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Sunday - September 29

Bike

1h 30m
35.00 kms
23.33 KM/hr

Yup, you see that right... it was slow. BUT... this was not meant to be fast, this was me spending time in the saddle with my #3 son.

Today, we rode the 30 km route of the Share The Road - Greg's Ride. Eight years ago a wonderful human being name Greg Stobbart was killed by a driver while out on a training ride. Greg was a nice guy, wonderful husband, loving father, and Police officer. So... you know that he was following the rules and knew what he was doing. The driver or a dump truck failed to leave enough room while passing him and hit him... then kept driving. The driver was eventually found, but it was too late for Greg. His wife, Eleanor MacMahon has taken up the cause of creating safer roads for cyclist's. She has created the Share the Road Coalition and is working tirelessly to make our Cities, Towns, Province and Country safer for cycling. Eight years ago, I rode in the very first ride... this year they had 20 rides and they continue to grow... we are slowly making the province aware that you MUST plan for and encourage cycling... we are all hoping that some day, cyclist's and motorist's will learn to share the road in peaceful coexistence.
Here is to hoping it happens sooner then later, before ANOTHER cyclist is killed while doing something they love... like happened ten days ago in Toronto. Today's ride was dedicated to this lady. Her family and friends lead out the ride to the memorial site. Another moving and beautiful tribute to our fallen comrades.

So, after the memorial service, #3 and I followed the pack until we had to turn off for the 30k route (main pack was doing the 50... which #3 wanted to try when signing up, but I wouldn't allow it--first due to him not being ready and second me not being healthy enough... 30 was enough for both of us). So, we rode along the road about 1/2 km behind the lead vehicle. The lead vehicle slowly got away from us as my son couldn't keep up. So we rode our own ride... I tried to ride with other's, but they were all going too slowly. Even #3 said it was too slow once... so we rode our own pace. One rider tried desperately to stay with us and I eased the pace so he could, which made it easier for #3 on the hills. However, after 20 km #3 needed a break and the other guy just kept going.

After the short break, we rode on and after 4 km we made the rest stop and #3 ate some food... that seemed to help him a lot and the pace quickened. However, we were also going downhill and downwind, so it was easier. When we hit any hills, he would slow significantly... at one point, we had a small group of 4, but he was going too slow for the other two ladies, so I told them to go on, I'll bring him in on my own. I helped him up the last few hills and we rode sedately into the park... he was VERY tired. I forget that I am a fairly strong rider... and today was another reminder that I do have some skills on the bike.

We ended the day on a good note though, finishing strong and not crashing at all... it was a happy day. One of THE most beautiful days... gorgeous sunshine... beautiful fall colours... great cycling with wonderful people and time well spent with my buddy. :)

No HR info....HRM wasn't working right because after the first 15 minutes showed average HR of 192... I don't even think I broke a sweat in the first 15 minutes... after the memorial I forgot to restart it, so it really didn't matter. This was a recovery and stretching ride... my back feels better after the ride... not great but better.

Calories out: 4194 From lifestyle:2995, From activities:1198

inspire me (1)

Saturday - September 28

Lousy day yesterday... tweaked the back again -- while sleeping dammit!. Had a massage after work and lots of ice/heat during the evening. Still tender, but I think I'm ok... physio appt Monday... Chiro Tuesday... let's hope this can be remedied in a hurry, we have less then 2 weeks to sort this out before we're on a plane for Spain!

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Friday - September 27

signed up with #3 to do the annual Share The Road ride. This is the original ride... the Ride for Greg. Greg was a police officer and triathlete who was struck by a gravel truck and killed 8 years ago. In his memory, his wife started the Share the Road foundation and this ride. It's a wonderful, moving event and I feel strongly about supporting it as Eleanor is such a PASSIONATE advocate for cyclists.

#3 and I will do the 30km route... he's not ready for the 50 (although he said he'd like to do it, I'm not pushing him to)... he needs more experience riding in groups before we go for the long stuff, and more riding period. ;)

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Thursday - September 26

no time to log in or even look at BT at work... although I'm finally on top of things in the one job I do, the other is really back logged and we are rushed there as well. That job is programming and I do that on Friday's -- alone!!... so tomorrow is going to be nuts. :(

On a positive note, they are finally putting in for new computers.... but only because the software we're using does not work with Windows XP. So they are forced to upgrade... on top of that XP is being discontinued from all support at Microsoft, so we have to get new computers just to stay current. Not a bad thing, but it means extra work to re-install ALL our software... on top of doing our regular jobs. I am pretty sure we'll have to run two computers for a while during the switch over, just so we have something that is reliable and works. Only real issue is the programming/editing software, may not work on a 64 bit computer... and it's impossible to purchase 32 bit hardware now. I can see a SNAFU forming now!!

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Wednesday - September 25

Sport

Physical Therapy
1h 00m

Therapy on the back... including some stretching at home.

Work is crazy... 'nuff said

Calories out: 3499 From lifestyle:3019, From activities:479

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Tuesday - September 24

Dr. required me to have blood testing done... so I had a 12 hour fast and blood work done first thing this morning. After dropping off the boys at school I headed into town to the lab. After lab, I was supposed to head to Burlington/Oakville to return some merchandise at M.E.C. and take bike to bike shop to have the broken shifter fixed. As I was leaving the lab, I realized I had forgotten the merchandise to return... so drove all the way back home to get it.

While I was home anyway... I made myself breakfast (cheaper that way) then headed back out on the road. Drove to Oakville and dropped off bike, then headed back to Burlington to M.E.C (Mountain Equipment Co-op for those that don't know). On the way there, the LBS called and said that the part couldn't be shipped until end of the month... and was I OK with that. I said to go ahead and order... I won't be needing the bike any time soon.

At M.E.C. I returned the merchandise with no issues (laptop backpack and protective sleeve that were too small for #3's laptop). MEC has THE best return policy of any store... period. 100% guarantee on any product you buy from them. Return for store credit or replacement, no quibble, no problem. As it's a Co-op... you have to be a member to shop there ($5 lifetime membership...whoopdeedooo)... and the quality of it's goods are second to none. I shop there whenever I need outdoors gear.

After returning, I went shopping for travel accessories. Picked up a couple RFID protective wallets, travel pillows, money belt, pocket shopping bags & a rear LED USB charging light. Used up that credit pretty quickly, but it's all stuff we needed.

Took a back country road home... found some very nice cycling roads. :)

inspire me (3)

Monday - September 23

Swim

31m
1350.00 meters
02m 18s /100 meters

Slow gentle workout... just trying to get my back better. Swimming helps as long as I don't do too much, or too hard. Also, keeping away from back stroke or too much breast stroke... so I swam easy mostly and concentrated on staying long and straight in the water.

2 x 50m FC Easy
2 x 25m BK Easy
2 x 25m BS Easy

4 x 50m FC @ :15 RI
4 x 50m BS @ :15 RI

3 x 100m FC @ :20 RI Steady effort, bilateral breathing every 3

1 x 50m Push & Glide with buoy
1 x 50m Easy

Sport

Home Improvement
45m

I got the urge to clean out the laundry/furnace room... I've noticed the layer of dust on the floor for a while, so finally did something about it. While I was moving dryer anyway, I vacuumed out the vent on the dryer and the stack out of the house. This is supposed to be done yearly... so every 13 years seems a little long. ;) LOL

Changed furnace filter while I was at it... and started a load of laundry... busy morning so far. Back is a little looser... but still sore. Physio should help that, but I think I'll go for a swim before hand to see if that doesn't help as well.