chattavegas.com

Went for a run Friday evening and it poured buckets. Got in 3 miles through puddles, water drainage and heavy rain. My running shoes felt like sand bags but I kept up my pace of 10 minutes per mile (that is fast for me) even with the extra water weight.

Tonight I went for a bike ride at Moccasin Bend and as soon as we got to the top of Stringers Ridge we were hit by yet another downpour. This time I was stuck in the back of the getting hit by the rooster tail of the 2 riders ahead of me. I was in the back due to me riding with cyclocross tires which kick off an even larger rooster tail than the road tires of my riding partners.

So it seems if I exercise now it is going to rain. I plan on running tomorrow after work so if it rains then it will be official.

After 3 weeks off from running I picked it up again today with a short 2.5 mile run over the bridges. I am primarily wanting to focus my training on cycling over the next few months while working on my running pace (I hope to get my miles per minute time down to below 10 minute miles) and keeping my distance in the 10k range.

I have decided I will ride my first linear century this year as my next big goal by entering the Sequatchie Valley Century sponsored by the Chattanooga Bike Club. After work tomorrow I plan on joining the bike club for the Tuesday ride through Red Bank if I can get there in time and if my friend Bill does not want to ride some other route.

There are some other things I need as well. First is a good tree removal company to drop a big dead oak in my backyard as well as some other trees that I want gone. Another skilled laborer I am looking for is a mason who can build me a nice wall in front of my house and give me some ideas for a wall behind my house. If anybody knows any of the above laborers please have them contact me.

It is also getting close to the time when I will have my house paid off. I expect in a few months I should be sending in my final payment and I will be free and clear of any debt other than local taxes. I expect that I will be putting in a new bathroom and kitchen very soon with the money I am saving with no house payment so if you know any reliable and skilled general contractors that are looking for some work please have them contact me as I am in the market for some quotes.

I left work early yesterday to watch the final descent of stage 3 of the Tour de Georgia as it came off Lookout Mountain down Ochs Hwy. into St. Elmo. I was at the bottom of Ochs Hwy. as the cyclists came by and they were hauling major ass. There was a breakaway group in the lead that was about 30 minutes ahead of the peleton. I don’t know how fast they were going but I have heard it was around 60mph. If that number is correct then I am truly impressed.

My friend TD was in town tonight and we met up at Pisa Pizza, a hip little pizza joint in my neighborhood that is managed by my brother. Before this I ran 2.5 miles, a short little distance but it was nice to get out in the fine weather and get some exercise. Any good I did with the running I am sure was undone by the 4 slices of pizza I ate but what the hell.

The tour de Georgia comes to town tomorrow. The events web site seems to be suffering a bit but there is a nice BLOG site that will keep you up to date on the results.

To all those effected by the tragedy at Virginia Tech University I can’t imagine the sorrow you feel so I send you my condolences. It is times like this when I wonder why we allow the purchasing of handguns to just about anybody.

Well it’s another day and another post. I commuted to work on my new touring bike yesterday and after work I took a ride down to Flinstone, GA. taking Old Hwy 2 right past my friend E-Rock’s house. I was planning on stopping by his house to say hello and surprise him but he was not home so I kept on riding for a few miles before I turned around and headed back to the house. I plan on upping this ride to eventually include the addition of Lookout Mountain going up Nick A. Jack Rd. and coming back down Cummings Hwy. but I am a ways away from being able to do this.