You cannot plough a field by turning it over in your mind. Author Unknown

Well, at least I’m a Pro- something.

All growing up, I was trained to build-up to large events. Mountain bike races, cross-country runs, band concerts (yes I was a band geek), etc. As an adult, these events came fewer and further between.

I was taught to moderate my time, live a balanced life and spend each day plodding along, even keeled, and well-rounded.

Fail!

If there is one thing I’ve learned, it’s that in order to grow, you have to create imbalance. Imbalance followed by periods of recovery followed by more imbalance: this is the recipe to successful growth in any endeavor.

The funny thing is that I would often create fake events, just to get my blood-pumping and to put me under pressure. This is “procrastination” in action.

While these are meant to be health-related confessions, this is within the domain of (un)healthy behavior. So, I felt it was appropriate.

Confession

During my master’s degree program, I had one term where we were assigned to gather empirical data on a particular facet of the class subject and write a large “conclusive” term paper on our findings. We were given an entire term to do our research, write and review the paper, get feedback from the professor if needed, and submit it.

I did some research on the topic, gathered and read the articles, then held off until the last minute. The very last minute to write the paper.

24 hours before the paper was due, I hadn’t put keystroke to document. I spent all day in the library and at my computer desk. By the next day, a 26-page “term” paper was turned in.

When I got it back, there was only one section of corrections – the back, I hadn’t formatted my APA references/citations properly. I received an A-. Procrastination was reinforced. I had won another fake event.

The future depends on what we do in the present. Mahatma Gandhi

Four days of blog posts. Four days without coffee. Four days without sweets.

I almost didn’t make the four days of blog posts one. However, right before bed, I decided that I needed to do it – kind of like showering or brushing my teeth. Wait, did I…? Never mind.

I succeeded in my last goal (no games when I should be sleeping), but tonight, I came close. I played some games while Lily was sleeping on me. But, I made sure to put it away come time for bed.

Goal: Keep up the no-gaming when I should be sleeping.

Confession

I once ate a whole pound of cashews. I don’t recommend it.

He that will not reflect is a ruined man. Asian Proverb

Three days without coffee. Tired. But, I’m feeling better and sleeping much more soundly.

After day three, I’ve usually overcome the painful headaches that accompanies withdrawal from caffeine. None so far today. I think I’ve succeeded in this goal.

Next goal*: No playing games (video, poker, rpg, board, or otherwise) when I should be sleeping.

*I’m a sucker for games. When Lily goes to sleep, my inner gamer comes out, and my thoughts are along the lines of “I better get in a good hour of games before bed, since I won’t get the chance to do this during the day.” And, while that may be true, it is a bane on my sleep.

Confession

I used to be really into playing these online social roleplaying games, called MUDs. In college, I would sometimes have all-night sessions, where I would come home from classes or work around 5pm, and play straight through until 8 or 9AM the next day when class started. I would barely take a break for dinner.

One quarter, when I was training for the Sea Otter mountain bike cross country race, I programmed a “bot” method of playing that allowed me to train on my indoor cycle trainer while watching the progress of my character on the monitor. My character was using variable methods of combat and interaction that made it seem like I was actually playing and conversing with people. I would put in variable responses like, “Shut up, I’m busy,” or “Hold on, I’m on the phone” whenever people would send me a message. If a monster would walk into the room, I would have variable attacking and healing based on the combat results.

This worked fine for a couple nights until another player walked in on my character and after observing my action for fifteen minutes, realized I was not actually playing. He attacked me and took all my armor, weapons, and gold, since I hadn’t accounted for player-to-player combat. The next night, I had fixed it, and when he walked into the room, I killed him with my pre-programmed robot triggers, looted his corpse, and logged off

Not wanting to get into an anticipation trigger-based programming war, I stopped “botting” the next night, and haven’t done it since.

The fact is, that to do anything in the world worth doing, we must not stand back shivering and thinking of the cold and danger, but jump in and scramble through as well as we can.
Robert Cushing

I guess this is sort of a re-rededication to this blog and to my health. But, as they say in the 12-step programs, “You can only change today.” Or, something along those lines.

I’ve been awake since 2:35am. I awakened with a stomach ache*, and couldn’t go back to sleep. So, after watching the end of “Be Kind Rewind” and the entire “Rachel Getting Married,” (which I suggest, btw) I am down here rededicating myself to healthy living.

Confession*

Tonight, Stacey asked me to throw away the leftover cupcakes from Lily’s first birthday party. Stacey, being Chinese and the ever-gracious host, over-prepared with approximately 60 cupcakes. Apparently (even though it was “dessert only,”) she was trying to provide enough wheat, sugar, and lard to adequately fill those up that had not eaten dinner. There were leftovers. I love you, Honey.

Stacey requested that I dispose of these leftover cakes-in-a-cup, as they were becoming a staple additive to our daily meals. Like salt. And in-between. Like cupcakes.

My method of throwing them away: Take the remaining seven frosted cupcakes. Super-frost the tops with the leftover frosting from the party. Cut the tops off, and eat the Super-frosted cupcake tops. I ate all seven. And an almond cookie.

Rededication

Lily is one year old. I want to be the best dad to her, and also husband to Stacey. I know that I can do better.

Today’s goal: no coffee! (yikes) Wish me luck!

When I was 14, I raced for Specialized. I was riding a hardtail Specialized Stumpjumper M2.

After winning the 1994 UCI Pan-American XC Championships in Squaw Valley as a Junior, I met and chatted with Ned Overend. His birthday was the day before, and he put in a stellar performance to get second to a flying Mark Howe (if I remember correctly) on a super-high elevation course. I remember saying something along the lines of, “It’s a good day for Specialized — you got second, and I got first.” Although embarrassed after realizing what I said, I managed to still get in a good chat about Fort Bragg and the Botanical Gardens.

Anyhow, Specialized mountain bikes are still the pinnacle of my desire. I have such fond memories of flying on the mountain trails around Lake Tahoe, Mammoth, and Big Bear. Perhaps one day I will again wield such beauty between my legs.

I’ve been riding almost every day. I get up at 5:45am and put in 45min-1 hour on my trainer. It is dark at that time, and since I think it would be unsafe for me to do either mountain or road at that time, I stick to the trainer and some good solid DVDs.

Then, on my weekends, I usually take Saturday off and spend it with the family. Sundays, I get some work done and put in a longer ride. I’ve already gotten in a couple of good 4 hour rides since I’ve been on this schedule, and I actually feel pretty good all the way throughout.

Since I started a new job at OSU Federal, Your Community Credit Union, I have been disciplined about my training. By waking up an hour early and working out, I feel more relaxed since I’ve already been active and I am much more able to concentrate while working.

I will probably not be racing a whole bunch this fall or winter, since we have Lily coming. But, I may get the occasional sneak-out to race a cross race. I tried doing one of the Eugene Short-Cross races, and holy crap did I get my butt kicked! I didn’t get lapped, but trying to keep up with the Cat A men on their cross bikes while I was using my clunky Ibis hardtail mountain bike, was near impossible!

Anyway, it feels good to write again. Keep up the good work everyone!

We are very excited with this news, and we’ve been doing everything to stay healthy, nutritious, and active for our baby. We want her to be brought up in an environment with the pinnacle of love and good-health, and I think we’re both doing an excellent job so far of creating that environment.

So, the racing schedule will definitely be modified, but not obliterated. I still have the goal of competing at a professional level…but, the immediacy and primacy of this goal is second to loving and providing for my family.

It’s actually funny, I have been more disciplined now that we know we have a baby on the way than I was in the past. I get up each morning early (momma and baby are hungry) and make sure that I get in at least a half hour of hard hill riding in before I start working. This has been a very good application of practical health strategy for me.

I don’t know what my next races will be, but I will continue to be biking and getting ready for whichever one it is. So, be prepared competition! I will be there and ready to rip your legs off, even if I look like a hairy mountain man and not a slick-greased roadie like I used-to! Hah!

The list is also not ordered, as I have an ipod shuffle, and love that I get to be surprised by what type of angry music I get to listen to next.

• Bloodletting (The Vampire Song) (Short Version) – Concrete Blonde
• Running Knees – Days Of The New
• Walk The Sky – Fuel
• Brain Stew (The Godzilla Remix) – Green Day
• Papercut – Linkin Park
• One Step Closer – Linkin Park
• With You – Linkin Park
• Points Of Authority – Linkin Park
• Crawling – Linkin Park
• Runaway – Linkin Park
• By Myself – Linkin Park
• In The End – Linkin Park
• Place For My Head – Linkin Park
• Forgotten – Linkin Park
• Pushing Me Away – Linkin Park
• Enter Sandman – Metallica
• Wherever I May Roam – Metallica
• The God That Failed – Metallica
• Come With Me – P. Diddy
• No Shelter – Rage Against The Machine
• Pressure – Staind
• For You – Staind
• Schism – Tool
• Parabola – Tool
• Lateralus – Tool
• Falling Away From Me – Korn
• Last Resort – Papa Roach
• Stupify – Disturbed
• Smells Like Teen Spirit – Nirvana
• Alive – Godsmack

Here’s some pictures of me with my off season weight *haha*:

With a head this big, it’s a surprise any helmet will fit.

No, I didn’t play football…

Damn trees always hit me from the left.

Feed me!

Here’s a few of my favorites:

• “Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride.” – John F. Kennedy
• “Cycling is like a church – many attend, but few understand.” — Jim Burlant
• “Bicycling is a big part of the future. It has to be. There’s something wrong with a society that drives a car to workout in a gym.” – Bill Nye, the Science Guy (haha – Stacey! I love you!)
• The bicycle is the most efficient machine ever created:  Converting calories into gas, a bicycle gets the equivalent of three thousand miles per gallon. –Bill Strickland, The Quotable Cyclist

So, I hope you enjoy those. And, if not, I will!