Longest ride 2013

Last year saw a much higher volume and less frequency in bike training, which led to a resentful feeling towards getting in the saddle. 

This year has seen a different approach,  with more frequency and a few less miles, with my longest ride measuring 85miles so far. That all changed yesterday with a key long bike ride. The longest on the calendar. 100 miles plus 3 miles transition run. 6.5hours of training (swiftly followed by an ice bath)

It was the perfect weather for it. Overcast for the majority of the ride, even too chilly for the first few hours. Like most riders, at the halfway point of a century ride, I felt great. However, as usual miles 60-80 were a slog. Just kept turning the pedals over whilst distracting myself with the beautiful farm country you find in Minnesota. 

I like to describe the mile 80 and on feeling as your legs giving up feeling tired. You don't have a burst of energy, just a "numbness". They don't hurt anymore, but they don't feel either. The discomfort subsides and the spinning plods on to the triple digits you are striving for. 

The last ten miles always seem to drag by. When you are alone out on a bike, there is no one to distract you. Not a sole to cheer you on. A cheer squad is one of the big advantages of a race day.  Therefore, those last ten miles are brutal, in my humble opinion. A Chris Froome or a Richie Porte to draft behind wouldn't be a bad thing. 

Waiting for Napoleon to catch up at mile 50!

Almost there!

I find great relief when I make it back and  get to go for a run. The relief is found in the difference in muscles used and the joy at not pedaling anymore. As long as the nutrition was followed, this is, and was yesterday, the most fun part of the workout. It normally is on race day too, seeing people again, cheering for you, tends to reawaken you for a short while in to the initial parts of the run. My cheer team yesterday consisted of Maggy our black lab/brittnay mix. She is always very excited to go for a short midday run. Tongue flapping to the side by the end, with a flicker in her eye from the fun she is having - mostly from the rabbits as opposed to the running!

The recovery is the next best thing of the day. Time to chow down. Admittedly, I'm a little unorthodox in this area. See picture. Don't worry, there was a bountiful fruit recovery smoothie as a side!

 Don't knock it until you've tried it!

These are the last two "big" weeks before the joyous tapering begins. Which means only 4 weeks to race day. I can already feel the butterflies building. 

Good luck to us all!