Hopefully everyone is in full swing with their training. For you newbies that haven't started your training..now is the time! STOP PROCRASTINATING!Get yourself signed up at a spinclass, go to the Y or a local gym. Swimming, running, elipticals and yoga are great ways to mix it up to improve your overall fitness. Try and get at least 2 rides in a week and set small improvement goals every week...one week do 20-30 minutes (don't spin too fast to early...pace yourself!) the next week add 10 minutes to your ride. Consistency is the key! (and bike shorts too!)...the more you do now the easier this ride will be and the sooner you get to the beer tent! let me know how your training is going... Marksy
Training is going great, I am training at walking the back and forth between the tent area, and showers, with beer tent stop each way, hope to start on blowing up air mattress soon, but beer tent practice comes first. cheers.
I am nervous about being prepared for the ride. I figure I'll be the perfect test case for people for next year who have never done anything like this before. I am following the training schedule and completed everything for January...3 rides a week, slowly increasing my time, distance and intensity. Right now I am doing 2, 45 minute spinning classes a week, and one ride on my trainer at home on the weekend. The only kind of riding I have done prior to this is around my neighbourhood with the kids. The kids have trouble keeping up no matter how slow I ride...so needless to say I don't think this is a good comparator! So my biggest concern is that although I am working hard in my training, I wonder if it is actually hard enough. I wonder if I am in for a shock when I get outside on my bike and have real hills and wind resistance to deal with. I did buy a HR monitor this week, and I am working at the top of my HR zone...if not above during the class...but will that be enough?
If you keep doing what your doing you will have no problem at all!!...being consistent and training at pushing your limits with your HR zones is great. you will be better prepared than most...really!...i seen all kinds of people last year at this event of all ages, sizes, and with the wrong equipment...and they all did it....because it's not a race...you ride a smart pace...and you get through it...the aid stations are placed well and allow you to take a break if need be. The cool thing is that there are 2850 other riders out there with you and that alone gives you great adrenaline. Trust me...keep doing what you are doing and you will do amazing! Marksy
HaHa...very nice Washago Rider!!!...don't forget to account for trips to the portapotty!...if you buy an air pump for the mattress perhaps you can allocate that extra time for some spinning!...get er done!
Ah , wise Marksy. I will take your advise. Although I do think given the hard effort and what will likley be exceptional training by Kari, Perhaps I can get this person to blow up the air mattress with extra wind and still go with the beer tent specialty. Good point on the potty, I'll fit that in some how. Kari , sounds like your way ahead, you will do fine like Marksy says, there are all kinds, the rest stops are great, and the adrenaline of so many make the miles fly by. Also check out a training ride or 2 this spring that the guides put on, that way you can gauge your self. ; )
I am a newbie joining this year. I have a trainer and run 3 times a week. Should I still go to a spinning class? Anyone from Bradford and surrounding? Tami
Hi Tami B, with your running 3 times a week are you training for another event?...I am from Innisfil but train mostly at work in Toronto. Others may disagree but i would say not necessary with regards to a spin class. I do a lot of running and some swimming which are great cross training activities but for a new rider i would recommend getting on the trainer as often as possible. A trainer would be better because your body position on a spin bike is slightly different than being on your own bike. The plus of a spin class is that it can keep you motivated (somewhat accountable to the rest of the group) as well an instructor may get the most out of you whereas at home you may not push as hard to test your limits. i have a trainer at home (but don't use it really) and i have spin bikes available to me at work...much more convenient for me. The most important thing is to make sure you are spinning on a regular basis and you'll be just fine!
Hey! The beer tent sounds good! You forgot to mention elbow exercises; you don't want repetitive strain injuries from swigging your beer. Maybe some good resistance training would prevent tennis elbow! OK; on a more serious note: I find that with all this snow, if you have the time, some really good cross training is cross-country skiing; skate or classic; just work your butt off for a couple of hours; awesome. I do it twice weekly in addition to the trainer, running, swimming and weights (and beer drinking). HR way up there the whole time. I also agree that training with the HR monitor is a great way to keep yourself at the top of your game. You folks all sound like you are on the right track....no worries....alcohol tolerance aside See you at the ride! CHEERS!
ok That countdown REALLY was like a smack upside the head... WOW
I have been so focused on other countdowns in my life (trips etc) that I didn't even THINK the ride was so freaking SOON!
I was one of the really bright people (edited myself there) who trained a TOTAL of 100km TOTAL for the ride. Did I mention TOTAL?
Needless to say, I WAS HURTING DAY TWO... a lot.
Although I was perfectly well trained for the beer tent. Not going to lie, perfected that part of it... really, I mean I could help you with a training scheduale.
Having admitted to all this, I would say that you are well on your way to an AWESOME event!
Also, I think it is time I take the bike out of storage... would really like to not be one of the last ten too finish this year...
(p.s. no making any of this up, no dramatic effect here, I was REALLY that ill-prepared and I FINISHED!)
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It's about being SMART!
You suckkaaaaaaa! ;)
Hi I am a newbie to this and I am scared and excited all at the same time. I am training on a spinncycle right now 3 times a week and working out the other 2 days of the week. I have just bought a new 21 speed road bike for the ride and have been riding out side two times now but I get tired so easy and when I get off the bike my legs feel like jello and I am having a hard time getting up hills I am so worried that I wont be able to do this ride am I doing all that I can or should I be doing more thanking you in advace for your answers. just under 3 month till the ride and I am getting scared :) chizbum
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I have been walking my arse off all winter, abdominal surgery aside. I pick up my bike in 16 days...not that i'm counting or anything. I'm trying to hike 20 km at least 2 times a week, increasing as March ends. I'll be out making up the biking time in April. I am in better shape than people think, all things considered.
I'm nervous, but I know we can all do this. I'm to moron who told my brother on his deathbed I was doing the M200..so by day two I'll be a ray of sunshine. BUt I'm riding as a survivor (twice) and in Jerry's memory, so I'm motivated.
Looking forward to meeting everyone on the trails and on the ride.
Anyone interesting in training in Hamilton in mid-April, or starting out slow in the start of the month? I have asthma and have to take breaks for air and pain meds, but I can go all day. If you're a speed demon, you'll hate me. I'm fast, but in spurts, and more slow and steady.
I'll be at the March 20th Orientation at Wentworth Heights..is it village...Community living..hell, my mother's in there, why i screw up the name I know not. 10 a.m, Upper Wentworth and Rymal road on Hamilton mountain. Chase Cameron. Looking very forward to possibly putting faces and names together. I'm also trying to start a slow and steady M200 team for my brother, Jerry's Legacy M200...we'll see if I end up the only member.
Cheers, and we can all do this. After cancer, this is gravy. Mmmm...gravy.
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Another newbie here! Really excited about the Ride as I missed the deadline last year because I waited and waited for someone, ANYONE to commit with me. Well, this year I said to heck with friends and family and signed on by myself. And I'm so looking forward to it!!
Training, going well, I think. I've been doing Tony Horton's P90X since Jan 8/10 (has anyone done this? it's fantastic!), currently in week 10 of 13. In February I started on my trainer 2 or 3 times a week (on P90X weights days). Hope I am ready. Looking forward to getting outside with my new training partner (found in another post over the winter - Hi Sue!). Anyone else interested in joining us, we are from the Bowmanville/Oshawa/Whitby way....
I've never ridden in a pack before, so I wouldn't mind some group rides prior to the Ride...
Lisa? I have never done anything like this, now my bike won't be ready for another week, but I started a team. Of one. I'm IT. LOL. How's that for positive mental attitude. My brother died of leukemia in November so it's team JERRY'S LEGACY, the M200 ride.
I don't know anyone who will join, ride the 200 mile route, and isn't after being fastest. I'm just getting on the mountain bike, with my fat tires and going steady the entire ride. Family won't even sponsor me, much less ride with me, none of my friends bike. One does, and she won't do it because of the mandatory 2,500$ to raise and, more, the helmet requirement. I can't shame her into a helmet. I offered to BUY her one.
We'll all be fine. I'm finally at 68% of my goal, hoping to get the rest in by end of April or the stress will give me a brain aneurysm, training alone, fundraising alone, YouTUbing my brains out to raise funds.
Feel free to email and we can try to keep each other all motivated: cannondalefreak@live.com
i'm in Hamilton, Downtown. Should be on the trail by first not raining day of April. Shooting for the 2nd. Possibly sooner. IF anyone wants to meet me in Brantoford by third week of April, at the Gordon greaves (sp) memorial site, 32 km along Hamilton to Cambridge Rail trail and explain how to get/find the trail in real life to get to the other blasted side of Brantford and continue on to Paris and Cambridge, I'd appreciate it. I have a trail map from the trail center, but on the trail, I can't find the indicators this is the right or wrong way.
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Never Give Up; Never Surrender! Strength in Numbers. Livestrong!
. Maybe some good resistance training would prevent tennis elbow! 
See you at the ride!
