Low Energy - High Hopes

Personal energy level has been great of late, so much so, that it was reasonable to reduce my calorie intake, specifically protein, so I eliminated one ounce of turkey and one ounce of ground beef from my daily diet.  Seemingly nothing significant and initially a sound decision.  Then Saturday arrived.

Running errands, suddenly everything sounded good to eat.  Driving past a pizza parlor, In-and-Out, a donut shop, a build your own salad place, ok I’m kidding about the salad place, but EVERYTHING else sounded delicious plus my energy was dropping as the day grew longer.  It was clear the eliminated protein had to make a return which it did for dinner that evening but the damage was done.

Sunday morning arrived but my energy did not.  The usual breakfast did not help.  Nothing was helping and I had a return trip to Redwood Road on the calendar, 48 miles, 3000 feet of climbing, and 3900 calories of energy I didn’t have to give.  I would have canceled but already committed to ride with a friend (not my usual riding buddy, although he would have gone with me had I asked, he’s that kind of friend) at 11 am after church and dreading it.

In the garage preparing for the ride and focusing on my low energy I recalled something our pastor said earlier that morning.  Talking about how we are gifted with unique talents he said, “As Christians we don’t have to serve others, we get to serve others.”  It’s about attitude and thinking of the pending ride in that context I came to this conclusion: I don’t have to ride, I get to ride.  My gosh, I have a nice road bike, I’m healthy, the weather was beautiful (again), a friend is willing to ride with me, and most importantly I have a wife that supports my training and trip to Burundi.

I get to ride in support of a great school in Burundi that will educate generations of young men and women. I felt a sense of hope that I could tackle the ride.  Well off we went and I’m happy to report, a) I made it home, b) we did not stop at a donut shop along the way, and c) I increased my average speed by 0.5 miles per hour from the same ride two weeks ago.  What a gift!  The speed increase tells me I’m in better shape than two weeks ago and is such an encouragement.  Had I canceled I wouldn’t have seen the increased speed and I would have been mad at myself for “quitting” the Redwood ride.  Talk about two outcomes that could not be more different.

So carrying on that theme, if you’re contemplating supporting the school, think of it as, “I get to support the school, not I have to support the school.”  Please give because that little voice inside you is prompting you to do so not because you will feel guilty the next time you see Burundi Dave.   Only cheerful givers please.

Switching gears for a moment I want to make this promise to you.  As noted above, I am a Christian, most of you know that but some don’t.  Now you all do.  I promise never to preach at you about the Christian faith.  I’ve never known anyone who thinks Christianity is something worth exploring while being beaten over the head with a bible.  I just won’t do it and I respect people’s point of view that is different than mine.  That said, my faith in Christ is the cornerstone on which I build my life and there will be times, like today, when my faith will weave its way into a post.  If you ever feel like I go off the preachy deep end let me know.  One person’s non-preachy post may be another’s crazy rant so it would be good to hear your perspective.

Thanks for checking out my blog!!

Man Down!

Wednesday’s are weigh-in days and after dropping ten pounds Week 1 and one pound Week 2 I really had no idea what to expect.  Mind you, this IS an event!  A couple minute chat with the nutritionist about how my week went that generally goes something like this:  Were you hungry?   Only when I was awake.  How was your energy level? Seemed to pick up when preparing meals for myself.  How are you feeling today?  I don’t care. May I please step on the scale now?

After getting the green light there is the ceremonial removal of any unnecessary weight.  Wallet.  Check.  Keys.  Check.  Phone.  Check.  Shoes.  Check.  Wedding ring.  Check.  Gold teeth.  Checkth.

So the moment of truth….Man down 4 pounds!!  A total of 15 since I reworked my eating routine three weeks ago, 70 pounds total since I began this effort a year and a half ago, and now 30 pounds away from the ultimate prize of 100 pounds shed from this frame.  Very good Burundi Dave, very good!

With 30 pounds to go, the century mark target date has been fine-tuned as a trainer at the gym suggested a website that calculates the amount of calories burned daily, the amount of calories consumed daily, then projects the date 30 additional pounds should be gone.   Current average daily burn rate is 4,100 calories and consuming 1,700.  With those figures the target date is now April 10^th…..2013.  I think I’ll celebrate that day by adding a slice of turkey to my breakfast!!

April 10^th would be tremendous because it leaves a month before boarding a plane to burn/consume equal calories which should translate into faster recovery which must happen if I am to ride outside on back-to back-to-back days which is indeed scheduled to begin mid-April.

Just a great day and the future is looking bright!  Hey if you’re looking to brighten someone’s future why not take a moment and click on this donate button and make a contribution to the Gitega International Academy?  It's tax deductible and takes less than five minutes.  Go on!  Give it a go!

I’m training no matter what but it sure does provide a burst of energy when I see a contribution come through. Thanks to those who have already given.  $1,100 donated so far, which is fantastic, but $15,000 is the ultimate prize.  Maybe that number will be achieved April 10^th.  If that’s the case I’m adding two slices of turkey to my breakfast. 

Knackered on Diablo - Training Day 3

knack-ered [nak-erd]

adjective British Slang. exhausted; very tired: He is really knackered after riding Diablo today.

Can’t be certain of this but when the name Mount Diablo, originally Monte del Diablo - Thicket of the Devil, was bestowed upon the subject of today’s training ride I doubt it was considered that someday people would voluntarily subject themselves to climbing to the 3,849 foot summit on bicycles but it happens daily as this is one of the more popular rides in Northern California.

So popular in fact that it was just announced this week that the 7^th stage of the Tour of California will end at the summit.  Very cool!  Those riders are concerned about beating their competitors and their overall time.  When I ride Diablo I’m only concerned about getting home in time for dinner.

It’s a fantastic ride and climbing 3,500 feet in 11 miles presents its challenges but today was made easier because I was joined by my riding buddy who encouraged me a year and a half ago to start riding.  He is pictured here to the right of the Junction Ranger Station. The Junction is where the road from the South, our route, and the road from the North meet to form one road to the summit.  It was great riding with him (as usual) although this time, as we struggled up the mountain, he would shout out encouraging? words like, “There’s still time to cancel your flight to Burundi!”.  My laughter made me forget about my burning thighs.

We made it past the Junction, about 7 miles into the 11, and continued to the top.  About a mile from the summit is a hairpin turn called Devil’s Elbow.  More like the Devil’s elbow jabbed into my thighs.  It marks the end of 3 miles of pretty intense climbing where it is best to keep one’s eyes focused on the pavement about two feet out in front and not look up to the road ahead.

If that weren’t enough, the last 300 feet, not elevation, but distance, is a 17% grade that I have never been able to ride up.  It’s a humbling walk to the top but that’s the key phrase, isn’t it?  To the Top!!  This sign is a welcome sight and it’s literally all downhill from there as we rested a few minutes and enjoyed 11 miles of coasting to the valley floor!

Here’s the elevation profile to give you some perspective of the climb.

It was a great day!!

If you’re new to the blog please make sure to click on the "introduction" button at the top of this page. There you can learn about what this blog is really all about.  Also check out the links under the "Donate Here & Other Info" banner to get all sorts of cool information about the school for which we are riding and the person organizing the Tour du Burundi. 

Motivation

There are many reasons why I’m doing the Tour du Burundi, the main one of course, is to raise awareness and donations for the Academy, but there are many sub-reasons, for lack of a better term, as well.

Today, I’ll focus on weight loss.

A bit of history first.  About 18 months ago, a couple good friends started encouraging me to do something about my overweight condition.  To motivate myself I signed up for a century (100 mile) ride in San Luis Obispo - The Lighthouse Ride, about two months out from when I committed.  Seeing I was doing little to train one of my two friends showed up at my front door one Sunday, bike in hand, and said it’s now or never.

It wasn’t pretty.  Large man on a road bike in spandex, and let me tell you I put the “span” in spandex, cycling up and down San Ramon Valley.  30 miles, flat, I was exhausted.  That was August 7, 2011.

My friend and I spent the next 8 weeks, 6 days a week, riding together.  Many mornings of greeting each other with “I wouldn’t be out here if it weren’t for you” and the reply, “Right back at you”. During the rides we covered a wide variety of topics, one of which, the food I was eating.  I made significant changes.

Well we completed The Lighthouse and I was down about 20 pounds and with that encouragement I joined a new gym, kept refining my eating habits, and lost 55 pounds over the next year or so.

It’s been great but I was stuck at that weight and nothing seemed to reduce it further.  Then the idea of the Tour du Burundi came up and I knew if I committed to it I would be motivated to rework my eating/workout program.

And rework it I have.  In addition to outdoor riding chronicled in this blog, two weeks ago I started working with someone who changed what, when, and how I eat, and educated me on what to avoid, no more oatmeal was a surprise,  One week ago was my first weigh-in and I lost 10 pounds.  Stepping off the scale I start doing the happy dance thinking, “I lost ten pounds, I lost te….”.  That’s when the nutritionist said, “You know it’s mostly water”.

Talk about bursting my (water) balloon!  Later that day I’m sharing this story with my wife while contemplating how many King Size Snickers I was going to eat that day to help with my depressed state and she said, “Who cares what you call it?  10 pounds is 10 pounds”.  Sage woman.  She is right and I don’t care if it’s water, fat, hair gel, whatever, it’s 10 less pounds I have to drag up Mount Diablo at that’s a very good thing.

So today was weigh-in day 2.  One week since the “water” comment.  I had high hopes but the scale said down only one pound.  Really?!  I’m trying to stay positive but my wife is hiding the King Size Snickers in case I don’t.

So that’s 66 cumulative pounds lost since August 7, 2011.  Pretty cool!  My goal by the time I board the Burundi—bound plane is 100 pounds.  34 pounds in 13 weeks.  Totally doable!!  I’ll keep you posted.

By the way, it’s great to have friends like my Lighthouse riding buddy.

Redwood Road - Training Day 2

Ahh Redwood Road.  50 miles and 3000 feet of elevation gain.  Day 2 of outside riding on February 10.  Stunning day, weather-wise, and I’m always amazed at how within minutes of leaving the house, well for me it’s more like hours because I ride so slow, that you can find yourself on a little two lane road with scenery like the one in this picture.

I was pretty happy when I took this picture because the serious climbing was behind me and I felt good!

Was a bit apprehensive starting out on this ride because I recently made a dramatic change to my diet and was concerned I wouldn’t have the energy to complete the ride.  Last week in fact, while happy with my shoulder, I was quite light-headed the last 10 miles of the ride.  Telling myself to remember to stop at red lights, you know, important stuff like that.

Well happy to report that the tweaks made to my diet during the week to prevent a reoccurrence on Redwood Road worked!

Bring on Mount Diablo!!

The Windmill Ride - Training Day 1

The Windmill Ride.  So named because when the Windmill in this photo comes into view the ride, or at least the difficult portion, is almost over.  It is cause for celebration, hence the name.

This ride is Day 1 of outside training and occurred February 3.  It is a relatively short ride, roughly 40 miles, and not much elevation gain but an important ride because it is the first outdoor ride since May 2012 when I separated my shoulder crashing during a training ride.

The training ride was in anticipation of the Grizzly Peak Century (Century rides are 100 miles in length) and I was at about mile 70 having a great day when my hand pump dislodged itself from my bike and a little rubber tube wrapped itself between the front forks and the wheel hub.  The tire froze snapping the handlebars to the left and down I went, right shoulder first.  25 mph to 0 in 0.5 seconds.

I was lucky.  Walked away with a separated shoulder and two cracked ribs.  Felt good enough to attempt the Grizzly Peak two weeks later.  Made 50 of the 100 miles.  Chalk that move up to dumb things men do.  Got a nice t-shirt though!

Back to the Windmill Ride.  I was really happy with how my shoulder performed over the 40 miles.  A little sore but certainly good enough to continue training!

You might notice the mountain in the background.  That’s Mount Diablo and is the training ride February 17.  It too is short in distance but it is a bear to climb.  But before Diablo I’ve got to tackle Redwood Road February 10.

Tour du Burundi Route

The Tour du Burundi, a 7 day 400 mile bicycle ride, takes us around the country in a counter-clockwise direction.  Use this map and the route description below to follow our daily progress.  Also see the elevation profile flowing the final day’s description to gain a sense of the climbing we will do.

Simon provided this description which I’ve included verbatim to give you a sense of his quirky personality, which I truly enjoy.

Sunday 19th May – Bujumbura (capital) to Nyanza Lac, 75 miles, far South of country, very hot day as in the plain at low altitude, gorgeous road along the lake, flat all the way.

Monday 20th May – Nyanza Lac to Rutana, 57 miles, South to Central South, vey hilly, will be knackered after the first day, and this will be another challenging one.

Tuesday 21st May – Rutana to Gitega, 42 miles, South Central to Central, short day, but we end up at our Homes of Hope (YFC) orphanage, so will have time to hang out with the kids, and also see the newly opened Gitega International Academy (first English-speaking boarding school in the country) as well as the orphanage school and medical clinic. i.e. we’ll actually have time to engage with people, have fun, will have very sore butts by then, not a hard day.

Wednesday 22nd May – Gitega to Muyinga, 57 miles, center of country to North East.

Thursday 23rd May – Muyinga to Kayanza, 65 miles, North East to Central North .

Friday 24th May – Kayanza to Cibitoke, 51 miles, Central North to North West, from mountains (all of the above for some of the days) to the hot sweaty plain again.

Saturday 25th May – Cibitoke to Bujumbura, 38 miles, of which we’d get out for 9 miles of them which are too bad for our bikes, would load them up onto the bus, back to the capital, not a long day, for celebratory naked riding of hippos in the lake by night.

The chart was created by one of the British riders so allow me to translate: 1 meter = 3.28 feet and 1 kilometer = .62 miles.

Introduction

Gitega International Academy (GIA), the first English-speaking boarding school in Burundi, opened in 2012.  Burundi, located in central Africa, and referred to as the heart of Africa not only because of its location but also because it is shaped like a human heart, is a country which has seen more than its fair share of trauma.  Like Rwanda, its sister country to the north, Burundi experienced years of civil war and a similar genocide - although Burundi's was more protracted, lasting 13 years.

When visiting Burundi a few years ago, the people told me: 1) They know that in order to be a player on the world stage the children must be taught to speak English (French and Kirundi are the primary languages); and 2) Africa does not lack natural resources, it just lacks leaders with strong moral convictions and integrity.

The Gitega International Academy addresses both those needs which is why I, along with eight other people, have committed to a seven day, 400 mile bicycle ride, in Burundi - the Tour du Burundi!  Our purpose is to raise awareness of the academy and also to seek out donations from people such as yourself who are interested in supporting a school dedicated to raising up generations of English speaking leaders with a strong moral compass that will lead Burundi to new levels of prosperity and peace never before seen in that country.  My goal is to raise $15,000.

Let me assure you, every dollar donated will go directly to the academy. My friend, Simon Guillebaud (pronounced Gill-bo) is organizing the Tour du Burundi.  Simon is British but has lived in Burundi for over 10 years and it is through his organization, Great Lakes Outreach (Africa has great lakes too), that donations will be made.  I trust Simon (hey, I'm travelling 10,000 miles to ride a bike with him so I must trust him) and you can trust him to get every penny of your donation to the Gitega International Academy.  Your donation is tax deductible.  You can read more about Simon's organization at http://www.simonguillebaud.com/.

So the question now is "How do I give?”  Grab your credit card, click here, and follow the instructions from there.

Should you have any questions send me an email.  I would love to chat with you.

Thanks so much!

Burundi Dave – burundidave@gmail.com