Tour de Lions and Cheese Balls

Today I did the Tour de Lions. I rode the 75 mile route and felt good till just before the end. I started with the front group and stayed with what was a pretty select group for the first 15 miles. They were averaging 26 miles an hour and the turns got to be pretty dangerous, I exited the group and spent the next 5 miles or so in no man's land. Then the second group came along. I stayed in this group for the next 45 miles. My average in this group was 22.5 miles an hour. The Tour de Lions has excellent rest stops, but the group choose not to use any of them. This I think was my down fall as the last ten miles were on my own with the tank starting to show empty. I limped it in and had a 20.6 miles per hour average over the whole 75 miles.

I think the training is coming along nicely. I have had several people who ride with me and know me say that they can tell a difference in my training this year. They say I am riding better than I have in a long time. I just hope I can keep this base going and reach a good peak right at the Leadville Race Across the Sky. I have made several trips to the mountains and spent a good deal of time climbing a 10 mile section of Forrest service road that climbs about 3,000 ft. It's a good climbing workout. The Tuesday / Thursday battle rides are great for the training. The average speed is up this year and I am getting as much as 57 miles on a week night after work which is great.

The fundraising is going well. $2,465.00 to date. I want to thank everyone who is donating to my Livestrong Challenge page, if you have not yet donate please help me fight the disease that affects so many people. We all know someone that has been effected by this disease. The link to my page is in the side bar. I'm not just riding the Livestrong Challege in Austin, but also trying to raise funds by challenging myself by riding Leadville Race Across the Sky.

My wife Anna has been doing lots to help me with training and trip planning. I could not do this without her support, she is a wonderful teammate in helping me raise funds in the fight against cancer. She is going to help even more by making her famous cheese ball. This cheese ball is so good that its one of the first things gone when put out during the holidays. Speaking of holidays Fathers Day is coming up, and this would make a great gift for dad. Please email me at (davidallencaton (@) yahoo.com ) for details if your interested.