"Don't Stop Believing" Journey to Ironman

Triathlon Race Secrets--Tummy and Cramping Troubles

 Knock wood and anything else I can find, but I haven't had tummy problems in a race for quite a while. But just in case, I put a couple of the Gas-X strips either in my shirt or Bento Box. They are as thin as a slip of paper, so carrying them is a non-issue. You just never know. :)

Oh yeah, unpeel them just a bit so you don't have to fuss trying to open it on the bike or on the run. If you're reaching for it, you're in enough distress as it is. :)

What has saved me from stomach and cramping troubles--and I credit this product 100%--is Succeed S!caps. Stomach and cramping issues disappeared when I began using this product. I used to have terrible problems in both areas, so I looked to the ultra-running community to see what they used to stave off the nausea and cramping beasts. Do yourself a favor, and take the time to read these articles by S!caps owner/developer Karl King, as well as the FAQ on his web site. Karl's description of their efficacy reflects my experience exactly. It's incredible how well this product works for me. Do just as he says, and you won't need the Gas-X! (Old habits and fears die hard so that's why I still carry it!)

Triathlon Race Secrets--Let's Talk Heat

Following up on the race secret thread from yesterday, here are a few hints for hot-weather racing. I can't believe how many triathletes say, "I hate the heat"..."running in the heat is death for me". And I know one such racer very well. Moi. :) New England often doesn't get warm consistently until June, and I run at dawn when it's cool. I'm always looking for ways to mitigate the effects of the high sun on my triathlon run. Here are what a few Endurance Nation friends had to share:

Ice Cuffs
EN Coach Patrick McCrann is shown here running in Kona. Those funky sweatbands on his arms are simply the tube part of tube socks. He just folded some ice in there, and it was hands-free running while staying cool.

Ice Sleeves
Another teammate uses uses Desoto arm coolers as "ice sleeves." He says,  "AMAZING. I just grabbed two Gatorade cups per ice at each station, shoved the ice in the top of each of the arm coolers, and this would keep me very cool for 2+ aid stations." The funny guy that he is continues, "These won my 2008 Best Race Innovation award. This season, I'm trying the Craft stuff that Tjorbjorn uses as a further attempt in my 'better racing through clothing innovation' series."

Ice Hat and Shorts
Fill  your hat with ice at aid stations, and throw a handful down your shorts. Top and bottom cooling. I've done this, and while I don't like the rivulets that melt down my face and legs, it does help keep you going.

Ice Bra
Sorry guys, can't help you here. But ladies, wearing that annoying article of clothing can help cool you down. Shove a handful of ice down the jog bra. Ahhhhhhhh! Trick is, moving it closer to the armpits makes it instant air conditioning! I've seen pro triathlete Barb Lindquist do this in race coverage on TV.

Sunglasses
Sure, it's obvious, but shading your eyes and not staring at hot, reflected sunlight off the pavement can trick your brain into thinking it's actually cooler than it is.

Let's see what new tips come my way over the next few days!

Endurance Nation Podcast Interview with Moi!

Here's a fun interview I did the other day with Coach Rich from Endurance Nation. It's a look at my personal life, and a rundown of some of the highlights I have had with EN over the past 18 months, including that terrific Ironman Florida PR of 1:30+!

EN is doing a "Meet the Team" series of podcasts with a number of athletes. They're fun to listen to and reveal the gamut of athletes we have in "da haus"--all very cool people. Head over to the blog, have a listen, and see if you might want to be part of a really great crew!

Meet the Team Podcast Series: Linda Patch

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Did I Really Do That? Sometimes Ironman Feels Like A Dream

 I was driving down the road yesterday, and the Ironman Florida swim popped into my mind. I could feel the chop of the water, taste the salt of the Gulf of Mexico, see the high rises glistening along the beach in the early morning sunshine. My god, did I swim 2.4 miles? Really? I mean, I really swam the first loop, got out and ran back in to do it again?

That swim reverie started a a virtual tour of the day in my head, all with a sense of disbelief. Did I really run out of the Gulf, disrobe the wetsuit, get all my bike stuff on, grab the bike and hit the road in 8 minutes? 8 minutes? I can barely get my running shoes on in that time on a normal day!

Did I really stay in the aeropostion on the bike for 6.5 hours? Yeah, pretty much. I could feel the mind-numbing stretch of Florida highway with five miles of bah-bump, bah-bump ripples in the road. I felt the relief when I finally rode out of them. I remembered thinking, at about mile 75, that a DVD player between my areobars would be a just the ticket to pass the time. I still think it's a good idea! :)

Did I really improve more than one mph over the first Ironman? Would my kids and husband ever understand how dedicating each 30-minute segment to them--one after the other, over and over--truly gave me the guts and the fortitude to keep going?  Did I really feel that fresh after 112 miles on the bike? Ready to run without a second thought after only five minutes in transition? 

And that run! I felt like Superman out there. I never looked forward to a run more in my life! It's too bad about the quad pain that held me back, and I can still feel the knife stabs with every step. But I relived the elation of hanging tough in the face of that pain, knowing that the full measure of my training and dedication was right there for the taking. Did I really run as much as I could? Yes I did.

And the finish!!! The finish triumphant! Driving along, I felt chills picturing the sight of the clock beginning with the number 13. Did I really take 1 hour and 35 minutes off my time? I still shake my head in disbelief. Never, but never did I think I could achieve a finishing time like that.

Through Ironman I touch a spirit and power in myself that moves me to my core. And on a random day in the middle of February, I was able to connect again to that unending pride and feeling of triumph that is now part of my soul. What a nice dream indeed.

Why I Do Ironman--The Spirit of Titans

In the past few years, so many people have asked me why I choose to do the Ironman--and not all of those conversations have been pleasant. I've been called crazy, warned it's harmful, and even been told I am abusing my body akin to those who suffered in concentration camps--and that last accusation truly happened. But I do have a number of friends who get it, and many of them are not triathletes. They get it because they live the quest, and experience triumph in their own personal way. You know who you are, and I hold you dear to my heart.

It's always difficult to put into words what the Ironman means to me--how it is so much bigger than the sum of its parts. My friend Marianne sent me this video, and it does a pretty darn good job capturing the essence of what I strive for, what I have experienced, and what Ironman has allowed me to carry in my spirit every single day.

Take a few minutes to let yourself connect to the power and mystery of what a grand quest like Ironman can bring. Then take the energy into your heart, and use it to reinforce your own goals, meet your challenges, and chase your dreams, whatever they may be.

Oh yeah, my friend Marianne is the pretty lady smiling in the orange swim cap at the 2-minute mark in the video. She was finishing a practice swim the day before Ironman Coeur d'Alene. Enjoy.

Dance of the Eleven Minute Ironman Superstars!

I just found out I'm an 11-minute superstar! That's what my coach Rich Strauss dubs Endurance Nation athletes like me. We're the athletes who set massive Ironman PRs this year (mine was 1 hour 35 minutes) by ticking off the miles between 18-25 of the marathon by RUNNING, and not walking like 90% of everyone else around us. Granted my quad pain derailed my experience a bit, but that was the only thing that got in my way. From my experience at Endurance Nation, I KNEW there was another way to work the Ironman from start to finish. I had the fitness, execution strategy, and confidence to not slow down and walk in those miles. I had the goods to keep it going all the way to the finish.

Rich puts it perfectly:

The net is that the Endurance Nation athlete begins the race with the confident knowledge that there IS another way!...I’ve been to every US Ironman this year and have become intimately familiar with miles 18-25, for the people on track to finish between 11:30 and 16:30. I say intimately because I’ve been out on the bike course as well, either as a competitor, draft marshal, or specatator. I’ve seen Tom, Dick, and Harry mixing it up at mile 45 of bike and then I’ve seen our three friends at mile 18 of the run. And, race after race, the Endurance Nation athlete is the Eleven Minute Superstar who is ticking away at 10-11′ pace, not slowing down, while these guys are walking. If you are standing on the course between miles 18 and 25 between 6-9pm on race day, what is most remarkable is how many people are walking and how few people are running. The few who are, who continue to tick away at 10-11′ pace, are superstars by comparison.

The result? Ernie EN’er sets a massive 1:30-2hr PR simply by not slowing down! Sure, he rode and ran faster because he was faster on race day…but the majority of that PR is the result of just doing it differently this time, showing up extremely prepare, out-executing the competition, and not slowing down.

For my next Ironman, I'm going sub-13. No doubt EN can get me there, and I'll do it by being an 11-minute Superstar one more time! You can too! Here's Rich's complete post on Dance of the 11-Minute Superstars.

 

Random Thoughts from Ironman Florida

  Some random notions I've had since the race. Some will warrant deeper posts. But for now, it's fun to just let the mind ramble about impressions from a really great day!

I want to do another Ironman. I wasn't sure I would, but I do.

Doing an Ironman every year seems too aggressive for me. The physical aspect is almost the least of it. I takes up so much of me mentally.

I think the idea of challenging myself on the Ironman course. I'm quite sure I'll go back to Ironman Florida.

I can break 13 hours. I know I can. That will be my goal.

While a November race can make you bonkers--so late in the year--I like the timing. My kids' schedule allows me to train uninterrupted in August and September. Some of our best weather here in New England goes into October. When I return home after the race, I'm right in sync with the seasons. It's getting cold, it's dark in the morning. Time to take some rest, enjoy the holidays, then gear up at the New Year.

Working with Life Coach Julie Mele to realign my mental energy and head space was the key to my incredibly centered and powerful state on race day. More on this in another post.

Steve Cunningham of Bodywork Revolution is the most skilled body work professional I have ever known--and I've seen a million of them. He is one of the main reasons why I made it through the training and the race uninjured.

Have to give props to Triggerpoint too. Rolling on those devices 2x/day everyday helped keep these aging bones (and tendons and muscles!) in the game. 

TriSlide rocks. Really helps get on the wetsuit.

2009 will be devoted to figuring out how to minimize the quad issues in the marathon. What to do about my feet? Break up some old scar tissue in the quads? Take a look at my biomechanics? Would plyometrics be helpful? All of it and more I'm sure.

I wasted lots of time on the run doing this and that, and creating what Coach Rich Strauss calls "too much friction." Streamlining tasks and getting out of my own way will be a goal for the next Ironman.

I need to watch my overall nutrition in training and in life a bit more. Quite sure I need to up my protein intake.

Dr. Robb Friedmann took my iron issues seriously, and helped fortify me from the inside out.

Succeed S-caps are my savior in races. From nausea to cramping, popping 1-2/hour keep me going without any of those nasty troubles.

Do I even have to say another word about the effectiveness, value, and rockin' fun over at Endurance Nation?

More in a separate post about the support of my husband Keith. My rock. No way could I do any of this without him.

13:51:22!!!! Ironman Florida Race Report! 1 Hour 35 Minute PR!

Linda Patch
13:51:22
Age Group 17th
Swim 14th
Bike 17th
Run 17th

Let me start by saying I never, ever in a hundred million years ever thought I could break 14 hours in an Ironman. No doubt my training with Endurance Nation (EN) is the numero uno reason why. I did the training by the book, and put my complete faith in it. You know what? If you train the EN way, and execute the EN way, not only do you take the EN Koolaid to the start line, you take flippin’ spiked Koolaid! This race is a personal best of 1 hour 35 minutes!

TAPER
It’s been a long year, and I was glad I listened to my body and took closer to a three week taper. I moved my race rehearsals a week earlier than my training plan indicated, and then slowly started taking it down three weeks before the race. Honestly, it took until Tuesday of race week for me to feel rested. On that day, I woke up and thought, "ahhh, there it is." I was good to go.

I had the worst case of taper crazies I ever remember. I think the physical fatigue started messing with my head. I had some serious work to do to get my mental state where it needed to be, as I was unraveling for several weeks. I twisted my ankle the Sunday before the race, and that was almost the last straw. I spent a good part of race week in Panama City Beach (PCB) working on my head space. I used some very simple, but powerful strategies to realign my energy and get inside what I call my “Ironmind.” I actually brought some of what I worked out to the start with me to read before the gun went off. I’m as proud of this accomplishment as anything physical I did in the race, and the mental work I did buoyed me all day. I called on it time and time again.

SWIM
Whereas the swim in ’06 was almost genteel with feet to draft the entire way, this swim was war. I have never been in a triathlon swim like it. I had to swallow a little panic in the first 30” or so. But after a few good strokes, I settled down completely. It also took a self-reminder of those sets of 10 x 150 I swam all summer! No way was I going to cop out now!

It was just a mob scene with every stroke until the final turn to shore. I lost the pack there, and sped up a little to catch it again to ride some feet. I was determined not to let that happen on the second loop, and I didn’t. I decided I would rather be in the mix and try to draft, that be out there in clear water. I love the swim!

Hit the mat in 1:24:02    

T1
Coach Rich and Coach Patrick were at the race to support all us EN athletes. I was living in mortal fear of Rich in my transitions! He would never let me hear the end of it if I hung out like I did last time. I had that volunteer hoppin’!

The day before the race, I had my DH driving all over PCB looking for the Goodwill so I could get a cheap jacket to dump at an aid station. Found one for $4.90. Perfect. I threw it on in T1, and the zipper promptly broke off. Crap. I handed it to a spectator who wanted my number so I could get it back. Coach P said he was wondering why I’m talking to spectators when I should be racing! Coach Rich is screaming all drill-sargent like—“GET ON YOUR BIIIIKE!!!” I’m so rattled I almost fall over. Coach Patrick is laughing, and so am I. Ai yi yi, I had to get out of there. Most interesting transition I’ve ever had.

T1 8:03    

BIKE
Long, somewhat dull and mostly uneventful. ! definitely rode my should bike split, as opposed to my could bike split. The "should" bike split sets up a good run. We have a saying in EN, "there is no such thing as a good bike followed by a bad run." You ride smart so you can run well. I just watched the watts, and did what I was supposed to do. I was definitely holding back and being conservative. I called on each member of my family to get me through each half hour. Keith, Ryan, Grant, Taylor, and Casey—over and over. OK, Grant, get me to 6 hours! Taylor brought me to the finish.

The wind was a factor in the first 50 miles, but nothing like in ’06. So I just kept my head down, and rode my watts. By mile 70, I thought a DVD player between my aerobars would have been a wonderful idea. I was bored. Then Mr. Hertz came into my life. Hertz and I must have passed each other 30 times in those last 40 miles. He kept me from going completely bonkers. (Saw him at the expo the next day and got a huge hug. He was nice.)

Keith, my rock, would pull up every 10 miles or so from about mile 60 on. He’d take a picture, turn up the radio to tease me, say hi, wave, and just move on. It was a nice distraction.

Nutritionally, I had that dialed right in:

• About 275+ calories/hour, mostly Infinit.
• Aerobottle filled with water, and a 4-hour Speedfill bottle.
• Two, small Infinit “slurry” bottles in the singlet pockets. At mile 50 I stopped, dumped the slurry into the Speedfill, added water and I was off—under a minute for sure.
• EFS bar early in the ride, but the stomach said nyet. Switched to Shot Blocks, and ate some mostly for something to do.
• One to two S-caps/hour (salt complex). At the first twinge of a cramp, or nausea, or just feeling “off,” I popped an S-cap. Those things settle things down amazingly for me. I’d be set up just right after taking one.
• Two Advil at mile 80, and one caffeine.

Perfect. With a few miles to go into the wind, I was so looking forward to the run. My legs felt fantastic, my stomach was good, and my mental energy was ready to roll! Let’s go running!

6:30:22
Rolling time 17.6 mph
Clock time 17.2 with a few pit stops

T2
Again, the ghost of Rich hovered over my every move. I was all business with the cute volunteer. Got in, got out.

5:48     

RUN
By the end of the training, I was very confident in my running. I am so speed demon, but I was cranking out the miles really well all summer. My quads don’t much like marathons, but I had no reason to worry. There was no indication of pain on any long run. I was very much looking forward to the challenge of this marathon.

I started out very easy. The aid stations just kept coming quickly. At each station, I’d walk a little at the end, then pick it right up again. By mile 6 I was feeling like I could start to pick up the pace. OMG, it was going so well!

By mile 8, I felt that first glimmer of pain in my quads. Oh crap. By the turn around, it was stabbing pain. I felt like the brain-leg connection was already getting fried. The rest of me, however, was in a super place. I felt like an aerobic King Kong. The pace was easy, my breathing was perfect, I felt like I could go all day—but the legs were screaming. This led to the…

Compression short debacle!

I had compression shorts in my run "special needs" bag. Now where the hell to change???? I slipped into someone’s back yard. There I am, in someone’s yard, trying to wriggle my sweaty butt into these tight shorts before anyone looks out a window or comes outside!  OMG, hurry up! I finally get them on, and hide my running shorts under their gas grill (which I handily retrieve the next day!).

Ahhhh, much better. I believe the shorts would have made a big, big difference if I would have worn them from the beginning. My quads, however, were already too far gone, but I believe they helped things from falling apart completely.

Nutrition was simple. Infinit in Fuel Belt until mile 5, where I dumped it. (Keith got it back.) Coke the rest of the way, with a water chaser. That was it.

By mile 18, my eyes are rolling in pain, but I keep on running absolutely as much as I can. The rest of me feels as strong as an ox. It was all there. All the training, all the taper, all the correct pacing on the bike. There is no doubt that I was ready to pull off a good marathon—if not for all this pain. Man, I was feeling good in every way but that.

Then I meet cute Luis from Mexico City. (He’s 28.) We start running together, walking a little if we have to. “Leenda,” he says, “if we keep up this pace, we can beat 14 hours.” He can do the math? I love this guy. Like Rich and Patrick describe, my Ironman racing "box "got really, really small. OK, Luis, let’s run to that lamp post. Can you keep going? We were like Rain Man out there. We did this kind of thing over, and over, and over. But we never, never let up. By mile 21, I’m telling you I would have paid $1,000 dollars for an iPod!

Hearing Mike Reilly and the crowd is like getting to the Emerald City. I was smiling from ear to ear—so happy! When I pulled up to the finish and saw 13:51, I was stunned. I could not believe it. Really, I couldn’t believe it. I thought sure I would do about an hour longer, and, truthfully, I would have been thrilled with that. EN friend Kathy G caught me, and it was nice to have an EN person right there. I saw Rich and Patrick right away, and Keith a few minutes after. It was done, and I was elated.

A few thoughts on the run…looking back I can see lots of places where I created too much friction, which ate up lots of time (shorts changing aside). I could have lopped off a bunch more time if I would have got out of my own way. Next time (planning on another Ironman in 2010), streamlining tasks during the run is the lesson from this race I’ll put into play.

THE END
So that’s the Linda Patch story of IMFL ’08. For me, race day is a journey of intention. The intention to honor my family’s support, my training, my coaches, my EN compatriots and friends, and most importantly, myself. My intention through Ironman is to wrestle the demons to discover deeper and more profound dimensions of myself that will make me a better wife, mother, friend, citizen. Through Ironman I touch a spirit and power in myself that moves me to my core. I know those of you who have done Ironman know what I mean.

Here is the race in pictures!

Gina, her friend Larry, and me just back from an easy ride.

My $4.90 Goodwill jacket I ran all around PCB to find! Not bad, heh? I had planned to wear it for the first 20 miles or so because it was chilly. The zipper promptly broke before I even got on my bike.

The EN coaches go to every North American Ironman race, and plan a team dinner. It was very fun to meet training buddies for the first time. Felt like meeting old friends.

Coach Patrich and Coach Rich do a pre-race talk at the Gatorade swim for their athletes and anyone else who wants to sit in the day before the race. It was terrific, and just what I needed to hear.

Here's some of the group at the talk. Gina, KathyG, Me, Jennie, Dave, Leigh, and our mascot Gus!

I put "Stay in Your Power" on my bike to remind me to not only ride my watts sensibly, but to stay connected to what I knew I had in me, and what I had to do. Don't get rattled, don't get thrown off my game.

"Flow" was to remind me to find the rhythm, get into the zone, and stay relaxed and easy. Just let it unfold.

DFU is the last thing Rich said to me as I left the restaurant the night before the race--Don't F%#@ It Up! Gotta love it!

I wanted to take my EN chickas with me through the race to draw on their strength and support. Gina, Colleen, Paula, Marianne, Nemo, Kris, Verna, Helen, Heidi, Michelle, Laura and Leigh. Thank you ladies for all your support, advice, encouragement, and friendship!

Me and Gina before the swim start.

Mass swim start. 2,200 athletes in the water at once! It was craaazy!

I kept it aero. Nice and low.

This is IMFL on the bike. Endless miles of the same scenery.

Me on the run. Feeling really good!

Finishing up a great day!

At the finish talking to my son!

Meeting Gina as she finishes!

We are both so happy!

I just finished an Ironman,and all I get is this lousy PBR!!! Sat in the bar with Coach Rich and Coach Patrick and Keith after the race. Perfect.

Is there anything like the day after an Ironman? No pressure,no workouts,a huge sense of accomplishment--it doesn't get any better than that.

Cooling off the legs in the Gulf before we say goodbye. Til next time!

Endurance Nation Value Vs. "The Other Coach"

I wrote the following in response to an athlete who is considering joining Endurance Nation (EN). We both used "the other coach" in previous years, and he wanted my comparison. It's such a ringing endorsement for EN, I thought I'd share it. I have been with EN for a full year now, and my certainty they are the most value-laden, effective training option out there just gets stronger every day.

Dear Athlete,

Happy to answer any questions you have re EN vs. "the other coach." I used "the other coach" for two years. I loved his approach of "strong before long," and the philosophy of lower volume tempered with intensity to maximize ROI in training. I made some gains, and completed my first Ironman in Florida. I'm not a Kona-qualifier level athlete, but I got the job done. I've met "the other coach" a couple of times, and found him to be a great, nice guy.

I had to leave "the other coach" for one very simple reason. The communication from him was so awful, it was almost criminal given the amount of money I was paying. Sometimes a week or more would go by before he would get back to me on a simple question. It just became intolerable. Perhaps he's changed his ways, but I know others who have had similar complaints. Granted, I thought the training was good, but I felt I was always in the dark. Should I be doing this? That? Run how far? Am I making progress? Getting faster? Am I ready? I went into IMFL with little direct evidence that I was prepared apart from time in the saddle.

EN turned everything on its head. When they first started up last September, I "took a chance" on their off-season program. (OS). I knew from "the other coach" that intensity-based training worked, and a strong off-season program was important. What I have gotten from EN is almost indescribable. Now riding with power, I test all the time. Since I started with EN, my power at threshold on the bike has gone up 40 watts! That's a 26% increase. In the OS season alone, I dropped 2' from my 10K PR, and running is my weakest sport.

Coach Rich and Coach Patrick keep saying this EN is for the "self-coached athlete." I think they need to change that! I get more coaching, more direction, more support, and more feedback in a week at EN than I did in two years with "the other coach." The forum will introduce you to athletes of such intelligence and experience, ready to share and advise. Rich and Patrick "drive the bus" overseeing all, posting daily, advising, helping. and correcting. I can't imagine how much service their 1:1 athletes got, if this is what they call "self-coached."

All I can say is that EN not only has gotten me faster, but will send me into IMFL this year with a renewed, solid confidence I thought was long dead. For me, this training not only got the physical in place, but changed my mental outlook to a place that is positive, focused, and a lot tougher. I can assure you, no matter what level athlete you are, this program will test you, and challenge you, push you to your limits and beyond. Hope you give it a go.

The EN Out-Season is starting up in October, November and December. Do it!

Stupid Weather--Riding Inside All Weekend

This picture may as well be me. What a frustrating, lousy weekend of riding since I ended up being trapped in the basement pain cave rather than being outside. The stupid weatherman, and the stupid radar totally lied on Saturday morning. I got up early to the sound of quiet. Wet roads, and dense fog, but no rain. By every assurance, the winds and rain of judgement day were about to be upon us so I stuck with the indoor plan I worked out with my coach Rich Strauss--run 30', crank the main sets on the bike for 2 hours, run 30'. So I ran in the fog, and got back home thinking I beat the rain. Keith and I have a summit, and he's not to keen on unstrapping the bikes from CT only to get dumped on, and have to come home because we get too cold. I agree, so down we go into the pain cave.

45' into the ride, no rain. 90' no rain. 2 flippin' hours NO RAIN!!!!  27' minutes into the second 30' run, buckets of rain. I could have gotten 4 hours in easily. Vexation. That said, I got in 7 miles of running today like cake. If I have to stay inside, the silver lining will be that by default I get in nice big milage running week. No injuries. All good.

By all reports, today was supposed to be dryer, and it looked likely we could get out by 8. At 3, it was still raining. I am not even going to describe how hideous it was riding in the basement again today. I can't pedal my Power Tap watts inside (much, much too hard), so do I go by the Computrainer watts? It's been so long, I can't remember what do in the winter! Anyway, what's done is done, and what isn't, isn't. I lasted 2.5 hours today. Enough! 7.5 hours of scheduled riding got whittled down to 4.5. Oh well.

You know, I used to ride in the rain. But after many years of--flatting in deluges, getting drenched by semis changing tires on the side of the road, being so cold and worried about my extremeties, spending too much time cleaning the filthy bike after--it has lost it's allure. Been there, done that, no fun. I think I've learned all I ever need to about riding in bad conditions. That said, seems I need a mental adjustment about riding indoors again.

After the chaos of the century last weekend, and the tedium of this weekend, I think the mental toughness part is in place. OK universe...enough already! Two more weeks of major training then it's time to taper down! Almost there. Pinch me, I'm so excited! Bring it on!