Cramps & Race Requirements

Not too much going on today. Got a boring day at work in, got my ass home and on the trainer. iPodious rocked to some Arctic Monkeys (LIve from Amsterdam) and a kick ass live Jesus & Mary Chain. Twas damn good. Legs had some serious jump in them from all the J&MC fuzz and feedback.

I only did an hour of some high RPM stuff and kept everything nice and aerobic like. I got an hour in and thought- WTF? I'll do another 20 or 30 min. One minute later I got a friggin' cramp in my calf that hurt like a mofo. I hardly ever cramp, let alone on the trainer. Now it's happened twice in a week. Not sure what's up with that.

I THINK it may be from that fact that I've been using some Fruit Punch flavored GatorAde powder, in lieu of HEED. I sorta hate the flavor, so I've been mixing in pretty weak. Lots of sweat, minus electrolytes = cramps. So I said "f*ck it" and settled on my planned hour. A sign from the Ride Gods to stop? Most likely just a sign to go back to Orange Gatorade (a fave) and anxiously await my jug O'Heed that's do in The W.O. on Frrrrriday.

Here's a list of the preliminary Mid Atlantic Super Series Enduros for 2008:

Saturday, May 3rd, Escape From Granogue (4 hour Enduro)
Saturday, May 10th, French Creek (4 hour Enduro)
Saturday, May 17th, Rocktober Challenge (Marathon)
Sunday, June 15th, Stoopid 50 (Marathon)
Saturday, July 5th, M.A.S.S. Race & Fest (6 Hour Marathon)
Saturday, August 9th, God's Country (Marathon)
Saturday, August 16th, Iron Hill Challenge (4 Hour Enduro)
Saturday/Sunday, August 30/31, Seven Springs 24 Hour Race

I only listed the Endurance events, since that's really all I do. Nice bunch of events. Sadly I'm not sure I'll make any of these races other than the Seven Springs 24 Hour. The M.A.S.S. Race & Fest 6 Hour race is a "maybe", but all the others conflict with other race dates and/or prep/recovery for races I've committed to already.

All the M.A.S.S. races I've done have been a blast and If lived closer I'd be there for sure, but many are 4 to 5 hours away. I'm also not sure if the 4 hour format right for me either. It MIGHT be too "doable" Not doable as in "winnable" or easy. But you see, since I rarely place, I have to live by some of my (ab)normal race "requirements":

1. Race time must be longer than drive time.

2. Vomit at least once during the race. (Not a "requirement" but seemingly quite normal)

3. Cry or WANT to cry once (twice if it's a 24 hour).

4. Tell myself at least once "never again". This is of course a lie similar in many ways to telling a "one night stand" you'll call them the next day. Or saying you'll never touch booze again after a weekend bender with your friends. Just a little lie to help you cope. Whatever it takes!

5. Look like this for half the race...





















6. Look like this for the other half...





















7. Want to pass out at the end. ACTUALLY passing out is optional but worth bonus points (extra beer).

8. Finish and feel damn good about being the uglier, fatter, friend of 5th place's fat friend. Dig?

9. Burn enough calories that 10 to 12 pieces of pizza and 10 to 12 beers will not touch what I've just burned. And even if it does I just won't give a f*ck.

10. Ride the post race high long enough to type in the credit card digits on BikeReg.com.

Oh well, I'm sure there's more, but I think you get the idea. Could it be that all this suffering during the race is somehow me busting out some big time "Catholic guilt" and using it as penance for all the sins of bike lust, maintenance sloth, and mileage gluttony??? Nahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!

Like the great Jimmy Dugan once said- "It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard... is what makes it great." I love that quote!

Wow, I sort of got sidetracked there. If you can, do the M.A.S.S. races. Great bunch of races put on by some good folks. Damn I'm anxious to get this winter over with and let the "penance" begin!!

Time for some zeeees.

Later.