Quick update on my Phish ticket giveaway. So far we've raised $400 for MS research and there are 15 people in the drawing. My 100 mile ride is this Saturday, July 11th. I'm going to pick a winner on Sunday as soon as I can crawl out of bed!
Want to get in the drawing? Here's how it works:
-you log onto the MS website (link below) and make a minimum $25 donation to support my ride.
-in the box that says "recognition" either put your twitter ID (ex. @jimstagnitti) or put #phish after your name. That's how I know to put you in the drawing.
That's it!
Tickets are inside, lower level, section 7, row R.
Thanks for your support and GOOD LUCK!
WIN MY EXTRAS!
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Monday, July 6, 2009
counting the days
Just a few short days until the MS Follow the Foothills 100 mile ride. The heavy lifting part of my training is done, just a couple of short - 20-30 mile- rides early this week and then I'll let my legs recover the big ride!
Friday was my longest training ride to date- a 65 mile ride that started and ended at West Mountain. Here's a map of the ride:
The first 12 miles are basically up hill as I rode from West Mountain to Corinth and into the Adirondack Park. Click on the elevation button on the map and you'll get the idea. The ride took me around the long, northern finger of Great Sacandaga Lakeover the Batchellerville bridge and through the towns of Hadley and Lake Luzerne.
There's something about a steady rain that makes the Adirondack's feel more, well, Adirondacky. Friday did not dissappoint. As I crested the hill on West Mountain Rd heading toward the lake fog was rolling in between the mountains. A slight wind picked up and the sky darkened. All I could hope for was no lightening and luckily it held off. The rain, however, didn't. Fifteen miles in a steady drizzle/downpour. By the time I reached the little general store in Edinburg I was soaked and cold. Good time to stop for a couple of Gatorade's and a Powerbar.
As the rain let up and the sun started to peak through I was back on my bike heading up the North Shore Road. Great Sacandaga Lake is a huge, beautiful body of water that is all Adirondack's. Shoreline covered with towering pines and dotted with rustic camps.
Hard to believe that the big ride is here. I've been joking around that I have no idea if I'll be able to get out of bed on Sunday. Truth is that people with MS wake up that way every day. Not knowing if they'll be able to walk, play with their kids or dance their way through a Phish show. I glad that a few hours on my bike may help to find a cure someday.
Friday was my longest training ride to date- a 65 mile ride that started and ended at West Mountain. Here's a map of the ride:
The first 12 miles are basically up hill as I rode from West Mountain to Corinth and into the Adirondack Park. Click on the elevation button on the map and you'll get the idea. The ride took me around the long, northern finger of Great Sacandaga Lakeover the Batchellerville bridge and through the towns of Hadley and Lake Luzerne.
There's something about a steady rain that makes the Adirondack's feel more, well, Adirondacky. Friday did not dissappoint. As I crested the hill on West Mountain Rd heading toward the lake fog was rolling in between the mountains. A slight wind picked up and the sky darkened. All I could hope for was no lightening and luckily it held off. The rain, however, didn't. Fifteen miles in a steady drizzle/downpour. By the time I reached the little general store in Edinburg I was soaked and cold. Good time to stop for a couple of Gatorade's and a Powerbar.
As the rain let up and the sun started to peak through I was back on my bike heading up the North Shore Road. Great Sacandaga Lake is a huge, beautiful body of water that is all Adirondack's. Shoreline covered with towering pines and dotted with rustic camps.
Hard to believe that the big ride is here. I've been joking around that I have no idea if I'll be able to get out of bed on Sunday. Truth is that people with MS wake up that way every day. Not knowing if they'll be able to walk, play with their kids or dance their way through a Phish show. I glad that a few hours on my bike may help to find a cure someday.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
good karma.. see Phish!
Here's the deal... You may or may not know that I'm riding 100 miles on July 11th to raise money for MS research. Help me out and you could win 2 tix to see Phish at SPAC on August 16th! Section 7, row R.
Here's how it works:
The link below will take you to my donation page on the MS website. Make a donation on-line for a minimum of $25.00. When it asks for your "recognition name" put in @ and your Twitter ID... for example, I'd put in @jimstagnitti.
If I raise at least $300 through Twitter, I'll do a random drawing to give away the tix. These things are selling on Stub Hub for $200+ a piece and you could win them by making a $25 donation! Good karma, good seats, gonna be a great show!
Win 2 tix to see Phish at SPAC!
Here's how it works:
The link below will take you to my donation page on the MS website. Make a donation on-line for a minimum of $25.00. When it asks for your "recognition name" put in @ and your Twitter ID... for example, I'd put in @jimstagnitti.
If I raise at least $300 through Twitter, I'll do a random drawing to give away the tix. These things are selling on Stub Hub for $200+ a piece and you could win them by making a $25 donation! Good karma, good seats, gonna be a great show!
Win 2 tix to see Phish at SPAC!
Monday, June 1, 2009
Peacocks, Dragons and Battlefields
I mapped out a 45 mile ride for Sunday morning. Starting in Rexford, winding my way north around Malta and Saratoga Lake before heading south from Stillwater through Mechanicville and into Waterford. Derrick's (nephew) travel team was playing ball in Waterford so I could met up with the family there and catch a ride home.
Map my ride had me touring through Saratoga National Historic Park, a park that I had never heard of!
Aside from a little rain the beginning of the ride was pretty uneventful. My plan was to ride a portion of the 100 mile MS ride before heading south. That part of the ride was Rt. 9p around the southern tip of Saratoga Lake and along the eastern shore. Of course, that was the plan but my rides never go according to plan!
Leaving Malta Ridge I passed the Bass Manor. Bass Manor is an original Adirondack Camp built in 1927 and converted into a B&B and art museum. Looks like it's worth checking out sometime! As I rounded the lake I saw something I wasn't expecting- peacocks! Two of the with tail feathers spread. They were at a house that seemed like a wild bird sanctuary. Loads of geese and ducks.
A few miles later I there was a sign pointing to the Saratoga National Historic Park. It seemed a little soon to be turning but who was I to argue? Turned out it was earl, I was only about 1/3 of the way up the lake. But a closed road later in the ride made this look like a pretty good decision.
The original plan was to ride through the park from north to south, but my new route took me across the southern edge. I passed a small monument in field where General Gates and the American Army camped during the Battles of Saratoga in 1777. These were the first major victories during the Revolutionary War. The field to my left was the site of the battles in which Gates defeated General Burgoyne in September and October of 1777, battles that are know as the Turning Point of the American revolution!
A few more miles down the road and there was another historic marker. The road I was turning onto was used by troops supplying George Washington as he was driving the British out of Boston. When I think of the Revolutionary War I think of Bunker Hill, Lexington and Concord, and Washington crossing the Delaware. I never realized there was this much history so close to home.
Finally headed into Stillwater and saw a pretty cool sculpture of a dragon holding a blue glass ball. The rest of the ride was pretty uneventful until I left Mechanicville and found the road closed headed to Waterford. The detour took me up a pretty long climb headed toward Clifton Park. It would have been easy to head home from there. Empty house, hot shower....
I followed the detour, took a left turn and another climb and rode on to Waterford. The Oneida Muddogs (?) were up 15-1 when I got there and put up another 8 or so runs in the 5th.
Looking forward to more riding around Saratoga Lake and discovering some more of the Revolutionary War history in our area!
Please make a donation to my 100 mile bike ride for MS this summer.
Map my ride had me touring through Saratoga National Historic Park, a park that I had never heard of!
Aside from a little rain the beginning of the ride was pretty uneventful. My plan was to ride a portion of the 100 mile MS ride before heading south. That part of the ride was Rt. 9p around the southern tip of Saratoga Lake and along the eastern shore. Of course, that was the plan but my rides never go according to plan!
Leaving Malta Ridge I passed the Bass Manor. Bass Manor is an original Adirondack Camp built in 1927 and converted into a B&B and art museum. Looks like it's worth checking out sometime! As I rounded the lake I saw something I wasn't expecting- peacocks! Two of the with tail feathers spread. They were at a house that seemed like a wild bird sanctuary. Loads of geese and ducks.
A few miles later I there was a sign pointing to the Saratoga National Historic Park. It seemed a little soon to be turning but who was I to argue? Turned out it was earl, I was only about 1/3 of the way up the lake. But a closed road later in the ride made this look like a pretty good decision.
The original plan was to ride through the park from north to south, but my new route took me across the southern edge. I passed a small monument in field where General Gates and the American Army camped during the Battles of Saratoga in 1777. These were the first major victories during the Revolutionary War. The field to my left was the site of the battles in which Gates defeated General Burgoyne in September and October of 1777, battles that are know as the Turning Point of the American revolution!
A few more miles down the road and there was another historic marker. The road I was turning onto was used by troops supplying George Washington as he was driving the British out of Boston. When I think of the Revolutionary War I think of Bunker Hill, Lexington and Concord, and Washington crossing the Delaware. I never realized there was this much history so close to home.
Finally headed into Stillwater and saw a pretty cool sculpture of a dragon holding a blue glass ball. The rest of the ride was pretty uneventful until I left Mechanicville and found the road closed headed to Waterford. The detour took me up a pretty long climb headed toward Clifton Park. It would have been easy to head home from there. Empty house, hot shower....
I followed the detour, took a left turn and another climb and rode on to Waterford. The Oneida Muddogs (?) were up 15-1 when I got there and put up another 8 or so runs in the 5th.
Looking forward to more riding around Saratoga Lake and discovering some more of the Revolutionary War history in our area!
Please make a donation to my 100 mile bike ride for MS this summer.
Monday, May 18, 2009
lost... agian
Getting lost on long rides is almost at the habit stage. Yesterday I set out for a 44 mile ride. Using Mapmyride I plotted out a course that started at home in Rexford, went out past Ballston Lake, through Malta, Mechanicville, Waterford, Cohoes and Latham. The plan was to meet up with @cleastagnitti and catch Jimmy's ball game.
Things started well. The first 9 miles are a repeat of all my training rides. It helps to have some idea of what to expect. After leaving Malta on Rt 9/67 there's some construction that has signs down. Missed the turn to Mechanicville. Not a big deal, only cost me a couple of minutes and an extra hill.
Mechanicville was the half way point. MMR sent me down a couple of streets that dead ended at the railroad tracks. Again, not a big deal.
Stopped at Stewart's for an energy bar and a fresh Gatorade and it was off to Waterford. Waterford bills itself as the oldest incorporated village in the United States. It's a cool little town that sits right where the Mohawk River meets the Hudson. It's also where the Erie Canal and Champlain Canal connect making it the perfect place for the annual Tugboat Roundup!
The real adventure started in Cohoes. The streets on my directions didn't seem to exist. I stopped to look around and happened to look up and see... the bike path! so I backtracked a little and after the steepest climb of the ride hopped on. After about a mile the path ended. Not what I expected since it should have gone all the way to Schenectady.
Bike route signs pointed down the hill and across the highway. Yes, down the hill that I just rode up. Another mile or so and I see a sign that says Green Island. Not where I want to be since that's heading toward Troy! Turn around, cross the highway and back up the hill to the bike path. It turns out I went the wrong way!
The rest of the ride was uneventful. Made it to Jimmy's game in the top of the 5th. They lost 7-5, first loss of the season. Jimmy had a single in the 3rd.
So I turned a 44 mile ride into 51 and know that I can do half a hundred. 7 weeks to train for the next half!
Please support my 100 mile ride for MS. Anything you can do will help!
Things started well. The first 9 miles are a repeat of all my training rides. It helps to have some idea of what to expect. After leaving Malta on Rt 9/67 there's some construction that has signs down. Missed the turn to Mechanicville. Not a big deal, only cost me a couple of minutes and an extra hill.
Mechanicville was the half way point. MMR sent me down a couple of streets that dead ended at the railroad tracks. Again, not a big deal.
Stopped at Stewart's for an energy bar and a fresh Gatorade and it was off to Waterford. Waterford bills itself as the oldest incorporated village in the United States. It's a cool little town that sits right where the Mohawk River meets the Hudson. It's also where the Erie Canal and Champlain Canal connect making it the perfect place for the annual Tugboat Roundup!
The real adventure started in Cohoes. The streets on my directions didn't seem to exist. I stopped to look around and happened to look up and see... the bike path! so I backtracked a little and after the steepest climb of the ride hopped on. After about a mile the path ended. Not what I expected since it should have gone all the way to Schenectady.
Bike route signs pointed down the hill and across the highway. Yes, down the hill that I just rode up. Another mile or so and I see a sign that says Green Island. Not where I want to be since that's heading toward Troy! Turn around, cross the highway and back up the hill to the bike path. It turns out I went the wrong way!
The rest of the ride was uneventful. Made it to Jimmy's game in the top of the 5th. They lost 7-5, first loss of the season. Jimmy had a single in the 3rd.
So I turned a 44 mile ride into 51 and know that I can do half a hundred. 7 weeks to train for the next half!
Please support my 100 mile ride for MS. Anything you can do will help!
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
100 miles on my bike... no.. really
I've committed to a 100 mile bike ride this Summer to raise a little money for MS and to celebrate turning 45. Committed is the key word because I am not even close to being in good enough shape to do this!
The ride is July 11th, 2009. It's the MS Follow the Foothills ride and starts at West Mountain in Glens Falls, NY.
I started this blog as a record of the event and to let even more people know what I'm doing in hopes that it will be harder to back out!
You can look forward to hearing about my training schedule, gear, daily rides, frustrations, triumphs, etc.
Oh yeah.. I hope that you'll make a donation to MS to help keep me motivated and on target! It's super easy to do - just click this link and it will tell you how to donate:
Click Here!
Or paste this into your browser: http://tinyurl.com/ox8259
The ride is July 11th, 2009. It's the MS Follow the Foothills ride and starts at West Mountain in Glens Falls, NY.
I started this blog as a record of the event and to let even more people know what I'm doing in hopes that it will be harder to back out!
You can look forward to hearing about my training schedule, gear, daily rides, frustrations, triumphs, etc.
Oh yeah.. I hope that you'll make a donation to MS to help keep me motivated and on target! It's super easy to do - just click this link and it will tell you how to donate:
Click Here!
Or paste this into your browser: http://tinyurl.com/ox8259
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