I'm baaaaaaaaack!!!!

It's been so long since I've posted anything on here, that I forgot my user name and password.Since I've been doing some new things this year, I thought for fun, I would give the ol' blog another try. With the advent of Facebook, it seems more of hassle to write a long drawn out summary than it is to do a 5 word summary there. That's the kind of society we've turned into I guess. I don't want to read anything longer than 3 sentences nor write anything longer than three sentences :-)

Anyway. Since I last updated, my life has taken a couple twists and turns. I sold my business back in 2010, went to school full time in 2011, ran out of money, and decided to move back to good ol' hotlanta. I had been thinking about doing that for awhile, so when my house rented within a day of me putting it up for rent I figured that had to be some sort of sign to get the hell out of dodge. The only problem was I had 2 weeks to do it, and had no plan. Packing up an entire house you've lived in for 8 years totally sucked and made me realize that about 3/4 of my possessions was stuff that I haven't used in forever and was basically just taking up space. How one person (me) could accumulate so much junk is/was crazy. If nothing else, the move forced me to down size, and that feels pretty good right now. Bigger house equals more shit. Smaller house equals less shit. Less shit equals good.More shit equals bad.

2012 was a year of getting back on my feet and trying to re-acclimate myself to what once was an awesome place to live:Atlanta.I feel like Rip Van Winkle returning to a place after 100 years. The streets are the same, the buildings are the same, but everything else has changed. Change is good?? I couldn't disagree more. Metro Atlanta isn't the south I once knew ,and that pisses me off.When ya can't walk into a convenience store, and the staff know what a Popsicle is, then something is terribly wrong.

2012 turned out to be my re-adjusting period, and that meant no racing for me. I did  the first 3 snake creek gap time trials and that was it. That year consisted of finding a job, working,continuing school,trying to find a suitable place to live and a lot of soul searching.Towards the end of 2012 a few things started falling into place and I found myself missing my race buds, and also longing to start trying some new things. I got it in my head that by 2013 I wanted to be an iron man. Why? Hell,I don't know. The only thoughts I've ever had about triathlons ,or triathletes, is that those people are a bunch of jack asses. Those are the people that us "real" cyclist (mountain bikers) make fun of. My plan was to train for a few months and do iron man Florida in November of 2013.Piece of cake right?? All ya have to do is swim a little,bike a little ,and run a little. Pffft......Easy as pie. So in October I started 'training."

10 years ago is when I went for my first mountain bike ride. I was on my walmart Schwinn and the 60 year old guy,that took me, had to wait on me at least 20 times. It was a 5 mile loop. I couldn't keep up for even a minute.That same week I went and bought a "real" mountain bike. 750.00 dollars I paid!!!! For a bicycle??!!! Within 3 months I was racing. Cycling,and my cycling fitness happened relatively fast. Ten years later,I'm thinking the same thing will happen with running and swimming. Piece of cake,especially compared to some of the epic stuff I've done while pedaling a bicycle.Wrong.It's either my age or running and swimming is way harder than cycling.....I hope it's the latter. So my plan to do an Iron Man, without even doing a triathlon, quickly became an illusion.That dream just isn't going to happen.

I started my "training" in October. I started with a local trail run of around 4 miles. Plan was to slowly progress in speed and distance.I've tried running for 10 years and have always despised it, and never stuck with it. I always stuck to treadmill running. This time I decided to give a local trail a try. The best part of that idea was that I could do it during my lunch break. Trail vs. treadmill is 10,000 times better.I found myself enjoying the challenge of trying to get faster and faster.Even though I still don't enjoy running,like I do cycling, it does have it's advantages.The  main advantage being convenience.8 months later, and several injuries later, I'm still at it.Still slow,but still at it.My swimming has been even worst. It's been quite a humbling experience to try something new and struggle at getting "good" at it. In some weird way that makes me all the more determined to keep at it.

Once I started getting back in the groove of 'training" I decided to make 2013 a year full of racing. I looked at the calender and made my race schedule full of   all sorts of different disciplines: mountain biking sprint races,endurance races,dirty duathlons,road duathlons,running races and some triathlons.The sprint mountain bike races, weren't originally on the agenda, but super sport athletic wear offered me a sponsorship, so I decided to add that to the mix. To this point I've done everything except a triathlon and a run only race.My first triathlon is planned for July 20.I've had some success and some failures. The only thing consistent  is I've been learning a lot.

A few pictures of some of the races I've done so far this year.



                    My first off road duathlon I decided to do as a team. I rode and my team mate (Holly) ran. We did well.

                                                   
                                                        Gone riding sprint race dauset trails

                                 
                                      My first solo off road duathlon. 1st place novice. Run. Bike

                                          6 hours of fort yargo. Dirty spokes productions . 2nd.

                                               Gone riding. Flat rock park Columbus,Ga.

                                                        Chain buster 6 hours of Conyers

                                                       My first road duathlon. Run Bike Run     

                                                    
                                                        Blankets creek dirty duathlon..Run. Bike

A tribute

Well,it's been right at a month now since Tracie's death, and I still can't get over the fact that it's happened,that she's gone.I think instead of getting easier with the passage of time, it actually seems to be getting harder.The thought of death, and it's total finality, is whats hitting the hardest.Thinking of all the the things Tracie will never do or see again is hard to think about.Tracie is gone, forever....FOR-EVER.How can that be?

It's amazing when someone close dies how it will make you analyze your own life. Not sure if that's common but it sure has been happening to me.It doesn't help much being in a "transitional" stage of my life right now, where I'm basically starting over.With all the goings on in the world it's hard to be optimistic about anything right now.Thinking too much I guess.In due time it will be all better again.In due time.

Anyway,it took me several different attempts before I felt like I finally got the video "right."I would save it, and then think of something else I should have put in it , and then re-do it again..After 3 or 4 attempts I think it's done. Couldn't ask for a more perfect song.I think when the time comes that I can actually watch it without tearing up,things will be "better." I can't seem to stop thinking about her.

Forever gone.........

A few weeks ago I was all ready to tell you about my performance at my last 6 hour race. The race was on Saturday May 7th and for once I felt really good. It was the best race I've had so far in 2011. In short I went from 3rd to 1st with less than 5 miles to go in the race. It felt good to get to stand on the top step during the award ceremony.

Two days later I learned of a friend's death. Describing her as just a friend is probably trivializing our relationship a bit but in the end that's what we were, for the most part.Even though our communications were mostly limited to either email or text messages, I still thought about her in some shape or form most every day.Now that she's gone I realize just how often I use to think about her.When I heard the news I wasn't surprised AND shocked all at the same time. It took several hours for the news to sink in.As the days wore on the realization of her death got harder and harder to accept. The thought of her being gone, forever, was something my brain was unwilling to process.My friend was so full of life and had so much personality.To say she was a "character" is the understatement of the year.It would be safe to say that in all my years I have never met a single person quite like her and more than likely never will again.She was unique.I can honestly say there is no one person who could me laugh longer or harder than she did.

It's been 3 weeks since her death and I still feel terribly sad about it all.It still feels like just yesterday that it happened and I still feel like her being gone forvever just can't be.I have an empty feeling that just won't seem to go away.We dated for most of 2010 and I find myself thinking back to this time last year each and every day.Thinking back to what we were doing or where we were going.Yesterday( a year ago)I had to put my dog of 15 years down.I remember after getting home from the vet,to make myself feel better, I decided to go for a bike ride. When I returned my friend had removed all my dogs belongings and placed them in a place I wouldn't see them. She knew the reminder of my dog's stuff would be upsetting to me.Everything she put away is still in the exact same place she put it one year ago today.I remember every minute of that day and wonder how in one short year my friend can be gone.More than likely this exact moment,last year, she was here,with me.I find myself looking ,and re-looking, back at pictures and am fascinated how vivid my memory is of everything that had to do with when the picture was taken.The memories have been overwhelming and I find myself remembering the most trivial of events.Everywhere I turn seems to be yet another reminder.

It's times like this I so wish I were a better writer. I have so many thoughts running through my head ,and so many things I'd like to say ,but just can't seem to get them out.Even though death has been rearing it's ugly head around me quite a bit lately, my friends passing is the closest it has come to me.Maybe that's why accepting her death has been so hard? Maybe it's because her death was so tragic and senseless. She was so young and had so much life yet to live.Driving down the same road she traveled so many times thinking to myself she will never see this again.So many memories. Thinking of all the things she will never see or do ever again.Wondering how her children will do and feeling sad my friend won't be a part of their lives anymore.Thinking of all the things she enjoyed doing and knowing she will now never do them again.....ever.Death and dying is so final.A death filled with so many "what if's" makes it even harder to accept.Maybe this is how things were meant to end up. Maybe the old cliche' "shes in a better place now" isn't just a cliche' but the truth.No one but her will never know that,I guess.I can only hope she's is ,in fact, in a better place now.If anyone deserves that she does.

A text I got from Tracie not long ago.

"Life is an ongoing joke man,consider all the characters....people you let in....you did so for a reason...mature growth...is to make a decision of whether or not they will be in your book."

She will be in my book for sure.

Rest In Peace Tracie.
mark duffus mark biking mark duffus cycling mark duffus mountain biking

CYCLECROSS !!

Went up to Dahlonega this weekend to help out with the southern cross cycle cross race.Only regret I ever have when volunteering for a race is it ALWAYS makes me wish I was racing.This race wasn't any different.Would have loved to seen what I could have done on this course on a cross bike.

Not too much to report.Volunteering was fun.Seeing and helping all the racers was really fun.The day was absolutely gorgeous with highs in the 70's.

Next week is finals week for school.It's going to be great to wrap up a quarter of school and get a 2 week break from it.Hope to get in mucho riding in while I'm off.

Thats it.Here are a few pics from the weekend.




mark duffus mountain biking mark duffus cycling mark duffus photgraphy

Once again....

Once again I've let this blog slip and haven't been keeping it up to date.Tons of stuff has been going on since my last post back in May so it's not like I haven't had anything to blog about.I guess with the popularity of facebook ,and it's ease in keeping things up to date in a sentence or less,by blog has been sat on the back burner.

The chain buster endurance series wrapped up in October at jackrabbit trails in North Carolina.I finally had a really good race and finished 3rd.Managed to get in 100 something miles in around 11:40.What was more impressive was that I did it on a brand new bike;a bike I hadn't ridden until race day.

The chainbuster series finale' was also the same day a series which started back in March.I ended up winning the 12 hour solo catagory.I'm thinking this year will be the last of me doing any 12 hour races.They just dont seem as fun as they use to be.mark duffus mountain biking mark duffus cycling mark duffus marietta ga.

first sprint race of the year

This past Sunday I decided to do my first sprint race of the year.Not really a big fan of the short and fast stuff mainly because I'm just not that good at it.I prefer the long, 6 plus hour rides/races, where you can settle into your own pace and just ride.Sprint racing is balls to the wall as fast as you and your heart/lungs/legs will go for close to 2 hours.Total misery in my opinion BUT a necessary evil.No training ever invented can simulate the work out you'll get while sprint racing so I decided "what the hell",let's do some racing.

Saturday night didn't go too well and I ended up getting very little sleep.I remember looking at the clock and it was 3:30 a.m.I was already dreading having to get up in 2 1/2 hours to make that drive to Columbus.The alarm went off at 6 am and I was out the door by 6:45 feeling surprisingly awake.

The drive to Columbus was uneventful and I got to the race venue around 8:15.Was good seeing several of my racing friends already getting ready.After chatting with several folks and getting my registration packet I was on the bike and ready to go.

My race started around 9:30 and standing on the start line the only feeling I felt was dread.I knew from experience that the next couple hours were going to hurt.Little did I know that the hurt I was going to feel wasn't at all what I was expecting.

The gun went off and my group went screaming off onto the course.A pretty bad crash happened in one of the earlier groups so I made a mental note to take it easy at the start and try and make up places as the race progressed.

I was way at the back once we hit the first turn but managed to pass a few folks before hitting the first tight section of single track.I noticed immediately that I was feeling really well aerobically and didn't feel at all like I was 'blowing up." Typically, the beginning of these races make your heart feel like it's going to explode.I settled into what felt to me was a pretty fast pace(for me) and concentrated on picking off as many of the front runners as I could.By the end of the first 10 mile lap I had passed 2 racers in my class and could see another not too far in the distance.I told myself to keep on doing what I was doing and before long I would be reeling in at least one more racer.

As I was starting my second lap I couldn't believe how good I was feeling.I hardy ever feel "fast" while racing but today I felt like I was riding really well.My niner air 9 was blowing my mind at how well it was carving through the tech sections of the trail.I'll go ahead and say it again but this bike feels better and better the faster it goes.It really makes me feel like a better rider.


My goal the second lap was to continue what I was doing and I knew without a doubt I would catch at least one other racer.I had no idea what place I was in but knew I had to be top 10 which for me is good racing in this fast skinny guy class.

First mile or two of the second lap went off without a hitch.Was feeling really strong and fast still.I was cruising along just like I had done on the first lap and it happened.I hit a drop I didn't see on the first lap and before I could react I was lying on the ground seeing stars.I've hit the ground plenty of times but this,by far,was the worst hurt I've ever felt.The drop had a tire size hole on the other side stopping my entire momentum causing me to go over the bars.The first thing that hit the ground was my head followed by my shoulder.Usually when I've hurt myself in the past the pain comes on gradually,this time it was instantaneous.After picking myself up off the ground ,and getting my bike's handle bars pointing straight again,I continued on hoping no one would pass me.First thing I noticed once rolling again was my front tire had lost almost all it's air.Was so low that any little turn made the bike feel like it was going to wash out.I had hit the drop so hard it made my tire "burp" almost all it's air out.I absolutely hated having to stop and put more air in it but knew I couldn't continue on without doing it.I hadn't been stopped long and two racers in my class passed me......."%$#&*" I mumbled to myself.

Once remounting, and continuing on, I felt like I was riding really cautiously and feeling like I had a hard time finding my rhythm again.I was feeling really slow.My shoulder hurt but didn't hurt really bad unless I was going downhill.I felt a knot rising up and couldn't help but wonder/worry that I had broken something.The distraction of worrying about that really slowed me down making it almost impossible to concentrate on riding.

I finished the lap without getting passed any more but I also couldn't get my two spots back either.I ended up finishing 8th.I left the race with my arm in a sling.By the time I got home I could hardly move and the following morning I was in total misery.Amazing how even the smallest movement will make an injured shoulder scream in pain.The following day it felt much better but still have considerable pain.Made and canceled a doctors appointment hoping it will feel better by weeks end.If not then I guess I'll go have it checked out.Next race is in a couple weekends and I'm really hopeful that it will be ok by then.

Only picture I could find of me from the race.This was towards the beginning of the first lap.I'm in the green almost out of the picture.Note the two fast skinny guys hot on my tail.

Best vacation ever.....almost

No words can describe the feeling nor beauty I get from my visits to New Smyrna beach.This story is best told in pictures.

Checked into the room and this was the first thing I saw upon looking out the window.Was a prelude to a very special week.



This is why I go here year after year.No people.


One of the highlights of my trip was joining in on one of the local group rides.





Last day there I got up real early so I could take some shots of the sun rise.There has never been a day in my life that had such a contrast between the time the sun rose and the the time the sun set.

Here are a few of my favs.

The sun trying to make it's way above the horizon.


The sun making it's first appearance.


Cheapest therapy you will ever get.


And my favorite picture of all.If I would have known what life was going to throw at me later that day I would have never moved from this spot.

mark uffus perry,ga. mark duffus perry,ga. mark duffus perry,ga. mark duffus perry,ga. mark duffus perry,ga. mark duffus perrry,ga. mark duffus perry,ga. mark duffus perry,ga. mark duffus perry,ga.

Lots of catching up to do....

Once again,my lack of post aren't reflecting a lack of stuff to talk about.Not sure why I've been neglecting my blog as of late.One reason may be because I've become addicted to facebook.Really easy to keep friends up to date on stuff I've been doing.Even better is that I can typically keep them up to date in one sentence or less LOL

Anyway.....guess I'll start way back at the last of April/first of May and the cohutta 100.As I had mentioned in my last post I had hopes/illusions of grandeur of finishing in 9;30 hours or at the very worst under 10 hours.didn't happen.I did beat last years time by 15 minutes or so but still bonked hard at the end.I did manage to "last" a bit longer than last year.Instead of bonking 70 miles in I felt good up until around 85 miles or so.Just can't get my nutrition dialed in I guess.To this day the cohutta is the toughest thing I've ever done.


Me at the finish.Have never been so happy(well since last year anyway) to be off my $%^&#@ bike


Next up was the fort yargo 12 hour race.Really wasn't sure how this was going to go seeing since it was scheduled for the following week end.Long story short.My legs and me felt awesome.It rained like a mofo.I finished 4th.I really feel like if it wouldn't have rained I would have been top 3.The rain made the course treacherous(to say the least)Between chain suck and the absolute wrong tires it was taking me forever to do a lap.Wish I would have been keeping up with my standings.In the end I was only 10 minutes out of 3rd place.

Me all finished up.Muddy mess to say the least.



Next up was the Georgia state single speed championship race.Hadn't really planned on doing this race but seeing since I had nothing else scheduled and have never raced this race(always had something else on the schedule) I decided to give it a shot and make the drive up to Athens.

I hadn't ridden my single speed in close to a year and have all forgotten how tough it is to acclimate yourself to only one gear.I took it for a ride the Wednesday prior to the race and couldn't believe how much stuff I had to walk.
Long story short is ..sprint races are hard as hell.Heart felt like it was about to explode for an hour straight.There are very few times you can recover while riding a single speed,especially at a place like hawks creek.I did start to feel better after the first lap and settled into a groove of sorts.Stayed in 2nd place most of the race and just couldn't close the gap.Finished 2nd.



Zoegetics update.Been involved for close to 6 months now.Have been learning more about people than anything else.I've come to the conclusion that it's not network marketing that deserves the bad rap but the people that get involved.It's amazing how close the gym business and network marketing resembles each other.What I've noticed both in the gym business AND zoegetics is how little dedication people have in either.They'll pay to join the gym/zoegetics give it a 'try" for a few weeks not get instant gratification and QUIT !!I really don't know how most people even make it through life with such attitudes.

Anyway...I'm still making it work for me and as excited about the possibilities as I was in the beginning.The only way not to make network marketing work for you is by quitting.

Mark Duffus

The cohutta 100

Well folks,the kidding around is just about over and it's time to do some serious racing.The cohutta 100 is this coming Saturday and then the following weekend is a 12 hour race in Winder,Ga.If everything goes as planned,for both weekends,I will have back to back dirty 100+ mile races.

First order of business is this weekends cohutta 100.Staged in ducktown Tennesse this race is one I did for the first time last year.Even though I had ridden 100 miles on a mountain bike before this was the first point to point 100 miler I had ever competed in.My goal last year was 10 hours.I suffered some serious bonking the last 20 miles and missed my goal by 40 minutes or so.My goal this year is 9.5 hours !!!

I'm really excited this year because I know exactly what to expect.The big lesson learned last year was to not get cocky 80 miles in thinking I had the race whooped simply because I was feeling good.I never imagined only 20 miles could be so tough and i made the mistake of not paying attention to my nutrition.That's when the "bonk" came into play and in all honesty barely felt like I was going to be able to finish.I will not make that same mistake this year.The weather is suppose to be way better this year too.Shouldn't be nearly as wet as last year which will be nice.

In zoegetics news.yep,I'm still at it.have never learned so much about human psychology in my entire life.In the beginning I didn't understand people who weren't interested in even learning about this exciting new opportunity now I don't understand the people who actually get into this thing and do absolutely nothing.I promise to elaborate on this more when I have more time.Kinda sleepy right now.One thing I will say is that if any of you ever hear someone say "yeah,I was in one of those network marketing companies before and it was a big rip off." you can bet your bottom dollar they got in one,kinda tried for a week or two to be "successful" and then gave up.

Anyway,enough about that.headed to bed.

Mark Duffus

Update.Yeah I know,I'm a slacker

Really haven't much felt like blogging as of late.Writing doesn't really come all that easy to me so unless I have something specific to speak of I usually just let the blogging start to slip.But to be honest,most of the time I just don't feel like doing it :-)

Since we've talked before I haven't been up to all that much.Spent about a week and a half not feeling well.Was off the bike for an entire week and then had to force myself to get back on it.I think I made matters worst by camping and racing right when I first started feeling sick.Just so happened that it got cold and rainy this race weekend which didn't make the situation any better.The race I'm speaking of was the first of 4 races in the dirty spokes endurance series.The dirty spokes series is a 4 race series that ends in October.The first race of the series was a couple weeks ago and was held in Athens,Ga at heritage park.This race is the only 6 hour with the rest being 12 hour races.Needless to say I didn't do very well.I decided to call it quits after only 3 hours of racing.Just wasn't having fun and when it's no fun there's no real reason to continue on.

Last weekend I drove up to Brevard North Carolina to participate in a save the trails ride.Was suppose to be tons of fun since it was being held in one of the most popular mountain bike areas in all the south east.Unfortunately in rained the entire time I was there so I didn't get to do the ride.

My view for 2 days


I did get to sneak in a forest service ride in between down pours.



Zoegetics is still doing really well.Learning a lot about network marketing and even more about people. One of these days when I have about 3 hours I'm going to sit down and write all about it. LOL