What a weekend and week so far - after 7 1/2 hours of training on Saturday and Sunday, I can see real progress. Although most of it was done in bucolic Central Park, the training was mostly hammer-down in order to push my power. What fun it was to train there, again, after so many years of knowing every crack and bump on the entire 6.2 mile loop. And, it was added pleasure to train with my friends, Amy and Tom. We were amongst the few riders out there, but it was a blast. Coincidentally, on Monday, I was in Colorado Springs for business but as it turns out, it is also the home of Carmichael Training Systems whom I use as a coach to help me through the preparation for this record attempt. When you walk in the door, you are met with a near life-size photo of Lance Armstrong, their most infamous athlete-in-training. Lindsay Hyman, athlete extraordinare and thesis-bound exercise physiologist expert, has been of great help and support to me. We did some threshold testing to benchmark my progress, and it seems that the training is working. Bravo!

Snow! I can't believe it, already. Fortunately, I was able to sneak out for a few hours before it. After a day or two of squashy legs, power has returned. Thank goodness. Had a great day today. I've been asking ultra cyclists some of their tricks for keeping focused and for eating right. I learned a secret from a gentleman from the UK that finished second in last year's RAAM (Race Across America)...turkey and cheese on white breat. No Clif Bars, Power Shots or Bananas for this super athlete. There is no perfect answer. Not sure whether that's good or bad for us newbies.

4 Days of slugging it out with the wind, sleet and the bicycle trainer (enough with the lousy weather!), and it's been a great run. My power, speed and increased training duration all are building which is the goal right now. Starting in January, we start piling on the miles but, for now, I need the power supply.