Thank you God, Thank you DORBA, Thank you Muscle Memory
Thanks to everyone who was super nice and called out passing. I really needed that yesterday. It was tough being out there. It was really tough when all that hard soil turned to mush. And I kept thinking, ‘my jaw surgeon wouldn’t be too happy about this’.
4 weeks post total jaw reconstructive surgery. I have to say, today I feel pretty darn good.
I walked the two rock gardens, the Flinstones, I began riding Fred’s but continued to walk Barney’s. I didn’t go through the slot, and a couple of times I walked the unstable downhill that came after that.
I fell once, due to a pretty unsafe pass. I was pretty upset. I felt that the people should of merged until the top of the hill, instead of passing me on a tight whoop-d do. It wasn’t the pass, it was the uncalled third rider. I didn’t need that.
It was 22 degrees when I got to the ranch…brr.
Got to see lots of great people. I was so excited to be back on the scene and back on the bike, Ray, Luke, Rey, Pam, Gina, Whispering Leaves, Jennifer, Caveman, Colleen, Ryan from OK, Tommy, Steve, Thomas, Connie, it was cool.
Doug Harper, I hope I hear from you!
It’s tough not being able to eat on the bike, or eat all of my usual foods. I stopped for 5 minutes each lap. I had to stop sometimes during my ride to snack. That will pass.
I go back for a follow up with my surgeon tomorrow. I’m doing pretty good, I think.
What do you think, should I tell my jaw surgeon?
My fastest lap was my 6th lap. I came in at 5:52 and I was only going to ride for 6 hours, and then, I had talked myself into riding a 7th lap, if “the other ladies had sat down” meaning they didn’t go back out.
My 6th lap felt so good, it was EZ, I felt on top of my game, I felt unconquerable at that point. I was trying to get the lo-down on the ladies. Luke kept telling me not to race, this wasn’t a race. He said the ladies had gone back out, or at least he hadn’t seen them. Then, I was going to call it a day. And then, he said something to me,
“if you have the legs”.
Hell yes, I have the legs, I just had my fastest lap and this is not about today, this is about the DIRTY DOZEN in 2 weeks!!
So at 5:55 I went back out.
I was tough, big ring, working on my fastest lap, going fast. I remember when I used to race a 10 mph endurance race. Those were the good ol’ days, that’s for sure.
Then, on a fast descent, where I actually had my balls to the wall, I heard it, a loose free wheel. I said, crappers.
Then, I heard a flat tire on my rear. Maybe I can ignore it and it will go away.
No, air…
Then, more air…
Then, no air…
Then, more air,
Then a slow lap. At least, I had some good company, Thank you Ryan from OK.
Today my legs are a little sore. My butt actually feels pretty good, I have been very hungry and thirsty. I did 4-5 hours of ‘active recovery’. That’s hand scrubbing tile floors, sweeping, bathrooms, etc.
I will figure out a way to work out tomorrow.
It was super cool, the ol’ man tackled 25 minutes on the rollers at 19-20 mph. It was cool. He was sweating watching an 80’s ski movie, I was cleaning the kitchen, and scrubbing floors. What a great way to bring us together.
I may have had a little bit too much fun at Banana Republic today. I told Ken I should have never gone in that place last week. Today I went back to buy all my little finds. Hell, I could have bought a new car instead.
BTW, I’m working on that, really hard.
Yesterday I got to meet Kim Olsen. She is super cool and I can’t wait to get to know her better.
Justin sent my his tentative race schedule, and I got to pick out his races leading up to Marathon Mountain Bike National Championship in September. That was really, REALLY, fun.
I looked at Alyssa’s schedule for XTERRA, that looks awesome. Slowly bringing her back to fitness.
Rey did a fabulous job yesterday, it was cold, he fell and landed on his back, got in the same number of laps, in about half the time as me. I saw him on my 3rd lap. He did pretty darn good, for throwing in the towel so early. He’s getting amped for TMBRA. Gonna hit some PLYO in the gym, as well as some Starts.
Kathy had a 12 hour Adventure Race this weekend. I can’t wait to get the lo-down on that. That was one of those, Coach found out about it 2 weeks ago kind of races. I’m sure she did awesome and had a “chilly time”.
Michael is wondering about strength on the bike. This week he begins Anaerobic Endurance. OUCH!
Kim rode Dino Valley. She is very adventurous.
Like me in the olden days before I had kids. Now I use all my free time to ride races instead, it’s the only way I can get myself out of the house.
Justin rode Saturday, 2000 feet of climbing, that lucky duck!
So 7 hours…
my “crash program” worked.
I can’t believe it with only a 2 hour long ride going into it. (I did this little build last weekend)
Having a coach always pays off.
Now, all I have to do is “get faster“!