Off the Beaten Path

I spent a little time this weekend off-roading. The upsides include a whole lot of relaxing nature and no cars. The downside is that you can't get a consistent workout like you do on the road.

I can't wait to get my mountain bike that's on layaway and go ride the trails at the nearby national forest. There is supposed to be an insane amount of mileage available, that I could hopefully go all day long.

This weekend, I rode my hybrid-ish 29er through some serious mud and did some scientific testing. I say "ish" because most hybrids are total poser POS bikes you wouldn't try anything on, but this one is pretty decent with a bitchin frame. Anyway, the larger wheel diameters are truly amazing, even with semi-slick narrow commuter tires on them. All I had to do was sit back over the rear wheel and I could easily motor through some very deep mud.

The next test yeilded some awesome results as well. I could pedal straight at a standard street curb and the bike would go right over it without pulling up on the handlebars whatsoever. This shows how little resistance logs and rocks pose towards the bike. Very impressive.

So, I can't wait to go get the new bike. I still have a long ways to go on payments, though. I've bought many bikes on layaway, and it does keep you out of debt while providing motivation to keep saving money towards your goal.

Sent from my iPhone

Podcast - Ironbaby 2009!

Click HERE to listen.

Chalk marks in driveway to count the 8+ loops of running.

Join in for the biggest ZenTri episode of the year - The IronBaby self-supported Ironman!  I take you along for the ride as I swim 2.4 miles at a local pool, bike 112 miles around my town, and then finish it off with 26.2 miles of running around my neighborhood. 

Swam next to the Texas A&M women's swim team.

That's right, a self-supported Ironman!  It's an amazing experience and I encourage you to try it yourself. This is my third and each is better than the last.

Roxy joining in on the run.

Not only was the race free, we raised over $1200 for charity.  And there was lots of carnage along the way.  I had to get out of the way for guys training to be Navy SEALs, a hellacious front came through on the bike, I wrecked, flatted, and so much more.

Kai biking with me on the run.

I cap off the show with some other great audio.  Not only did I record some night trail running in a lightning storm, I also captured the sounds of backpacking through the national forest with my son and dad.

Here's a link to the official page and race course times.  Enjoy the show and let's see you out there with me next year!

SHOWNOTES:

• Prepping all the gear.
• Course is measured, but using GPS as backup just in case.
• Driving to swim with Emily.
• There should be a Mom App on the iPhone.
• Roxy is angry with us.
• Emily threatens to shove me into a mailbox. She is so sweet!
• Race review with werewolves and Kai.
• Night trail running with friends.
• Backpacking with three generations of studs in the Sam Houston National Forest.
• Grading your races by "Happiness Index".

Click HERE to listen.

Off the Wagon!

I'm officially off the workout wagon and need to get back on. I'd really enjoy some mountain biking right about now, but I don't own a bike that can handle it! Dangit dangit dangit. Oh well.

REI sent out a new flyer with some sweet bikes inside. Keep your eyes open for it. It's a nice read. Just not whiledriving/texting/eating... Pretty much anythng that ends in "ing".

Vote for Your Favorite Logo!

@Mollybermea whipped up some logos for me to use for business cards. They rock!  I definitely need help picking just one.  Please vote for your favorite in the comments!

Simplicity Strikes Again

My Dad and I took Kai (5 years old) with us backpacking on the Lone Star Trail this weekend.  It's a 150 mile trail that winds through the Sam Houston National Forest.  Deep in thick and tall pine forest, you feel like you're really getting away from it all.

We hiked in about 3 miles and then pitched our tents right before it got dark.  You can camp and build fires anywhere along the trail, depending on forest fire potential conditions and hunting seasons.  The next day, we packed up and finished out a loop by hiking about another 4 miles back to the car.  Kai carried his own sleeping bag in a backpack.

I could go on and on about how backpacking and primitive camping is made easier and safer by going simple and light.  The number of examples is infinite.  But, one of my favorite methods lately is a certain type of stove - the MSR Pocket Rocket.

You just screw the "stove" to the canister and light.  That's it.  You can save lots of fuel by being able to turn it off quickly and light it back up again with just a flick of a lighter.  If you wanted to light a real campfire, you could hold it by the canister and point it at the pile of twigs you want to catch alight.  Nice!

Big props to my dad for coming out and hiking the trail.  And to those of you that think that 5 years old is too young for primitive backpacking, Kai didn't want to leave and is talking about going back as soon as we can.  Kids are as tough as they are awesome!