the Pugsley and some mtb trails. I'm closer to home and able to get back at the required time. North Loop, St. Benedict Center, and the Talahi woods was the route taken. Wrapped it up with under 2 hours in, but a good ride nonetheless.

No riding today. Gym this morning, but that's it. I have both kids tonight. Also get to bring Avery in for her flu shot...good times.

We have a gathering in Sauk Centre this weekend. I am tentatively planning to bike there. It all depends on how much of the predicted 3-6" of snow we get. I plan on taking the Pugsley down the Wobegon Trail. If too much snow falls (is there such a thing?) I may take the All City on cty roads...TBD.
Sunday we are taking our annual trek to Tommy T's to get our Christmas Tree. I hope to bike there too, it's in Big Lake...also TBD.
My fingers are crossed for snow.

Later.

Spending Freeze.

We recently bought our tickets for our, now annual, trip to Florida. Jen, the money maker and bill payer, has put me on a spending freeze. I too agree I need to real in my spending and be more careful with the things I buy. Many of the small things can, and do, add up to a big Visa bill. So yeah, I'm ok with the freeze.
I have everything I need for the Arrowhead 135, etc. The only expense may be tires from use, but I still have a long ways to go for that. I'm actually pretty well set for the next "traditional" riding season too. I revamped, switched out, and swapped many parts/frames last season so I should be ready to rock the gravel just fine, equipment wise, this coming spring/summer and on.

I did get out for a run at the North Loop yesterday. The amount of snow was perfect for running. It added a nice amount of cushion and no slip. Put in 50, PAIN FREE, minutes! Oh I miss running. After a marathon cleaning session, for me anyway, I went to the gym to lift and sauna. Stopped at the grocery store on the way home and finished making the bean soup for tonight. Got to bed around 11:30...that's freakin late for this guy. I went a bit crazy with the soup. I may be eating bean soup for lunch the rest of the week.
Fire in the hole!

OUT.