Sorry, Yet Again....

.....for the lack of updates.

Its pumpkin pickin time!
This last weekend my old college roommate came up to hangout. It was great to see him again after three years, and all of the old times of getting into trouble were relived.

But now it is back to the training. I am officially calling it.....it is now training time, next year will be here before you know it.

Also I am getting certified as a USA Cycling Coach and going to begin coaching as a job to hopefully sustain myself in cycling next year while doing NRC's with Rio Grande. I should have a website up by the end of the week, but if anyone whats to go ahead and give me a shout let me know (720-771-5198). I am trying to stay within TX and maybe some CO, but talk to me and we can see what we can work out no matter where you are at. Most of the philosophy will follow the training practices of Michael Carter and Max Testa, so you know you can't go wrong.

Oh yeah, and I can't believe the Rockies got swept, it was a sad night last night.

Winter Weather

The average date for the first snow fall down here in the foothills is Oct 18th. Last year we got it bad in Sept already but this year we held out for Oct 21st.
Nothing goes better with a morning like this.

Yesterday I hit up a long ride and some cross watching at Interlocken. Another cross race today but I think I might spend most of my day inside, but probably not on the trainer.

I Like Espresso

Best invention ever. If you don't have a Moka Pot I recommend the Mukka Express. Espressos and Cappuccinos just minutes away.
I've using the PowerTap the last few days and have realized how much I have shorted myself on the training the last few years. The workouts should have been a lot harder, but now I know and time to step it up. Man I can't wait to see what it will do for me this next season.

Also, if anyone is looking for a roommate, I have an extra bedroom I am trying to fill. Let me know.

Time to check the weather for tomorrow.

Snow!

Yesterday afternoon's picking up of the Powertap turned into a pumpkin carving, pie baking, and seed roasting party. It was awesome, some very original designs. Allen's being the best, but he did put a total of 5.5hrs into it from concept to fully carved. (More pics to come)

Today I got the Powertap all set up and rolled it around up Lookout to see how things worked on it. Over analyzing of numbers here I come!

And yes, after yesterday's nasty weather, there is finally some snow close to home.

1/65th

I tried to upload a picture to show how the day was going, but words can draw a better picture. Dark, rainy, foggy, and cold. They say that the Denver area averages 300 days of sunshine every year, leaving just 65 for these types of days. But I guess when you really think about it, that is still two months worth of dark and rainy.

What I was hoping it would be the first snowfall down here on the frontrange but it is what I am guess to be the last rain of the year. Seems weird hearing that A-Basin already opened the ski slopes on Oct 10th making it the earliest opening ever, and we still haven't seen a flake here. Still the feel of winter is all around, such as the first Christmas commercial I saw yesterday, before you know it it will be 365days of advertising for every holiday.

Well today will be a boring, inside watching football day. But this next week is looking good for some more days of rolling the new bike.

New Stuff is Great

The ride was great today; nice, warm and sunny.

I got my new Orbea this afternoon and had to put in another ride after getting it, I think thats a law.

New kit too.

Goooooooood Morning

Getting back into training again has been fun, feeling good and ready to get the strength up to a new high for next year, but then I stop and think. Wait, we still haven't been through winter yet, damn. How nice its been up here you would think that it is spring and its time to be racing, not time to be dusting off the trainer for the upcoming snowed in days. One thing that made me think of it again this morning was that A-Basin just opened its ski lifts today, making it the earliest opening for them. I thought Nov 1 was early last year but Oct 11, geez.

Well, I only have a few minutes left to suck down the rest of the pot of coffee and head out the door to meet Allen for a 3hr ride. Hey, who knows, maybe I'll go skiing after that.

Another Blog

bkendall.wordpress.com

bkendall.blogspot.com

I've got another blog. This one, plus the one linked above, will both have the same posts, but the wordpress.com will be linked in with the team's homepage once things get more underway.

Well.....

Next year is really looking good and I can't wait. I will be racing for Team Rio Grande Cycling on their 6 man traveling NRC team. But I am still looking for a job cause cycling (no matter where in the world right now) just doesn't pay the bills. A lot on the plate for next year, but it will be bigger and better than ever before.

Weekend

The golfer was back last night, watched him a little more this time, and man he sucks. He really should practice more.
The last few days have been pretty good up here. Friday had a good job interview, should know by next Monday at the latest if I got it or not. Then Sat and Sun went on a ride with Allen and Hamity. Mostly rolled over some climbs then hit the flats and the symbol of winter training, the dirt road. More news to come, possibly something on the cycling front? I'll let you know as soon as I do.

Hiking in Fall

I had to get out of the apartment today, and I hit the trainer yesterday so a hike sounded good today.

The colors of fall in Colorado.
Finally after over an hour of nothing but up the views showed themselves.

There is this cool guide at the summit that shows all the peaks (total of 24 of them) that you can see. The panorama is bookended by two 14ers (Mt. Evans and Longs Peak).
The hike up was fun, hard, and fast. The hike down hurt.

Job

Well the job search isn't going that great, but I did come across this on Craigslist if nothing else works out, Experienced Phone Psychic. I don't have the experience, but come on, how hard could it be.

Cross Time of Year

It seems like the weekend should have been over a few days ago, but it is just now Sunday. The main reason it probably feels that way is that I haven't really been out to bars in probably over a year, but ventured out Thursday night and last night to catch up with some friends. Good times, but make for long following days.

Yesterday was the Boulder Cross race at Research Park, and I must say, it made me wish I was out there. Why not you ask? My knee hurts like a.....well lets just say it hurts. My "cardio" workouts lately have been 3 mile walks and it can barely make those without making me limp home.

But today looks like it should be some good cross watching again. Seth and a few of us are going to be grilling out there, if the wind doesn't pick up again. My donation to the festivities are chocolate chip cookies, I can testify that they are very good, too good for some one who can't go ride off the pure sugar and fat.

Updates

Not much to report, well atleast nothing too interesting. I haven't been riding much at all. My right knee has been killing me, bad. So I went to an orthopedic guy this morning and his first idea is therapy for a few weeks, then if that doesn't work our next step is surgery. Lets hope that the therapy works.

Other than that I've just been sitting on Pearl St. at the coffee shop listing to the guys play the guitar and sing while I search for a job. Not much luck on that front either.

Rain Day

Its that time of year again, cold and pouring rain, won't be long now until its snow. It just makes you want to stay in bed all day, but I am still dog sitting, and Dempsey won't let that happen. Who needs an alarm clock when you can have a dog.
So my weekend was pretty dull, back at the dentist on Friday, where they messed up again, round 4 will happen Oct 8th, cross your fingers. Then Sat went on a long ride, felt good, hadn't done that in a few weeks. Then on Sunday tried to run but my knee wasn't having any of that so I took the dog on a hike which wasn't much better, but it was fun. Now today its back to the job hunt and have to return the dog to Seth. Its been fun Dempsey, till next time.

Golf

I am sitting here getting ready to blog and news comes on with a breaking story saying they have upheld the positive test results of Landis and they are asking him to forfeit his jersey. That means the 2006 yellow goes to.....uh....yeah who was that guy again, wait don't tell me. Exactly!

Anyways I was sitting around the other night getting ready to grab some dinner and looked out by back window and saw this dude hitting golf balls into an open field just north of the Flatirons, I hope he doesn't chip it and hit the parking lot of the mall. He looks like he is enjoying himself, he has his beer on the ground and practicing his form. Until I turned on the light and he scattered like a raccoon caught in the trash can.
Today was supposed to by another attempt at getting my teeth fixed at the dentist but once again they have to delay, I hate it when you plan your day around something, get in a short ride instead of a longer one cause you have to be somewhere just to find out when you get in they canceled. Oh well, off to the coffee shop to do some job searching.

Running

I just got back from my first attempt in running since three years ago. I made it about two miles and that was it, and I know I am going to be sore tomorrow. I'll get back to where I was years ago being able to run 10 miles and not feeling a thing, but until then, ouch.

Read up on the weekend backyard activities at Seth's blog.

Pics/Weekend

Well I know they don't look that great but I guess that is the quality you get when using disposable underwater camera from WalMart.

Just a little taste of snorkeling in Cabo, by far my favorite activity while at the beach.
Tons of colorful fish.

My weekend has bee a pretty crazy on and am calling it over right now already at 3 on sunday.

I helped Seth clear out his backyard for landscaping but the 9yard roll off dumpster wasn't near big enough so our solution was to burn most of the wood to make room for other trash. This meant digging a fire pit in his backyard and calling a bunch of people to come over and have a beer while burning stuff. Finally at midnight we called it a day, a lot of wood had been burned and a lot of beer had been drank. This morning came too early with unloading a lot more wood for more room and stacking it to the side for future bonfire nights, then breakfast to try and cure the hangover from hell. Now just watching some football and waiting to fall asleep for the night and recover from last night.

Whats Going On

Currently At 8:27AM
48°F
RealFeel
45°F
Partly Sunny

I think we forgot something. Oh yeah, its call fall, but I guess we decided to go straight to winter. Nothing like killing your motivation to spin outside than to think its warm and walk out into 40degree weather in just bibs and a jersey and freeze immediately.

Thats okay, cause I need to look for a job. Yes you heard correctly. The folding of teams like Disco, Nav, and Kodak has flooded the market of cyclists here in the states and I have been pushed to the back of the bus and won't be getting a job with a pro team this year. I would love to do it again like this year, solo and try again for the next year, but no matter how hard I look when I go hiking, money doesn't grow on trees, and I need some.

So I am looking at a MTB team to go back to my roots and race NMBS, marathons, and maybe a 24hr or two. Then fill in spare time with road for a local team (still looking for that team too). And when I am not on the bike, I will be behind a desk somewhere (still looking for that one too). Sooooooo, right now my life is in complete transition and limbo and not so fun/good in so many ways.

Back From Cabo

Got back from Cabo last night and am ready to go back. It was an amazing trip and had a blast with my lady. I'll get some pics up on the blog as soon as I get them on the computer.