Death Ride 2008

Well it's official, my name was selected from the big hat of names to ride in the Death Ride for 2008. The sad part is no one else (or so I thought) was selected that I know. As it turns out one of my coworkers who signed up (someone who did it last year and finished was selected, but originally he said he wasn't going to sign up so I hadn't looked for his name). That coworker is still deciding what he wants to do because his wife said after last year's completion...

"I finished! Never again!"

...or something to that effect ;).

I'm definitely excited knowing that I get another chance to redeem myself and complete that hellish ride, but at the same time thinking to myself, "WTF did I get myself into once again!?" With 4 months left to go and knowing that I haven't even really begun to start training I now have no more excuses...I have to get riding!

The benefit over last year, is that this time last year I was about 25 lbs heavier and so had lost 20 of that to get to the ride weight for last year. This time I plan to do the same, but only about half of that 25 is necessary this time. So with that it'll put me about 15 lbs under last year's ride weight...hopefully that'll benefit my legs, lungs, heart, etc enough to keep me moving through the mountains. While my weight last year wasn't really a problem, I really needed to be lighter; for me personally I just needed the additional stress lifted off my heart and of course the less weight on my legs definitely would help. Currently around 190, the goal is around 175 lbs by July 12th. It's doable...

...now I just need to find some people capable and willing to spend hours on a bike training (riding by myself is so boring and unmotivating ;)).