#23) Walter Mitty, LSD & Me

Today's Workout

I) Warm-up: 15 min of Abs, assisted chin-ups/dips

84 cals HR Max 139 (85%) Avg 107 (65%) 

II) SciFit Handcycle 75 mins@ Lvl: 5 13.95 mile 

791 cal HR Max 137 (84%) Avg 127 (77%)

I guess I have some explaining to do about the title "Walter Mitty, LSD & Me". First and foremost, I'm not talking about that electric Kool-aid LSD. that you're thinking of... I'm talking about a training program referred to as Long Slow Distance (LSD). This exercise routine is used by long-distance runners or bicyclists to improve aerobic endurance. The work-out is performed at constant level of moderate intensity for an extended period of time.

Forgive me if I have mentioned this in an earlier post but one of the limitations I face is fatigue brought on  because of MS and I hope this will help me work around that issue. I realize that almost all people who exercise get tired and hit the "wall". Improvement is achieved when they are able to break through that wall. With my MS, once I hit the "wall" my muscles (legs especially)  turn rubbery and shut-down.

This past season most of my rides were about a 1hr to 1.5hr in duration and covered less than 15 miles. I am hoping that with the combination of weight training and gradually increased training rides, I will be able to work around the fatigue issue and ride further and longer, or longer and further, I really don't care which.

This is where my "Walter Mitty" reference comes into play.  The  Prairie Path offers a number interesting 20 to 30 mile long rides. If I were really adventuresome I could try to ride the entire 149 mile route (Red line). However my goal for this summer is more reasonable.

I have signed up to ride in the Bike MS Tour de Farms 2014 in the latter part of June. There are a couple of different distance options to select from: 12, 35, 50, 75, 100 or 125 miles. I have chosen to ride the 35 mile course for now, but if my current training efforts are successful, I might try to ride the 50 mile route.

My 27 mile excursion around Nantucket last fall is the longest ride I've done to date. That was an all day affair that included a couple of beach side rest-breaks and browsing around the fishing village of Sconset, but the actual riding time was a little over 3 hours.
If I remember the ride correctly there was one long (2 mi?) gradual uphill section, some time spent sightseeing   and a couple of detours along sandy unpaved beach trails which accounts for the 9mph average speed.



The routes for the 2014 Tour de Farms ride haven't been posted yet, but I found the 2013 route on Mapmyride.com. Not surprisingly, the route follows paved roads and highways as it runs through relatively flat north-central Illinois farmland. Although this ride is not meant to be race, the Mapmyride review notes that best time for this route was 2.75 hours which equates to an average speed of 12.68mph. (Presumably by a bicycle) I feel confident about the 35 mile route and I still have 5 months to try to build up to the 50 mile ride.

Earlier this week I watched a movie that really has my Walter Mitty imaginary juices flowing.
 "Ride the Divide" chronicles the 2700 mile race along the Great Continental Divide from the Canadian border down to the Mexican border. I realize that this is not in the realm of possibilities given my age and condition but it sure is something to dream about.


MUSIC
"On the Road Again" Canned Heat
"Are You Sure Hank Done it This Way" Waylon Jennings