Mountain Bikes, Bass Guitar, and other stuff I like

MAF test #1 at Boling Park 8/6/16 Humid and warm. Went over 145 several times and up to 147.  Average was 143, 144, 144 for each mile. 1-mile intervals were 8:54, 10:24, 11:34 I found it difficult to stay below 146 and was surprised how often my HR alert went off. Breakfast was larabar, half kindbar, coconut oil. MAF test #2 at Boling Park 11/19/16 14-week interval Factors: Living with my 3 month old precious infant daughter for the past 3 months! Poor sleep and 30 mph headwinds.Temps in 60s.   MCT oil and egg ham muffins for bfast HR strap would not wake up until 2nd mile so I took miles 2,3,4 for the test HR went up to 147 and 148 several times and it was difficult to keep it at 145 but I am not going to adjust my times due to the headwinds, which pretty much evens everything out or close enough. 1-mile intervals 8:18, 8:45,8:49,8:57 HR per lap 143, 146, 146, 146 Note, my HR strap didn’t work until after the 1st half-mile so I’m ...

Major stoke for tomorrow's 50k at Oak Mountain! I feel pretty ready for this and have put in a lot of time and miles in training. Promises to be an adventure-filled day. So grateful that my parents and wife Renee Lowe (+the little one :)) Also, good luck to my fellow runners tomorrow at the Georgia Death Race and Mountain Goat Adventures race. I hope that the trail rises with you. #trailrunning "The best pace is a suicide pace and today looks like a good day to die." -- Steve Prefontaine oakmountain50k.com

Renee and I went to Garland Mountain for a run today, a place where we had ran a few times before, and also had done a few races.  This trail is primarily used for horseback riding but the Parks Department has agreed to allow hikers and by proxy, runners, to use this beautiful gem of a trail-system. Welp, it turns out that it is now illegal to run there, as of January 2015. Yes, one can hike on the trail but running? Nyet!  They literally have posted on their sign, "No running." We were made aware of this fact by two people who were doing some trail maintenance (which is always appreciated.) "You know that you can't run here right?" This was how the woman greeted us.  I guess I looked like a runner and not a hiker?  It mus have been the purple socks and multi-colored shoes.  Hmmmm? "You runners have all kinds of places to run and we only have this one place to ride horses." she continued.  Renee was pretty upset at this point and I was too but trie...

I am considering starting a series of posts dedicated to stuff I use when training.  I do not receive any compensation from companies of said products.  I would simply like to inform the reader of things that I find useful and have purchased with my own money.   If you find these posts useful, please let me know! I will start with the super-useful Nathan Quickshot Plus.  I was using this on a run the other day and it occurred to me how ingenious the design is.   This is a handy little device that is so minimalistic that you forget it is on your hand after a while.  It holds about 8oz. fluids and has a pocket that will hold a few gels and your car key. I use it for runs in about the hour range.  Great for either road or trail.  After that I need more fluids.  This handheld  has been great in races and has a lid design that I now frankly take for granted.  Well, it has no lid, as a matter of fact! Just squeeze and fluids are disp...

Greg at Natural Strides  asked members of the racing team to send in a bio.  Here is mine: I ran some in high school for basketball but it was mostly sprints. Running was punishment. It never occurred to me to run cross-country or do any distance running at all A mile seemed like a long run. I became really overweight in my 20s and was smoking cigarettes. However, when I was around 28 I had the urge to run, so I did. It wasn't far but it seemed like something I should be doing as a way out of an unhealthy, unhappy life. I only ran a few times then forgot about exercise for several more years. In 2008 I began bicycling and my whole life changed. I began to lose weight and feel better. I was finally becoming the person that I always wanted to be. My wife Renee mentioned trail running to me. It was one of those ideas that sounded so outrageous yet intriguing. Trails are meant for hiking not running! Soon after I went to Pine Mountain in Cartersville, Ga. and gave it a shot. T...

Welcome back to my blog! I have been busy training for the Augusta half-Ironman for the past 4 months and am glad to bring you this post straight from the murky depths of training stupor.  I thought that I would dedicate today's post to running and my thoughts on the subject, observations and stuff I have learned over the last 3 years.  Enjoy my post on speed and getting faster! Flat footfall and no flexion = happy shins! Do not brake every time your feet hit the ground.   If you hear "scuffing" every time your feet hit the ground, that is essentially braking yourself and slowing down.  Aim for a nearly silent footfall.  Achieve this by increasing your cadence. Ideal cadence for most is 80-100 per minute.  Top marathoners barely strike the ground. Run fast.  Often.   To get faster,  do short sprints and if those are not feasible, then run up hills.  Running up hills will make you faster and stronger on the flats.  Sprint...