Yikes! Stripes!

You know summer is approaching when the crazy stripey tan lines start showing up on the arms, shoulders, back, ankles and legs.

This, right here, is the result of a ride over the long weekend. I went to IL to visit with family. My mom lives in Effingham, which is 47 miles from my uncle, who lives on a lake in Olney. I decided to get some training in on some very flat land with a trip on my TT bike from mom's to uncle's on Saturday. 

Holy headwind! It's flat in south central Illinois, but damn is it windy! I had some demons to fight while riding. I literally screamed out loud at the wind at one point because it was just relentless. I'll take hills over wind anyday. The ride out (and against the wind) took me 2:16. And upon arrival, I ran down to the dock and jumped into the lake. That was followed by a beer, food, floating in the water, a ride on a jet ski, socializing with family...and then a ride back to Effingham. For perspective on that wind...it only took me 2:05 to get back, but the wind had died down (and no, it's not because i couldn't feel the benefit of a tailwind. i actually looked at the flagpoles). By the time I got back to mom's, I was beat! And Clubby and I laid down for a good night's sleep....

We awoke early the next morning to some crazy humidity. I mean, I checked the weather and it was 72 degrees with 94% humidity at 6:30 am. So, I set out for my run and decided that I'd just go as long as I could with the heat without hurting. I still had to drive to grandma's and then back home that day and I didn't want to be overly exhausted. Plus, I was just a week off TTT. I made it 1:15. with 4 water stops.

And then off to granny's for a visit. Meanwhile, the boy was back home meeting up with dad for a talk...more on that later.

Last week was just a whirlwind. And this week, while short, has been much the same. We're getting some crazy storms here now. And I just lost my toenail.

Other than that, I'm doing an Olympic tri at Deer Creek on Sunday. And then riding home from the race site (about 87 miles?). Some teammates are up in Quassy, CT doing the Rev3 Half this weekend. The following weekend, there is a 40k TT and I committed to a long ride after that with a friend. And the following day is Ride Cincinnati. Then the following weekend is a visit to CT myself and Father's Day! Big month. Lots happening!

Chance favors the prepared mind

After Sunday's long ride, things have been very low-key. Monday was an easy day and after work, I was exhausted! I went home after work with nothing to do!! What? So, I did dishes. And vacuumed. And swept the kitchen floor. And cut up veggies. And then it was 6:30. So, I painted. I forced myself to stay awake until 8:30 so I wouldn't waake up in the middle of the night, sweating, tangled in the sheets, and looking at the clock and wondering how it could only be 10:30pm.

But Tuesday morning, I was kinda regretting not having gone to bed earlier. I went to swim practice...after warm-up, 6x450 where we alternated each 100 back/free, breast/free, IM/free. Um, yeah. Coach Aaron is out of town so he left us this set. And he must be insane. None of the lanes made the intervals. After about 2300, I had no juice left. I quietly exited the pool and went and sat in the therapy pool in the Women's locker room before going home to prepare for work.

See, if there's anything I've learned through IM training and being sick and having a suppressed immune system, it's that it is not always best to push through. This was one of those days. My body wasn't fully healed from being sick over the weekend and it was NOT imperative that I complete the swim set. Coach E had actually indicated a "30 min easy swim and 30 min easy run". I'd done more than 30 mins. And it wasn't exactly easy. And my ego wasn't bothered in the least. Partly because I was too exhausted to move, let alone care.

I sat for about 20 mins at home before I got the gumption to get ready for work...and then I sat at work all day and mentally prepped myself for the easy evening run.

By the time my run rolled around, I was totally ready. Despite the 87 degrees and humidity of bagillion%, I simply ran. I imagined how it would be that steamy on race day and how I would stop at each aid station for repreive in ice or sponges. I imagined running with ease. And then I went home and crashed on the floor.

I finished today's workout before work - a 90 min ride and 20 min run with HR targets - because tonight, I'm going to the ATP! Andy Roddick in all his sweaty hotness. Yum. And free food in the VIP tent. This is why I love taper. I finally get to socialize :)

It's HOTT!!

Seriously. Really, really hot. Finally. Just in time for IMKY. But not in time to acclimate with long workouts because...taper starts today!!!

THis brings mixed emotions. I don't like going into taper on a bad note...and yesterday was a bad note. Saturday, however, was good. I'm just not sure yet if it's enough to negate the poor performance of Sunday.

My Thursday night brick went really well. I went out a little too hard and a little too long on the bike portion, but I was feeling good...and i was on my new toy so it was hard to resist. The run was good and at a "steady" effort. Actually, it was a damn good pace. But, I didn't take water with me and i don't think I drank enough on the bike, so by the time i got home, I was a little dizzy. And it was a long brick, so I didn't even sit down to eat until after 8pm.

And I was up at 5:30 the next morning and out riding again by 6. I wanted to be able to go to the Downtown Dash 5k and visit with Tom a bit that evening, so I had to get the ride in early.

I was half tempted to run that 5k once 4pm hit, but I knew what the weekend held in store. And i got hungry, so I ate and then took Clubber downtown. Sadly, this is the extent of my hanging out these days. I go to races to socialize. Lame, huh?

Anyway, Saturday, I was up at 4:30am. (is that even legal on the weekend?) On the road by 5:30 with a bag full of gear, a lunch bag of nutrition, a gallon of water and my bike.

We started out with about 4k swimming HARD in the lake. Then, onto the bike for a 97 mile ride with just our little 6 man crew. The time went by quickly and we joked and sang and discussed race strategies and training and food! We stopped at 3 hours to fill water bottles and take a pee break. And that's when things really started heating up. Those last 2.5 hours were hot. But I felt great. And as soon as we got back to the parking lot, we all took off running. Just a couple miles. And then to the outdoor shower so I could drive home in my steamy shit can with no a/c.

I mused on the way home that it was about 3:15pm and I'd already consumed a gallon of water and 2200 calories. And after a shower, more food, rest, compression tights...I was up early Sunday morning for more fun.

I met Judi out at East Fork for an OWS. She had an hour on the schedule. I didn't have a swim scheduled, but I figured it couldn't hurt. Plus, I know it gets a little freaky out there swimming alone. Besides a little shoulder pain, that went well...

And that's the end of things going well for the weekend. I made the (in retrospect, very unwise) decision to go lie by the pool for a while before attempting my 2:40 run. So, I cooked. For two hours. I was dripping sweat. I put myself in the hurt locker well before I even went out for that run.

The run started with Holly. A half hour in, I was completely drenched in sweat, wanting to puke or crap my pants, and incapable of taking in water. I was miserable. Holly just kept telling me i was going to make it. Another ten minutes, I stopped again. Another ten...and stopped again. And crying. It was horrible. My skin was on fire. My head was aching. I had sweat everywhere. And I just couldn't move. Holly pointed me in the direction of her house and there I went. To get some ice and drip sweat all over her porch. As I drove away, my car read 93 degrees.

Coach called later to ask how the run went. Turns out everyone struggled with the heat yesterday. He was the only one to complete the entire time. And he blacked out at the end.

Oh, dear God, please let it be cool for IMKY. I don't want to melt.