WHAT"S UP

WORK ALL DAY

    It's been a couple of months now. I have been working 2 jobs almost full-time. Or one full-time and one 6-7 days a week. The second job (as it were) is as a freelance photographer for the local newspaper in Las Vegas. I wish I could make enough money at this job to make it my sole and only employment. I can make 600-700 a week depending on how many days I work. A little over $800 If I work everyday. That is definitely enough to live on but I can't guarantee how consistent it will be. It could be $800 on week and then $200 the next.....can't live on that. I am actually trying to get back ahead financially after being out of work for almost 9 months. I am trying to save up enough cash to buy a beater car. I have my motorcycle but sometimes a car is much more practical with carrying my gear and such.

FAST MOTHERFUCKERS (IMPRESSIVE TOO)

      One of the jobs I covered last weeks was the Las Vegas NHRA event. Let me tell you if you have never stood 5 feet from a Funny Car or Top Fuel Dragster leaving the starting line you are missing out. That was probably the most powerful (and loud) thing I have ever been around in my life. I have been to the drags before but not that close.
     The pro stock guys (210-220mph) were cool. Plenty loud and fast.  But when the big boys came to the line it was a whole different deal. WOW!!!!!!. Within on run of the cars I was almost begging for ear plugs. Ear piercing would be an under statement. They were ok when they were doing their burnout but once they actually took off down ste strip for real it was a whole new ball game. Not only were t hey loud but the force of their exhaust when they came by felt as though it could knock you over (and I weigh over 270lbs). I was pretty sure fillings were going to rattle free. Wouldn't have missed it for the world.

                                          It was Halloween Weekend

                                Jason Line 2011 Pro Stock Season Champion

                                         Hector Arana Jr. - Pro Stock Motorcycles

                                          Yes It is called the Strip

                                                  Spencer Massey

                                         Pit Boss - The Track Mascot

                                Eyes of Spencer Massey -Focused

                                Kenny Bernstein - Should you have to pray

A BRIEF OVERVIEW

MY TRAINING (OR THE LACK OF IT)

    I did a century yesterday. Proud of that. I also know I could have done much better. My training for the last two months has sucked (my diet sucked for most of the year or I would have been at least 50 lbs lighter)

     In February I lost my job and was out of work for about 8 months. At the time I lost my job I said to myself "well I will just realx a little from working and spend more time in the gym". And I did For the better part of 6 months it was like a religion to me. I was in the gym 2-3 hours a day 5-6 days a week. Stairmaster, Elliptical, Life Cycle, Spin Class, walking 18 holes of golf. I went hard at these things. Then in about April I signed up for the RTC Viva Las Vegas Century and I started riding again. Mostly on the trainer initially and then started adding a couple of road rides as I got in better shape. I built up the rides from a base of about 40 miles to a high of about 85 miles by late July. Trust me that is hard in the heat of Las Vegas. And I hate mornings but I would force myself up at ungodly hours so that I could be done before it was hot enough to melt your skin.

About the time I did that 85 mile ride I think I came very close to heat stroke so it knocked me out for a week or  so and the workouts suffered for it. August was okay..but no great. AT the end of August and the beginning of September I spent about a week getting ready to move into a new apartment. That took about 5 days out of my training.

About the middle of the month I started doing freelance photography for a local newspaper again as well as starting a graveyard position at a local convenience store chain. This resulted in a grand total of 11 workouts in September. None longer than an hour and a half. Most 1 hour or less. Most on my trainer.

October was definitely not any better. I had a grand total of 3 workouts before my Century ride. 2 of these were  a long ride on Monday's and the third was a trainer ride. My longest ride was just under 60 miles.

As the time without a job grew longer and longer my drinking kept increasing. Which increased my eating and decreased my motivation for the gym. Not a great combo when you are trying to get in shape and lose weight. I am so glad I am working because it has severely decreased my drinking. Mostly due to a lack of time. But also because I have less stress in life.

All this being said I am proud of the fact that I went thru with the Century and completed it in a respectable time. My goal for the next year is to find a way to fit in my workouts, get in better shape, actually lose weight and do a century again next year. The goal will definitely be to do it in under 6 hours of riding time.

I CAN CHECK THAT OFF OF THE BUCKET LIST

RTC VIVA BIKE VEGAS 103 MILE RIDE

     I felt much better than I had any right to feel during and  after this ride. I was woefully under trained and probably should have backed down to the 60 mile ride. But no, I am a masochist. Finished in 6:40 of actual riding time.

     By all rights I should be writing a post that is titled "How Not To Train For A Century Ride". But apparently you can do less training than is necessary for a Century and still finish well and comfortably. I don't recommend it but it is doable. I way 275 pounds and I was pushing all but the hardest of hill with many of the so called healthy people. Makes me wonder what I could have done if I was maybe 80 pounds lighter and actually in shape. I am thinking under 5-1/2 hours easy.This ride had over 5000 feet of climbing and that beat me up pretty bad . Especially the 5 miles into the Red Rock Loop. You gain well over 1000ft in the first 5 miles. One tough mother.and there were a couple of other pretty good hills that I wish I had a 28 tooth gear to make life easier for my fat ass. I don't think I will do a lot of centuries, that is a lot of saddle time......but maybe 1-2 a year just to see if I can get better.

Enough for now I had 5-6 beers after the ride was over ( I still haven't peed) and I am feeling the effects. I was trying to get my kidneys working again. I read a long time ago that a couple of beers is a good way to do that if you are a little dehydrated after a marathon. I drank a lot during the ride and only had to pee once at the 20 mile mark. Should be peeing soon.

103 or DEATH

OKAY SO THAT'S A LITTLE SEVERE

Well, I am up/ It's 3:40 am. WTF!!!!. Oh yeah I am going to voluntarily torture myself (in fact I paid to do so) by riding my fat ass 103 miles this morning (and part of the afternoon.....and hopefully not the evening). I have got my coffee (Walmart brand rocks) I am eating my oatmeal, and I have had a tortilla with peanut butter and Nutella. I should be ready for this in about 6 months. Once I get past 35 miles it should be pretty easy for another 35-40 miles and then I will have to slug it out to get back to the finish at town square. Not looking for speed just to finish. It will be like my first marathon I ran back in 1995 when although I was doing a boatload of cardio (14-18 hours a week) I was not doing much running (25-28 miles a week). I suffered the last 3 miles in that event...and for the next week I could barely walk. I am going to have to buy a rubber donut for my butt if I want to sit down this week


I was ready for this a month and a half ago before I started working 2 jobs more or less full time. That being said I would rather be working full time and not have enough time to work out as opposed to the opposite situation. Good Luck to me and my fellow riders. I think their are about 1800 of us heading down the strip at 5:30 am followed by a 25 mile climb.And believe me that 25th mile is a B#$@H. It is affectionately known as the wall.


Oh yeah I feel that more important part of my pre-workout routine building up so I should be a little lighter at the start of the ride...lol.....you runners and bikers know what I mean.

TIME TO SHIT, SHOWER, & SHAVE (That's what Dad used to say before getting ready for work)

Time to go and have my morning constitutional and reading session to clean out the system. Then shower, dress and meet my ride. I haven't figured out how I am getting home as of yet. I felt bad enough about having my friend wake up at 4am to give me a lift there, but she is great.

LATER......MUCH LATER.....REALLY MUCH MUCH LATER

I will file a report on the ride and results when I am done and have had a few beers to "relax"

A NEW LIFE

WOW, IT'S BEEN A MONTH

     It has been a while since I posted again. Just haven't felt like writing anything.

LESS THAN TWO WEEKS

     Until I am supposed to ride in the RTC VIVA BIKE VEGAS 103 mile ride. I rode 55 miles yesterday to see how I was feeling. I haven't had a long ride in about a month so I was very unsure of my fitness. I have worked out 3-4 times a week during this time but not for an extended period of time. After the ride yesterday I feel as though I will be okay for all but about 5 miles of the 103 mile ride. That 5 miles would be the climb in Red Rock Canyon. Mile 4-5 is affectionately known as "The Wall". it is very tough but after that it is overall down hill for about 35-40 miles and by then I will be 70+ miles into the ride. The ride is flat for the first 8-9 miles and then a steady climb for about 20 miles. It is going to be fun. It will hopefully be my first successful attempt at a century.  I was well on my way to being in shape for this ride until I moved and then started working 2 jobs over the last month. I am going to ride 4- times this week and next with a long run on Monday of hopefully 65-70 miles to finish getting ready. The nice thing is that it is finally starting to cool off so I won't have the 100+ degree heat beating me up on the ride. I am planning on starting somewhere near the back of the pack and gradually moving up until we are thru the hills and then cruise as much as possible for the downhill sections. I am not aiming to be a speed demon, just finish. I figure that it will take 7-8 hours, hopefully closer to 7 hours, to finish the ride.

JOBS

     Due to the fact that the local newspaper laid off 6 full time photographers I have been able to pick up work as a freelancer. If the work continues at the pace that it has been for the last month It will be great. I have been getting 4-6 days a week shooting. It is not great money but it is $120 a day to shoot 1-2 assignments.
     In addition to this I started a job as a cashier on graveyard for a local convenience store company. Definitely not a rent job but it is a steady income that I can use to pay the rent and utilities.
    Between the two jobs I should be comfortable financially. I have to put in some long days with limited sleep but at least I can pay the bills and maybe save a little money for the next time I am out of work. Maybe even enough to be able to move when my lease on the apartment is up in about a year.

IT"S BEEN A WHILE

It has probably been about two months since I wrote anything on my blog. I have thought about it a few times. Just haven't been able to make myself get to it.


OLD HOME NEW HOME

AS of Thursday  I have been living in a new apartment. The house went up for auction on Wednesday. I guess some one bought it because they put up eviction notices yesterday. Still have a few things to move but they are just small stuff. I have to call the realty company on Tuesday and see if they will give me cash for keys as their notice stated. Could be over a $1000. I am not looking to damage the house. It's not their fault.

2 DOGS

The only reason I stayed in the house so long was to give a better environment for my dogs. G.G. & Sam. They have always had a yard to play in and go as they please. Now I have to take them for walks. I try and get in 3-4 walks a day since I am not working right now (or for the last 7 months). They didn't eat for the first 2 days in the new apartment. Stress I thnk. Finally tonight they chowed on their dog food. I had some chicken for dinner and gave them a couple of pieces and then they ate their food. I think they remembered they were hungry. Haha.
    My big dog G.G., until yesterday, had never pooped on a leash so she is trying to get used to that also. She has never had to. Like I said she always had a yard. And I would take her to the dog park. One of the things I am going to miss the most is being able to spray her down with a hose. She loves it.
     Well I have the lease for another 363 days so we will have to make the best of it.

ON A LIGHTER NOTE

     Have you ever been in a room full of deaf people. I am not trying to be rude or mean  but they are damn noisy.  Plus the combination of sign language and actual speech comes out sort of like a bad martial arts movie. You now, where the lips move and then you hear the sound.

FANIA ALL_STARS

    I love the my Fania All-stars channel on Pandora. Can't understand a word but I love the music

PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN

STAR SPANGLED BANNER

     As a kid my dad was in the military, so we lived on a number of bases through the years. Tonight I wen to one of the local fireworks displays and it reminded me of that time. Whenever you went to the movies you had to stand and watch a small video with the National Anthem before every movie.  During this time everyone was respectful and quiet during this time. As a child it seemed a little "corny". I don't know if that is the right word for how how I felt but it is what comes to mind. I MISS THOSE TIMES. In my later years I realize how i taught you to respect the beliefs of our country, whether you agree or not. I wish that we still had to recite the Pledge of Allegiance in classrooms or the National Anthem at public events. I don't care if it is not politically correct. This is "The" United States of America and we should be proud of being citizens of this country. Flaws and blemishes included. I still don't see a mass exodus of people leaving The United States for other  "better" countries. Oh Yeah, that's because there aren't any better countries