Well - it's been a while since my last post - Sorry about that - but thanks for coming
back to see how our training is going -- and to see if we are ready to bicycle 105 miles through Death Valley for the
Ride to Cure Diabetes.
Let me try to summarize the past 2 weeks or so in a paragraph or two. It got cold again - then Hot... missed some training time
to volunteer/run errands for our JDRF Gala (first weekend in May) - then had to do some yard work (Grrr) which included removing some dead
branches from a tree that hangs over our pool -- trick was to keep the branches from falling in the pool - then cut off the smaller branches get them out to the
street for the town to pick up... by way of the side of the house - throw branches over fence trying not to get near the poison ivy.. too late
got it on my legs ('nother grrr) - managed to get a ride in about 8 or so days ago - 20 mile hike averaged about 16.3 mph - then some wind trainer
workouts - Chad does them in the driveway every so often too - oh yeah last night I got in a quick half hour ride before it got dark - averaged
about 17 mph... oh forgot to tell you that I hurt my back moving branches (more grrrs) had to lay off riding for a few days - went to chiropractor
to get adjusted,,, and tonight I did a 20 mile spin on the route I described in other posts - up and over 209 and out Hurley Mountain road... and oh yeah
I guess that's about it... PHEW... with apologies to all my former teachers... as you can see - I wouldn't know proper sentence structure
if I fell over it...
So what picture should I post to the right today. How about Amanda. Take one
look at this little girl - and you'll fall in love. At the same time - you'll wind up hating diabetes when you realize
that this sweet little girl has diabetes. We need to cure this disease - soon - not just for my kids (who ain't kids no more)
but for Amanda.
I carry her picture with me in my back pocket when I train - and I'll be taking her picture with me on
our 2008 Ride to Cure Diabetes to remind me that we can't give up. We need to help find a cure for Amanda - so she can keep that
smile.
Entry Date: April 26, 2008 (Saturday)
Well - today I went with my Wife and kids to the Desmond Hotel in Albany to attend a Diabetes Health
Fair hosted by the Goodman Diabetes Center (aka Albany Medical Center). It was a fairly interesting event, with a research
update by Dr. James Desemone (my son's former Endo - now turned researcher). So I didn't get home until about 3:30 in the
afternoon. Just enough time to take a nap. Then at about 4:15 - I made some coffee and jumped into my riding duds.
It was still around 70 or upper 60's whilst napping - but by the time I got on the road
it had dropped down into the lower 60's... and I faced a Head Wind on my way "out" doing my 209 and Hurley Mountain Road route
that I have done past few rides. So I figured GREAT - I'll have a tail wind coming back... No such luck... Just like riding
in Death Valley for the Ride to Cure Diabetes (cheap insert of that text again so google will find me) just as I
got to my turn around point - this time about 11 miles out - the wind changed direction and I wound up with a head wind all
the way back home.
Statistics for the day - 22 miles - and despite a head wind both ways from a cold front that
caused the end of ride temperatures to drop into the 50's - with wind chill I would guess in the 40's - my top speed 34.5 and avg speed 15.8 mph. I expected that the return trip
going back up 209 Hill wound be tougher than it was - but maybe I'm getting back into shape. Let's see what happens the next time
I go riding with Chad and he leaves me in the dust...
Today's picture comes from a clock and mug that we were selling on CafePress for a while. Chad
had shirts printed with the same graphic for one of the Death Valley Rides - the pic on the front and
a biker on the back with the phrase "Let's Cure This Crap". That about sums it up... please donate so we can help research
cure diabetes.
Donate on behalf of Team Chad & Dad offline via
this link)
Well - as I continue my initial bicycle training in preparation for the
JDRF Death Valley Ride to Cure Diabetes... notice how I mentioned those key words in this excuse for a sentence
to help bump my pages position in google search - Dad (that's me) went up and over route 209 hill again (no 30 wheelers this time) up Route 28 a bit and then
over the Hurley Mountain Road. Turned around at 10 miles out - and put in a nice 20 mile ride. Top speed was 38.5
downhill on Route 209... average for the whole ride was 15.3 mph. Looks like I'm getting my sea legs back.
Then I took Zoe for a walk. Thought you might want to see Zoe (or Zoey - my wife and I disagree
on proper spelling).
Entry Date: April 23, 2008 (Wednesday)
STILL EVEN BETTER WEATHER!. Dad went out for ride after supper. This time he rode
up and over 209 Hill (local riders know that climb - 4 lane divided highway with just over a one mile
steady fairly steep climb then a nice down hill on the otherside... and the opportunity to climb in again coming the otherway).
I'm use to having 18 wheelers come hauling by me at at about 60 MPH on this route. Tonight - I heard a 30 wheeler coming up on me.
I doing a nice easy 12 or so mph [ UH - OK - here's a correction,,, a few days later
I double checked my pace at this same point and I really only do about 10 mph at this point... no wonder I couldn't catch them ] - expecting to be down to about 10 mph at the top. Then it came whizzing by me at about
18 to 20 mph. The Wednesday Night Ride from Bike Brothers (local shop in Lake Katrine). As they went by I heard... Charlie, hey , hi,
zup, evening and so on... I dug in and tried to get my momentum back... but they soon disappeared over the crest of the hill and
by the time I go back up to speed - they were long gone. Well guys - maybe I'll meet you at the start of the ride one of these nights
(knowing full well that they will drop me with in 5 miles... these guys hammer).
Total miles for the day - about 16 - had to get home to walk the dog... totally exercise for the
day (cummulative bike and walk the dog time - about 2 hours). Got home just as the bugs were coming out...
Today's photo selection comes from
http://www.jdrf.org. This is Tim St.Clair,
the National Ride Coach for the JDRF Ride to Cure Diabetes. Tim was a guest on WKNY's Monday Night Sport Talk (WKNY is
local am station - 1490 on your radio smile). Charlie (Dad of Chad and Dad) interviewed him.
This is Tim St. Clair - National Coach for the JDRF Ride to Cure Diabetes
He was recently interviewed by Charlie Lawrence on WKNY 1490 AM Kingston NY (Broadcast Live April 21st 2008)
You can listen to segments of that interview by selecting from the links below:
[time=5:02 for Real Player]
Discussion/Comparison of various routes (Asheville, Sonoma, Whitefish and Death Valley)
[time=5:02 for Windows Media Player]
Discussion/Comparison of various routes (Asheville, Sonoma, Whitefish and Death Valley)
EVEN BETTER WEATHER!. Today Chad and Dad got to take a training ride together. This
is what Saturday's are made for. The first real taste of hot weather in the Hudson Valley got our
minds to thinking about riding 100 miles or so through Death Valley with triple digit temperatures.
So once again we took our Glasco Turnpike route that I've been riding past few nights
and added a few miles to it... crossing over Route 212 and heading up into the steeper hills just outside of Woodstock
(actually between Woodstock and Saugerties). We wound up on the West Saugerties Road until it seemed right to turn
around and head for home. (Translation - I was getting worried about my legs giving out.)
When we got back - I googled a map of the area and we discovered that we were close to connecting
with part of the route of the 2007 Woodstock Century... so on our next trip up that way - we know where to head for some
more nice riding.
Total miles for the day - about 20. Not a lot - but some quality training and quality time as
Team Chad and Dad.
Today's photo selection comes from http://deathvalleyride.blogspot.com. This shot
really captures what a good portion of the Ride to Cure Diabetes looks like. Notice the spacing between riders - it can get lonely out there.
This seems like a good point to ask you to support us - please make a donation- Click on Chad or Charlie's name above to
donate online... or click on the offline link to print out a donation form and mail it to JDRF. Thanks.
Entry Date: April 18, 2008 (Friday)
FANTASTIC WEATHER!. Today the temps were in the upper 70's (maybe even close to 80). I was able
to get a ride in before supper - while the sun was still HOT. It was GREAT.
I kind of like the Glasco Turnpike route that I did yesterday and back on the 8th with Chad. SO
I rode the same route. This time I averaged 15.3 mph. (Remember - this is ROLLING terrain... in any one mile you may be hitting
close to 30 - then back to about 8 or 9 mph - then cruising between 18-23 mph.)
Today's YouTube selection (on the right) is pretty long (over 7 mins)
- but if you want to cheat - use the slider when viewing it to about 45
seconds into the video... at about :48 secs you can see me for about 2 seconds. I'm the guy
climbing up the sand and rocks to get to the Jubilee Pass sign so I can get my photo taken.
Entry Date: April 17, 2008 (Thursday)
OK. So there's been in break in training. My last ride was on April 8th. Well you see
I wasn't able to ride last weekend. Saturday was devoted to yard work - so I got a workout of sorts.
The workout consisted of:
Rake front lawn. This exercises arms and builds muscle strength
needed for those long rides - hill climbs and stability.
Rake back lawn. This exercises arms and builds muscle strength
needed for those long rides - hill climbs and stability. It also allowed
me to exercise and stretch my neck as I twisted my head left and right
watching to see what direction my dog was going to attack me from as
she attempted to steal my rake. Well - it looks like a stick!
Rake - shovel - move wet and decayed leaves from the "other" side of the
fence left over from the fall. Well actually left voer from the past two falls. You see
last year instead of doing yard work all I did was bike. Hmmm - sounds like a plan!
Bend and stretch and reach for the debris. That's stuff that the neighborhood
kids have tossed in the stream behind my house. Oh yeah - and remove stones (about 400 pounds each) which
were supposed to be in the "rock garden".
Clean up "the hill" on the side of the house. This provided a work out for the legs
as I went up and down the hill moving junk - sticks - leaves - sticks and other stuff.
30 some years ago, it seemed like a good idea to have such a big yard. But now that the "kids"
are all grown up and out of the house... I'm questioning that concept.
Shower and collapse on the couch
But TONIGHT - I was able to get out for a ride. Did the same ride as last time - up Glasco Turnpike
while meandering along some side roads for about 14 or 15 miles. Rolling terrain with one long grade. Managed to
average 15 mph. I'll take that!
The YouTube video to the right - shows what it's like going DOWN Jubilee Pass on a bicycle.
Entry Date: April 8, 2008 (Tuesday)
Ahhhh - Spring has finally sprung.
I got home from work (after about a 45 minute commute) scoffed down some Sloppy Joes. Kissed my wife goodbye. Gave the
dog a pat on the head and promised to walk her when I got back - and took off for a hard ride on rolling terrain going past
Opus 40
up to route 212 (almost to Woodstock) and turned around for a negative split return. Total saddle time about 1 hour averaging about 14.5 MPH
It felt great to cruise along. Only contact with life forms was a HUGE poodle that started to trot along side of me
going up hill around a bend. Then she calmly sat and looked at me with sad eyes... that said come on back and play. But I didn't. (Oh yeah and
one DEAD life form... a snake converted to road kill - sign of things to come.
So I finished the ride - showered - walked the dog for about a mile - came back - heated up the left over Sloppy Joes and now
I'm ready to fall asleep watching TV.
Oh yeah - here's a YOUTUBE video that another rider posted that shows what it's like
to climb up Jubilee Pass (that's the turn around point for the full 105 mile ride). The video shows
the point where riders have already completed at least 45 miles and now face a steady uphill for about 7.5 miles.
Entry Date: April 5, 2008
Well ok - it's been about two weeks since we've been out for a ride. It's not that we don't have any dedication... it's just that
Chad and I - Heck the WHOLE FAM DAMILY came down with the FLU. Argghh !.
But Chad and I climbed on our trusty steeds - as the say in the cowboy movies - today. We took
a ride on back roads... rolling with hills. Nothing eventful... just a chance to clear our our lungs (mucus on the road and skinny bike
tires are a dangerous combination) and take turns drafting... pretty decent pace for about 15 miles.
Oh yeah - posted this training video on YOUTUBE.COM.
Entry Date: March 22, 2008 - has been a busy day...
Team Chad & Dad have officially started training. Oh sure - Chad has been mountain biking all winter in the snow and mud - he even
ran across a Bear or two (That was BEAR - NOT BEER) while riding in the woods. And Charlie - well he put on about 15 or more pounds
since the 2007 Death Valley Ride. Not much activity... he attempted using the treadmill. Gave up after a week. Then he put the
windtrainer in one of the spare bedrooms (empty nest syndrome at the Lawrence's) - and rode off and on for a week or two... but slipped
on some black ice while walking the dog late one night... smack the back of the head pretty hard on the pavement... which knocked
any common sense he may have had... out of his head and he signed up for the 2008 Ride...
So today - Saturday March 22nd... after consuming another 4 pounds of hot cross buns... Charlie jumped up and suited up
when Chad came over and said... LET'S RIDE!!!
Now the sun may have been shining... but it was only around 40 degrees with lots of wind. We rode some back roads
dodging potholes and being very careful about the sand-salt-gravel on the turns. Chad had some decent gloves - but Charlie was riding
with fingerless riding gloves... About 30 minutes into the ride the old hands were getting chilled and stiff... So Charlie started
flexing fingers and stretching his left hand off to the left and then right hand off to the right... Chad was drafting at the time
and would look left - then right... thinking Charlie was pointing out road hazards or something of interest... Finally he road along side
and said WHAT THE BLEEP ARE YOU POINTING AT !!
A good first ride to get the dust out of the veins... about 13 miles... and a little frost bite. Check out the pics below
Here's Chad (left) and Dad (right) back from their first 2008 Training Ride...
Jim Haass wasn't on the training ride - but since his bike spent the winter in the Lawrence's garage - they decided to air it out
to get it ready for Jim's first ride... Yes that's SNOW!!!! Gotta love NY State.
LetsCureDiabetes.com
is NOT a non-profit organization.
Any and all solicitation by this site is on behalf of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
This site is maintained by Charlie Lawrence on a volunteer basis.
To donate, volunteer or to learn more about The
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation locate a
JDRF Chapter near you!
Warning Signs / Symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes (these may occur suddenly)
Extreme thirst
Frequent urination
Sudden vision changes
Sugar in urine
Fruity, sweet, or wine-like odor on breath
Increased appetite
Sudden weight loss
Drowsiness, lethargy
Heavy, labored breathing
Stupor, unconsciousness
If your child exhibits one or more of these symptoms, call a doctor immediately.
