Snow Anyone?

Today was to mark the last day of school for the fall semester with my last final at 10:00 AM. This morning I woke up to the sound of snow blowers and lots of commotion outside. Looking out my window, I saw what I had feared; 12+ inches of snow and more on the way. I was hopeful that my exam would not be canceled, so I checked the computer and yep, exams are delayed due to the snowstorm... As a kid and even now, I loved snow days and always looked forward to them. Today is different, I really wanted to take this exam and get the semester over with. Now I need to try and get off from work tomorrow morning so I can go back to school and take the exam 24 hours from now... Not fun. In the meantime, I guess I will study a little more for the exam and have a lazy day watching all the people that have real jobs try and get to work.

Exams and Winter

Only three days, four exams, and two assignments separate me from the end of the semester and a month of so of time off to hopefully get in a ton of training. My day today has been spent in front of the computer working on typing code for a project due tonight and a little of that time was spent studying for my two exams tomorrow. (I love this time of the year...) But really, after tomorrow, the end of the semester is ever closer and some good time away from school and work is ahead. Things on the training front are still in slow motion, but that is quickly changing. Thursday, I am heading to our athletic center to get in with a personal trainer and soon thereafter a nutritionist. This last weekend I had Heather bring down the old XC Skis. They need a lot of work, some new boots and possibly new bindings, but I think they will offer a great opportunity to get outside and get active. (Not that I hate training indoors) I have also been giving thought to trying out rollers instead of my Fluid2 Trainer. The problem with the trainer is that is is big and noisy, two serious flaws when living in a small apartment. I figure rollers will be smaller, quieter, and will offer something a little different as far as indoor riding goes. So here is where I ask everyone who reads this... If you have a set of rollers I could try that would be awesome. Maybe a little temporary trade (my Fluid2 for your rollers).
In the meantime the season will likely begin with some good core weights and cardio in the gym. That is if these exams will ever be finished.

The End of the Off Season

If is has not been obvious, I decided to take a little hiatus from the blog and most things cycling. Eating the food I know I shouldn't, taking time to sleep (yeah right...) and having a lot of extra time... Well at least I was eating what I shouldn't have and not riding for a few weeks. The off season was good for the most part though. The extra time from riding and training was quickly eaten up by school work and the like and I found myself busier than ever. Right now I am in the final stretch of the Fall semester and seeing the end of a mountain of non-stop work. With that end nearing and so much time off, I am ready to get back on the saddle for some indoor training. Most days my legs feel like they are just dying to spin and lift weights for hours on end.
Once the semester is officially done, the plan is to seek out the help of a professional nutritionist and a personal trainer. Depending on what they have to say the tentative plan is to get in the pool and lift weights a few times each week and also spend plenty of time on the spin bike too. The 2009 season hopes to be the biggest for me yet, hopefully adding in some road races, crits, and plenty of mountain bike racing. There may also be a new steed in line from one of the teams newest and oldest sponsors.
It may just look a little like this.

In other news, the snow is falling and Christmas is definitely in the air. Tomorrow night, I head back to Green Bay to see a little Christmas music performed by none other than the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. If you haven't been to one of their concerts, I highly recommend it. The show is great for all, young and old. And the special effects are like nothing else I have ever seen in a single show.
Now, off to get some more work done so I can prepare for 2009 riding for the Titletown Flyers presented by Extreme Photography and Specialized!