Yeah... still here

Got out for a fun ride with Eric (maleEB) Batty the other day... nice to have company... was feeling pretty good about myself when he kept saying "Dude... we're hammering!!!".... turns out he had 2 injured ribs and couldn't breathe... don't feel so good anymore... so i've been checking in with the Trek Canada Team... Mitch - just spend 2 weeks in Cali training, Cayley - just spent 2 weeks in Cali training, Peter - enjoying Cali warm rides and leading long group rides, Adam - enjoying the perfect weather in Arizona.... and .... Barnes - riding in the snow and wind on back country roads avoiding frozen potholes and snowplow ridges so that i don't crash and freeze to death only to be eaten by foxes and crows... Spring can't come soon enough...

In Light of Recent Announcements....

Heard the other day that Graham James was back in court for his sexual and mental abuse as a hockey coach.... and that the charges are growing... i spent some time earlier this winter reading Theo Fleury's book.... and it's amazing that a guy this incredibly talented on the ice can be so messed up... sexual abuse, serious drug abuse, alcohol addiction, violence, prostitution, suicidal thoughts, gambling addiction - pretty much anything that can be self-destructive - he did it.... worth a read and an amazing insight to the life of the Pro-Hockey player.... or what their lives used to be like... was he great because his determination came from the abuse.... or did his tolerance of the abuse actually give him the chance to display his greatness? a great page turner .... and one that makes you think about the highest levels of sport and the sacrafices to get there....

One of the Tribe

On a few recommendations i decided to sink some time into this book.... and Man is it Great!!! Not that i consider myself a runner (still haven't cracked 20km ... ever!!) but i do enjoy heading out for a run in the off season... and so far this year i haven't been able to last for longer than 20min without having serious knee pain.... partly because i'm old, and partly i'm thinking (in accordance with this book) that i have the wrong shoes and form.... so i got our for a snowy run today on the way to and from the gym, running in the new Ultrarunner, minimalistic style... short steps, no heel strike, easy and relaxed, lean forward... sort of along the line of POSE running.... might have to be my next read.... i don't plan on joining the Tarahumarah for a 100-miler any time soon, but i was able to hand 2x30min running with little knee pain.... hmmmmm.... maybe Nike WAS wrong all those years ago.... Read the book... you'll love it...

Just when I had given up hope...

So it's the middle of February.... just passed Valentine's Day... and i've given up hope for the winter weather... as much as i enjoy the dry roads for my rides, i would much rather be skiing, snowshoeing, shovelling and playing in the Canadian Winter... Spent an afternoon playing baseball with the kids on the road.... Winter activity? How often can you wash your car by hand in the middle of February? but of course before i got the chance to create this post, it snowed yesterday!!!!? Not really snow, just enough to actually ski in decent conditions... Damn Global Warming... i feel sorry for the Polar Bears....

Back on the Radar

So Barnes... where you been lately? well.. spent a lovely 10th Anniversary up in the Muskoka's with my lovely wife... who would have thought that i would last this long? bad news is that we (she) left the camera in the robe pocket and it has either been washed or re-owned by Red Leaves... still recommend location though.... been riding nice winter roads... although they are often slushy considering this winter SUCKS!!! drank too much tea before this ride... but enjoyed being a boy.... spending lots of time in the Training Dungeon... some people have a Man Cave... i have a Training Dungeon... got 2.5hr ride in on probably the coldest and snowyest (is that a word?) day ... ended up with good legs and a Ice-Eyebrow.... now that we have upgraded to a better camera... hopefully the pics will flow more consistently...

At least 1 good thing....

as i build the hours i'm starting to change the legs over to running legs also... enjoyed the whole body workout of long run... but knees are still limiting my distances.... got out for a nice ride in Durham forest.... the only thing i'm enjoying about the lack of snow is riding in the forest... and the tracks show that i'm not the only idiot with this idea.... the nice ride turned to rain... cold rain... and the destruction of the little snow that exists... Happy 2012.... cold, wet, tired, annoyed and in need of a bike clean after my January 1st ride...

and so it begins...

it's time to start it up again... spent a few weeks off the bike, followed by a couple weeks just exercising (which might be riding, running or playing with kids...) but it's time to make it official... current choices for training - 1- winter bike (in the slush, rain and far too warm weather)....

- 2 - sitting on the trainer watching World Junior Hockey.....

- 3 - hopefull with the snowshoes and skis.... my fingers are crossed....

also looking into a couple options for Strength this year.... but i just need to start getting some hours.... Christmas treats went straight to my butt!!!