I don’t know why, but I feel politically charged this very Thursday. Maybe it was the morning coffee talk with coworkers, or the email below, but today, I will offer up a change of pace from cycling jib jab and open myself up for some opinionated political ranting!

I received this from Graeme Street today via email. Graeme is the owner of Cyclo-Core, a core conditioning and exercise program that I use from time to time.

Fear is a Virus! Let it go…

Hey Gregory,

Stressed lately? Fearful of the world situation? Living in self-induced paralysis?

You’re probably watching the news too much. (My wife Kate, won’t let me;) WHY?
“Negativity and Fear is a Virus!”

She believes that how you feel stems from what you see, hear, and believe an then hold as truths for what is real.
She also believes that regardless of what goes on with others, we only have OURSELVES to decide how we feel.

You are what you believe.

I’m not saying that things aren’t crazy right now, BUT as each of us lets this fear INFECT our lives…

WE PERPETUATE THE VIRUS!

Kate tells me to…

1. Only focus on what I can do today to make MYSELF feel good.

2. Let go of others fears, reflections, and negativity–it’s not who I AM. OR YOU!

3. Mediate. Exercise. Put My Health and Well-being FIRST. Retreat.

I love my wife.

I hope that the same things she teaches me everyday can help you too.

Ride Hard. Love Your Wife. Thank You.

Right on, Graeme. Indeed. I’ve felt that this country wouldn’t be in as bad economic shape as it is ( it’s really not that bad if you compare it to the great depression) if the freakin MEDIA didn’t spread so much negativity. The House passed the new $819 billion bailout yesterday. So let me get this right? The government wants to alleviate debt by creating even more?

The government cannot give to anyone anything that it does not first take from someone else.

Dave Grohl asks: “Why’d you have to go and let ’em die?” Ron Paul will tell you why. Because the free market will fix itself. Let those irresponsible banks and automakers die! More responsible, efficient, and productive ones will come along and take their place! Read this letter to Troy Clarke, President of GM, from one of his suppliers, Gregory Knox of Knox Machinery. He tells it like it is and puts that scum of a president in his place.

Let that virus go. Work hard, be productive, and be optimistic.

-Greg

I made the solo trek out to beautiful Comfort, Texas Firday night for a 52 mile marathon race Saturday morning. This race wasn’t originally on my to-do list, but after my two week hiatus from training, I figured it’d be a good way to jump start the race systems. I entered the race with a training mentality, i.e., I wasn’t looking for a podium finish but rather a good long solid effort. But as always, if I saw a good opportunity, I wasn’t going to let it get away. Good thing I had my training mentality that day…

Comfort has never been nice to my bikes, and this time was no different. A flat in mile one pretty much put me out of contention since everyone passed me and I would be caught in traffic for the first half of the race. I’m beginning to learn that the seatpost I use is great for smoother, shorter races, but it can get rattled loose in long rough courses. I had to stop and tighten it back down a little ways into the 2nd lower loop.

I had some renewed interest in the race when I spotted a teammate at the top of a switchback at the beginning of the 2nd upper loop and saw it as a good 12 hour race simulation to pull in a fast rabbit on the last lap when things were really hurting, so I dumped a ton of effort into doing so. That there is the type of pain that endurance junkies crave! I never caught him (he is a very fast rabbit) but i did close it in to about 20 seconds. So even though i finished DFL (last, for you those unfamiliar with mountain biking jargon) in the open category, I met my goals of getting a good 5 hour ride in, burning some matches, toughing out some colder weather, and the added bonus of a rabbit chase at the end. Even with the mechanicals, my time of 5:03 was a personal best for that course, and I was taking it easy for much of the day, so that’s good to know. All in all, it was a good day to be on the bike.

One last week here of hard workouts and then it is time to taper for the big race Feb 7.

I’ve been slowly transitioning into this whole caveman diet thing. Fat, protein, nuts, and fruit intake are all up, while carbs are down. Last night, after a long ride, I was craving some good Texas BBQ, so I stopped by Iron Works and bought a half lb of chopped beef. I cooked up some green beans and had that for dinner, along with some unsalted peanuts for dessert. Today for lunch, we went to Hat Creek Burgers for a co-worker’s birthday. I was looking forward to some double meat and cheese, but not the buttered buns. I donated them to another coworker who gladly accepted. I did load it up with veggies, but no condiments, and ate it as if it was a regular burger. I am finding that this diet is leaving me hungrier. I believe it is simply a withdrawal symptom from limiting super filling carbs and will pass, but also since I’m not eating those carbs i need to eat other stuff to replace it, like even more fruits and veggies. I have decided to do the Comfort marathon race this saturday for fun, and will see how the diet works out on the trail.

My training and workouts have taken a backseat to house remodeling the past two weeks. Monday night I finally finished all the interior work on my bedroom and last night began moving back in. This whole fiasco started when I decided to refinance the mortgage and the bank informed me that the house needed to be in a completed and good state to be appraised, or else the appraisers would leave bad comments and the bank might not be willing to give the loan. The house wasn’t in horrible shape, but the bedroom and hallway didn’t have a suitable finish floor and a lot of areas were missing trim. There were several other repairs around the house I put on a list, some not that big like cracks in the sheetrock, but others much more so, like holes in the siding and roof. As I started peeling away old floor layers, I began to realize how bad of shape the subfloor and even floor joists were in. There was a lot of old termite damage and frankly I was quite surprised to see that portion of the house even standing. It quickly became apparent that my weekend touch up would turn into a multi week project. I could’ve patched it up a little and threw some carpet down to pass appraisal, but that’s not the way I like to do things. Anything worth doing is worth doing right. I was going to expend the time, effort, and money to fix the damage and then finish out the room. I’ve always said, there’s not better way to get stuff done on the house than to have an ultimatum. I usually plan a party and that gets me to get stuff done, but this time it was more important. I had to fight through some long nights, long weekends, cold weather, multiple injuries, poor nutrition, cramped living quarters, and some frustrating material miscalculations, but I got ‘er done. Perseverance is the Caveman way. You can see some photos here.

So, I got to sleep on a bed last night for the first time in 2 weeks. I was sleeping on the floor, and my “normal” bed is simply an elevated piece of plywood so I can store stuff below, but psychologically, at least it feels more like a bed. I’m getting back to good food and less Sonic and Subway. I’m getting back to 8+ hours of sleep a night. Getting back to riding, P90x workouts, and stretching/Yoga. I enjoy house work and a change of pace, but I’m ready to get back to work in preparation for the upcoming 12 hour race. This weekend is the marathon MTB race at Comfort. Lance can thank me and all the other racers who shamed him here last year for his motivation to return to Pro cycling. I’m not in 100% yet, but I’d like to give it a try, perhaps on my $300 rigid singlespeed.

To commemorate yesterdays inauguration of our new President, I will close here with a quote from former President Bush that I like a lot. I’m not going to get into politics and whether I liked Bush or not, I just like the quote. I wish our new President well.

“The presidency was a joyous experience, but as great as it was, nothing compares to Texas at sunset”

Amen to that.

Today’s mentality about dirt, germs and protecting kids from everything will be the cause of extinction of humans at some point in the future.

I found this nice excerpt from a letter to the editor of Mother Earth News. I thought it was a fitting way to end a well written letter expressing a mother’s concern for the way food supply, raw milk in particular, has changed for the worse this past century. It was in response to a man arrested for selling raw milk in PA.

I mention this because it brings up the discussion of how much control the government has over what we eat, and how that in turn effects our health. People have free will to eat what they want, but not only does the government set misguided nutrition guidelines (look up the USDA “pyramid”), but they ban the sell of certain nutritious foods that they cannot collect taxes on (so that the consumer will be forced to buy a product that can be taxed), such as raw milk vs. commercially produced milk, and they actually subsidize the one crop that has contributed to America’s obesity more than any other: corn. Now more than ever, it is easier To Get Fat Without Trying. If they only subsidized fruit and vegetables like they subsidize corn, I think you’d see a much healthier nation.

The research, data, and trials on what causes obesity are in. The sad part is, we’ve known all along-we’ve just chosen to ignore it in belief that it was the lesser of two evils. The cause: carbohydrates. Sure, sugar and high fructose syrup are the most damaging of all carbs, but breads, grains, cereals, potatoes, and even beer do their part too. The other of the supposed evils? FAT! They were wrong! Read this article. Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.

Ok, so hopefully you’ve read that article by now. If you haven’t, do it now. Seriously, read that article. It will change your life. The article pretty much supports my take on the Paleo diet. Ditch the carbs and go au natural. I have not yet fully committed to the caveman diet, but I have committed to be committed to it. I am finishing off all the carbs and processed stuff I have laying around my house, sort of like a Mardi Gra cleaning of the pantry. After that, it’s on. Raw milk, raw eggs, raw meat (extemely rare in some cases), fruit, veggies, nuts, berries. I’ll likely keep some carbs around like wild rice and sweet potatoes ( I am a metabolic machine and actually have trouble gaining weight when in full training), but nothing else. I invite you to join me in this journey towards greater health and happier living. Let go of those twinkies and cokes. Let ’em go…

I was going to get into diet and nutrition on the Health Tip’s page a lot later down the line when time permitted, but I came across a blog entry that a certain close person published recently and I felt compelled to respond to it.  I should note that the title is not named so because my nickname is “Caveman” either. It actually has to do with eating like our ancestral humans did 10,000+ years ago.

I’m not sure why said author chose to compare a big mac to a handful of delicious, healthy nuts. I can see the point about the calories adding up, but they are natural and nutrient dense calories, not hydrogenated, processed, big mac secret sauce calories.

I’m not discounting counting calories at all. If it works for you and you enjoy the extremely rigid structure of doing it, then do it. Me, I’ve got better stuff to do with my time and resources. What if there were a way to eat quality food without having to count calories all the time? There is!! You don’t have to take my word though, just read all the articles below. Prepare to be blown away by the ultra simplicity and effectiveness of what is being dubbed the “Paleo Diet”. It’s a lot of reading and varied opinions/research, but I will sum it up for you.
The human body adapted itself over thousands of years to thrive off what food supply was available, namely wild game, fruits, berries, and nuts. There were no processed grains, fatty hormone injected livestock, or dairy products back then. Agriculture has only been a staple for humans for a few thousand years. Even more refined agriculture with the advent of the industrial revolution has only been around 200 years. The ultra refined diet that most Americans now eat has been in place for about 20 years. The human design is not going to change over a few thousand years, let alone 20!! This explains why so many people are intolerant to gluten, lactose, and other processed foods. It also accounts for the tremendous rise in diabetes and heart disease the last few decades. We are simply not eating what our bodies were designed to eat. It’s like putting diesel in a high octane gasoline engine.
To live and perform at maximum efficiency, all we need do is look to the oldest diet on earth, the caveman diet. Coupled with strenuous exercise, you will not have to count your calories- your body will do it for you. This is the true beauty of the diet. ‘Diet’ is a misleading term though, because it implies you are restricting food to perhaps lose weight. Cavepeople were trying to put on weight! Instead, let’s call it something like “what you eat” or “cuisine”. If you are overweight and trying to drop some pounds, that’s good, and I commend you for realizing the need for change. However, your overall health should be the main goal. The weight loss will take care of itself and you will become a strong, lean, healthy human.
Some footnotes though. While wholly possible to practice the caveman cuisine in its entirety, it is very impractical to do so with the way modern society is setup, and at times more costly. Believe me, if I could eat wild caught salmon, mahi-mahi, turkey, deer, and rabbit everyday, I certainly would. It’s either prohibitively expensive or difficult to obtain such products all the time. The caveman himself wasn’t always able to secure a meat source and was able to rely on items he was able to gather. Thus he was able to thrive off variety. With what food sources we, as Americans, have to choose from, there will be compromises and substitutions. I myself am a huge fan of milk, which is a prohibited item, unless it is raw. Well, it is against the law to sell raw milk in most US states, so I will try to find the least processed product I can, which would be organic milk. Raw organic fruits and vegetables are the best to consume, but have you seen the prices on these lately?? You have to know then what are acceptable substitutes.
I might not ever be as healthy as our ancestors were due to how American diet and food supply has changed over the past few centuries, but I will live happier knowing that I’m healthier than 95% of fellow Americans and stand a much greater chance of good health in my old age. Happy reading.

For starters, please review these considerations

For a highly academic take on eating like a caveman, check out this essay on Evolutionary Fitness by Arthur De Vany, Ph.D. Read the intro and then skip to page 22 for his take on eating. Feel free to read the whole article about training and living like a caveman for greater health as well, it’s just a bit lengthy and technical. Check out the rest of his website while you are at it.

For a super exhaustive (but wonderfully researched and priceless) reading, check out this website by Karl Loren. http://www.karlloren.com/Diabetes/human-raw-meat-diet.htm It’s a real eye opener whether you believe in the Paleo diet or not. Karl refers to it as the raw diet, but the basis is the same. If nothing else, I hope his information will get you to give up sugar and refined sweeteners.

For a more philosophical and even religious take, check out this well written blog entry by Bulletproofpimp.

If you are serious about giving this a go, here are some books that are highly recommended,  not only by health professionals, but by everyday folks who were suffering from the ills of processed food and converted to this diet to find huge success, health, and happiness. I have yet to read any of them, but they are on order. I’m especially interested in the one for athletes.

NeanderThin Ray Audette

The Paleo Diet – Dr. Loren Cordain

The Paleo Diet for Athletes Dr. Loren Cordain and Joel Friel (author of the Cyclist’s Training Bible )

The learning doesn’t stop hear. Do your own research and I think you’ll find more information and positive results than you ever thought possible. Good luck in your journey back to eating the way we were meant to eat!

After spending all day Friday cleaning and organizing the house, it was off to San Antonio Saturday morning for the Texas Age-Based Cyclocross championship. I expected competition to be tough since the likes of Fawley and the fastest guys in the state are in my age group (23-34). I didn’t think I had a realistic chance at a podium, and knew the real bread and butter would be the following day at the skill based races, so I was prepared to sit up a bit if the leaders got too far ahead, or to battle to the end if I found myself in favorable conditions. I would be racing the single speed all weekend. Gears and deraillers have yet to earn my trust for cross racing, and the solo gear had been working well so I decided to stick with it.

The course was relatively flat and involved lots of pedaling. A higher gearing than my 36-16 would’ve been better, but sometimes you gotta rung what ya’ brung. Higher cadence is supposed to be better for you anyways, right? Well, the gearing sucked on the flats, but it was pretty good for inclines, headwinds, and acceleration out of corners. I started in usual fashion in the rear and worked my way up to fourth. I didn’t feel exceptionally fast that day, I just think everybody else was feeling slow, and didn’t like the course. It didn’t help that it was 83 degrees the third day of January either. At any rate, I was pulling in third position before I got a rear flat halfway through the race. The culprit: a hole in a patched tube. Let my mistake be a lesson to all of you. Patched tubes are ok for riding around town and training, but when state honors are on the line, use fresh tubes or go tubeless. I had been riding on it so long, it just slipped my mind.

Luckily, the flat occurred 20 yards from the pit and I was able to change out wheels and keep going. I was sitting in at this point, but then a lap later some guy jumped back in the race in front of me as I was entering the start/finish area, apparently after stopping to get some medical attention from a crash. Nice, a friend to keep me company in the rear!

He made it clear that he didn’t want me on his tail though with a series of attacks. All bets were off and I was back in the race. I mercilessly attacked him until he fell back, and in doing so caught a few other guys. I could see a few other racers not too far ahead, so I kept pushing to pass them and finished 8 of 13. Another great opportunity lost to unfortunate circumstances, but at least another solid effort and show of perseverance.

After watching captain James and G. Hammer finish up the mountain bike race, Colleen and I were off to downtown for some Alamo sightseeing and Riverwalk relaxing. The $8.95 Casa Rio Deluxe Dinner was an awesome way to refuel end our visit there before heading up to the Canada’s for a place to crash. (thanks again, Brandon and Tammie!)

Sunday morning brought the promise of a new day. This round it was skill based, and not only were state champ jerseys and money on the line, so were points for the 2009 Texas Cup. I was sitting 9^th in the series, but I was hoping a strong showing could put me in the top 5. I started off in the singlespeed category. I felt real confident I could get the win in this one since I was routinely kicking the crap out of geared bikes the past few weeks, but I ignored one of my own rules and underestimated the competition. I got the hole shot from the start and proceeded to build a gap on all but one racer, Kyle Rodemacher, a seasoned rider from Hotel San Jose. He was running a bigger gear and was able to really put the hurt on during the flat road sections. More than once he got away and I had to bridge back. I finally got settled in with him, but then newcomer Ryan Wohlrabe bridged us on his freaking Bianchi San Jose fixie and we all three had a big suffer fest with 2 laps to go. He was running an even bigger gear and was laying down the smack on the flats too. Dude is a beast, a lot more so than yours truly. That fixie gave him some problems on the technical turns and barriers, but he managed to hang in there for a second place finish to Kyle with me in tow for third. I just ran out of gas and out of time to contest the sprint. Those guys fought valiantly and deserved 1^st and 2^nd.

I was a bit humbled and deflated from that race, but I had to re-group and get ready for the 3-4 Category 15 minutes later. We had a big field of 38, but I got a top ten callup for season standings and that helped a lot with the start. I was ready to enact my usual strategy: start slow, and pick ‘em off one by one. The hot heads could duel it out up front and wear each other out.

At one point in the race I was maybe sitting 13^th place, but didn’t waste much time once I got in the groove. One by one the geared machines succumbed to the only singlespeed in the race. I made it up to the lead pack of 2^nd,3^rd, and 4^th. 1^st had gotten away and already had an insurmountable lead. I would only turn my focus to besting this pack of three. I couldn’t tell if they were hurting or just waiting for the last lap to make a move, but come the last turn into the finish line for the bell lap, I was feeling good and made the move on the outside. I put the hammer down through the twisty wood part. Going down to the run up, I had a 4 second gap. Coming off the road, about 6 seconds. Cross the barriers, 5 seconds. Made that final last turn for the sprint to the finish, lowered the head, and left everything I had out there on those last 50 yards for 2^nd place. Redemption again, for some earlier lost opportunities.

It was enough points to bump me up to third for the Texas Cup too, and with that comes some nice hardware. And with hardware comes the end of cross season. I had set goals for a top 3 season finish and a Cat 3 upgrade. Through hard work and perseverance, I was able to overcome mishap and achieve both. It’s not over until it’s over. Next season should be fun and interesting as I graduate the ranks of the 3-4 Category and move on to the big boys in the open category. I congratulate all racers who set out to achieve goals this season and fought the good fight. Keep on keepin’ on!

Next up is the Dirty Dozen at Warda, and then the TMBRA spring season. Thanks for reading.
Greg

(one last pic for kicks! We stopped at Shoney’s for lunch on the way home. Yes, I ate it all, and then some!!)

To ring in the the new year for 2009, Colleen and I decided to join in the Austin First Night festivities near Auditorium shores and City Hall. We both decided that we were tired of the whole downtown bar thing and wanted to celebrate this new years eve differently. I would have a few beers for the night, but didn’t even come close to getting drunk and was in bed before 2:30 am. First night is a really fun and creative happening to Austin. Over 800 artists gather to put on a parade, art installations, concerts, and dances. It was a really beautiful and family friendly atmosphere. The parade featured lots of human powered contraptions from the Austin Bike Zoo, as well as several other cultural groups/artists. The next big event was the burning of the clock tower at 8:30. This was truly a sight to behold. You can find some impressive images here and a video of it below.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPTwhKFCv24&hl=en&fs=1]

After watching that thing burn to the ground for about 30 minutes, we went looking for some grub. Found some tasty crawfish pasta in the vendor espanalade, watched a band at City Hall, wandered around to see all the other art installations and bands playing, and then wound our way back to Auditoriom shores to watch the most impressive fireworks show I have ever witnessed. Some other friends who watched it shared my sentiment: ” I thought it was over at two different times, but it just kept going, and just kept getting crazier.”  I can’t put into words how amazing it was, but it blew away the the previous most impressive show I saw at Disneyland back when I was in high school.

A bit more hanging out, some pizza at the Onion, and we were off to home for some shut eye. A truly wonderful way to spend the welcoming of a New Year. I counted my blessings that night and was ever thankful for my freedom. I am ever thankful for those who serve to keep that freedom too. I hope you have a chance to count your blessings and that you have a prosperous and healthy 2009.

What better way to start the first day of the year than to go on a long mountain bike ride.  Since Proud Mary was still on loan to a friend, I took out the KHS single speed. It was a blast! Trail traffic was heavier than usual since everybody was off work, but that didn’t bother me. I’ve gotten accustomed to the single speed rigid feel and somehow was able to ride technical parts that I haven’t been able to ride on any other bike. It was just a good day for a mountain bike ride. Colleen and I wrapped up the day with cornbread and black-eyed peas at Threadgill’s and going to the movies to watch Australia. It wasn’t as good as Benjamin Buttons a few weeks back, but still a very good movie, and a great way to end Jan 1, 2009.

Editor’s Note: There has been a lot that’s happened to me in 2008, but since the nature of this blog is to track athletic achievement, and for the sake of time, it is limited to mostly athletic happenings. It is still a bit long. I hope it is as inspiring for you as it is for me.

To look back at 2008, I actually have to start in 2007. It was a beautiful October day in the lost pines of central Texas. I woke up and decided I felt like trying a 24 hour race-solo. 24 hours and 175 miles after the noon start, I was the first soloist to cross the line. The victory was sweet, but the effort had exacted its toll.

I had this weird sensation in my left knee the weeks following that race. After realizing that it wasn’t subsiding, I decided to see a doctor and get it looked at. The initial diagnosis was nothing serious. I likely had some muscle tightness and junk built up around soft tissue. The knee was tracking well and functioning otherwise, so it would not need surgery and therapy would be all it took to get going again. I spent some time (&money!) at Texas Spine and Sports Therapy while training for the next big 24 hour race, 24 hours in the Old Pueblo in mid February. I saw improvement, but it was sometimes hampered by my training volume. I was continuing to race cyclocross and marathon mountain bike races through the winter.

I had never sustained an injury that I did not recover from, but this one was different. Sometimes the body needs assistance in healing itself. Dr. Atencio began my education on this matter very professionally. While he did begin to teach me how joints get messed up, and how therapy could help, he never instilled in me the importance of stretching and flexibility.

Meanwhile, I began to do a lot of research on bicycle fit and component ergonomics. I met Sean Ahmadi, a bike fitter and personal fitness coach. I paid him to fit my mountain and road bike. Sean did a great job and it was the start of a wonderful relationship. We discussed some of the problems I was having and from here my knowledge really began to grow. He went beyond the call of bike-fitting duty and engraved in my head the absolute importance of stretching, flexibility, and proper recovery.

Sean agreed to give me coaching tips and let me workout with him for no cost reimbursement. In return, I referred him as much as I could. I also educated him with some of my latest findings. He was a good fitter at the time, but new technology always emerges. I introduced him to a site that sells specified bike fitting tools and knowledge and wouldn’t you know it-he goes and buys their complete kit.

I really didn’t have much time to prepare for Tucson, but the day came and I was ready to give it all I had. The race was going smooth. I was running a steady pace and the bike was rolling great. Disaster struck a little over halfway through the race and final night lap. Pain in the left knee again flared up. I came through the feed zone demoralized, knowing my race was done. There was no way I could fight through that much pain for another 11 hours.

After Tuscon, it was back to the drawing board. I was hurt this time far more than the first. So much so, that I had to forfeit the spring cross country series and take a few months off the bike. That’s not an easy reality for a bike racer to accept, but it is a good opportunity to realize that racing bikes is not life. There are many varieties of life, why limit yourself to a few?

I was eager to find a permanent fix to my knee problem and get back on the bike, so my research and due diligence took on a whole new meaning. At the referral of a teammate, I switched doctors and started seeing Dr. Chris Sellers at Performance Wellness. These guys definitely had their stuff together and much more experience than the last doctor. Not only did their treatment seem much more effective, they wanted to educate you as much as they can so you can prevent future injury. Beyond actual treatment, Chris explained to me the effects of muscles tightness and imbalance. He then sent me to their main therapist, Dr. Davis, who gave me some “homework” with stretches and exercises to help correct my deficiencies.

I continued my discussions, workouts, and gear tweaks with Sean. Flexibility took center stage as the way to heal and increase performance, but it didn’t stop there. I began to eat more wholesomely, get more rest, hydrate better. Everyday I learned something new and made more progress. I gained confidence that I would not only become completely healed, but that all these new facets of training and living would make me stronger than I was before the injury.

I slowly got back into riding and was able to compete at the final Spring Race at X-Bar ranch near El Dorado, TX on May 18, 2008. It was a disappointing 6^th place finish in a category lower than where I left last fall, and one that I had dominated just a year before. However, it was a finish on a tough course and a reminder of the long road ahead.

With mountain bike season already gone, I turned my attention to other endeavors. I remained steadfast in my efforts to get better and regain my fitness. I learned how to swim and began running a bit so that I could start competing in triathlons.

Come June 23, Colleen and I entered the Austin Urban Assault with an impressive 2 out of 300+ finish. The confidence and fitness continued to grow.

Come July 13 I had the opportunity to compete at the Austin Rapha Roller Race. I was only expecting to have a good time and maybe get through half the rounds, but I walked away with the win and a new track frame that evening. Five hours later, I woke up and competed in my first ever triathlon, the Couples Tri at Decker Lake. The swim wasn’t easy, but I didn’t drown, hammered the bike, and survived the run. Not a bad way to start a triathlon career. I would go on to improve my swim and run times 2 weeks later at the Marble Falls triathlon on a harder, longer course.

I was seeing improvement week by week, but there was still a lot of work to do. By this time of the year, Performance Wellness, Coach Ahmadi, and Chipotle Congress had all agreed to sponsor me! Things were looking up.

August 17 was another new adventure, my first off road triathlon, the Camp Eagle X-terra. The rain threatened us from the start and it would prove to be a big problem by the time we hit the trail. I had a great mid-pack swim and was ready to turn it up on the trail since I would be more in my element. I was passing racers left and right, and then had a huge mechanical. I persevered and was able to finish the race, and apparently an age group win. It took a few weeks for the officials to sort out the results, but I actually ended up 3^rd. That news did nothing to deter my sense of accomplishment though.

2 weeks later I would return to kick off the spring season of cross country. I had made huge gains over the summer and planned to start in the Pro/Semi-Pro/Elite category where I belonged. Another set of mechanicals kept me out of the top ten, but not from finishing and not from feeling good about the performance.

September 20, I was set to compete in the Huntsville Classic before Hurricane Ike paid the course a visit a week earlier. With that race cancelled, I traveled to San Angelo with teammates to compete in a 6 hour race at the state park there. Another teammate gave me a run for the money, but I was able to edge him out for the win on my rigid steel 29er on the last lap. This win was a great confidence booster for the upcoming 24 hour race in Moab.

I was doing Moab on a 4 man team this time. I was again plagued by mechanical conditions early on and the team decided to bow out and just go do some fun riding the next day. I stayed for a few extra laps. It was a pretty trip, and I enjoyed it as my main vacation this year, but the race left me with a real sour taste in my mouth. I was ready to put it behind me and move on.

I would compete at Ruston and finish the season at Rocky Hill, both lackluster finishes. It seemed as if I were on a plateau. I bought a cyclocross bike after finishing 5^th at the first cross race of the season on a borrowed bike. That was about where I left off last season, so I knew this season I had a chance for some wins, especially with a proper bike.

It would be 3 more frustrating races with mechanicals before my day came with a win at the Bikesport CX challenge December 7.

In the middle of that cross series, I competed in my first Duathlon at Rocky Hill ranch. I managed 7th of 80, only to drop 3 spots on the final run leg. That was ok though, my run times were markedly faster than the tris I did over the summer and I was very happy with that performance.

Following the Houston races, I began a new workout series called p90x and met with Sean to outline a training strategy for the next big race, the Dirty Dozen on Valentine’s Day 2009. I have been sticking to the regiment as well as I can and have started to see good results already. I suspect that at this time I’m as strong as I’ve ever been, but still have much more potential. 2009 should be a great year with all that I’ve gone through in 2008.

That brings me to my conclusion. Would I have traded in that knee injury and lost riding time for more of the same old same old routine that would’ve gotten me slowly and slightly faster with no injury at all? Yes and no. Yes, because injury really sucks. It’s scary and demoralizing. Injury does nothing to boost confidence. It keeps you in a state of “maybe it’ll get better”.

A more resounding “no” . It’s hard to trade in all that I’ve learned and how much I have grown as an athlete and human being for the sake of not having an injury, an injury that was very much heal-able, mind you. Not only am I FULLY recovered from that knee injury, but I am stronger and more prepared than I was before it. I’m ready to take racing and life to the next level. I’m happy with where I’m at now- there should never be any disappointment from doing something you enjoy so much. But I know there is way more potential for me out there and I plan to dig deep for it. I hope that this 2008’s journeys have been good for you too, and that 2009’s will be even better. Thanks for reading this entirely too long entry! Happy New Year!

-Greg “Caveman” Parham

I arrived in Austin safe and sound Sunday night after managing to not gain any weight and still get a few ride/workouts in during my stay in Terrell. I wasn’t able to follow the workout schedule to a T, but travel and family time are hard things to work around. Lounging around and watching movies and playing with Christmas stuff isn’t a bad way to spend time off work anyhow.  If you get a chance to go see The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, I highly recommend it. Just bring a box of tissue with you though.

As promised, I’ve made a few updates to the website, namely the motivation page and and the launch of the all new tech corner. I’ll wrap up the year tomorrow with a final ‘Year in Review’ entry and some fun time with friends downtown.  I hope everyone enjoyed their Christmas and had safe travels. Enjoy New Years too, but please be safe.

-Greg