That was a close one!

Have you ever had that sick feeling in the pit of your stomach? Sure you have. It's the feeling when you realize something you didn't want to be true. The realization that something is final, over, finished. Maybe when you get news you weren't expecting. We've all felt it and it was my turn to feel it a couple weeks ago. I went online to sign up for the Silver Strand Half Marathon and at first I didn't believe my eyes. I blinked, then looked again. I think I may have rubbed my eyes. Right next to every category in red letters were the words sold out. My heart sank and yes, I got that feeling in my stomach. I've been training for a couple months and countless people had made donations and were encouraging me.

What do I do?

First I called and got a recording. I left a message and was going to have to wait until the next day. This was going to be a long 18 hours. Next I started looking online for another half marathon around the same time that could be a substitute. Long Beach looked good. I just kept thinking about having to figure out who gave what and having to try and refund all that money.

I called my daughter and gave her the news. I told her if we had to find a bike path somewhere we would ride the 13 miles and get it done.

Finally as all this was going through my head, I got a call the next day and the young lady could not have been nicer. Since the Silver Strand Half Marathon is also a fund raiser for The Challenged Athletes Foundation she explained they always hold back a few entries for just this kind of situation.

Whew!

So that feeling in the pit of my stomach is gone and all is well with the world again. Thanks again for all your support. I can't wait until November 15th!

See ya on the road...

Doug

Quick update

I haven't posted anything in weeks. I wanted to let you know I've still been training and the fund raising has been going well. I'm raffling off a bbq, stainless steel tool set, charcoal and a lighter donated by Home Depot in North Fontana. A dollar a peice or 6 for $5.00. Let me know if you want some. The drawing is on November 10th. Also, KFRG donated some gift certificates from Total Time, a watch shop. They're worth $100.00, I'm taking bids on them, make me an offer.

The training is getting better. I hit a stretch where I just didn't feel like I had any strength or stamina. I dropped down a couple gears and I feel much better. I'm going to see if I can slowly work back up over the next few days. 15 miles this sunday. Wish me luck.

Got the bike tuned up at Don's Bikes in Rialto, new front tire and a cable, lubed and adjusted, very smooth this morning. Can't wait for the time change so I'm not riding in the dark.

Thanks for reading!

See ya out on the road.

Doug

Have I been training?

That was the question I was asking myself out on the road this morning. I've been checking with my training mentors and they assure me everyone goes through it. I just didn't feel like I had any strength or wind today. Last week I felt like Superman.

I kept going though. I guess that's the important thing.

Looking forward to turning the corner and getting back on track. Thanks for listening to my whining. I'll stop now.

More donations are coming in. Thanks to Cindy at the Chino Kiwanis. Patti dropped a check in the mail. Ben with R.C. Kiwanis gave me a check as well. The donations are rolling in slowly and surely.

I have a BBQ set that was donated by The Home Depot in North Fontana (thanks Troy). We're doing a raffle to give it away. We'll do the drawing on November 10th. It's a dollar a ticket, 6 for $5.00.

Good luck...

See ya on the road!

Doug

Summer's Gone. Fall Into an Epic Challenge. | Active.com

Summer's Gone. Fall Into an Epic Challenge. | Active.com

Shared via AddThis

Doesn't take much to make me happy!

Oh my goodness! It was cold out today! Well, cold for riding with your bare face and hands exposed in the wind. I think it was about 50 degrees. How quick the weather changes. I think our highs today are supposed to be around 70, that's about what I was riding in at 6am about 4 or 5 days ago. Wow!.

So today after taking a couple warm up laps around the neighborhood I head out onto the big 4 lane street I ride up and down. It's a little over a mile from top to bottom. I just go up and down to get some miles in. Well today I turn the corner and there's the street sweeper. I was so excited. I'm sure about now you're thinking really? You're excited about the street sweeper? You have to understand the gutters are a filthy hazardous place to ride a bike. Let's see if I can remember a few things I've seen, and tried to dodge, as I ride up and down this hill. Trash, I guess that goes with out saying, (people throw a lot of trash out) a lot of vegetation from leaves to twigs to branches to little seeds that fall from the trees, accumulate and fly up in your face, there was even a log one day. Yep, a log. Batteries, nuts, bolts, pieces of metal, siding from a house, rocks, (of all sizes) broken glass ( a lot of broken glass) car parts (big and small) critters, (who didn't make it across the road) =(, wood, shoes, etc. It goes on and on.

That's why when I saw the street sweeper I knew that I would be riding in a clean gutter and wouldn't have to look for potential tire popping hazards. A nice smooth ride is what I got and it was beautiful.

Tomorrow it will be littered again, but today it was clean and sparkly.

See ya on the road.

Doug

Generosity

As you can imagine there are days when you don't want to get up before the sun to go out and ride. I love it once I'm out on the road, it's leaving those sheets that are just the right temperature that is the difficult part. But you know what keeps me motivated? It's the generosity of the people that are supporting me. The words of encouragement, the checks that are coming in, the donations, it all comes to me as I struggle to throw back those covers and strap on my helmut to go out and do the 4, 7 or 15 miles I have to do that day.

Thanks, I really appreciate it.

See ya on the road!

Doug

Thanks Stater Brothers

You may be familiar with the Stater Brothers Charities. The stated goal of Stater Bros. Charities is to help improve and transform the communities Stater Bros. Markets is privileged to serve by providing much needed philanthropic support. With an emphasis on programs that benefit hunger relief, children's health and wellbeing, education for both youth and adults, elderly care and services and help for our Nation's Veterans, Stater Bros. Charities will be able to combat some of the most critical needs in the surrounding area. This philosophy is almost exactly that of the Kiwanis Club. I'm so happy to announce that Stater Brothers has donated a $50 gift card to help in our fund raising efforts for the Rancho Cucamonga Kiwanis Club Ride for Kids. I'm taking bids now. Of course, I'd like to get at least $50 for it. But the higher the better. If you would like to make a bid contact me through this blog.

See ya on the road!

Doug

We've made it easier to donate.

I've been trying to do this for weeks. We live in an age where everything is convenient and really, who writes checks anymore. The check card is king. Finally I realized the tech guys here at work are the best. So after about literally 5 minutes with Jacob, Voila!, you can now donate using a check card or credit card on the blog. Thanks buddy!

See ya on the road.

Doug

love the support

I think we're starting to get some momentum. checks are coming in from across the country. We got one in the mail from Virginia the other day, thank you Peter. Also, thank you to Leslie, Billie, Mike, Cindy from the Chino Kiwanis and the many others who have promised checks. Troy over at the North Fontana Home Depot has promised some goodies we can put up to sell. Look for those soon.


I'm on vacation this week so I've been sleeping in a little. Which means even if I get up at 6:30a it's too late to get out on the road. There's too much traffic and as low to the ground as I am I don't feel safe.

Good news, I found out I can get a trailer hitch for my Civic for under $200. Now my plan of getting a small landscape trailer to tow the bike wherever I want is looking like more of a reality. Keep your fingers crossed.

See ya on the road!

Doug

Ever had one of those days?

The day started like any other. The alarm went off at 5:30a and after listening to the radio for a few minutes I reluctantly got out of bed and got dressed in my workout clothes. Sweats and a bright orange shirt so I can be seen on the road. Next I always splash a little cold water on my face to get the blood circulating. I don't know if that really works. I always drink a big glass of water before I head out too. When I get on the bike I notice my holder for my water bottle is broken. Darn. I make some makeshift repairs, strap in, turn on all my flashing lights because it's dark out there and head out. I get no more than a block from my house when my water bottle crashes to the road. Darn! I turn around and retrieve it and place it in another holder that I have that's much more difficult to get to. Oh well. I'm cruising along in the dark with the light starting to show gradually when all of a sudden my shoelace gets caught in the spokes and chain. Darn! I stop, back up, fidget with it, pull forward, fidget some more, back up, more fidgeting (and wondering what am I going to do if I don't get untangled, not like I can walk home) back, forward, fidget... success! At this point with the luck I'm having I'm thinking about calling it a day and heading home. Nope. I dragged myself out of bed, I'm doing this. The next 4-5 miles go pretty well. For some reason there are a lot of cars out today, which gets me to thinking again about how unlucky I've been. This won't be the day I get run over I hope. It's 7 miles on my training schedule today and when I get that accomplished I head back to the house. I pull into the garage and get unstrapped. My shoelace keeps getting caught on something. I investigate and find the lever that holds the front hub on is loose and sticking out catching my shoelace. Hmmmm... How close did I come to losing my wheel out on the road? That was a close one. I better get in the house and get on with the rest of my day. This is dangerous. So, I have one of those basic folding camping chairs that I use to transfer out of my bike onto, it makes it easier to get up. As I'm transferring, I here a Snap! DARN! The chair breaks. What else can go wrong? As it turned out that was the last of the string of odd little events. I hope things go a little smoother tomorrow.

See ya on the road!

Doug

Blood pressure good.

Back on the road this week. The days are getting shorter so yesterdays 4-5 mile ride was over before the sun was up over the mountains. Tuesday was 880 intervals day. I fell like I'm getting stronger both physically and aerobically. Today I couldn't ride because I had a drs. appt. Just a routine visit and everything looked good. Blood pressure was the lowest its been in years. Nice surprise. Back on track tomorrow.

See ya on the road!

Doug

I feel like a slacker

So, Monday was rest day. But Sunday was a long ride day and then I worked in the yard pretty strenuously. I was sore. With that and the smoke I thought i would take one more day to rest. So far so good. Then I realized I have a meeting early Wednesday morning. Doh! A third day on my butt (well technically I'm on my butt when i ride). So Thursday I'll get back on track. I have some great friends coming through with donations. Thank you so much. And I have a good lead on a great donation of some gift cards. I hope to announce that soon. The slacker will be back on the road Thursday.

See ya on the road!

Doug

On the road early.

Was out on the road early today trying to beat the heat. Got out by 6:30 so it wasn't too bad. 3 miles was on the schedule. I skipped friday. It was supposed to be 6 miles. Wed, thursday and today I went a mile or two farther so I think that makes up for it. Felt strong today. Was able to maintain over 9 mph up the hill. That's the best since I've been training. I got some new tires on my bike yesterday at Don's Bikes in Rialto. A great bunch of guys. Been in business since 1959 and they haven't forgotten what service is all about. I still need one more tire and a tune-up so I'll be back soon. I also talked to them about making a donation of some products or services and they seemed very interested. I'll keep you posted in case it's something you want to bid on. Tomorrow is an 8 mile day. Early again to beat the heat. Well, stay cool yourself and...

We'll see you on the road

Doug

Can I help you find something?

It was a short day training today. My workout schedule called for 3 miles. I did a little over 4. So I thought I'd write a little about the fundraising. Of course I'm taking monetary donations, but I'm also taking donations of goods and services. Thanks to Haven Union 76 Tire & Service Center in Rancho Cucamonga. They're on Haven just above the 210 freeway. George was kind enough to make the first donation. If you're looking for a lube & oil change for your car I'm opening up the bids at $25.00. It's a $45.00 value. Give me a call or drop me an email to let me know if your interested. If you know anybody with a business that would like to donate something I would appreciate that tremendously. 5 miles tomorrow so....

See ya on the road!

Doug

What's a fartlek?

My training schedule had me doing fartlek's today. i say to myself, "what the heck is a fartlek?" so here's what wikipedia had to say... Fartlek, which means "speed play" in Swedish, is a form of conditioning which puts stress mainly on the aerobic energy system due to the continuous nature of the exercise. The difference between this type of training and continuous training is that the intensity or speed of the exercise varies, meaning that aerobic and anaerobic systems can be put under stress. Most fartlek sessions last a minimum of 45 minutes and can vary from aerobic walking to anaerobic sprinting. Fartlek training is generally associated with running, but can include almost any kind of exercise. Okay then. So I alternated between a slow pace and a faster pace for a little over 5 miles.

See ya on the road!

Let's get started

Hi,

This is Doug. And away we go. I've got the blog set up so I better start posting. I may not get to posting everyday, let's face it, I'm training so it won't be that exciting. But, I am raising money for my Kiwanis Club in Rancho Cucamonga. We do some great work in the community focusing primarily on kids. I'll tell you more about that as the Half Marathon gets closer. Which reminds me, I probably should explain what I'm doing. The heading gives a brief description. I'm training to do a half marathon in San Diego on November 15th. A half marathon is 13.1 miles and I'll be doing it on my handcycle. I've already begun to train. I'm into about week 4 now. I just did a 10 mile ride yesterday. Today is my rest day. I train 6 days a week and rest on Monday's. It gives me a reason to look forward to Monday's. Yay! I sent out a bunch of emails on Friday with a flyer about what I'm doing and already the pledges are coming in. My friend Chris suggested I try to get businesses to donate products and services that I can auction or raffle and I got my first one this morning. So away we go. Look forward to hearing your thoughts. If you'd like to make a donation get in touch with me at dougv@prodougtions.com.

See you on the road!

Doug