Torrential downpours, heavy winds and lots of lightning have kept me indoors on my day off. I really wanted to get out and ride, letting the open road help me divert my thoughts from the goings-on in and around Boston. My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Officer Collier, who gave his life in service of the safety and security of others. This is why I ride in support of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, so that others never forget the sacrifices our men and women in blue make every day to protect and serve. 

Dark clouds and cool breezes

Managed to hit the pavement after work for a nice little ride. I did 9.15 miles in around 35 minutes. The temperature was a pleasant 72 degrees, the skies dark and ominous clouds threatening rain at any time, and the breeze was cool and refreshing....all in all it was really nice. Took a new route for the 2nd leg, hitting two of the major roads in the area...good hills both up and down, but I don't think I would enjoy riding those roads any time other than late on a Sunday...too much traffic other times.

Round and round...

After spending most of the day at work, I came home and got in a nice long road ride. I broke out the Jamis road bike and hit the scenic lake loop near the house. I did several laps and explored some side streets to up my mileage. Total for today was 12.3 miles in 51 minutes. It felt good to get up some real speed and to break the 10 mile hurdle for the first time this year.

Forest Oaks Downhill Course

Did 7.3 miles this evening after working a 12 hour day shift on Patrol. It was nice, with several large hills both up and down. I found a nice large loop around a local lake which I plan to add to my regular riding schedule. Tomorrow is a rest day, although I may cycle some anyway...once I get going its hard to force myself to take a day off.

Sheepdog

Today I spent my efforts playing sheepdog...no energy left when my shift was over, so no biking or running this evening. Hoping to hit the pavement again tomorrow evening if all goes well. The weather here has made a turn for the better, let's hope it lasts!

Forest Oaks Uphill Climb!

After spending most of the day working on my basement, I got out this afternoon for a nice long ride. I did over 7 miles in around half an hour on a very hilly course through my neighborhood. I chose to ride my Trek mountain bike again today, despite doing a paved road course. I feel like I get a better full body workout when I ride it compared to the Jamis road bike. Hopefully the weather will settle in for the spring so I can keep up the pace on my outdoor training.

Trails and Tribulations

Hit the ground wheeling today! Went out to Northeast Guilford Park with some co-workers today for a mountain bike trail ride. I had a blast, though it was tough going at times. The hybrid tires I have on my bike currently are not quite up to the task on wet leaves, extreme roots and rocks, and mud...lots of mud. I did about 3.55 miles in around an hour, it was a great full body workout!

Spring Training

Spring Training is upon us! I'm officially registered for the 2013 Ride & Run to Remember in October. This year I'll be riding the 55 mile bike ride on Saturday, October 12th...then running the 5k on Sunday, October 13th. I'm a Road Warrior!

I'll be trying to keep my blog up to date and full of interesting stuff as I work towards this monumental challenge. I've already gotten back in the gym and done some short treadmill runs and stationary bike rides, and I've begun swimming laps as well. Hopefully the spring will actually get sprung at some point soon and outdoor activities won't involve heavy winter clothes and freezing toes!

This year my fundraising goal is $1,000. I'd love to hit it early on, so I plan on organizing some fundraising events in the next few months to help me meet my goal. I'll keep everyone posted on those here. In the meantime, feel free to drop by www.nleomf.org and look for the Ride & Run to Remember icon...you can search for my name (Henderson) to check out my donation page. I'll post a direct link here soon.

Alright folks, 11 Days left until I hit the pavement for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund 2012 Ride & Run to Remember! I'll be doing the full 54 mile ride this year, thanks in part to J&L Bicycle Company (now closed, sadly) who helped me acquire a very nice Jamis road bike for the event. My fundraising is now at 76% of my goal, so I still need help. I'll be publishing a practice ride this weekend if all goes well weather wise. Thanks again for all the support, and don't forget donations are still needed at http://support.nleomf.org/goto/cplrahenderson

I have been thoroughly lazy in posting to my blog this year...mostly because I've been anything but lazy in the rest of my life. Right now I'm juggling a full-time rotating patrol schedule, being a full-time student in my final semester of undergrad work at Guilford College, being a field training officer, finishing my clinical evaluations for Drug Recognition Expert certification, maintaining a new house and keeping my lovely wife happy. Add in trying to train for the upcoming Ride & Run to Remember and fundraise for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, and I've got quite the full plate.

But, just to catch everyone up...I've been doing a bit of indoor cycling to keep up my stamina while it's been so hot outside, and I've been trying to hit the gym to get some swimming time in at the lap pool. I also just bought a new Jamis 8 speed performance road bike for this years ride...hopefully I'll be a little faster and have a little less trouble with the hills this year compared to last when I rode my Trek mountain bike.

I plan on hitting the pavement this upcoming weekend for a nice long ride and I'll post some stuff more regularly heading into the ride in DC.

Don't forget to support the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund by heading over to http://support.nleomf.org/goto/cplrahenderson today!

I'm officially registered for the 2012 Ride & Run to Remember in Washington, D.C.!!!

This year I'll be doing a full 54 mile Metric Century ride, so I've got my work cut out for me...got to get back on a more routine biking schedule for the next few months. If there is anyone who wants to make a small donation to the NLEOMF I'd greatly appreciate it, and you can click on the link to the right to do so.

Did a gym workout today because of the rain and the fact I had to work most of the day. I ran a mile at a nice steady pace and then hopped on a stationary bike for a 5.75 mile ride. Then I did some pool time and a nice relax in the hot tub and the sauna. Hoping to hit the real pavement tomorrow afternoon for some serious mileage in the great outdoors if the weather breaks.

Hit the gym today for a 1.5 mile run on the treadmill, a 500 yard swim, and some work on the machines concentrating on my abs. Then a nice relaxing dip in the hot tub and a little relief in the steam room. At minimum, I sweated off about 5 pounds.

Did a half-hour in the pool late last night...did about 1000 yards of crawl. Then hit the steam room for a bit. Tomorrow I plan on doing some indoor running and weight training if all goes well. I'm really enjoying access to this 24 hour indoor gym...

Indoor Gym Day!

Hit the indoor gym today, seeing as how it was hot as crap outside. Did a nice workout including a 2 mile run/walk in 30 sec intervals, an 8.22 mile bike ride, a couple of sets each of leg extensions and shoulder presses. All in all it was quite nice, though I believe I might regret the shoulder presses tomorrow morning when I go to work.

Well, it's been a rough few weeks at work and the weather here has been awful...hot, cold, dry, wet...I don't think mother nature can quite make up her mind. I haven't hit the pavement in a few weeks and I'm feeling very bad about that. But, my wife and I joined a nice indoor gym yesterday which has a dedicated cycling area and an indoor lap pool, so I feel like my odds of 3 times a week training sessions are improving...if it's nasty outside, I can head indoors for a solid workout.

Still waiting for official registration to open for the 2012 Ride & Run to Remember in DC...looking forward to starting my official push and begin my fundraising!

2012 Ride & Run to Remember

That date has been announced for the 2012 Ride & Run to Remember. Looks like October 14th this year will be the day, and I'll be registering soon to participate. Got to start getting ready now, planning to get the weekend off, determining whether any of my friends or family will be participating with me, and setting up my fundraising plan for this year. This year's goal is going to be $1,000 for me...let's see if I can hit it!

It's a long road, to the top...

Rough weather this past week...it's been nice, sunny and warm; then bam...cold and rainy. Haven't had a lot of time to do much outside, so I've contented myself to do a lot of indoor stretching and some cardio workouts. Not having a gym close by the house cuts down on what activities I can do on a rainy day. But enough excuses. I didn't hit the bike today, the roads are a little muddy and I didn't want to get too far from the house in case the storms came back for an encore. So, I hit the neighborhood sidewalks on foot...I'm off and running again!

Cami, my wife, has decided she wants to run a half-marathon. So, in order to help keep her motivated I'm putting back on my running shoes and doing some running in addition to my biking. We're planning on running a Law Enforcement 5k to support Special Olympics on May 19th in Greensboro, NC...so I'll be mixing up my training days between riding and running for the next few months.

Today I did 1.17 miles using the Galloway method. I ran 1 minute, then walked 1 minute in a continuous cycle for a solid 15 minutes. Tomorrow will hopefully be a biking day, and then Tuesday will be a gym day. Wednesday I'll pound pavement again with an approximately 10% increase in time and distance on my run. 

Falling off the wagon.

Well, it's been a pretty rough week. Between work and school, I feel like I've had little time to do anything I want to do. And the weather certainly is NOT cooperating with my plans to ride. While it has been perfectly lovely every day for the last week while I'm at work or in school, the minute I get home the bottom drops out and the sky fills with lightning. Yay! But, if all goes well I should get some biking time in on Friday, Saturday and Sunday this week..keeping my fingers crossed!

The Wheel Goes Round...

...and round we go. Got out around lunchtime today and hit the pavement for a somewhat abbreviated ride in Whitsett. It was only about 54 degrees outside, but with the wind it was more like 45. And much like my last ride in Whitsett, the wind was not on my side...but this time it was working against me as I climbed some of the major hills on my route. I managed to suffer through a little over 6 miles before I called it a day. That put me just shy of 24 miles in the last 24 hours, which I'm happy with. I have to work 12 hours tomorrow and Tuesday, and of course there is school on Tuesday night, but I'm hoping I can squeeze in at least 5-10 miles before my Wednesday. If all goes well with the weather, I may head back to Greensboro or even somewhere more adventurous for my mid-week ride.