 George's Training Journal
The below information is captured in part from the training journal and notes of George Hood as he prepares for
his Ride for the Heritage YMCA Strong Kids Campaign and Guinness World Record Attempt, May 4-10, 2008.
Saturday, February 16, 2008:
Started 18 hour long ride at 2:00PM and finished on Sunday, Feburary 17 at 8:00AM. Ride was conducted non-stop, with no breaks. A new personal best
that exceeded previous 15 hour ride on 2/2/08.
Training Stats for 18 Hour Ride: Total DST: 234.5 miles, AHR: 96bpm, Calories Expended: 5734, ARPM: 87
Sunday, March 2, 2008:
The 21 Hour Ride started at 10:40 AM on Sat., March 1st and concluded by 8:00 AM on Sunday, March 2nd. The ride was done non-stop thru Hour 16 at
which time a 10 minute break was taken thus leaving a balance at the end of the ride of 95 break minutes.
The final stats were: DST: 271.8 miles; CALORIES: 6553; AHR: 95BPM; Avg RPM’S: 85.
Those that were able once again came by and offered their support in so many ways...by just being there to chat or even jumping on a bike...
generous contributions were also received at the site. It was nice to have representatives there from the Nequa High School who’ve partnered w/me
and the YMCA to support me during event week and during the training spins. I also wanna thank the morning crew of Kathy, Lu and Alvin and his
wife who continue to get to the venue at about 4 AM or so and spin w/me to the finish with themselves each obtaining Personal Bests for time on
the bike! They’ve committed themselves to this routine at the Y during event week, which will be so helpful. Their ability to motivate, coach
and inspire me during those crucial early morning hours is so much appreciated! Kathy W. brought us in her traditional Morning Glory muffins and
coffee for which we were very appreciative! We were blessed with a beautiful sunrise this morning which really helps me engage with the new day
and which also reminds me of how wonderful so many of you are for all that you do on behalf of our kids and on behalf of this charity fundraiser
for the YMCA Strong Kids Campaign. Our event is approaching quickly in 9 weeks! If you come aboard as a volunteer to help, pls let us know.
We continue to inspire so many!!! Also want to thank, once again, Marcia for remaining vigilant thru the night and being the continuity for bike
support and to Kathy L. for her continued support at the training site keeping stats and coordinating volunteers. It was a great ride! The next
“Long Ride” will be a 24 hour ride scheduled for Fri.-Sat. March 14-15.
Saturday, March 15, 2008:
The 24 Hour Ride commenced at 2pm on Friday, March 14 and ended at approximately 2:16 PM on Saturday, March 15, 2008. Per GWR rules, a total of
120 minutes (2 hours) of break time was earned. The ride was completed however with only two breaks totaling 16 mins and 32 seconds. The
first break was 13 mins 16 sec after hour 16 and the second break was 3mins 16 sec after hour 19.
The following are additional stats: Total DST: 328 miles, AHR: 100bpm, Calories Expended: 8835, ARPM: 90
Sunday, March 30, 2008:
The 30 hour ride began promptly at midnight on Friday, March 28th and concluded at 6:29 AM on Sunday, March 30, 2008.
Per GWR rules, the ride earned a total of 150 minutes of break time . A total of only two (2) breaks totaling 28 minutes and 55 seconds were
taken during the ride…Break #1 was after hour 16 for 16min 55 seconds. Break #2 was after hour 24 for 12 minutes. A balance of 120
minutes and 55 seconds remained in the “bank” at the end of the ride.
The following are additional stats:
Total DST: 395.5 miles; AHR: 96; Total Calories expended: 10,154; Avg RPM’s: 86.
Thursday, April 24, 2008:
The tapering process continues with minimal time on the bike now as I rest and recover from nearly 4 active months of training at X Sport in
preparation for the event which is now just about 10 days away. The goal during this period is to rest and recover, gain a little weight
(fat stores necessary for the 7 day journey) and ultimately feel “ready and hungry” to get on the bike that Sunday evening, May 4th and start
the clock at 9PM. Much of the pre-event anxiety associated with my preparation for the ride of my life is being managed quite well with the
grateful assistance of Dr. E who has been with me now thru several of these events both pre and post. Her tools for managing the
psychologoical anxiety associated w/such an effort as I’m about to undertake have been on target and are certainly consistent with my belief
that being mentally prepared and simply “happy” for any event whether in your personal /professional life and as athlete, parent, friend,
etc is a real key to one’s success. I continue to be thankful for many of you who have contributed to the preparation of my ride on behalf
of the Y’s Strong Kids Campaign both in and out of the gym….I know that many of you will be at the venue on more than one occasion and I look
fwd to sharing this experience with you.
My training days now are very limited….I’m at X Sport about every M, W and Friday for a couple hours anyway and after this weekend, I’m
hoping to come by X Sport and the Y and see many of you as I head into my last full weekend before the event. This training has been fun and
yielded many friendships and partnerships that I hope will continue long after this event passes. Some of these I’ve memorialized in
pictures and posted on the RGR site, but I do hope for more pics w/many of you during event week. Speaking of pics….we’d like to get a group
picture of Monica’s spin class this coming Monday, the 28th at X Sport….we can do it right before the class and I’d like to keep the photo
at the Y as I ‘m doing the event as a simple reminder of all of you who’ve been a part of this training effort in one way or another.
I also wanted to mention that the Heritage YMCA has set up a webcam and that this event will be broadcast on the web so that you may view
it from your PC wherever you might be. The instructions (user friendly) for getting to the stream are as follows:
- Go to spinforkids.heritageymca.org Pls note: the first time you go this site you’ll be prompted to install an Active X control to
watch the stream…this is a one time thing and will facilitate future visits to the video stream.
- Once you’ve gotten to the screen above and installed the appropriate control, a log-in box will appear. Simply type in “VIEW” under
username, NO Password is required…Click OK or hit Enter to close this particular box. Note: you’ll also see a dialogue screen that tells
you how many people are viewing, there is a remote chance that if to many users are attempting to view, you may end up not being able to log
in right away. You can simply close that if you’d like and try again later.
- There will be sound associated with the video stream but you can mute that if you wish. You may also click on the little “+” sign to
zoom in and out but clarity will suffer as you zoom closer. You can also click on the little camera icon if you want to snap a pic and “Save
As” to your computer.
- You shouldn’t have to worry about the “Connection” icon also on the screen.
So there you have it, step by step instructions to view the event….you can try it now and all you’ll see is the hallway at the YMCA which
is the temporary location of the camera until event day. If any of you have any problems, pls let me know and I can certainly pass along to
folks at the Y who have made this stream possible.
The media has been alerted to our event and I’ve done some interviews w/local press. Its my sense that because this event is so long,
interest will continue to grow throughout the week as folks come by and experience the event as its ongoing…As a result of our pre-event
publicity, I learned the other day that our pre-event fundraising total is now at about $13,000 dollars! My event goal is to reach $50K.
Donations are still being accepted online via the RGR site and/or the Heritage YMCA site.
The GWR rep is scheduled to be at the venue on Saturday morning and will stay thru final adjudication on Sunday morning…..our projected
finish time is about 9AM or so and with an ultimate goal time of about 154-156 hours. Many events are planned for that Saturday at the YMCA
and during the week. I’ve atch’d the flyer for the “Midnight Spin Cycling” events that will be held. All are invited to participate.
I hope this email finds you well and just as happy that Summer is around the corner and Winter is behind us….we had many a cold night at X
Sport the past couple months on some of those long rides. I’ll continue to update you all as we get closer but pls feel free to email me or
give me call if you wanna chat. Be seeing you soon and thanks again for being a part of Ride George Ride! All the best! George.
View information captured in part from the Training Journal, 2007 and notes of George Hood as he prepared for
and then achieved his Guinness World Record in the Century Spin for Kiwanis Kids, July 10-14, 2007 in Burr Ridge, IL.
To learn more, including what you can do to play an active supporting role, feel free to contact:
George Hood — 630-415-6222 — georgehood111@yahoo.com .
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