The Turkish Prison

Here’s where I train my clients:

We affectionately call it “the Turkish Prison”

Heavy bag / jump rope area is seen at the back of the room

I love Climbing

There are alot of things I love about riding my bike. One of the best things is that I get to see alot of beautiful rural countryside in the early morning hours before most of the world is awake. I seek out big hills - I’m a pure climber - too small to go real fast on the flats - but powerful enough to climb big hills and mountains better than most because of my anaerobic (wrestling) background. Here’s a cool little pic taken by my friend Bruce near the top of Pulltight Hill somewhere in Williamson (or is it Davidson or Rutherford) County.

Izzy at Gymnastics

The Return of “The Top 50″

A couple of years ago I did a seperate blog listing and discussing my 50 favorite albums of all time. I think it’s time revisit that list and make some much needed changes. I start doing that soon. Until then, you can peruse the original list - but remember - I’m making changes this go around.

Dave Ramsey’s Certfied Counselor Training

I sat through this program last week and was blown away. The program teaches and certifies those with the heart of a teacher and a passion for helping others to go into the field and counsel/coach those in need of financial guidance. The program is 5 days long and covers all aspects of financial counseling based upon Dave Ramsey’s 7 baby steps:

1. $1000 in a Starter Emergency Fund

2. Pay off all debt using the “Debt Snowball” (Except the house)

3. Finish full emergency fund (3-6 months of expenses)

4. Invest 15% of household income into Roth IRA’s and pre-tax retirement savings

5. College Funding

6. Pay off the house

7. Build Wealth and Give

For more info on becoming a certified counselor or on Dave Ramsey in general click HERE

Matt Hughes meets The Figurehead

Matt Hughes squared off with The Figurehead

Matt put the fellas and I through a brutal 2:30 hour workout on Friday afternoon at his gym in Granite City, IL. Everything about the experience was even better than we had hoped for. The H.I.T. squad (Hughes Intensive Training) gym was top notch as expected. Matt was super nice and really acted like just one of the guys - just one of the guys who is putting you through a brutal workout. We work out pretty hard during the week when we’re at home, but this was a new level. I’ve run marathons, done triathlons, gone through gruelling weight cutting workouts, and even ridden the equivalent of a Tour de France mountain stage and this workout rivaled anything I’ve ever done in difficulty. The staff at Matt’s gym were great as well. He runs a great business and I’ve gotta believe that everything from the cleanliness of his facility to the courtesy of his employees trickles down from the great leadership 9-time UFC World Champion Matt Hughes. Thanks for a great day Matt! We’ll be back.

post workout group shot: front row - JK Simms, The Figurehead, Chris Thomas. Back Row - Blake Thompson, Matt Hughes, Bill Hampton, Joe Leavitt, Brian Williams.

Great road trip boys! You guys all made me proud.

Quotes

Here are some not so random quotes that I like:

The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.

Eleanor Roosevelt

Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.

Sun-tzu (~400 BC), The Art of War. Strategic Assessments

 

Awareness Test

6-Gap and Hogpen Gap

A few of us are riding the 6-Gap century ride in the North Georgia mountains on September 28. After doing the Nantahala Nightmare last November I’m confident that I’ll do just fine.

We’ll climb 6 mountains or “Gaps”. The tallest, longest, and steepest of those is pictured above: Hogpen Gap.

Going to meet Matt Hughes

Awhile back some of the guys that I train (and train with) surprised our friend Hampton with a birthday gift. That gift was a trip to Granite City, IL (just outside of St. Louis) to meet and train with UFC legend Matt Hughes. We’re all big fans of Matt. We’ll be spending a couple of hours at his gym The H.I.T. squad in Granite City hanging out and being put through a tough workout by the man himself.

We head out on Friday morning. We’ll workout at the H.I.T. squad at 2pm and then spend the night on the town in St. Louis. Can’t wait. Thanks for having a birthday Bill!

Not again

I’m a huge fan of the climbers - that’s no secret. Last year I found myself rooting for perennial polka dot jersey contender Michael “the chicken” Rasmussen to hold onto the yellow jersey all the way to the finish. I bought a “Michael Rasmussen” signature king of the mountains jersey. We all know what happened. I was humiliated.

This year I’ve grown fond of the young Italian Riccardo “The Cobra” Ricco and his Marco Pantani-esque style of attacking in the mountains. Guess what? He failed a drug test (EPO) this morning and has been pulled from the race - along with the rest of his Saunier Duval teammates. Just two days ago I was going on and on to my wife about how I had found a new favorite rider. I was even considering buying a Saunier Duval jersey. And now this. Damnit Cobra! Remember Marco!? Let’s hope we don’t find the Cobra dead in a hotel room like “The Pirate”.

Maybe the “climbers” are so amazing in the mountains BECAUSE they dope. I really want to beleive that such super human efforts are possible though. Heck, thats why I push myself up every big climb I can find! I want to be special like those guys…to fly. I want to believe it’s possible. Today I want to cry for Riccardo Ricco (and for Rasmussen…and for Vinokourov…and for Basso…and for Ullrich…and most of all for Pantani). On Saturday I’ll go ride again and climb until my heart feels like it’ll beat out of my chest.

TDF 2008 predictions

My buddy JB emailed me this afternoon asking me how I’ve resisted posting about “The Cobra” Riccardo Ricco for 10 stages of this year’s Tour de France. Since he’s prompted me, I’ll go ahead and issue my bold predictions for this year’s final podium finishes in Paris.

Before I give you my 08 predictions here were my predictions for the final 2007 podium.

1. Andreas Kloden - Kloden is a stud time trialist and he can climb. A rejuvenated Vino will help Kloden through the Pyrenees.

2. Levi Leipheimer - Levi is an improved time trialist and is a climbing machine. He and Kloden might actually race into Paris for this year’s title.

3. Alberto Contador - The young Contador will likely sacrifice his own glory this year for his team leader Leipheimer. If something goes wrong for Levi, Contador can challenge for the title.

So, it’s obvious I didn’t see the storm coming with Vino testing positive and pulling the entire Astana team, including Kloden, down with him. At least I had two of the three podium finishers in my top 3 though (final placings in 07: Contador, Cadel Evans, Leipheimer).

Here’s how I see it shaking out this year:

1. Cadel Evans - Evans has steadily improved in his TDF appearances year after year. The Aussie is a top rate climber and top rate time trialist (4th place in stage 4’s time trial)…you can’t beat that combo (unless you’re a freakish climber like Alberto Contador).

2. Carlos Sastre - Sastre and CSC haven’t played their hand yet. Frank and Andy Schleck are awesome climbers and have thus far served to divert attention away from their very dangerous teammate Sastre. Sastre will come to the forefront in the Alps and will hang onto second by a thread in the final individual time trial (he was 28th in the stage 4 time trial). The Spaniard has had consecutive 4th place finishes at the TDF. With so many names missing this year, and with teammates like the Schleck brothers, Jens Voight, and Fabian Cancellara around him, it’s his turn to step onto the podium.

3. Denis Menchov - After watching stage 10 I’m now a believer in Menchov for an overall podium spot. No one kept their cool and seemed less taxed on the Tourmalet and Hautacam than Menchov. He was down right stoic while everyone, including Evans and Sastre, suffered around him. He’s a good time trialist as well and may push Sastre for the 2nd spot.

Dark horse candidates:

“The Cobra” Riccardo Ricco - The young Italian says he’s not at the Tour to win this year, but to learn. I’d say he’s learning quite a bit so far. The contenders will be wise not to let Ricco fly up the slopes alone too many more times without checking him. Menchov, Kirchen and Sastre could find themselves trying to make up time on him in the final time trial.

Alejandro Valverde - The prerace favorite has had a string of bad luck since stage one, but something tells me he’ll find some strength and make a strong charge in the Alps.

Kim Kirchen isn’t going to blow anyone away in the mountains.He’s a capable climber and will be sitting within striking distance come stage 20. Stage 20 is a long time trial and Kirchen will overtake some of the pure climbers in the race of truth.

Frank Schleck - Watch out in the Alps and especially on Alpe D’Huez. This dude has wings. If they let him get away too often he could end up on the podium in place of Sastre.

Christian Vandevelde - as much as I want an American to make the podium this year I just don’t have that much faith in Vandevelde despite an epic performance on the climb to Hautacam. He’s currently sitting in 3rd place. He’s good enough in the mountains and has improved his time trialing so it’s certainly possible that another American could be a surprise podium finisher.

Run Like an Animal

I love Pearl Izumi’s current ad campaign. I came across this ad last night in Runners World:

IF YOU RAN WITHOUT SACRIFICE, CONGRATULATIONS. YOU JUST JOGGED. Running hurts. It always has. Woolly mammoths didn’t just roll over onto a plate and serve themselves up to prehistoric man with fries and a shake. They had to be caught - and running down woolly mammoths was a bitch. Guess what? Running is still a bitch. But one with a purpose. It teaches us that good things do not come easy. It teaches us that hard work will be rewarded and laziness will be punished. Don’t expect to learn those life lessons from running’s shiftless stepchild; jogging. Next time you suffer on the roads or trails, suffer proudly. It means you run like an animal.

Freakazoids and other random musings

I stopped by Whole Foods Market today near my office to pick up some energy gels for my weekend bike rides. I like to go in once in awhile to pick up some healthy snacks or even occasionally get lunch. Everytime I go though I’m reminded while still in the parking lot that the place is full of old fashioned FREAKAZOIDS. My office is in a pretty hoity-toity part of town, so there are obvious indicators when one of these freaks has money. You basically have to in order to do real shopping there. Despite that, they still often appear homeless or at least clueless about how nasty they present themselves. On top of it all, they are all hopelessly rude. I thought DEMS were supposed to be lovely dovey and nice? To make the visit even worse, they didn’t have any gels.

After my stop in Whole Foods I walked over to Subway to pick up lunch. After paying for my combo meal I stepped over to fill up my fountain drink. There was an employee- a kid who was probably 17 or so - filling up the condiment trays. Instead of stepping aside and saying “pardon me sir, go ahead.” He just stood there took his time making me, the customer, wait. Once he finally moved I filled my cup with ice and then started filling my drink. The same kid gets shoulder to shoulder with me and starts filling his cup with ice. Aren’t you supposed to wait your turn at the fountain? He spills the ice all over the floor and onto my flip-flopped feet. I look down at my foot that has several ice cubes on it. He notices and looks down too, but says nothing. I could feel the veins in the side of my head starting to pulse. I kicked the ice cubes off of my foot and across the room as if to say “you punk…now you can pick them up over there.” Still nothing. I can handle well mannered teenagers. Rude ones on the other hand…

With the Olympics coming up, I’m remined once again that my wife could be twins with swimmer Natalie Coughlin. It’s freaky really…same mouth, same smile, etc.

Karen’s blog

Don’t let her tell you she took this picture. I did.

Can’t get enough of hearing about The Figurehead family? Well then, start checking out Karen’s blogs:

DOLPHIN CHASER

and

THE NIKAZY TWINS

Bucket List

Everyone has their own “bucket list” of things they want to do before they die. Here are just a few of mine that I’m daydreaming out this afternoon…

1. own a high end Italian made road bike

2. speak Italian and French reasonably well

3. climb Alpe D’Huez and several other famous Tour de France and Giro D’Italia climbs.

Harpeth River Ride: back from the “dark place”

I learned a lesson on Saturday; several of them. The first is that you simply can not “fake” your way through a century ride and not pay for it dearly. That was my plan heading into the 12th annual Harpeth River Ride. My long ride beforehand was just 50 miles. My thinking was that I had ridden 106 miles through the North Carolina mountains last November having only ridden 70 miles in preparation. Of course, I had also done several 50 plus mile rides in addition to that. My training for Harpeth consisted of a few 35 mile rides with that single 50 miler. I could ride 100 through the hills of middle Tennessee after having ridden 106 through the mountains. Right? Wrong. I underestimated the course and worst of all … my conditioning.

David Boatman arrived on Friday afternoon from Charlotte,NC to ride with us. Big Wave Dave brought a $50 bottle of bourbon and $40 worth of good beer with him too. David and Daniel Tardy spent the night at my house in Spring Hill since I live only a few miles from the ride starting point. We grilled out on Friday and drank…and drank…and drank…and threw horseshoes. It was a blast. Tardy mentioned more than once that it might be fun just to skip the ride altogether and continue enjoying the night before festivities.

We awoke Saturday morning at 6:00 am and loaded up the cars. Marshall Walker arrive right on time at 6:45. We drove to Thompson Station church where the ride began at 7:30. As usual, there were a handful of crashes right out of the gate. It always happens when you have 1000 bicycles all packed onto a narrow roads. 20 minutes into the ride the 22/42 mile riders split off form those of us who were going 62/100 miles. That opened the roads up considerably. Daniel and David took off at some point and Marshall and I stayed back knowing that we’d see them on the climb into Theta in just a few miles anyway.

Once we hit the bottom of the B. Dobson road climb you could see the carnage of hurting cyclists all over the hill. I got a kick out of it, since that particular hill is one of my regular roads when training for climbing. I passed a ton of people on that short hill and came alongside Tardy about half way up as expected. Marshall fell off of my pace a bit, but passed most of the people on the hill himself. Boatman was on ahead. The first rest stop was atop the climb in Theta. They had tons of food. They had a new treat I’d never had before - cooked new potatoes with a salt. Perfect!

We descened the dangerous descent on Snow Creek out of Theta and turned off towards Leipers Fork. Most of this riding was easy with the exception of one easy, but very long climb on Leipers Creek. Our reward was a “Margartitaville” rest stop once we arrive in Leipers Fork. I enjoyed a virgin margarita along with more food. Marshall warned us that there was a big climb only a few miles ahead as we headed north.

The 4 of us all hit that climb together. Tardy took the jump off the front, but it was short lived. I climbed past everyone on the hill and was soon joined by David. He had gotten hung up behind some slower climbers down the hill otherwise he would have led the way to the top of the climb. He did The Assault on Mt. Mitchell just two weeks ago, so he brought his climbing legs with him. He dropped me on the climbs the rest of the day.

Shortly after this climb we stopped to say farewell to Tardy who was splitting off on the 62 mile route. The remaining 3 of us made the fateful decision to hang a left and continue on with the 100 mile route despite a word of warning from a couple of guys in Pabst Blue Ribbon jerseys.

It was sometime shortly after making the split that I found myself in “the dark place” where endurance atheletes never want to go, but all to often do anyway. Cramps were setting in on hamstrings, I couldn’t satiate my hunger, my head was beginning to ache, my voice was getting hoarse. I’m not sure I could have told you my name. That’s the “dark place” when  you want to give up. Unfortunately, the climbing didn’t relent. I hadn’t considered that we would climb into Fernvale and Fairview on the route. The surroundings were beautiful - we didn’t pass through a single town or city street. It’s amazing the countryside that rests so close to the large towns of Franklin and Brentwood. As we came through Fernvale Marshall pointed out the destruction of a tornado that passed through in the spring. It was a perfect back drop for how I was feeling, and how Marshall was feeling as well. I broke down and asked David for some enduralites. These are pills that replenish your sodium. I had only taken these once before and that experience ended in severe stomach cramping. I was desperate though because I knew the hamstring and now quad issues were going to only get worse. I couldn’t get enough fluid in me, so I took the chance with the pills. 20 minutes later the cramps were gone and my stomach had weathered the storm as well. I wasn’t feeling great still - or even good - but I had survived “the dark place”.

We climbed another long hill that seemed to last for a couple of miles at least. I had my jersey completely unzipped and wide open. I was laboring up the climb. It was humbling for me, as climbing is sort of my specialty on the bike. If I were talented enough to be a tour rider I’d be considered a “climbing specialist” meaning I’d win a stage or two in the mountains, but eventually finish somewhere in the middle of the pack when all was said and done due to my inability to time trial and descend.

At a “60’s” themed rest stop Marshall started talking about dropping out. We were only a few miles from his house at this point. I did my best to talk him out of it and even blocked his way when we passed roads that went towards his house. We were finishing this thing together. I advised David to ride on without us and let us limp to the finish. To his credit, he continued to wait on us.

Up ahead lay the final big climb up Stillhouse Hollow Rd. David rode ahead while Marshall and I drafted together just to get to the bottom of it. The climb wasn’t that painful as I think I was numb at that point. I do know it was a big climb though because I passed several guys who seemed to be standing still or mere seconds from just falling over on their bikes. Finally at the top we were treated to another rest stop. More taters and gatorade!

With just 25 miles to go David encouraged Marshall and I to catch a second wind. Amazingly enough, we did although we both knew it wouldn’t last. We rode strong over a handful of additional climbs until we found ourselves only 12 miles from the finish. We were on the outskirts of the “dark place” again. I told David to stretch his legs and finish strong. Marshall and I would make it on our own terms. We rode slowly and completely isolated from any other riders at this point. Those 12 miles felt like 50, but we eventually found ourselves at the finish line.

All in all it was a great day. I think it was harder for me than The Nantahala Nightmare because I didn’t prepare for it properly. The course is far from easy as I had hoped it would be. If you ride Harpeth be prepared to climb more than you’re expecting to. There was ample SAG support. Actual ride time was right around 6:00 hours / clock time around 7:00 hours.

I’ll be back next year. Next up…6 Gap Century in the north Georgia mountains on September 28th.

Chased up the Climbs - tomorrow we’ll ride 100

Tomorrow we’ll ride. There will be moments when I’ll have to be someone other than myself in order to survive. Perhaps I’ll be Marco Pantani…more likely Lance.

I found this pic of Marco today. I think it perfectly illustrates the life of this talented climber who carried the Devil on his shoulder until he could outrun him no longer. RIP Marco.

2 Days until Harpeth River Ride

Today is the key REST day for me leading up to the Harpeth River Ride century (100 miles) on Saturday morning. Although this ride won’t be half as difficult as my last century, the Nantahala Nightmare, it should still  be a good test of my ability to suffer on the bike.

I’ll watch plenty of these Lance and Pantani vids along with some old Tour De France dvds in the next couple of days. Enjoy this vid of the greatest!

Just like an old monster movie

The Muskrat vs. The Figurehead.

Although we’ve known each other since 1985 (or has it been longer) now is the first time you can see our alter-egos side by side.