In the Dark

Rode 58 km last night. Started around 6:45 pm. Thought I would go 48 km or at least less than 50km. Well, I was slow and knew I was trouble when I made a turn at the 50 minute mark and the mile sign said 6 miles ( about 10km) to the next town and I had anticipated it being 5km. The next turn was an equally mis thought through distance exercise.

So, I knew it was going to get dark, but I thought I will almost be home. Well one of the last segments was on a creek bottom for 8 km or so and the trees hang over blotting out the sun or what was left of the sun. I really had to back off my pace downhill. It rained so I could distinguish, luckily, the potholes (filled with water) from the rest of the road. They appeared as darker spots. The last right turn onto the main road near my house I would define the sky as dark. I had to stop for every car. Clipless pedals were not my friend at this point. No zero mile an hour wrecks, unlike about a week ago when I leaned the wrong way when I stopped at the house. Maddy was impressed, she was sitting in a chair in the front yard and waved to me the second I fell over.

Back to my night story. I couldn't read the bike computer, so I didn't know the time until I got in the garage. 9:00pm. I got in the house and Tamara had gone to sleep, so I haven't had to explain my adventure, yet.

I had ridden about 2 hrs 15 mins. I was tired, hungry and stressed. I also had cramped in my left side pretty bad on a big hill half way through. The cramp came back on every hill that caused a little stress. I hope this was a drinking too much water before I rode.

Hip and lower back, left side hurt, I am sure from the time in the saddle. Used the inversion table this morning. Worked well, it feels a lot better. I also need to do more AB work to help avoid the fatigue in my lower back during the ride. All effort is initiated from the abdominals and I feel it after an 1.5 hours whether I am running or biking. Haven't swam that far yet so I don't know.

I will try to post a pic of the promotion suit. Will take picture tonight, hopefully.

I may try a sprint triathlon over Memorial Day weekend. New Brighton, PA, about two hours away. It will be a training BRICK instead of actually trying to do a tapered event. I have to plan a couple test Tri's before the Mooseman, why not just do a Tri.

I have been practicing pulling my foot out of my shoe at the end of my rides. It is not too easy, but getting better. I don't know if I can do the put my feet in the shoes to start, but if I can get the exit strategy down, it should save some time and avoid that slippery when wet feeling from the bike shoes.

Ran with Jim Roberts Saturday. We did "7 miles", hard for me to get such a concept. Jim might not admit this, but I set the pace. Of course he would tell you that pace was probably 2 minutes per mile slower than what he was use to. All kidding aside it was great to have training partner and to get to talk to Jim. I should find a local hillbilly to run with around here.

That is all. Mostly random.