The Journey Continues

July 18th - July 20th

7-18-10 - Bike 4:45 Alone - Today I went out for a long ride alone. I have been advised to do this because I will be alone on the Ironman course so long and I should get use to it. the beginning of the ride started out bumpy. I got to my parking place and ralized I had taken my aero bar pads off to clean them and had not put them back on yet.

After finally getting on the road, I have to admit, the first 2.5 hours was easy. Wiht the Lake Placid hills coming up, I wanted hot, but flat and save myself from injury before heading out to New York to train. This ride was all about getting used to the humidity and going at it alone.

I didn't have any glitches or issues until around 2:45 when I turned straight into the wind and starting consuming my last bottle of water. I started out with four and now I started to wonder if I wuld make it to my planned water destination in time. I was passing by a number of houses, so worst case scenerio, I would go cold-calling and begin begging for water.

About 3 hours in, I noticed storm clouds - about 3:15 in, I started getting rained upon. However unlucky I felt that day starting out, as soon as I truned onto the next road on my map, I saw a state park wildlife refuge ahead - there I found shelter, a clean bathroom and water! WHOO HOO!
It is amazing how what it all really comes down to is so simple. I waited out the storm, took some pictures, guzzled 16 oz of water and ate some combos. Life was looking really good. Finally the storm passed and I headed out hoping to find home. I had to ride dwon a 4 lane highway for 1/10 of a mile (that was terrifying), but I finally made it back - 9 fig newtons, 2 dozen pizza combos and 6, 16 oz bottle of G2 and water later.

7-19-10 - Run 1:30 - I went out for a 2 hour run and ended up completing only 1.5 due to fatigue. GRRRRRR. But, when the body won't go - the body won't go. What is a person to do?

7-20-10 - Bike 2:00 - Again, fatigue,but I am learning that drinking a chilled mocha before I go helps - I should have drank one this time. It's amazing how a 2 hour ride now seems very normal and goes very quickly - it almost doesn't feel I am doing enough.