Charlie Syracuse

Where to even start on this wonderful event. The beginning is probably the best place.

Back in march when I was diligently trying to plan my Mitchell training rides kevin said that he has heard good things about a century in lula, ga. I thought yea right who drives to Georgia to ride a century the week before Mitchell. As time approached something was tugging at my gut. So I signed upsaying that I should do a century before Mitchell.

Turns out that really wasn’t the reason I was lead to lula to reaffirm my faith in humanity and myself. After a spring of riding with my buddies and being passed by rude motorist I had lost faith that anyone other than a cyclist could be kind and courteous. The folks of lula proved me wrong. As my buddy and I drifted last through each sag stop they cheered and chatted. As slow as we were riding we never once felt rushed or that we were inconvieng them. I felt encouraged and heartened by each comment.

As myfriend gave up the ride at the 68 mile SAG I knew that I was then the last rider on the course and I internally pushed for speed, but the kind folks of LAP pushed me more without knowing it.

This push and encouragement came at just the right time along the way. From the clown at the midpoint to the ladies at the 75 mile SAG and of course the group cheering at the 2/3 Pie stop each added something special. These are truly God’s people.

Our world could take a lesson in how to interact with people from this fabulous community. So if the desire to take a long bike ride hits you one spring, look up this ride it is well worth the travel. Praise be to god for such an awesome church and event.

Well I have finally set the schedule for 2009 and am a little scared of the actual effort that it will take.  From top to bottom it is going to take at least two training sessions per day for most weeks with a long ride or run on Sats. and Suns.

What are the events that I will work on:

April – Anderson YMCA Sprint Triathlon

May – Mt. Mitchell Challenge – Just a 100+ mile bike ride to the top of Mt. Mitchell.

June – Nothing scheduled currently but thinking about trying to find an Olympic Tri in the upstate area.

July – Tuning up and have agreeed to do the Assault on Mt. Mitchell Mt. Bike event with my bud Kevin.  This one is a maybe but we will see how I am doing at the time.

August – Nothing on the schedule just trying to tune up for the fall.

Sept. – Lets get up and ready for the Tri-the Ridge sprint triathlon.  Second time on this one and it is a training event for the big one.

Oct.  – SC Half Iron.  Holy smokes am I really going to try this one.  I guess that it will be the case.  Total time may be in the 4 to 5 hr. range, but do I really want to go here.

I think that is a yes, I really want to target the half this year.  Maybe next year will bring a full.  I have always considered it an insanity plea but there is just something about pushing your body to the limit and a full Iron would serve that purpose perfectly.  But to get going I have to get training, my Christmas bulk is up in the 210 lb range now and that just won’t do as by Oct. I need to be in the 165 lb. range.
Time to just Tri I guess this year.