First long ride was a STRUGGLE

BIKE 56 miles in 3:20

It's hard to see that long time. I can do 56 miles under 3 hours in a race. Today was certainly not a race, it's recovery! The same pattern of fatigue and struggle occurred after IMCDA as I prepared for Redman. Again, I know what's going on, but it's still hard to see.

I rode the MCT's because they're 'safe', and probably a good thing I did. I was mentally fuzzed right away. Crossing intersections, navigating the trail barries, squinting in the sun, all of it took a lot of mentally energy. I wasn't hurting, but I was fuzzed. Counting the miles. Talking myself through it. Encouraging myself.

At one point on the way out, my SavageMan bottle popped out of the rear rack, happily I found it on the way back. Most of the way back I was sitting up out of aero. Now I'd promised myself that I'd just take this ride easy, but that's getting it too easy. I needed to push just a little hard, and TRY -- just like the song stuck in my head all morning.

The way back seemed so long...but one thing about riding these trails is how many memories I have on them. Just a few weeks ago I did my 200K ride in which I cracked. As I passed that point today, I looked back on that and smiled. Happily I was no where near that point today! And amazing to think that just weeks ago, this was the turn-around for my ride!

14 hr week!