Silver Linings from the recession:
Mortgage rates - Refinanced at 4.60%, fixed for 30 years. Awesome.
Gas Prices - Ok, they're creeping up, but it was good while it lasted, and it still feels kind of cheap compared to where we'd been.
Good reminder to me to keep in mind how my grandparents viewed finances - whole different concept than my generation, and probably a much healthier and wiser view in my opinion.
Phenomenal entry points into positions in the market, happy to report we're back to outperforming the health savings account, still don't feel home free, but made up for what were some ugly losses there for a bit. Not sure what they look like in 5 years, but pretty sure I like it in 10.
Stuff, in general, has been cheap. From cycling goods to things for the kids, to travel, to everyday items, we've been getting more bang for our buck and picking up some fun things we wouldn't have otherwise bought, were it not a screaming deal.
Stuff we learned:
Scary how fast everything went sideways. Thought we'd been prudent in regards to savings levels, diverse investments, etc... decided I want a bigger cushion. I knew things had been too good and easy for the past 10 years, but dramatically underestimated and was nieve to what the breadth of the pullback would be like. More money allocated to savings as a result of this ride, not sure what the new target is, but will know when I get comfortable again.
Biggest investment/business venture is the one that's still sideways - and probably will be for a while. Thought I was abundantly prudent with exit strategy on this one, and long term prospects may actually work out better than what I went in anticipating. But calling a spade a spade, would have been significantly less worried had that cash been sitting in the bank vs. deployed during this cycle. Hopefully get away with getting both the benefit of the lesson learned and the ROI, will feel like I stole home base if it works out that way.
Really good time to reassess the mindset we want to teach our kids in relation to luxuries, necessities, hard work, and where a dollar comes from. Especially grateful for this one as I don't want to screw it up.
We did implement some cost cutting measure's in order to get the Whitehouse leaner and meaner coming out of this recession as follows:
Whitehouse layoffs:
Lifetime Fitness - even at employee pricing it got cut, just couldn't drag myself there with Corner Canyon in the backyard - hence, it got the pink slip.
Cleaning lady - Kids are now learning to be more efficient at cleaning up after themselves and collecting allowance. And, maybe even Dad here and there, minus the allowance, although consistently at the bargaining table for an increase in other currency related to marriage.
Some travel expenses - was an automatic last year to book decent hotels for trips. Opted to camp at Durango this year, and low and behold, we had more fun. Have gone back to hotels for the last several long weekends, but due primarily to weather. Camping is now on the radar and will be part of the rotation when practical. Much cheaper, and more fun. A win/win moreso than a cutback, really.
Restaurants - We're doing a better job of planning and preparing meals vs. going out. Another win/win. Most nights it's better, healthier food, and cost difference is significant.
These are just a few. We've been able to divert cash that was being spent on this stuff to savings, and I'm ashamed at how much money we were capable of wasting and for how long we did it.
Overall - don't feel like we're out of the woods by any means, still spooky, but have stepped back from the ledge a bit. Feel a little bit smart and a lot lucky thus far. No 180's in regards to how I look at things or how Annie and I run the Whitehouse, but it's ingrained certain ideas much deeper than what they'd been. Think this shake out has been really healthy in the big picture, scary as hell with lots of good lessons to learn in the less big picture.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
High Uintas aka Hypothermia Classic
"That's the coldest I've ever been on a bike", that was the content of the email I sent Dug, Sam, Jon, and Tyler after the AF canyon ride early Friday morning. Little did I know that it was nothing more severe than a warm precurser to what was about to happen the next morning at the High Uintas Classic.
Worst break of the day: Had held off on pre-registration for the sole purpose of watching the weather, go figure. So Adam, Sam and I pull in and I walk up to the day of registration table and turns out I'm there just in time, or rather just too early. They've got one cat 5 number left, and I was the lucky fool who got it.
The biggest topic of discussion pre race was what to wear, like a bunch of girls getting ready for their first high school dance, only a bunch of middle age men in lycra. The three of us all opted for the same, arm warmers and a vest, with the exception of Sam who also threw on knee warmers. Conditions were actually ideal at the start line. Fun ride for the first 20-25 miles. Typical race flow, with the first selection occuring when the real climbing started. I was not in good form and didn't make it, and would spend the rest of the day by myself for the most part, behind the lead group which Sam made, a small chase group that Adam was in, and ahead of the remaining chase group that wasn't chasing. I wasn't in terrible form, but not real good either. Just one of those days... and would turn into one of those weekends...
There were some positives as the rain started coming down real steady on the way up. First, even in the rain, that is a beautiful ride. Between run off, and the large amount of moisture we've had, the Provo was running fierce, and there were some stunning landscapes. Second, learned I need to revisit the nutrition plan for Leadville. Third, I actually don't mind riding in the rain all that much. Not saying I love it, or even like it, but tolerated it just fine most of the way up with no adverse effects on attitude or pacing.
What I hate is riding in the rain when it's cold. And I didn't realize how cold it would get while climbing. But it came immediately as the climbing effort ended and the speed, and accompanying wind chill that accompany the descent, began at the top. The top comes at about mile 30, and by mile 37 I was concerned about safely controlling the bike, and by mile 38 I was concerned enough to pull over and jump in a truck for a couple of minutes to warm up and get some function back in my body, before finishing. Honestly, was real cold, but had no idea how bad of shape I was in when I got into the truck. 10 minutes after getting in I knew I was abandoning, and 20 minutes after getting in, I was still shaking violently and uncontrollably. I've never been like that before and it was a wierd sensation. There were 3 others in the truck in the same condition. After deciding to abandon, the gracious forest service voluteer whose truck we'd invaded took us down to the mass gathering of hypothermic cyclists at the 47 mile mark, where the buses were at capacity. I learned later that Sam had made it to that point before suffering the same fate, and then had to argue with folks who wanted him to get in the ambulance, which was also at capacity.
Bad A** award goes to Adam: Was still shivering when we got within 5 miles of Evanston, and I see a guy pedaling down the road in a Skull Candy Kit and DNA vest, it could only have been Sam or Adam. As we go by, I look out and confirm it was Adam, who had somehow managed to ride through conditions that had turned me into a cracked and broken man. I can't begin to tell you how tough the guys who finished had to be that day. Adam was 1 of 6 from our start time, 44 of us abandoned.
200 in the hospital with hypothermia was one report, and can assure you there were plenty more in the same condition not in that number. It was quite the site at the finish area.
Not sure if I was to the point of hypothermia, but if that wasn't it, that's as close as I ever want to get.
Wish I could say the weekend got better for me. TT was the next morning, similar cold, rainy conditions. I actually felt a little stronger for the 4 miles I rode before flatting. Makes for a long walk back in cycling shoes and in the cold rain, and in a dejected/pissed off mental state. Tried to stay a little positive by hollering encouragement to riders going by, and tried to learn some things in regards to form by watching the fast guys closely. But it was still a long walk. About 150 yards out from the finish, the organizers saw me hoofing it and sent a truck to pick me up, it was almost an insult at that point. So, scorecard now reads 1 abandon, 1 DNF, and one flat tubular, which effectively doubles the cost of this great time.
Weather for the crit later that afternoon was actually really good, and the course was really fun. And despite the sluggish state I was in, I was going to ride it and at least finish 1 of the 3 stages of the dang race. I was off the back by a gap I wasn't going to make up by lap two, and was resigned to just ride as hard as I could through the finish and avoid a sweep of DNF's. That mentality lasted one more lap, until that same pssst sound that had ended the mornings TT effort became apparent with each rotation of the back tire again. Unbelievable, it was happening again! As luck would have it, the leak stopped with enough air in the tire to keep the rim safe, and I rode the last three laps fairly gingerly on the corners to keep from rolling the semi flat tire, and I finally made it across a finish line for the weekend. Yep, that was the highlight... one of those weekends... that I hope I never have again.
Worst break of the day: Had held off on pre-registration for the sole purpose of watching the weather, go figure. So Adam, Sam and I pull in and I walk up to the day of registration table and turns out I'm there just in time, or rather just too early. They've got one cat 5 number left, and I was the lucky fool who got it.
The biggest topic of discussion pre race was what to wear, like a bunch of girls getting ready for their first high school dance, only a bunch of middle age men in lycra. The three of us all opted for the same, arm warmers and a vest, with the exception of Sam who also threw on knee warmers. Conditions were actually ideal at the start line. Fun ride for the first 20-25 miles. Typical race flow, with the first selection occuring when the real climbing started. I was not in good form and didn't make it, and would spend the rest of the day by myself for the most part, behind the lead group which Sam made, a small chase group that Adam was in, and ahead of the remaining chase group that wasn't chasing. I wasn't in terrible form, but not real good either. Just one of those days... and would turn into one of those weekends...
There were some positives as the rain started coming down real steady on the way up. First, even in the rain, that is a beautiful ride. Between run off, and the large amount of moisture we've had, the Provo was running fierce, and there were some stunning landscapes. Second, learned I need to revisit the nutrition plan for Leadville. Third, I actually don't mind riding in the rain all that much. Not saying I love it, or even like it, but tolerated it just fine most of the way up with no adverse effects on attitude or pacing.
What I hate is riding in the rain when it's cold. And I didn't realize how cold it would get while climbing. But it came immediately as the climbing effort ended and the speed, and accompanying wind chill that accompany the descent, began at the top. The top comes at about mile 30, and by mile 37 I was concerned about safely controlling the bike, and by mile 38 I was concerned enough to pull over and jump in a truck for a couple of minutes to warm up and get some function back in my body, before finishing. Honestly, was real cold, but had no idea how bad of shape I was in when I got into the truck. 10 minutes after getting in I knew I was abandoning, and 20 minutes after getting in, I was still shaking violently and uncontrollably. I've never been like that before and it was a wierd sensation. There were 3 others in the truck in the same condition. After deciding to abandon, the gracious forest service voluteer whose truck we'd invaded took us down to the mass gathering of hypothermic cyclists at the 47 mile mark, where the buses were at capacity. I learned later that Sam had made it to that point before suffering the same fate, and then had to argue with folks who wanted him to get in the ambulance, which was also at capacity.
Bad A** award goes to Adam: Was still shivering when we got within 5 miles of Evanston, and I see a guy pedaling down the road in a Skull Candy Kit and DNA vest, it could only have been Sam or Adam. As we go by, I look out and confirm it was Adam, who had somehow managed to ride through conditions that had turned me into a cracked and broken man. I can't begin to tell you how tough the guys who finished had to be that day. Adam was 1 of 6 from our start time, 44 of us abandoned.
200 in the hospital with hypothermia was one report, and can assure you there were plenty more in the same condition not in that number. It was quite the site at the finish area.
Not sure if I was to the point of hypothermia, but if that wasn't it, that's as close as I ever want to get.
Wish I could say the weekend got better for me. TT was the next morning, similar cold, rainy conditions. I actually felt a little stronger for the 4 miles I rode before flatting. Makes for a long walk back in cycling shoes and in the cold rain, and in a dejected/pissed off mental state. Tried to stay a little positive by hollering encouragement to riders going by, and tried to learn some things in regards to form by watching the fast guys closely. But it was still a long walk. About 150 yards out from the finish, the organizers saw me hoofing it and sent a truck to pick me up, it was almost an insult at that point. So, scorecard now reads 1 abandon, 1 DNF, and one flat tubular, which effectively doubles the cost of this great time.
Weather for the crit later that afternoon was actually really good, and the course was really fun. And despite the sluggish state I was in, I was going to ride it and at least finish 1 of the 3 stages of the dang race. I was off the back by a gap I wasn't going to make up by lap two, and was resigned to just ride as hard as I could through the finish and avoid a sweep of DNF's. That mentality lasted one more lap, until that same pssst sound that had ended the mornings TT effort became apparent with each rotation of the back tire again. Unbelievable, it was happening again! As luck would have it, the leak stopped with enough air in the tire to keep the rim safe, and I rode the last three laps fairly gingerly on the corners to keep from rolling the semi flat tire, and I finally made it across a finish line for the weekend. Yep, that was the highlight... one of those weekends... that I hope I never have again.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Leadville recon
Quick input and some questions from what I saw.
Drove up the St. Kevins climb, the road was in bad shape. It will definately be a climb, but the thing that will make this one hard is the constant work it's going to take navigating lines up this one, didn't look like a climb where you can settle into a rythym, rather, looked like it will leave you feeling like you just climbed a lot more than you did. Just as Sam had told us, very limited good lines to jockey for with the other 1,000 folks making the climb - should be interesting. The road was actually a lot worse that I'd pictured in my brain. Not positive, but have an assumption of where the cop car drops out and the race starts, but didn't look to be a lot of road to try and get into a position toward the front 3rd or better of the pack between then and the base of the climb. Is there a mild sprint from the field to try to get position before this climb?
Typical view of the descent down from Columbine. Runoff was running right down the road, with riders coming up on their right taking that side of the road away as an option, going down will be like riding down a drainage ditch in sections.
Another typical view of the approach to Columbine. Hit snow before I hit the top, but think the turnaround is off in the distance near the left corner of the frame?
Curious to see what the emotion is at this 90 degree left turn corner come race day. First veteran to identify it wins a contest for which the prize is nothing. But do share your experience here - have you "arrived" at this point? Earlier, later?
Drove up the St. Kevins climb, the road was in bad shape. It will definately be a climb, but the thing that will make this one hard is the constant work it's going to take navigating lines up this one, didn't look like a climb where you can settle into a rythym, rather, looked like it will leave you feeling like you just climbed a lot more than you did. Just as Sam had told us, very limited good lines to jockey for with the other 1,000 folks making the climb - should be interesting. The road was actually a lot worse that I'd pictured in my brain. Not positive, but have an assumption of where the cop car drops out and the race starts, but didn't look to be a lot of road to try and get into a position toward the front 3rd or better of the pack between then and the base of the climb. Is there a mild sprint from the field to try to get position before this climb?
Typical view of the descent down from Columbine. Runoff was running right down the road, with riders coming up on their right taking that side of the road away as an option, going down will be like riding down a drainage ditch in sections.
Another typical view of the approach to Columbine. Hit snow before I hit the top, but think the turnaround is off in the distance near the left corner of the frame?
Curious to see what the emotion is at this 90 degree left turn corner come race day. First veteran to identify it wins a contest for which the prize is nothing. But do share your experience here - have you "arrived" at this point? Earlier, later? Little panorama shot from up near Columbine. Actually thought most of the climb to this point looked more pleasant than I'd pictured, pretty forest climb on well maintained road - minus the 40+ miles on the legs at that point so reserve the right to change the description from pleasant to something less favorable, or even to sucks at a later date. You get a little wake up call about half mile down the road from where I'm standing, road turns steep and rocky, but is just a warm up to what's left between here and the top, it will be a big test.
Looking like another, more thorough recon trip is shaping up for the last weekend in July (31st). A few of us will be leaving Thursday evening and coming back Sunday evening. The more the merrier, drop me a line if interested in joining us.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Race report - Teva Mountain Games 2009
Kayak Sprint - Race #1 in the Ultimate Mountain Challenge was a 3 mile kayak sprint that started 3 miles up Gore Creek from Vail Village, and ended just before the Covered Bridge down in the Village. It's run in a format similar to a time trial, with race personnel holding your boat in the water and letting you go in 1 minute intervals. I was nervous about how well I'd be able to maneuver my boat to begin with, and it helped a lot to stand on the bridge and watch the first 10 racers hit a tree within 25 yards of the start and get their faces raked with branches. Fortunately, those of us with later start times got to see a few successes in dodging the tree and had the starting current figured out by the time we had to put in - cut across the white stuff and get out to left middle.
One of the choppy sections in the first half of the course, much nastier than the one that did me in a bit later.
As expected, I was a little sketchy in the boat. Not as bad as I'd thought I might be, but enough to take the easier lines vs. fastest in spots, which ultimately led to my undoing in this race. About half way down the course I was looking upriver and saw that the main current led into a rough hole that may be better for me to avoid at my current state of paddling confidence. I opted for a line river right, vs. the chute down the middle where the fast line was. It was an error in reading the water here that was the problem, moreso than the rusty boat handling. The line I chose was turned back toward the middle of the river by a large rock, which will kind of slingshot you back into the main current if ridden right. But, if your late getting off the outside edge of the current, the force of the water is going to push you right into the rock vs. slingshot you by it. I got caught being more worried about staying away from the main current and the rough drop, than getting off the outside line of my current and avoiding the rock, and... hit the rock, and was upside down before I knew it. If you've never swam in 36 degree water, I don't recommend it. I made one vain attempt at a roll before I had to pull the hatch on the skirt and unwedge out of the boat while floating head down boat up down the creek. I had to bail.
They had spotters up and down the creek who were there to help retrieve boats, paddles, and people, and in theory get them warmed up, and back in the boat to finish the race. They got my boat quickly, but missed my paddle, which meant the end of my race. I couldn't finish without the paddle. I was up the creek without a paddle. I was really dissapointed, but probably got what I deserved after not putting in any preparation - but it still stings to go out over a stupid, avoidable mistake. The fast guys finished the course in 17 minutes, you could float it in 25. I was actually assigned a time for the purposes of the overall competition, 1 hour and 21 minute time, which is better than what I earned - a DNF. Maybe the 1 hour 21 minutes has to do with when my paddle showed up down river asking for help finding it's dad, the wet bald guy.
MTB XC race - The big dogs were here, watched Craig, Wells, Trebon, JHK, Overend, and others hammer up the hills in the morning, fun to watch. We (both Annie and I) went off later in the afternoon. This was Annie's first mountain bike race, and it didn't take long into Friday's preride for me to feel guilty about helping persuade her into racing this one. It was not an easy course, typical ski resort layout with stiff climbs, which she can handle, but the single track coming back down was really tight, fast, technical stuff with little room for error, big punishment for a miss, and scary as hell to a girl doing her first race. We picked out the spots where she'd jump off and walk/run around, with the main goal being to have fun and stay safe. It was a major gut check for her and she went after it - she's a pretty cool chick. I told her after it was over that I wouldn't have let her sign up if I'd seen the course first.
My race went well. I raced the sport class, which was a 2 lap race around the 5.6 mile course with 1,200 ft of climbing per lap. The climbing was hard, but the downhill was a riot - see previous post for description. Finished 28 of the 80 starters, and similar to the Iron Horse, there were some really fast cats at this one, even in the sport class. I felt good at the end of the race, and think I'm going to bump up to racing expert starting this weekend at Deer Valley. Not that I'm ready to be competitive there, but think I'm ready and need to extend the duration of these race efforts to accelerate my conditioning.
10K run - The guy who built this course is a bastard. Spent the first half of this brutal event crawling up the mountain, almost literally in spots. Not a hint of exageration in my telling you that there were a few sections that redlined me just walking up them, I'm hurting again just thinking about it. 6.5 miles of trail, with 1,800 feet of climbing translates into not much flat, and steep ups and downs. Unlike doing climbs like that on a bike where your hard effort on the climb is rewarded with a fun descent, running up a mountain means one thing, it's going to be harder on your body going back down. 10% was the average grade on this course, and running a 10% grade downhill sucks much worse than running 10% uphill. Uphill makes for sore legs, downhill makes for the bottom of your feet catching on fire from the friction. I finished in 1:16, the winning time was 49 minutes. That's a lot of time to hemmorage in a 10k. I finished about where I deserved to. It was actually a decent run for me, but true to my form, I'd put one 6 mile run and one 3 mile run in the week prior to departure and this race made me pay for that. I would be hurting by the time the hill climb rolled around a couple of hours later.
Hill Climb time trial - Annie went first, and rode fantastic, despite being rattled at the start by some confusion with the line up. The gal they lined up in front of Annie get's up on the start ramp, clips in and is ready to go, when with about 8 seconds left in the countdown they announce her as AnneMarie White. That sets off a chain of events that has them rushing around figuring whose supposed to be going, figuring out it's Annie, and rushing her off about 10 seconds after her countdown had counted down. She rode great and had a lot of fun. Finished 5 of 10, not too shabby!
I left a little on the table here that I'll attribute to not knowing the course. Legs were sore, but rode well given the hell I'd been through in the 10K a few hours earlier. Fairly flat with rollers for the first 5-6 miles, then it turns up. Had a good kick at the end and had more in the tank, but ran out of real estate. Not sure the aero seatpost/seat was the right choice for that amount of climbing. Not sure it wasn't either, just not sure. Finished this one in 38 minutes, 9.6 miles with just over 1,700 ft. of climbing, mostly isolated to the last 3 miles.
Quick lesson from the guy working on his bike in the video last post - talked to him when he got to the top and he said he's skewer had gotten caught on the guy holding him up at the start. Seems odd, especially watching the video after the fact and seeing that it's unlikely that the starters shorts could have snagged on, but one of those flukey things to learn from at the poor guys expense.
Overall - fantastic weekend with Annie and fantastic weekend at the races, think this one will become an annual event for the White family.
Next post - Leadville Recon
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Scenes from the Teva Mountain Games - Vail, Co
Annie flashing a smile at the camera on her way out on the TT.
Typical view of the garage/hotel condo in Vail. That pink foam roller is the amateur age group racers version of an on staff masseuse. It can hurt me almost as bad as the real thing.
Other half of the garage.
Me wrapping up day 1's races with the mountain bike XC race.
Typical view of Vail Village during the games.Annie hitting a tight downhill switchback.
Me starting my TT hill climb. Will touch on the guy working on his bike in the race report post later....
Friday, June 5, 2009
Teva Mountain Games - chill day today
Fun and relaxed day today - watched some amazing athletes in the bouldering qualifiers, some bike free riding, and some of the freestyle kayak qualifiers. Concerts tonight and some prep for tomorrow. This is a cool place and a cool conglomerate of outdoor competitions, having a great time.
Competitions for Annie and I start tomorrow with the Kayak Sprint for me in the morning at 9:19 (similar to TT format in cycling). This one may be pretty sketchy, meant to get out in the Dagger boat a few times last week and maybe a test run down Gore Creek today - none of it happened, so am going into it cold turkey after a couple years of not getting out. Have to admit I'm pretty nervous about this one, Gore Creek's running fast and cold, and not sure if I'll feel comfortable getting back in the cockpit and stretching the skirt over the top, or if I'm going to be a wobbly mess. We'll see....
Annie goes off on her 5k mud run at 2:30 and will then scramble to get cleaned up and ready to race the mountain bike, we'll both go off around 3:45 and a little after 4:00. Prerode the course today, it's short, steep in sections, with the most technical downhill 1 track I'll have raced on. Slick roots, tree lined narrow lanes (ping ponged off a few with the shoulders today), and some drops that need to be commited to with some speed. Plenty of sections to stack it up badly on if your not dialed in. Annie's awesome, rode most of it today, and picked out the sections that will be safer and more comfortable for her to run down - this is a nasty course to do your first race on, but she's gonna take it head on - she's awesome!
Updates via twitter on race details as the day unfolds, unless I drown in the morning.
Competitions for Annie and I start tomorrow with the Kayak Sprint for me in the morning at 9:19 (similar to TT format in cycling). This one may be pretty sketchy, meant to get out in the Dagger boat a few times last week and maybe a test run down Gore Creek today - none of it happened, so am going into it cold turkey after a couple years of not getting out. Have to admit I'm pretty nervous about this one, Gore Creek's running fast and cold, and not sure if I'll feel comfortable getting back in the cockpit and stretching the skirt over the top, or if I'm going to be a wobbly mess. We'll see....
Annie goes off on her 5k mud run at 2:30 and will then scramble to get cleaned up and ready to race the mountain bike, we'll both go off around 3:45 and a little after 4:00. Prerode the course today, it's short, steep in sections, with the most technical downhill 1 track I'll have raced on. Slick roots, tree lined narrow lanes (ping ponged off a few with the shoulders today), and some drops that need to be commited to with some speed. Plenty of sections to stack it up badly on if your not dialed in. Annie's awesome, rode most of it today, and picked out the sections that will be safer and more comfortable for her to run down - this is a nasty course to do your first race on, but she's gonna take it head on - she's awesome!
Updates via twitter on race details as the day unfolds, unless I drown in the morning.
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