"We don't do it that way here."

"We don't do it that way here."

"We've always done it this way."
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Like nails on a chalkboard (do those still exist?).

Prior success reinforces the belief that future success will be assured when doing things the same way we have always done them.

It's comfortable. It's easy.

When a company, organization, tribe, marriage, person, whatever-- stops challenging itself and the environment around it, myopia creeps in and decision making is compromised.

Complacency. Denial. Fear.

Change is scary but without it there is no growth.

What are you doing the same way you have always done it? Why?

I ride for people like Michelle because they cannot.

Michelle is the mother of a kid I coached in baseball a few years back. She shared her story with me when I was doing this ride back in 2005. Some mornings she just lies in bed until her legs will start working and she can get up and move around.

In a couple of weeks on September 17 and 18 I will be riding in the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Waves to Wine Bike Ride to raise money and awareness for people like Michelle.

I ride for people like Michelle because they cannot...

Please help me raise money for the fight against Multiple Sclerosis.
http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/donohoe

Will you please help me to end the disease of Multiple Sclerosis?

How many of us take for granted the ability to go out and jump on a bike or strap on our walking shoes for a quick stroll around the neighborhood? Unfortunately, there are many for whom just getting up in the morning is a struggle.

Multiple Sclerosis a chronic disease of the central nervous system affecting the brain and spinal cord. Researchers are making progress, but the cause and cure are still out of reach. It is estimated that over 2.5 million people are affected by MS and every week approximately 200 people are diagnosed - or about one every hour.

Next month on September 17 and 18, I will be joining over 2000 cyclists riding in the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Waves to Wine Bike Ride to help raise awareness and money to help end this terrible disease.

Please visit the Multiple Sclerosis Society website to make a donation in my name today:
http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/donohoe

Any amount you feel comfortable giving - even just a "Good luck, James!" - is deeply appreciated. With your support, we can make a positive impact in the lives of the men, women, and children living with multiple sclerosis.

Kindest regards,

// James Donohoe //
Please help me raise money for the fight against Multiple Sclerosis.
http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/donohoe

Rockhopper Classic 2011 MTB race report

The Rockhopper Classic MTB race is back after disappearing in the mid-90s.

Quick overview: A mix of singletrack and fire road with short steep climbs.
Date: Saturday, May 7, 2011
Total riders: 212 starting, 182 finished (I think 253 signed up?)
Results: http://timeyourrace.com/Rockhopper/2011/Results.htm
Distance/Elevation: Each lap is 9.5 miles with ~1600 feet of climbing.
Website: http://www.monticellocycling.org/rockhopper.html

Good: Challenging course, clear course markings, excellent spectator viewing.
Bad: One minute intervals between groups is not enough. Not a ton of places to pass cleanly.

I had never ridden at Lagoon Valley Park before so I was not sure what to expect. As we pulled up to the park, I thought that the hills did not look too difficult but looks are deceiving. I entered CAT2/Sport which meant two laps. My realistic goal was 2:15 with a hopeful goal of going under two hours.

The intervals between classes were one minute and they clumped all CAT2 racers together. It was halfway through the first lap before things opened up enough for clean passes. The downhill sections were especially annoying and I ended up going off course a few times to make some passes.

Making a pass on the first lap.

Races with multiple loops that come through the start/finish are always a mind trip and this was no different. After finishing the first lap in 1:01, I was pretty smoked. My heart rate monitor had been hovering between 5.2 and 5.4 - basically anaerobic - and I knew my goal of breaking two hours was not going to happen. I would have been happy to go get my burrito and call it a day but I pressed on of course.

Pushing hard to make up time.

During the second lap the wind kicked up and made the course more difficult. I estimated ~20 MPH with 30+ MPH gusts on top of the hills. On a few of the trails my front wheel kept getting pushed around and I had to lean into the wind to keep from falling over. Since the racers had spread out and the CAT3 folks were off the course, passing was a little easier. About 1:35 into the race my legs started giving me signals that cramping was imminent and I backed off my effort and kept my heart rate in zone 5.0-5.2. The muscle cramps kicked in hard about ten minutes later and the last fifteen minutes were pretty painful but thankfully the last part of the course is mostly downhill or flat.

I crossed the line at 2:08 according to my GPS making my second lap six minutes slower at 1:07 giving me 15th out of 26 racers with 5 DNFing (Did Not Finish).
Garmin GPS export: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/84304161
Endomondo: http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/iHpVebTNzYw

Looking at the pictures my lovely bride took I realized just how easy it was for spectators to watch a big part of the race without having to run all over the place. Definitely spectator friendly.

Pictures: https://picasaweb.google.com/james.donohoe.picasaweb/201158RockhopperClassicMTB#
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-PGhe_Lktc

Approaching the finish line lap

Yep, I'll be back next year to break two hours!

Hey Starbucks, I just want a cup of coffee!

It took me 20 minutes to get a cup of coffee at Starbucks last night. I drink decaf generally, and certainly in the evening or I am up all night. Starbucks has recently changed their policy on brewing decaf after lunch time (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?sid=aOvUsHxFSAeM&pid=20601082), and I get why but geez - 20 minutes?

So I wrote them a little letter and submitted it on their website.


===================Letter to Starbucks===================

Background:

Recently (starting in January?), the stores I frequent in the San Ramon/Dublin/Pleasanton California area have stopped brewing decaf coffee after lunch time. I get that there was wasted coffee and this was done to cut costs - I have no issue with that and support the fiscal responsibility. The initial response was to offer to brew a full pot of decaf or an Americano for the same price. Brewing a full pot takes about 5-6 minutes and the Americano takes 2-3 based on my experience. While it was a minor inconvenience and added an extra 2-3 minutes to my visit, I felt that offering an Americano was a reasonable solution.


Problem:

Lately the stores have opted to try and brew a single cup with some hot water and a stand-alone filter contraption. The results have been disappointing. It now takes an extra 5-10 minutes to get what used to be accomplished in under 30 seconds AND the quality of the coffee is very poor. On more than one occasion I have found my beverage to be undrinkable and asked for a new one. This results in a suggestion of an Americano (the ORIGINAL solution), and another few minutes to get that going. Last night it took TWENTY minutes to get a cup of decaf coffee and there was no one in line. This has happened twice in the last week at two different stores.


Observation:

The Starbucks employees I have encountered are doing their best but are frustrated and lacking leadership direction with this new change. They want to do the right thing but are not sure what that is and they seem very embarrassed by this.


Solution:

Offer an Americano at the same price as drip decaf coffee. This would give clear direction to your employees, provide a reasonably efficient solution from a financial perspective, and improve your customer service.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.


Regards,


-James Donohoe


===================Letter to Starbucks===================


Maybe I will get a response. Maybe I will stop going to Starbucks..?