Sprinting and Cry-Breathing

#followcamfriday chasing Frenchie in Sedona. If you hear any whimpering, it's just me back here trying. 

One thing is certain. After spending a few weeks in Sedona this past February, I came away a fitter man. It turns out that all of the sprinting I did to keep Alex in sight made me reasonably fit. Despite trying my best to offset this with wine and chocolate, I still came away net positive on the fitness thing.  I call that having my cake and eating it too. 

Sedona is not really known for its sustained downhills, and the Soldier Wash area is no exception. This area offers some of the more natural and less sanitized trails in the area, but make no mistake, you will earn every inch of it. By earn, I mean, cough up blood to make things interesting.... But, with effort, these trails become very interesting. These are the type of trails that are ho-hum if you are just cruising, but if you are sprinting like your life depends on it, shit gets real. Real quick. 

Speaking of sprinting, walking Pete these days is the opposite of sprinting. More meandering than anything. Pete is 12 and has lived the best life of any dog I know. He is still fit as a fiddle but I just can't bring myself to run him hard anymore. He will basically run till he explodes, so I have to exercise some restraint. We just cruise now. Pretty refreshing if you ask me. 

This is the look I get when Pete has had his walk and it is time for me to actually ride. He lays the guilt on hard, but I think he understands that I need to get my exercise too. A bowl of water, a bit of food, a couple of treats and it is nap time for Mr. Pete. If only my life were that simple. I have responsibilities, like typing this stupid blog and managing my Instagram account. I wish Pete could Instagram for me. 

So what were we doing? Oh yeah.... Sprinting. Alex is abnormally fit and holds most of the KOM's in the valley. Or Lars. Take your pick. I swear sometimes these two plan their schedules opposite so that when one gets tired, the other one has had a couple of days off and is ready to try and kill me. I think they are conspiring against me. Fresh Alex plus fresh Lars equals one very tired Nate. All in the name of training I suppose. 

This photo demonstrates the proper way to enter a turn. It's science, duh. If you haven't been paying attention, try turning the wrong way, just before you turn the right way. Got that? Poetry in motion. Nothing makes your bike fall into the turn better. Send Alex a dollar. He just taught you something. 

Alert AF
It is still snowing in Colorado as I type these words. Since returning from NZ, I have ridden my mountain bike once. I have been riding my gravel bike in the snow and skiing a bunch. And drinking wine. Lots of wine. It's almost time to get back on the road and make some magic for the people. Summer will be here before we know it. I guess I am ready. Road trip.