Saturday I did the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy Challenge 22 mile mountain bike race near Alma School and Pinnacle Peak. Rick, got entries for himself, myself and Chris Branson, so how can a guy pass that up? I am still trying to determine how an out and back with two loops can be 80% uphill, but I am convinced it was. I seemed to be always climbing, and when I was going downhill it was like skiing moguls. You had to keep the speed down so as not to get planted on the side of the next mogul. At mile 12, after what felt like all uphill, I was thinking, ok, over halfway, should be mostly downhill now. It was about this time I came to the arrow that said "lap 2".  Aghhhh, all that again? I approached this race a little too lightly, also. The sausage and egg biscuit I ate at 6:45 am was now doing moguls in my stomach. It was touch and go there for a while if it was going to stay down, but it did. A fun hard race, finishing just under the 2 hour wire. Marshall Trimble spoke at the starting line, which was really cool. I was disappointed he wasn't still there at the finish, I would have loved to talk with him. Dana was there waiting for me tough, and that was way cool, too.

    I put in 2,500 meters at the pool yesterday, gearing up for Alcatraz. Then after work, jumped on the road bike and rode 25 miles, hitting quite a few hills on the way. I climbed one very short but steep hill, Desert Jewel Blvd, and was disappointed in how hard it was for me. I felt really out of shape, just about coming out of my shoes I was pulling so hard on the upstroke. It wasn't until I started back down I realized I was in the big chain ring, no wonder.

    I saw my doc today about a few lingering issues. First, my eyes are still itchy and puffy, since Sept. now. He gave me a prescription for drops and a cream, believing it to be an allergy of some sort. I just want it gone, riding Saturday with watery eyes over that uneven ground is a recipe for disaster. But we know not for me....Second, my shoulder is still really sore from the last bike crash in Oct. He gave me a couple cortisone shots today, so I am hoping that will fix me up in short order. It's been really painful to press or do push ups.

    Now, I posted the link last time to the St Jude Childrens Hospital. You can help out with as little as $10, and it's tax deductible. This isn't going to me, but to a great cause to support children dealing with cancer. Please help in any way you can. The site again is

http://www.mystjudeheroes.org/AzEnduranc

Thanks for staying in tune with me. 

Why men want a bigger boat