Author: Mark Allman

A good early morning to ride. Winter is letting up a bit. The temperature was in the low 40’s with a very stiff wind. Nowhere near the black ice risk as there was a few days ago.

Today’s ride was an 8.05 mile rolling hills route. Pace was 4:50. Weight was 152.4.

On the plus side, the temperature was “warmer” at about 30 degrees. On the minus side, there was black ice everywhere. I avoided it for the most part and only skidded out a bit once. Lots of creeping around corners and cautious navigating.

The route was a rather flat 7.15 mile route on the bike. Pace was about 5:00 due to the ice. Weight was 152.8.

A very cold morning. The sun being out brilliantly in a cloudless sky helps though. The wind was coming from the north so it was a bit chilly.

The route was a rolling 4.82 miles on the bike. Pace was 4:58, almost identical to yesterday. Weight was 151.6.

Early snow shoveling and then time on the bike. . Glad to be able to get out after a few days of iffy weather. Today’s actually the first day I’ve ridden right after a snowstorm. Very little snow on the roads except for the occasional driveway plow leftovers.

Distance on the bike was 8.05 miles on a rolling course. Pace was about 4:57. I wasn’t interested in anything faster — too cold for that. Weight was 152.6.

Good day on the bike. Still too cold to let the speed get very high, but pushing a bit and feeling the pain and burn just feels good. We are a strange group (runners, cyclists, etc.).

The ride was a 7.8 mile mostly flat or gently rolling route but with some vertical. One short (0.14 mile) climb has a grade from 8 to 12 percent. Pace was 5:00. Weight was 151.8.

A cold morning at 17 degrees before the wind chill. I took it slower than normal on the downhills. I’d rather be frozen outside than sitting on a trainer inside.

Route was a 3.76 mile hills loop around home. Pace was 6:12 but I kept the speed down — too cold on the forehead. Weight was 154.6.

Tried a short run. Nope. The knee isn’t ready at all. Walking around — fine. The impact stress — painful. OK, time for plan B. I’ll give the knee a few days and then get on the bike. Whenever racing actually starts up again I plan to be ready.

Today was a 1.51 mile run on a route with some hills. Pace was 09:52. Weight was 153.5.

Good day to switch off to the bike. Sunny with temperatures in the 30’s. Lots of wind but it wasn’t a bitter wind.

Distance was about 5.6 miles and included a few good hills. I didn’t time the ride — the main goal was knee rehab. It’s so strange that there’s literally no pain at all on a ride day but running is a different story. Weight was 152.2.

Back on the road after a few days of knee rest. I have no doubt that I’m rushing the rehab/recovery. I am not the best at giving things time to mend.

Today’s run was a 1.51 mile route with two hills. Pace was about 9:40. Weight (oddly) is up to 153.8.

Today’s a day off to rest the knee. Seven days straight on the road as of today. We’ll see what early tomorrow morning looks like.