More Time To Get Fit - 2025

[Tally Whacker]

Heh heh heh... You said "butte".

 

[Climber]

TWT, this is just the beginning. You have to crawl before you can walk, you have to walk before you can run.

You're just starting at a lower level than you have in the past, but as long as you keep improving, you're heading in the right direction.

 

[stangmx13]

Thanks Robert, really appreciate you taking the time to respond. I guess this means one thing, gotta spend more time up in the high country…darn.

My wife ran the 18k at Broken Arrow and she’s not too happy with me. Our courses shared an aid station at about mile 4.5(ish). I beat her to that aid station by over 20 minutes. Now she wants me to run the 23k with her next year so she can take me into deeper water. I want to do it with her, but damn that woman is crazy and she scares me a little

So now I’m off to my next challenge, first gravel bike race. There is one in Butte County coming up in early July, or maybe the one in Susanville in September. I’m looking to ride a short course 40 miles or less for my first one. This should be fun.

Train high, live low supposedly doesn't work that well. You don't get to do enough high-intensity at altitude so it's hard to accomplish much. And it takes 3-4 days for your fitness to bottom out at altitude, meaning it takes even longer to make gains. Heat training can be done anywhere and accomplishes some of the same effects as altitude training.

Comparison is the thief of joy. Maybe you should avoid running the same races as your wife

Both those gravel rides look fun. You got me curious and I looked up the routes. The Butte County Gravel Grinder 38mi has more variety and may be overall harder because it's near double the climbing. The Lassen Gravel Adventure Ride 40mi has the hardest single climb starting at mile 9.6 (1.7mi, 670ft, avg 7%) and it's all dirt.

Butte County Gravel Grind - Short Course

38.3 mi, +3588 ft. Bike ride in Butte Meadows, CA

ridewithgps.com

LGAR SHORT SQUATCH

40.6 mi, +2114 ft. Bike ride in Susanville, CA

ridewithgps.com

 

[Mike95060]

I train high all the time. Can confirm, mixed results at best. .

I had a lot of fun on Mt Haugh this weekend. Im gonna call it “Mt Huff” from now on because, well I sure was huffing!

Beautiful weather, company was fun. Good times.

 

[two wheel tramp]

TWT, this is just the beginning. You have to crawl before you can walk, you have to walk before you can run.

You're just starting at a lower level than you have in the past, but as long as you keep improving, you're heading in the right direction.

It is for sure. I am back at square one. I am way stiffer than I used to be throughout my body, weaker, and haven't done this for a bit. Your comment made me realize I was not as winded as when I took walks in 2022 or very early 2023 at my heaviest, so that is a win.

Maybe I will try a bicycle pedal tonight for that same distance after seeing Mike's fun pics to get my muscles warmed up and stretched.

@Mike95060 that looks hella fun!

On another note I squatted by the side of Hwy 3 to attend to business. I have not squatted in 5 months and didn't even consider that. I used to be able to squat and be flexible. I swear to god I saw stars and had to grab a sapling to keep from toppling over. My muscles were so angry and they told me about it.

 

[stangmx13]

What a view! The bicycle, the burrito, and the landscape

 

[Mike95060]

What a view! The bicycle, the burrito, and the landscape

We absolutely scored. We did a hard ride Saturday and Shuttled up Sunday with Yuba. Really, really good to get out do the things. Go get it gang.

Btw, i think im too barrel chested for that cute little race pack Its pretty tight at its maximum size. I could ride with it clipped together but it was SNUG. I spent most of the time riding with it unclipped which wasn’t so bad actually.

 

[stangmx13]

Btw, i think im too barrel chested for that cute little race pack Its pretty tight at its maximum size. I could ride with it clipped together but it was SNUG. I spent most of the time riding with it unclipped which wasn’t so bad actually.

Maybe silly question - did you move the horizontal straps to the larger buckle? Their sizing says 33-43" chest. I don't know what 43" looks like and I haven't seen you in years, lulz.

Other versions like the Outlander (non-pro) also have velcro on the vertical straps. They also sell a larger strap for that model since it's completely removable.

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uswe.com

 

[Mike95060]

Maybe silly question - did you move the horizontal straps to the larger buckle? Their sizing says 33-43" chest. I don't know what 43" looks like and I haven't seen you in years, lulz.

Other versions like the Outlander (non-pro) also have velcro on the vertical straps. They also sell a larger strap for that model since it's completely removable.

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uswe.com

Well this might explain why I look like a whale on every tosd bike I have ever ridden WTF is in my chest cavity? If it were all lungs I might be better at this.

I had the homies try the pack on. My buddy levy had to take it iff the Dolly Parten strap size and use the smaller one. Yeah, im definitely the problem.

 

[Mike95060]

Yay! Thank you for the link. That’s exactly what I need. I knew there had to be an option for the American market!!

 

[stangmx13]

Yay! Thank you for the link. That’s exactly what I need. I knew there had to be an option for the American market!!

I think you'll have to return the Race 2.0 and buy the Outlander or similar model. Looks like the chest strap isn't completely removable on the Race.

 

[Mike95060]

I think you'll have to return the Race 2.0 and buy the Outlander or similar model. Looks like the chest strap isn't completely removable on the Race.

Lol, yeahh. Im just coming to that conclusion too.

I’ll probably gift this to someone and just buy a new one. Buyer beware. I gotta dig a little deeper before I pull the trigger on apparel. I always forget that. No worries. Im really happy with it overall

 

[two wheel tramp]

today’s average heart rate was much better: 109 bpm v 121 bpm. same walk.

i’m literally just chatting at myself. ignore me.

 

[Ridley]

Ignore you??? Hell no!!! Your journey is important and I for one want to hear all about it. Keep it up TWT!!!

 

[Climber]

TWT, your journey has been the most important one in here over the last year.

There are other very cool stories and progressions that we've watched unfold in here, all interesting and inspiring, but I think I speak for all of us in saying that we've enjoyed watching your progress and feel for you with your setback but are continuing to root for you!

 

[stangmx13]

today’s average heart rate was much better: 109 bpm v 121 bpm. same walk.

i’m literally just chatting at myself. ignore me.

Ya I’d bet the HR will stabilize to your normal HR really fast - a super easy “gain”. That’s all endurance zone so you can do whatever duration you want.

 

[two wheel tramp]

Thanks, guys. I will be posting regularly to keep myself motivated and feeling accountable for my progress and consistency. Right now, two miles feels like a flipping marathon.

 

[Mike95060]

Just think of it as training efficiently Getting a marathon worth of stimulus in 2 miles is awesome!! Beginning gains are the best!

 

[Climber]

Thanks, guys. I will be posting regularly to keep myself motivated and feeling accountable for my progress and consistency. Right now, two miles feels like a flipping marathon.

In track, one of the biggest motivators for people in the 4x400 is the wish to not let your teammates down, so you push through the pain to get better performances than you would have in the individual 400m. It's kind of a similar dynamic here, we help support each other and while I haven't seen anybody get critical of another for not doing workouts, there is the power of not wanting to let others down which can be a really good motivation on those days where you really don't want to do it.

I have some days where I'm not looking forward to my ride, but when I force myself to go on it anyways and go through the 35+ minutes of lactic acid burn in my legs, I get home feeling much better.

 

[two wheel tramp]

Accountability helps me. I don't wanna kill myself but I do want to be consistent. I appreciate the encouragement!