Feverishly cycling

You don't need to cycle one hundred miles to feel like you've cycled that far. I got on my cyclocross bike for my usual commute this morning, but it felt like I was already 20 hours into a 24 hour race.

Last night, the fever caused me to shiver with every movement, so I huddled under covers, blew my nose and drank lots of water.

Today, my fingers and toes felt colder than usual despite boot covers and gloves. My speed was at least 2 mph slower that my usual speed, but it felt tougher. Everything ached: my eyes, back, testicles, quads and Achilles tendons. Good training... I guess.

Exercising with an upper respiratory infection is somewhat controversial. Excessive exercise (whatever that means) with a respiratory infection is known to cause heart inflammation. Not good! Today, it was the equivalent of taking a walk for me, which would have been mentally tough too.

My nose dripped and I did the farmer's sneak. Crap! right on my leg, and some is still on my lip. I wiped off the drips with my glove. Coughs made me almost throw up as the snot dripped down the back of my throat. I'm glad that I am not on the bus where it is hot and packed with people who would be rightly disconcerted by my infected behaviors.

My thoughts go all over the place to the point that I don't even know where I am on the Burke-Gilman Trail. "The body is just a vehicle for the soul" I think. Wow, I must be feverish.

It was a beautiful sunrise with fog over Lake Washington. I'm really looking forward to a fantastic weekend especially our long run on Sunday. Stay tuned for a posting about our Newcastle beach, Cougar Mtn, Squak Mtn, Tiger Mtn route covering 35 miles and 7,000 ft of elevation gain and drop.

Training Route: Tiger geocaching 01/17/09

This is all thanks to Murray: visit the CPs in any order, use a compass and an altimeter if you wish. Team Verve for this event was Murray, Christi and me. We were joined by Jenny. Our total distance was 22km, time 4:30, very slow.

The CPs as described for us:

• CP1 Forgotten Bridge N 47° 32.149 W 122° 00.407 Regular cache
  From the bridge, follow the old roadbed away from I-90 till you see some good size rocks. Look in the Maple nearby. It's a Lock-n-lock. Last found Nov 2008
• CP2 Bus line stop N 47° 31.554 W 122° 00.228 80 feet away from the bus across the trail stumpy. Found Nov
• CP3 Scout troop N 47° 31.212 W 121° 59.818 Under a log east of and parallel to trail regular cache last found Nov 08
• CP4 Two Bridges past Anschell's Allee N 47° 31.078 W 121° 58.868
  Last found Nov 08 Where a troll might be comfortable. Water. Regular cache
• CP 5 Railway West Tiger Railroad Grade N 47° 30.836 W 121° 58.737 The cache is located between the K3 trail and the TMT trail and overlooks High Point Creek. Look for a small Lock-n-Lock just above the trail.
• CP 6 Ruth's Cove 47° 30.875 W 121° 58.238 Regular cache Under mossy log, just uphill, west of bridge Last found November 2008
• CP7 Dwight's Way N 47° 31.443 W 121° 57.577 From this junction is a big ole stump about 60 feet east. The cache is at the base of the stump. It's small with just enough room for a log and a small TB. Last found Dec 08
• CP8 Tannanbaum N 47° 31.462 W 121° 57.372 Follow the main trail past three trail signs, then take the side trail up the mountain. The signs are at the trail head, where you leave the power lines, and at the first false trail junction.
  Spoiler: While standing at the Christmas tree look for a nearby burnt stump. The cache is inside the end of the huge rotting log closest to the stump.
• CP9 The Old Bridge N 47° 31.926 W 121° 58.513 Cross over the dam and go just past a little stream. Reach inside Last found Dec 6 Small cache.

Some additional comments: CP1 - rocks near the old bridge. CP3 - between log and trail. CP4 - East side of bridge, behind a stomp. CP5 - a white stomp (IIRC). CP7 - a small one. CP8 - burnt stump is hard to be seen to be burnt. The huge log is not that huge. At most 5 yards long, we wasted like a half an hour there. CP9 - in roots of tree.

Who can do better?

Orcas 50k

My first 50k run this year. Was afraid about how I would feel, and it makes
sense. Time: 5:55, place approx 20th.

Additional notes:

Slept in my car: a five-nine person fits into a Subaru Impreza just
fine.

For added peace took one tablet of Melatonin. Slept 8 hours straight, and that is the night before race! Just to explain: my previous night before a 50k run was spent in my car with me disagreeing with the cold pasta salad consumed hours before. Had to get out every hour or so. The one before that - I spent in the cabin with 10 other people: snoring, turning, going to bathroom and whatelse one can imagine.

Early start rocks!

I ran with two bottles and I had two new ones in each of two drop bags.

My 17 km time was 1:40.

When I returned to the start area for the first time, my water bottles
were sent to Mt. Constitution. James did not wait me so early. So I had to refill them.

Instead of two Shot blocks, I got a replacement of one Shot Block and
a tasty, but only 100 kcal, gel.

Just before Mt. Constitution took my only pictures.

Some miles before second drop bag zone I was out of ammo: no sugar. Empty.

Matt Hart did not run. No wonder he did not pass me during the run.

Who passed me by an hour? Winner Adam Lint and and Garry Robins.

My time is 30 minutes better than last year. I would say the course was easier.

Songlist: Three latvian songs: Atzīšanās, Zviegtin' zviedza kara zirgi and
Balkānu āzis. Most of them messed up and without full set of words.

Murray and his wife Lisa was also there - Lisa ran 25k and Murray helped to
sweep the course. On next day we did a 2 hour/12 km kayaking.