Part of a 5 phase process, the aforementioned phase 3 is preceded by the following.
There's phase 1 - the "Rocky Balboa" phase. You start out on the, let's say, long bike. 6 hours ahead of you and aboard your trusty stead you feel invincible, like Rocky walking towards the ring with only Mr T to beat. The end of the ride seems far far away, but the legs are fresh and the crotch far from completely crushed at this point. The sun spreads its subtle morning rays across your back and the world seems a great place today. Perhaps a smile finds it's way to your face or even a courtesy wave to your fellow early risers. (Constitution finds it hard to leave this phase)
Phase 2 - the "acceptance you may not be Rocky Balboa" phase. This second phase everything isn't quite lost. Your may have lost that slight spring in your step but you are all warmed up and feel as though a nice healthy sweat is beginning to pool just above your seat and you accept that this is what you expected. A tough day. A day, though, when you can still have a rye smile to you fellow cyclist with a gentle wave across the road or even a slight nod of the head. "That's right my friend of the road, it's great to be out isn't it??"
The aforementioned phase 3 normally creeps up on you around halfway. Perhaps you forgot to eat a little or went out a little hard during your invincible first phase. It's irrelevant because no matter who even glances in your general direction, they're an asshole. Inexplicably yet decidely so. Your blood sugar is in a deep cavanous hole which you are attempting to dig out of. What has been left is an angry biker who believes they could not possibly do any wrong. They feel angelic in their own eyes, but outside their bubble everyone is the devil. Grrrrr!
They could be the most innocent of gentle folk but you will find something wrong with them.
Fortunately, this phase doesn't last long. It's often quickly replaced by phase 4, once you have attempted to guzzle down what mashed up food you have overheating off your back pocket. The "okay, I can do this" phase can be a bit of a roller coaster. It often begins with a surge of euphoria founded in the trenches of phase 3 and sprung over the top as you climb back out of the dull drums. You feel reawakened and emboldened by this new feeling. You're friends with everyone again. This can quickly be replaced by fatigue of a new level. Easily forgotten from last year, you can't imagine how you did this before. You know you did, but surely it didn't feel like this. Yet, you plug away knowing that the last phase is ever closer with each step or peddle stroke. You flip back and forth, up and down, until the last phase comes in to view.
Phase 5 - "gonna make it!"
Usually founded in the last hour of the session, you are tired and food and drink have almost been exhausted, but you are elated that the end is nigh. Soon you will be yelping in pain in the shower as you discover exactly where parts of the body were chaffing and how bad. However, you will be off that bike, or no longer running and that feeling is the one that takes you over the line...... until 7 days from now when you have to do it all over again!
Good luck to us all!
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