To say that my Dallas, Texas to Dallas, Georgia ride in 2008 was arduous as well as physically and mentally demanding is an understatement. There were occasions where my body was screaming out at me to stop the torture, but my brain was telling me to carry on through the pain. Anyone who has experienced that will know what I am talking about. It takes a lot of will power to push yourself on, but when you have something really important and close to your heart at stake, that provides the will power.

Obviously undertaking a long cycle journey like the upcoming Carrollton to Carrollton ride is not something that you take lightly. You have to prepare and condition yourself for it through training. You don't just climb out of bed one morning and say "I think I'll cycle 800 miles". I learned a lot from my 2008 Dallas to Dallas ride about what to eat and drink and what not to eat and drink, and I have a good idea of what physical and mental challenges lie ahead of me the second time around.

I have been training to build myself up for the challenge, and have been logging my training rides on the excellent www.bikejournal.com website. I have made the training journal public for anyone with an interest in this, but please do not throw your hands up in horror if I have neglected to update the log as diligently as I perhaps should.  Although I am logging all training, updating the log is currently less priority than the training itself.

To see the journal click on the image below:

The log is arranged in a table that you can set to show in different ways. The only acronym that probably needs an explanation is the "YTD Rides". This means "Year To Date".

I am used to riding 15 miles a day, and but on the count down to the event I expect to be stepping it up to regularly riding 30 miles and aim to be up to 70 miles a day in time for the event.

One day a week, and you will see this indicated on the training journal, I will devote to hill training. That's where I start at the bottom of a hill, ride to the top, ride back to the bottom again (the easy bit), then back to the top, and so on. The number of miles doing that aren't nearly as significant as the gradient of the hill!

Please also visit the "Maps" page for other resources, including a section dedicated to the "Silver Comet Trail" where I do a large part of my training.

I hope to be able to keep the journal up to date and accurate, but should I neglect to log any training sessions it will be because I forgot, and not because I had a lazy day! Please consider the log as a guide rather than as full evidence of my commitment.

I am a member of Club Hypoxia, based in Fort Collins, CO. In addition to being a real-life cycling club, there are many Internet members including me. I did join my fellow Hypoxians in person 2 years ago when we rode a "half century" (50 miles) together.

Yes, that's me 2nd from the left next to Curt, who you can read about on the News Page - April 21, 2010.

Click on the image to see a larger view:

It is a wonderful feeling being considered part of such a fantastic group of people.

As a respiratory therapist, the word "Hypoxia" has a special meaning for me. It means "an inadequate oxygen supply to the cells and tissues of the body", and therein lies the reason for the slogan, "Oxygen or Altitude, Pick One!" meaning you either want to endure the elevation of the state of Colorado (a mile up!) or stay down where it's level and be able to breathe normally.

So how could I not join such a uniquely-named club?

Well, if you will excuse me I have a lot of training to do because I don't want to let any of my furry or smooth-skinned friends down.

Read about my last minute preparations for the ride, including planning for hydration, nutrition, breaks, and communication on the "Route Page".

Please Support Me, or should I say support the animals I am doing this for.