"Race Day"

Of course it wasn't a race, but tell that to my gut when I wake up at 6 a.m. I had that familiar heavy feeling as I pushed myself through breakfast, dressing, etc. What my mind was playing, naturally, was not the "script" for the Freeze Your Fanny Ride but the Ironman 70.3. But never mind; I went.

I got to Doris McQueen, picked up my stuff, and wandered back to my car. There I saw Aaron, and later I saw Chip and eventually Jordan. Poor girl... I am afraid I did not give her ample information for registration because she showed up, all kitted out, but with no money. I had to go to my car and fetch $30 so she could register for the 10 mile ride. Thankfully Big Tim McClendon planned on doing that ride and agreed to look after her. (I offered to stay and ride with her but she demurred.) Finally, I saw Alex Volberding. He said he planned on doing the 60 miles, so I pointed him out to Chip. That made two of our number in the 60 and two of us (me and Aaron) in the 30 and Jordan in the 10.

Aaron led out fast as usual. He kept moving up through the groups and then from group to group. I kept having to "sprint" out of the saddle just to catch up. And so it went for the first five miles until we made the first right turn. Not a quarter mile down the road there had been a big wreck: on rider on the deck and many others standing around an in the ditch, cops already there. I passed slowly through the mayhem, and by the time I got to the other side there was no sign of Aaron. I pedaled like mad to make the first group I saw, sat in a bit, then bridged up to the next. And so it went for the next nine miles. I finally caught up with Aaron at around mile 14. He had dropped back once he saw me. (Should have dropped back before but that's another story...) We rode the remaining mile to the first rest stop.

I was pleased to see many familiar faces at the rest stop, including Chip and Blaise, both of whom were doing the 60. (I though the macho 60s wouldn't stop for anything.) Aaron seemed content to stay there for quite a time, but I finally got us back on the road where he urged me to "take it easy" for the next five miles. I did as much as I could, though after a few miles when we got to some big downhills, I shifted to the biggest gear I could to make up speed going down, knowing I would lose it coming up the other side. But Aaron was already fading. I had to stop at around 24 miles and let him catch up, and stopped a mile later to let him catch up again (while I removed my arm warmers). I really had no idea he was that knackered but he was. We latched on to another small group, but after another hill he told me to go ahead and he would see me at the finish. It was only about three more miles so I went. It was tough riding on hills, chip seal, and a strong wind. But I made it. Took Aaron a bit more, and when he did arrive he collapsed flat on the ground.

...and so that was that. I was pleased to be done and to have accomplished a good ride. I wasn't diposed, however, to stick around. It would be a while before the 60 milers came in and I wanted to stop by Academy Sports on my way out and also grab a Whopper Jr. I made a last check of Aaron and then took off.

I felt surprisingly well. My shoulder hadn't bothered me much at all until the last mile or two. But by the time I got to the Lake Hawkins turnoff my neck was growing stiff, and a few hours later my shoulder began burning. (Why hours later? That I cannot figure.) Jim was not home and did not arrive until almost 5 p.m. Since then he has spent as much time as he can outside, enjoying the warmer temperatures and anticipating the fact that the next two days will be rainy.

I am still a bit out of sorts. Today feels like Sunday rather than Saturday, and tomorrow will throw me even further off I'm sure as we will go see Jim's mother (which we normally do on Saturday). I'm pleased that I nearly met all my training goals for the week, but looking at next week, I am sleptical. I would like to make next week, Week 7, a Recovery Week rather than Week 8, but....