This week has been stressful and I have only gotten in 3 workouts since Monday (2 swims and 1 road ride). But more importantly than exercise has been my diet. My tendency when stressed at work is to not care about my diet and to rely on food to get me through the struggles. This week at work has been especially bad because our company launched a new website and there have been several straight days of long days and nights.

I think this is why I will be forever fat and will always struggle with my weight. I make good healthy decesions for months and then 1 week of crummy eating throws me off.

But, but, but, I am back on track as of today and committed to eating well until my race on September 30. Long term this is a problem and with a busy travel schedule coming up in October I need to stay committed to eating well.

Fat Brazel is out and healthy Brazel is back,

Andy B
outsideallday.com

Master Swim has broken me and caused me to be frustrated. I feel like I have become a worse swimmer since I started going.

1. This morning the pool was packed and we had to swim with 3 people in our lane. I am slowest and the bottle neck. Ladies are passing me doing the back stroke.

2. Swimming in the 50 meter pool this morning was nice, but super hard. I still haven’t figured out my breathing yet which causes me to flounder on the second 50.

3. Doing math in my head sucks. You would think that at age 28 I would be able to add 50s really fast. 50 + 50 + 50 = what the heck?

4. My arms got tired fast this morning. I think that is the result of a busy/stressful week at work.

5. Getting up at 5:20 am sucks.

With all of my complaints I will still never quit. It’s worth it to suffer to become better at something that I am not good at. How can I look my son in the face and tell him to keep trying if I can’t do it myself. It is also an excuse to get a grande mocha and not a tall and Julie can’t give me a hard time for spending 50 extra cents on my coffee. I need that extra shot.

Tomorrow morning Bill Daily and I are driving down to La Jolla to do an open water 1/2 mile swim in the ocean. It will be the first time I am swam in my new 2XU Comp 1 wetsuit. After the swim we are going to do an hour road ride down PCH.

Whiney Brazel
outsideallday.com

Today I received the following email from USA Cycling about a recent request I made to upgrade my racing license to another level. The results explain my REJECTION! And, I also attached my response…

*Quick understanding of terms to comprehend the emails:
Cat = the group one races in
1,2,3,4 = the levels of the groups
The levels broken down into terms associated to mountain biking: 1 (pro), 2 (semi-pro), 3 (expert), 4 (sport), 5 (beginner)

The Email Contents:
Request Date: 09-07-07
Status: Closed and Denied
Date Closed: 09-12-07
Member: David Sheek
11 Urban CycloCross 5 2

SCNCA

The Response:

USA Cycling Representative,

I thought more about this rejection and want to express my concerns as I do not think my entire year of mountain bike racing and cyclocross have both been considered.

It is my understanding that the groups in mountain biking, pro, semi-pro, expert, etc, translate directly into which CAT (group) one races in cyclocross.

I read the rules and other forms which inspired me to upgrade. And, the reason why I feel like I just got dumped by the woman I was supposed to be with for the rest of my life (yuck), is because of my mountain bike racing, which is under the same license. I moved up to expert this mountain bike season, racing in a group that has finishing times close to that of semi-pro and even some pro racers in my local series. Now, if I can get my butt kicked in expert or, as I did, do well enough to finish in the top five for more than 80% of my expert races. I ask, why am I not allowed to move up to CAT 3 in cyclocross to get my butt kicked there until I learn to ride faster?

I hope this receives you well,

DSheek

Stay tuned for the next response…

-DSheek
Rejection Sucks!

This was not THE FLIRT WORKOUT! It was two and one-half hours of sweaty, dusty, fart induced (thanks to me) riding. Sure there were great views, as they casted from the top of Saddleback Mountain to Catalina Island in Southern, California but it was the guys outside and the smells of fall and fresh trees. We went out on Saturday Mid-morning, because Starbucks messed up Dean’s Cappuccino and had to make it over twice, climbing 4300′+ in elevation and descending the same on tight shale singletrack riding an old favorite loop of ours, The Motor Speedway, in Santiago Canyon, CA (Look it up at trails.com).

This ride is a leg burning and butt chaffing climb with awesome rewards. If you are down in the Orange County area I recommend the ride but bring a lot of liquids. There is usually no one out on the trail but on this day we saw a few characters out on the trails, ripping around on motorcycles, 4wheelin’, and one old hippie doing naked yoga on a mountain top. “Peace brother!”

Just another reminder of the greatness of being outside, friends, and my bike. “I love you baby!”

-DSheek
Bikes!

A friend of mine introduced me to the concept of the “flirt workout”. The flirt workout is when you are with your spouse or boyfriend or girlfriend and one of you is focused on the workout while the other is more interested in flirting.

A few signs to know if you are engaged in a flirt workout:

1. Your partner will be constantly giving you love bumps.
2. Your partner will be stopped just staring at you while you are working hard.
3. Your partner will participate in “funny” moves designed to make you laugh.
4. Your partner will lose interest in about the 1/2 the time of the allotted workout.
5. Flirting will turn to heckling as your partner has finally lost interest in the workout.

**The most obvious sign that you are engaged in a flirt workout is the blatant “stop everything” and attempt to move in for the make out session.**

Be on the look out for the infamous flirt workout.

Andy B
outsideallday.com

Andy,

The ride this morning was awesome. I am loving the Trek 6700 SLR, thanks for the hand-me-down. It rides real well. I am not a big fan of full suspension bikes – I know, Mr. old school. So, the 6700 is awesome. I am not sure if it was the Fall weather this morning or my old age but I braked so often that I suffered from old man hands and wrists for awhile. The 7.28 loop in 53 minutes was awesome. Only a handful of people on the trail – amazing. Now I know why your crew loves OC. If we had a trail like that in our neighborhood we would have to charge a fee to battle overcrowding. People would workout in a single file line like a masters swim program. Gauging from your conditioning and frequent pauses to wait up for me – I am guessing you would have done the loop much faster, like 43 minutes. All good stuff. I am looking forward to Scott Tinley’s MTB tri on 9/29 (http://www.tricalifornia.com). Let’s see how we do.

In the spirit of prepping for 9/29 I headed back up Borrego to Mustard Road to Water Tank for a run. I was out for 1:10.09 and wondering when you were going to tell me about the Mountain Lions the County of Orange is so worried about. About halfway up Borrego I pass a poster size image of two MLs with words like ‘watch out’ written in 76 pt font. I will be open here and just hope no one laughs out loud: it freaked me out. Within a few steps I located a perfect rock to carry with me and I held it in my left hand for the entire run. My theory is that if I had an ML coming at me I would block with my right hand and go for the nose with my left. Hey, I am not joking here. Even after my shake-up I zoned out on opportunities at work. And just as I was finishing the run and solving all the issues at work I came across some real, live mountain lion food – a deer. So now I am all freaked out again. You have to understand. The only wildlife I have come across in LA are pigeons and seagulls – and the last wild animal was hit on the 405 in the 1950s. Mountain lions. Unbelievable. Coming off the trail I see a board the county uses to post trail info and I deposit the rock on the top for your use later. It would probably fit perfectly in the throat of a mountain lion.. look for it on you next ride. And then as I am calming down I see this half-page yellow sheet titled “entering mountain lion country” and guess what the first recommendation they make should you come in contact with an ML? DON’T RUN. What? Are you joking? What do they mean don’t run. I was going for a run. That was the only reason I was on the trail. So I come up on a mountain lion and they want me to start walking. That is crazy talk.

Alright, I am done – all of this to ask a question. Do you think relentlessly crumpling an empty Clif Bar wrapper in my freehand (remember, I am carrying that rock in the other hand) would help keep me from surprising an ML? Cause that is what I was doing this morning- from four corners to the parking lot. And if any one else can help shed some light. Please post a comment. Cause my guess is Andy will only be able to respond with deep laughter – and all at my cost. Mountain Lions in OC. Who knew?

Matt Smart
outsideallday.com Contributor

After returning home from work, I was feeling a little lazy so I decided to charge up my light and wait to ride after a couple hours of rest. This reminded me the time will be changing soon so for those of you that want an evening ride or trail run it is going to get dark early. Check out the deals from some of our favorite stores on headlamps or lights for your bike. It is always better to buy your gear when it is out of season and since stores will be restocking there shelves soon with 2008 lighting products, go buy your lights now!

Here is an example of a great light with a descent price:
Niterider Rage ’06
Your Price: $279 44% off $499.99 msrp
Item #: LS504A03
Free JensonUSA $5 Money Card With Purchase!
Closeout! The Rage offers your choice of 3 light output levels so you can dial it in for maximum battery life.

-DSheek
Mr. Edison

My buddy Matt Smart came down from Manhattan Beach to ride Whiting Ranch this morning. To miss the traffic he left his house at 5 am to meet me by 6am. I’m not a huge fan of getting up in the 5 am hour but in the last 6 weeks I have been meeting that hour more frequently.

The ride was fun and it was nice to remember the cool temps of the morning that are on their way back with the fall coming.

I’m now at Starbuck’s returning email and sipping my mocha. It’s a good Friday with a sushi lunch on the calendar for some office birthday’s.

Andy B
outsideallday.com

Check out the products from our supporter Bonk Breakers energy bars. These little peanut butter and jelly bars are delightful.

If you need any other convincing that they’re good look on the cover of this months Triathlete Magazine. And a little heads up for the future they have a new peanut butter and chocolate-chip bar that is perfectly sweet. The bar is so good that when I see one, I feel like a cast member on Survivor that has not eaten in three days and I must do whatever it takes to eat the bar!

-DSheek
Eat One!

Some of our friends have really had a great experience shopping with BeckerSurf.com. Give them a try and let us know what you think of the shopping experience.

For now, enjoy the Massive Bikini Blowout Sale! For some reason, none of the bikinis they offer really flatter my figure.


Andy B
outsideallday.com

I’m not a Paddling guy but you might be.


This sale expires on September 9th so get there soon.

Andy B
outsideallday.com

Zappos.com has all types of shoes and since I am addicted to finding the perfect pair, for every type of event, day, or night. I spend a little time each month searching for new pairs.

Since it is so damn hot this month I decided to go with something simple that I could be worn with shorts and preferably no socks so they get a little stinky.

Converse – Chuck Taylor All Star Plaid Slip-On (Grey/Plaid) – Men’s

This pair is gray but they come in other colors too. Check out the Chucks or just check out Zappos.

-DSheek
Shoe Addict

I’m sitting on my plane waiting to go to Colorado for the day and get back at 9PM tonight. The worst part was getting up at 445AM. Brutal! My pumpkin spice latte helped though. No whip!

Andy B
Posting from my Blackberry while sitting on a plane with my eyes half open.