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Easter Bike Ride - A Flat Near Bow, NH

I went out on my second bike ride in New Hampshire this Easter morning. 

I couldn’t find my CO2 inflator, I thought it was in one of my bike pockets, but I did find my mini bike pump and carried it with me. 

My goal was to ride to a new town. I was heading toward Bow. 

I almost got to Bow before POP my tire went flat.

The roads in around Concord have frost heaves and it feels like a back tire flat. I had checked the tire pressure a few times and it was the road.

However, after climbing a hill and then descending my rear wheel popped and my tire was out of the rim. Scary but made it to a stop okay.

No worries I thought. I got this. I had a spare and my bike pump. Since I’m out of practice riding and replacing a tube it was slow going and I had a tough time getting the tire back on. A man on abike rode by and asked if I was okay, and I asked if he could help me.

I’m okay with asking for help.

He helped me get the tire back on the rim on and let me use his CO2 and inflator. 

Done - wheel on the bike – all ready to go except that one minute after my helper rode away, it was flat again. Crap.

I started walking. 6 miles back home. I tried calling my friend Jeff but he didn’t answer his phone. I thought about my options and remembered there is this awesome thing in cities called A TAXI!

Woot.

This is what a shortened bike ride looks like:

http://www.movescount.com/moves/move151980701

Now I’m working on my bike and trying to figure out what happened: a hole in the replacement tube. I am working on my bike and cleaning it up – Yes, Mark, it’s very dirty and I’m going to take better care of her.

Here’s my work area, in the sun room off the kitchen. 

I just bought this new bike pump. My old one was 13 years old. It was time. 

I’m going to be better about taking care of my bike and hopefully never be stranded outside of Concord again.

It was a beautiful day riding around Concord before the flat. All the routes are very hilly and great scenery. I can't wait to see the landscape when it become more green. I'm excited for all the bike routes. 

I have eight 4,000 footers in New Hampshire to hike

Today I discovered while reading my AMC White Mountain Guide 24^th edition that I have eight 4,000 footers to hike; the edition I bought in 1988. 

The back of the book lists all the 4,000 footers. I wrote in the dates of the mountains I’ve hiked. I’ve always thought that I have six left but when I recounted with book in hand there are eight.

Garfield

Hancock

Flume

South Hancock

Cabot

Hale

Owl’s Head

Waumbek.

 I have a plan.

I will finish these hikes in 2017. 

Living in the Capital City, Concord NH

I'm finally here - back to New Hampshire.
I found a new job, new home and new running routes.

After spending 7 weeks in Rye, NH spending time with my family I moved to Concord this week.

I have to say the city is pretty cool.

I live walking distance to work, the library and the State Capital building.

Life is good here albeit snow and rain for the last week that hampered plans. Despite all the good things happening to me I can't believe what is going on in our world: Syria, Trump, the environment and so much more.

I'm getting back to my training plan and writing but I'm also going to get more involved in making change. We need to get our state, country and world to where it needs to be. That means less death, war and environmental degradation.

We all need to do our part and I will do mine. I'm trying to figure out a way through writing and endurance sports. Stay tuned.

Ironman stats, last three races

My friend Amy, from Texas is working on a math and science project with her sixth-graders. She asked me for all my stats for the last three races including temperature and elevation.
It was fun to go get the stats and remember some good times.

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The Woodlands, Texas, May 2015, age 44

Swim: 1:40, Bike 6:42, Run 4:59. Total: 13:37

Temp: hot and humid

Elevation: 150

Lake Placid, New York, July 2016, age 45

Swim: 1:32, Bike 7:08, Run 5:30. Total: 14:24

Temp: hot and humid

Elevation: 1,801

Ironman Arizona, Tempe, November 2016, age 46

Swim: 1:37, Bike 6:50, Run 4:58. Total: 13:41

Temp: hot and humid

Elevation: 150

Since I'm not racing an Ironman this year it was fun to visit websites I haven't looked at obsessively as in past years. Ironman Lake Placid is sold out as of today. Ironman Boulder, a race I was considering in 2017 is $740 to register. Ironman Canada has spots open and costs $730. Ironman Arizona is sold out. Ironman Texas is open and costs $735.

I will stick to running races in 2017.

Houston Marathon, it's getting real

Happy New Year, Out with Old, In with the New

2017 - a new start - a new year - and new goals.

The 50 mile trail run is out.

Running 1,000 miles in 2017 is in. #runstreak2017

Reading more.
Writing more.

That is what 2017 is going to be about.

I'm currently reading two books.

On the Road by Jack Kerouac.

“I was halfway across America, at the dividing line between the East of my youth and the West of my future.” Kerouac

 And John Fleck's Water is for Fighting Over and Other Myths about Water in the West.

 Both are for work related stories and both are such great reads. I highly recommend.