Little Hills Ride

RIDE: 90 miles in 5.5 hours; ave HR 113!
RUN: 3 miles in 25.75 minutes. haha. OK 26 minutes.

This was the Tour de LH ride in St Chuck. A few years ago, this ride was the stage of my first ever "long ride", 73-some miles with JM DC and SH. It's the 3rd time I've done this route but not surprisingly I still don't know where I am when I'm riding it.

Rain was building up on the western horizon and we knew we would get hit, just a matter of when. So we took off anyway (of course) with the first feature of the ride being Pittman. On the way to PH, I came across another female rider who wanted to ride in my draft. As long as she let me know, sure why not. A few miles later, we get to talking, and I learn she's a somewhat negative person. Blaming others for a mishap, negative attitude, sort of looking for some pity or comfort or I'm not sure what. I rode PH ahead of here, leaving her negativity downwind.

This was my easiest ever climb of PH. Even on Frea! I get done with the 2nd stage of the hill and wonder 'who fixed the hill?' to flatten it? HR only reached the high 160's. Nice! I waited at the top for a new rider with our group, a fellow IMWI-er. We hit the top just in time, the wind picked up fast and strong, followed by windy rain. It was dark like early morning for awhile. We huddled with a group at a gas station, waiting until the worst had passed. When we left the station it was still raining, but not windy. Good enough for us, what if WI is raining??

We took off, with me leaving Ms negativity-i'm-quitting-taking-SAG-back-home behind. I don't need that stuff. Since it was still raining, the pace was cautious and slow. I found that Frea doesn't have great brakes in the rain! Actually, riding in the rain wasn't so bad, it was much cooler than the predicted 107F heat index, but my hands were slick, my glasses fogged over, and water is somewhat distracting.

I had always thought that the heat is what ruined my appetite on the bike. But since this ride was cooler, and I still had no good appetite I think I'm learning otherwise! I was drinking OK, but not eating.

We wound our way through the suburbs, stoplights, and curvy streets, still keeping an easy pace in the rain, and what was the hurry anyway? Finally we reached some open road north of StC. By now the rain had let up, some some was coming out, and we were able to just ride at a steady pace. There was only one mishap for this ride--my riding partner slipped on a RR Xing! She went down so fast I missed it in a blink. Bruised shoulder and hip, scraped up arm and dented helmet. All my worries about being injured in the final days before IMWI selfishly went through my head. She was very lucky to have just bruises and scrapes, she shook it off and kept going. We passed the rest of our group on their way back from the last rest stop. From the last rest, we kept going.

I had a route mod that added 30 miles beyond the last rest stop, it was unsupported but heck weren't most of our rides that way? This was the best part of the trip. When we left the rest stop, we were only 45 miles into the day--only halfway! The next 45 miles were open road, few cars, and conversation. IM conversation. There are some things you can only discuss with another triathlete, and some of that only with another IM person. Peeing on the bike. Special needs bags. Nutrition for 13-15 hours. Not changing weight but getting smaller and more muscular. My riding partner's husband has done IMWI 2 times--what a wonderful resource and support center for her! I could have talked for hours. Well, we did!

On the way back we again crossed the rest stop. I refilled bottles and tried to eat more. At this point we learn that we are among the last riders to come in. The Sweep was at the stop. A brief rest and off again. On the way back, I had a flat tire, and what luck--the Sweep was right there! Nice guy, and the first time I'd used SAG on one of these rides. I felt good all the way home, none of the Stupids or lack of energy or foot discomfort I get around 85+ miles. Off for a run!

We didn't intend to go fast, I was hoping for a slow 5 miles. But we took off at sub8:30 pace, recognizing that this was too fast but we kept going anyway. Her goal was only 3 miles, so when I reached 1.5 miles out I turned with her. Again going too fast. Some race simulation this is, but it felt good anyway. But I couldn't have gone any longer than 3 miles, between the long week, long ride, and heat I was DONE.

This was a good ride, I'm getting used to the long hours on the bike and not having any problems, with the exception of not eating enough. I need to find something I *want* to eat.

NUMERICS: 17 hrs 39 mins
SWIM: 4000y in 1.75 hrs
BIKE: 185 miles in 11.17 hrs
RUN: 30.5 miles in 4.73hrs

It was only supposed to be a 17hr week. I skipped a swim and biked longer. Quit skipping swims!