Alps Tour Training

Well the Alps Tour has come and gone, and it is really impressive what
the riders have accomplished. I haven't posted in this thread because
my own little project kinda derailed, and I didn't want to detract from
the "real" riders' awesome deeds.

If it's one thing I'm convinced of, it's that their ride (and training)
are simply awesome deeds.

I started a couple of months early, and yet still could not keep up with
their training ramp-up. Finally, in mid-July, I was not only not at
trip level, but also developed Achilles tendonitis of some sort, which I
am still dealing with. I also developed some hamstring/groin muscle
issues that hopefully will teach me a lot about saddles and saddle
design. The tendonitis forced me to stop riding, and even a short trip
on the bike would cause it to flare up again.

Looking back, my training seems feeble, but while in the middle of it,
it was all-consuming, taking lots of planning, sleep, route selection,
unicycle gear planning, weather-watching, clothes cleaning, and the
like.

I am really glad I did try this, and I haven't given up on continuing
this approach in the future, because I really learned a lot from it.
Hopefully by backing off for a while, and starting in again slowly, I
will be able to ramp up once again.

Congratulations again to the Alps Tour riders, and please know that I
have a huge appreciation for your accomplishment!

--
U-Turn - Cool water for the flame

Weep in the dojo... laugh on the battlefield.
'LiveWire Unicycles' (http://www.livewireunicycles.com)
'Strongest Coker Wheel in the World'
(http://www.unicyclist.com/gallery/albup39)
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'New York Unicycle Club' (http://www.newyorkunicycle.com)
-- Dave Stockton
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I think Tom said it best

tomblackwood said:

*Way to go on getting hardcore for no good reason.*

What are you doing about that ankle?

--
GILD - Waffle-[censored], Time-bider and JCTK

if you can't say anything good about someone, sit right here by me.--
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I feel like a 'fugitive' (http://gallery.unicyclist.com/Daves-Tattoos)
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...using nietzsche's metaphysics to escape from
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Until I can get health insurance of some sort, the ankle/tendon will
have to just hang around and look pretty.

As far as hardcore, I've always kinda pushed myself, though I don't
really have an athlete's body. So doing the training program is not an
unusual thing for me, nor is body-breakdownage.

I still have as 3 goals the hiking of the 3 major long-distance N-S US
hiking trails (the Appalachian, the Pacific Crest, and the Continental
Divide), as well as others. I've trained extensively for the Pacific
Crest and attempted it twice, both times ending in sickness and/or
injury despite lots of prep.

It'd be a sad, woeful tale if the dreams weren't so big and the attempts
so rewarding. 😎

--
U-Turn - Cool water for the flame

Weep in the dojo... laugh on the battlefield.
'LiveWire Unicycles' (http://www.livewireunicycles.com)
'Strongest Coker Wheel in the World'
(http://www.unicyclist.com/gallery/albup39)
'29er Tire Study' (http://u-turn.unicyclist.com/29erTireStudy/)
'New York Unicycle Club' (http://www.newyorkunicycle.com)
-- Dave Stockton
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