I initially entitled this post "Fall, Family, Friends, and Fun" as it got more to the point of this post, but FFFF didn't seem to be as upbeat of an ancroynm as AAAA.
My last post (Cat Up or Not) might have given some readers the impression that I rigidly live and breath intervals, work-outs, WKO+, and schedules. However, my planning prowess can also be used for activities that might appeal to you non-sadists out there. By the time my off-season was just a scan six days old, I already had something fun and interesting planned out right through November.
But this isn't a post for me to "wow" you with my organizational skills. Instead, I'm hoping that in sharing my look ahead here at the Trainer Confessions, I might be able to drum up a little extra participation at some events that are sure to be a blast and will allow you to chaulk up some lasting memories. But I'm also sharing this for a selfish reason -- I'm hoping to get a bunch of friendly faces to populate the field to increase my off-season fun factor.
Family
I already kicked off the off-season fun this past weekend with what I hope was the first of many "Spooky rides" (that's what my two little ones called it). Mrs D and I both had our headlights on by the end of our hour long family rail trail ride on Sunday evening, but within a few weeks our rides will get a little scarier as we'll likely be barrelling down the Airline trail absent of any light aside what we're projecting from our handlebars.
Pulling over to turn the lights on
Good causes
Sticking with the family theme, Mrs D, the Train & the girls, and I will all line up for the 35 mile option at the Oct 1st Pedal for Paws (they also have a 25 mile and a 50 mile option). Last year the girls got their first taste of pack riding (we even challenged Dave J for a town line sprint!) and they got such a thrill when the Expo contingent overtook us while loudly cheering for the girls. And Mrs D got her first, second, and third tastes of what could have been the best-ever post ride dessert table, so there's something in store for all of the Desmarais family when we line up to help raise money for homeless cats.
But before the Desmarais clan heads to Old Saybrook, I will be headed down to New Haven this Saturday for a rally called Moving Planet. Right now I plan to ride the 36 miles down to the 4 PM event alone (and likely be headed back again alone, but in the dark) so if you're interested in showing your support, please let me know. Here's a short snippet on what the hole thing is about: "Moving Planet is a worldwide rally to demand solutions to the climate crisis. Come on bike, on skates, on a board, or just on foot."
Speaking of showing support, at the tail end of October I'll be lending a hand at the Expo Wheelmen's first ever Silk City Cyclo-Cross race at Manchester Community College. I've never raced Cross before so even though I'll just be there in a support capacity, I'm excited to take part in what I've been told is a rockin' good time. But in addition to the fun factor, helping at the event will allow me to in turn support the casuses of the event. A portion of each entry will be donated to the MCC Foundation scholarship fund, and in cooperation with Manchester Community College there will be a food drive to benefit MACC Charities.
Racing for Fun
For those of you who know my competive side, you'll surely realize that my appetite for racing won't be satied simply by helping and cheering at the Silk City race. I've got two races penciled in for the fall, but in order to adhere to my FFFF guiding principle for the off-season, each race definitely needs to have a big Fun and Friends component.
I have no plans to break my promise to avoid intervals in preparation for my first race on Oct 22nd, but I might have to stop at Dunkin Donuts to get in some race day prep for the first ever Donut Derby. I honestly cannot recall the last time I've eaten a donut (we're talking in terms of years here), so I'll clearly be at a disadvantage at this event as each donut consumed knocks off 90 seconds from your overall race time.
On the other hand, Cycling Concept's Dirty Dozen race on Nov 5th plays right into my wheelhouse. There's no way I can pass up on a hilly challenge that tackles 13 ascents up roads I regularly train on. But the biggest reason I get excited about this race (I competed each of the last two years) is that the format of the race offers me a great way to chit chat and socialize with friends. While everyone hauls butt up the hills as soon as the whistle blows (btw, the hills all can be climbed in 2 or3 minutes at most, many in far less time), the entire field regroups at the top. So it amounts to a friendly group ride that gets painfully interupted by 13 min-races.
Glutton for Punishment
And the word pain is a nice segue to the final part of my off-season plan. Though I admit that these two entries hardly adhere to the FFFF guidelines if done solo, I am hoping to recruit a few sadists to join me in my adventures.
Anyone interested in helping to break up the monotony of my first ever attempt at a double centry? I don't have Columbus day off from work, so I've decided to ride home to CT from Cape Cod and let Mrs D and the girls extend their stay to a full three days. I've completed a 192 mile ride last fall, but I had the luxury of three far more experieneced riders pulling me for probably the last 50 miles. 200 miles alone on Oct 9th might cause me to go crazy.
And speaking of crazy, I was inspired by the "Hill Junkie" to begin planning my own slightly shorter (with perhaps "only" 9,000 feet of climbing!) version of his Berkshire Boondoogle. I'm aiming to do it on the weekend of Oct 15th so that the spectacular fall colors of Massachusett's Berkshire Mountains will help to ease my pain as I tackle hills (or should I say mountains) like Greylock and East Hawley. Drop me a line if you might want to join me on this adventure.
That's all I've got for now, though I think it might be hard to cram anymore FFFF into my off-season. That said, if there's something tempting that I've missed, don't hestitate to make your own Autumn Awesome Adventure Announcement.
