Today was the first of many long bricks...well it seems like many...but that's only because I have to run them...really only about 8 or so. Today's was likely the shortest of them all to come!
I was up at 530...even Topaz was like - wtf don't you know its Saturday? Gotta get out early though...hurts too much to run late. So James pulled into the driveway at 6:30 am, and within a few minutes we were off. 4 hour ride, to be followed by a 1 hour run. Yellow Creek Road was our destination. A very hilly ride - according to the Joule, 4500 cumulative feet of climbing. In fact I don't think there's a single damn flat section on that ride!!
It had rained overnight, so it was already WAY humid. Had another session with Dr Sadri yesterday, and I was feeling the glut and my achilles a little. Otherwise though, feeling strong. James is on his last brick - his race is in two weeks - Coeur d'Alene. So he was taking a little easier. This was perfect, since I wanted to go harder. His slightly easier is my pushing harder, so it was a perfect match! This ride used to be so hard for me - especially Tribble Gap Road, and it feels so good to be able to do this and do it well! Even on these hills, for the most part my heart is sticking to the 150's, 140's...with the exception of a very small number of jumps to 160 (actually still in my zone 2), I'm not able to get my heart rate up on the bike. This has been consistent over the last 4-6 weekends, so no longer a fluke. On one hand this is good - it means my fitness is good! But my muscles just aren't strong enough to keep up with my fitness...as James said, it is an area of opportunity! I will do what I can to get stronger this summer, but over the winter - look out!!
So we're about a third of the way into the ride, and this massive garbage truck passes us. It stank so bad!! Normally the smell passes in a minute or so. Not the case today. Pee-yew!!! I mean, it was gag-producing kind of awful. And that smell did not go away...we were stuck in its trail. We hit a main road, hoping to all that is sacred he'd turned the other way...but no, we could smell it. A quick right a mere quarter mile up the main hwy...and dammit if that stinking truck hadn't turned there too. No, we couldn't see it - but god help us we could smell it. And then to make matters worse, there is a spot on Old Federal Rd where dead things live. seriously. Actually I think there must be an abattoir or something hiding behind the trees...talk about incentive to push the watts!! Man. And it was early!! I can't imagine the smell once the peak heat hits. Finally we hit Yellow Creek Road and we lost it, but man oh man, that was AWFUL.
I chased James all the way down YCR, and managed to pull up at the store a mere 30-40 seconds after him. Of course, remember he was taking it a little easy today. But I did my best to rip it up. Overall we pulled in an 18.1 mph average - not bad for the heat and the hills, and getting closer to what I want for IMC. Still not at my highs of last year, but then again, I was riding shorter and flatter last year. I did manage to set some new power peaks for the year on the 1:30 and 3:00 intervals...and I guess it's the long stuff that matters now.
We got back to the house, and it was hot hot hot. They don't call it Hotlanta for nothin. man oh man. Out we went. Felt good the first 2.25 miles...then I got the wobblies. Thing is, I don't normally get the jello legs. But, I did go hard today on the bike, I was a little (lot) dehydrated, and it was hot and humid. Downed a gel, and we finished the first loop. Stopped for a bathroom break, and woops walked into the men's! thankfully no-one was in there!! But holy mackerel - the sweat - when I stop running/cycling/swimming I tend to act like a faucet and I was just drenched. Bunch of tennis people standing around, and so we got the standard - you need to go earlier - and we gave the standard - started at 630... And we were off again for the next loop. Felt good again after the gel, though we did walk a bit up that beast of a hill, and a few other short walks - James is hurting - as he should - as he begins his taper. I felt good pretty good. Jello legs were gone for the most part, and the gel had done its job. Mile 6, I went on my own to finish it up. I stopped the watch at the bottom of the vertical climb to the house - and I tell you, I could barely WALK up it. Had to stop and sit on the electrical box for a minute! (yes it is seriously stupid steep...but I've never had to stop walking before!). The heat and humidity was just awful. (I don't know how Vogel runs in the Gaps). (seriously she is just a machine).
Got home, and got us some Mix 1 - which just totally did its job and brought us back to life!! Add a mini coke, and I was good to go. I knew the run would be hard today, and it was. Definitely feeling the glut today. And currently my inner thigh is aching a little every time I move my leg. Will probably ice it when I finish here. I didn't nap today, but I haven't done anything else either, but sit down, and eat. And yes, Dr Sadri, I stretched and did my exercises!!
Chatting with Richard he says they would get up and start riding at 3:30/4:00 am during Australia's summers - as hot and humid as here. Now they do have the advantage of it getting light by 430...we really aren't light till 6:15...but I'm thinking I may have to get that goin on anyway. I don't know if I can take this crazy humidity and heat for another 9 weeks of this training... A headlight, and we're good to go.
So first big brick - check! Not feeling terrible (but don't look in the mirror - nothing but black circles right now). I'm fairly certain if I can convince my body to do it, I'm going to get up at 5 to run tomorrow. I'll just convince it that it'll only be 730 when I'm done...I can go back to sleep!! I don't think I'm going to have trouble going back to sleep after 15 miles of running. Especially on these tired legs. Not sure when we're swimming...but surely I'll have time for a nap.
OK. Now it's time to go get a teeny tiny little screwdriver so I can put my new quick release strap on the garmin...and I plan to stop at Yogli Mogli on the way back. :)
Thanks James for playing rabbit today! You are gonna be awesome at CDA!!
Happy Training!
Kat
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