Author Archives: Al

Christmas, 2017

Posted on December 24, 2017 by Al

It’s been a quiet year in Gig Harbor, our hometown. Mostly because we were here so rarely. Skiing in Snowmass January and February. Early March, a trip to California: Sebastopol, Morro Bay, and LA for Cheryl’s 50th HS reunion (Pacific … Continue reading →

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The End of The Road

Posted on December 22, 2017 by Al

The Western tip of Cuba angles towards the south, pointing directly across the entrance to the Gulf of Mexico at Cancun, 250 kilometers away. Twelve days on the road, 1600 kilometers total, from Baracoa at the far Eastern end of … Continue reading →

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Valle Viñales

Posted on December 19, 2017 by Al

Leandro Malagon, or at least the top half of him, rose monumentally above the deserted plaza. A stray hound emerged from the base, and I squatted to get the correct perspective on the heroic statue which jutted incongruously from the … Continue reading →

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The Two Als: ‘Bama and Franken

Posted on December 16, 2017 by Al

I wish Al Franken had said this instead: “What I did was wrong, and I have violated the trust of those who voted for me. I should not be representing the people of Minnesota in the Senate, just as Roy … Continue reading →

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Americano KOM

Posted on December 9, 2017 by Al

Big Jim had been chuckling nervously about today’s ride for the proceeding two weeks. “ ‘Americano. A masculine name, but a bitch of a climb.’ That’s what it says on the website itinerary.” He had mentioned this almost daily, and … Continue reading →

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Charco Azul

Posted on December 6, 2017 by Al

After cycling all morning and into the afternoon from Playa Giron, along the Bay of Pigs, we headed across the swamp lands of southern Matanzas, towards the town of Australia. The odd name of this little municipality stems from the … Continue reading →

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Modifying Training For Aging…

Posted on November 28, 2017 by Al

I’m altering my training plan in deference to the increasing need for recovery as I get older. Without knowing what the best approach might be, I started out by putting myself on a 10 day, rather than a 7 day … Continue reading →

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Old Dog, New Tricks – II

Posted on November 27, 2017 by Al

Zwift is an indoor cycling training tool, disguised as a video game which uses a bike trainer as the controller. In recent months, it has reached critical mass, with word of mouth generating an acceleration in new users. I’m one … Continue reading →

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Piriformis Sciatica

Posted on November 24, 2017 by Al

I’ve been going through piriformis/sciatica issues for the past year. It was a one time event in mid-Dec ’16, when I tried to do some fast intervals and immediately felt it in my butt. It took about 2 months before … Continue reading →

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Old Dog, New Tricks – I

Posted on November 6, 2017 by Al

Two years ago, we started seeing running “power meters” appear for sale. Several modalities were tried. One used force sensors in an insole to be placed in a shoe. Another used accelerometers in a chest strap. Finally, a little footpod … Continue reading →

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