Spirit crushing...

Last weekend was a good training weekend. I know the title of this post is spirit crushing but that was only one aspect of the weekend. And despite the name, I actually conquered the spirit crushing ride! Culpeper that is.



Saturday Pam and I met up with Team Z (Carol was home sick – major bummer) for their 90 mile ride plus we went an extra 10 at the end as our training plan is a bit ahead of the team's. So my total miles were 74+16+10! The 74 mile loop was the doozy though – it had Etlan Road, which is steep enough to warrant switchbacks. I have only done this ride one other time - three years ago when also training for IMLP - and it did not seem quite as bad this time. The other road is Round Hills Road and I made it up without getting off to walk. Of course, this may have been one of the roads where I dropped my chain...which I dropped a total of 5 times! What I do remember the most from this ride, just like last time, was that the last 10 miles seemed harder than even the crazy hills! Wowzers! But we did it!

Sunday was my long run. I had 14 miles on the schedule and got started around 7:30 AM. This was a bit later than I’d hoped but I got it done. I did 7 out and 7 back over roads, sidewalks, all the way to the Lake Accotink Trail and to Wakefield Park. The trail was the best as it was coolest there along the water. As I got close to home on the way back the electronic sign at my old school (Edsall Park Elementary, now the Plum Center) said 92 degrees at 10:24AM. Crazy! No wonder I was a tad warm! I had forgotten to do cartwheels at the end of the bike ride on Saturday so I made sure I did my 3 cartwheels after the run. Later on Sunday it was party time for one of my Z-mates 50th birthday. Her big day was actually last month but we celebrated her big day after the fact. It was fun and AUsome! And Carol felt well enough to go out and play, too!


I took Trixie to Cycle Life in Georgetown on Monday afternoon and it was discovered my chain was...twisted. Um, how does that happen? Weird and I’m sure explains all the times I dropped my chain! Anyway, the tech put a new one on and I hope to test her out real soon!


Oh, on Tuesday last week I woke up with a toothache. Seems I need a root canal which was started yesterday. I was a bit concerned that all the Gus and stuff I was eating this weekend would irritate things but I survived by adding some Advil to my diet. I hope that I am done with health-type issues till sometime after July 22! I mean there was Peter Parasite at the end of April/beginning of May; then the toothache in June. I think the pain of doing Ironman Lake Placid should be enough for July!

So, today is 38 days and some odd hours until IM LP...I cannot believe it is just over a month away. Ack!!! When the heck did that happen? This weekend will be filled with even more fun. First on Saturday I am to do a 5-6 mile ‘warm-up’ run then race the Baltimore 10-Miler! And the race will be fun because it is Priscilla’s birthday and a group of us will be running to celebrate! Complete with appropriately themed head boppers! I cannot wait!!! Then the real ‘fun’ on Sunday: Epic 120 mile ride out of Nokesville Park! Woohoo! We have done this before though and KNOW we can do it! Carol is all better and will definitely be there, too!


Yikes!!


Happy and Healthy Training!