26.2 Reasons Why...

Where to start???? Lots of great local races to get involved with over the next couple of months!!!

Saturday February 20th is the always fun Durham Almond Blossom in Durham. I will not be able to make that one, as I have a class scheduled all next weekend. This run/walk has both 5 and 10 K events, and always has a great "hometown feel".

Next month, is the nearly "infamous" Bidwell Classic - the 34th annual event, on March 6, 2010. This has both 5K and 1/2 marathon components. Not sure which one I will be doing, I had originally planned on running the 1/2 marathon, but my mileage has been just a little "light" lately - so I may opt for the 5K race.

In April, lots of options. A Brand New Triathon, the "Black Butte Triathlon Series" is proposed for April 10 and 11th. Not sure who is putting these races on (the sprint distance is on Saturday, the Olympic Distance on Sunday) but it looks like a great venue. I am planning on doing the Olympic Distance, and call that my "long race" for the season. My early plans for a 1/2 Iron Distance have faded into wishful thinking, as I look at my lack of training over the past couple of months.

Of course, April 25th is the Nationally famous Wildflower Century. This year, they have many many options to choose from - from the easy and simple, to the 100 mile classic that will challenge even the best athletes.

May is City of Gold Month - with the City of Gold Triathlon and Duathon on May 8. Both options are being listed this year, so that the "water shy" athletes have no excuses to not come out and have fun.

June 26th is the Paradise "Mudskipper" at Meadow Brook Ranch. If you only do one event this year, this is the one you HAVE TO DO!!!
A few pic's of last years event are here....

This is too good not to share - wish I could say I was part of this group, but there is no way, I could coax myself across this terrain on a bicycle. I have ran this route, and was scared to run on those skinny little grates - and these guys are riding their bikes on them!!!!

Thanks to the "Team Chico" for posting this!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2l803qEkow

Three climbers are apparently "stuck" part way up Mt. Hood in Oregon.... They sent out a text message and asked to be "rescued".

The weather has been, and continues to be snow, a high temperature in the 20's, with wind chill down to about zero - and low's in the teens. I do not see the logic in attempting a climb with this type of weather prognosis...

I wish them and the families all the luck they need - and I especially wish the local SAR crew luck in finding them and retrieving them safely.

Ongoing details are here.
http://www.kptv.com/news/21949650/detail.html

Current weather report is here:
http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=45.37240823082044&lon=-121.695556640625&site=pqr&smap=1&marine=0&unit=0&lg=en

So, I'm trying to figure out my 2010 race goals - usually I build around one or two longer races. I would really like to do another 1/2 iron, but the Vineman 1/2 is already sold out. Darn it!!! So, that leaves the only other race within driving distance the Auburn 1/2 - which affectionly bills itself as the "Worlds Hardest" half iron distance. About mile 45 last year I swore I would never do that course again..... But maybe with a little better hill climbing training plan?????

If any bicycle machosists out there are interested in joining me, here is the link to my race report from the 2009 race this summer.

http://www.norcalblogs.com/reasons_why/archives/2009/06/auburn-world-ha.html#comments

Wow, I have really been struggling to keep my training on track. After joining the Butte County Search and Rescue Team five months ago, I have really had to reprioritize my workout schedule. I'm down to a couple of hours a week of bike training, and about the same amount of running/hill hiking. I'd like to do lots more, but the time just is not there.

I can not blame this on a lack of events. The Run for Food was a great 5K event last week, the Frost of Fog is coming up on January 16th, the Durham Almond Blossum will be in February, then the Bidwell Classic will happen in March.

I did make it down to Fleet Feet last week to purchase some new shoes, hopefully that will mootivate me to start moving again.

The 4th annual PLAR is only a couple of weeks away!!! Race day is October 17, and it is going to be an awesome race!!! It sounds like both sponsorships and registrations are starting to happen, so if you want in, NOW IS THE TIME!!!

Flyers and registration/sponsorship information is available at the Paradise Chamber, Beyond fitness, and at Trailhead Adventures. All the details are here:

If you can't read that, the details are also here at the Beyond Fitness website.
http://www.beyondfitnessclub.com/

I recently had the occasion to stop and think about what makes someone a better American. While on the shooting range, the range master asked how many people had never shot a pistol before. Several of the young women in the class raised their hands. After several hours of carefully explaining how the range worked, how their guns worked, and how to stay safe, he instructed us to load our weapons. For our first round, we shot 3 sets of 6 rounds.

After the last round was fired, he turned to the young women, and said "Congratulations, you are now better Americans".

That statement has stuck with me, and it prompted me to come up with my own personal list of how we all can become "Better Americans".

1. Learn how to shoot a gun. The founding fathers of this county felt that owning a firearm was so important, that they placed the amendment guaranteeing that right at the Number two position in the Bill of Rights.

2. Learn how to take care of yourself and your family. Take a CPR and First Aid class, and keep your certificates current.

3. Get involved on a local level. Join a local volunteer Fire Department, Search and Rescue, or Police Volunteer Service. You will be able to help your friends and family when they need you most.

4. Stop asking the government to do for you, what you can do for yourself. If you see smoke coming from your neighbors property, walk over there and see if you can help - don't blindly call 911, only to find out he had just started his barbecue.

5. Take responsibility for your actions. Do not drive into a swirling snow storm, in a two wheel drive vehicle, get stuck, and then expect someone to come take care of you.

6. Turn off the TV and the computer. Neither of these devices will help you succeed in life.

A friend of mine just sent out an email, she is looking to move back to Chico. If anyone has a line on a reasonably priced house for rent, that would accept a well mannered dog, please shoot me an email or leave a comment here.

She is a fitness coach, he is in economic development, so both are professional, upstanding type of folks. I can personally vouch for this family, they are homeowners themselves, and I'm sure they would take very good care of your property.

You can contact me at dschmidt@maxinet.com

I've taken just a bit of a break from serious training, as I"ve had lots of other distractions lately... However, I just realized that the Paradise Lake Adventure Relay race is only 3 months away. The date is October 17, the location is Paradise Lake, just about Paradise. This year will be a similar course and concept, with a 3 mile run, a 10 mile mountain bike ride and a 1.5 mile kayak.

Start asking your friends and family NOW if they want to be a team-mate - the more people we get to come out the more fun we all have. If you have never competed in anything in your life, this is the race for you - awesome scenery, really supportative group, and a relatively short and easy course. Almost anyone that puts in a little bit of training effort can a be succesful with this race, as everyone that comes out and participates "IS A WINNER".

I do not know whose kid this is - but he looks "ready to go"!!!

Saturday was the 2009 Muddy Buddy at the Meadow Brook Ranch. My partner this year was Matt Ray, and we stormed the course with our athletic ability (LOL). Anyway, we had a great time, and I think the rest of the competitors also really enjoyed themselves.

Matt had a side bet with his co-worker, and he won the bet, by beating the 1 hour time limit. So, I guess that means that his co-worker has to "pay the price"...... Stay tuned for the definition of what that means!!!!!

Volunteers registering the athletes.

Nervous Athletes ready to start the Adventure.

Yours truly, on the bike loop

Terry (from Fleet Feet CIM Training Group) doing the "Wall" in style

Matt and I in the "PIT"

How can you not smile, with a fine finish and a great hand-crafted mud pit.

All the images will be available on Flickr as soon as I figure out how to finish that project....

Ok, here is the link to flickr - please be patient, as there are lots of great photo's that need to load - and feel free to copy, email or do what ever you want to with these.
2009 Mudskipper

Oh, by the way - photo's are compliments of the race organizing committee, and RLS photography.