70 P2A

70 K Paris to Ancaster Classic Cycling Race

The fridge is becoming empty....not the contents, but, the postcards that adorn the front of it.  Well, until Cornel finds some new races that he is anxious to try and let me tell you, there is plenty.  I get weekly emails with links and YouTube videos of races all over the world, with the majority being held in North America.  I have to admit, I am pretty fortunate to have found an equal when it comes to his sense of adventure.  

So, our latest race, was the 23rd edition of the 70k Paris to Ancaster.  The course takes you over a terrain of rough farm lanes, trails and gravel roads.  I must say, I felt like a kid again, with the amount of dirt I ate that day.  The route takes the riders down dirt corridors with trees on either side and rolling hills of grass amongst the dirt and rocks, but, the sun was on your face and the robin egg sky blended into the green horizon.  It doesn't get any better.  I almost forgot to mention the mud pits; the last being the worst of all.  I took my honey's advise and walked down the Powerline portion, so I wouldn't have to clean my chain and derailleur after making it through. Not sure that I would have kept the momentum going anyways, so I spared myself some time, but, mostly the embarrassment of being covered head to toe in mud.  The course nicely finishes with Martin's Road, which is a climb of 1.3 km.   I will get to see this road again (8x) in about a month when I attempt my first 100 Miler at the Dundas Conservation area.
   

We had fabulous weather considering how unpredictable the Spring can be.  I was checking reports daily to ensure I would be mentally ready for the chance of rain or snow.  Thankfully, the day settled on mostly sun, fortunate for me with the gear I packed.  Cornel and I were in Wave 3, which nicely starts at 10:15.  I have to admit, I love races where you also get to sleep in, or relatively speaking.  We decided prior that Cornel would race and I would chase and this worked out essentially well for us as we both hit the times we were aiming for; if you subtract the time that we were delayed due to the course sabotage.  Its a shame that someone had decided to cut down mature trees to prove some sort of wayward point.  It takes all kinds, doesn't it and I'll leave it at that.  

This was also my first race on a CX bike, after just getting it in March.  I have to admit I love the
responsiveness compared to my Mountain bike.  It provides the ability for turning over the legs fast once you come out of a turn. Its got the power.  Cornel felt it was appropriate for the race and as always he was right. I'm looking forward to our next undertaking, whatever that may be.   

Happy trails my friends!

  

14 Day Sugar Detox

How Sweet it is!

Well, onto another year of attempting to get through 2 weeks sugar free.  This year I have allowed myself fruits though, unlike the last.  It makes it easy to focus on having real, whole fresh foods when you attempt to break the cycle of carb and sugar cravings.   A key component to breaking that sugar cycle and gravitating towards those quickly absorbed sugars is ensuring that you get at least 8 hours sleep.  That's part of the problem.  I don't sleep enough and then crave sugary snacks and caffeine is ginormous amounts.  How many of you are the same.

Carry a snack pack with a supply of nuts, seeds, jerky, etc.  You never know when you'll be in a spot where you are unable to access a healthy food choice, so be prepared.  I hit this in day 2 and wasn't prepared.  I was lucky and kept the sugar demon at bay as I was able to get pulled pork and placed it between tomato slices.  There was literally nothing else that fit the bill, so if you're attempting this,  be prepared if you want to be successful.

I think the most difficult part was the absence of wine.  For those that know me, you can recognize the difficulty I endured.  The fact that alcoholic drinks are full of empty calories and have no nutritional value is bad news for the waste line - otherwise known as my sugar sack.  One drink may have the recommended daily intake of sugar.  If you're concerned about alcohol and the effects on blood sugar, try alternating each drink with a glass of water.  It will help keep you hydrated and clear headed.  This is always my goal when I start out.

Now that my diet is in check, its time to start focusing on some serious training as there is a new race added to the agenda.  Cornel and I are doing the 70k Paris to Ancaster bike race.

Happy Trails My Friends