So,
Three out of the last four "bike training" days that I have had, it has rained. Now, as bad as Georgia needs the rain, it has all day and night to rain outside the few hours of each workout I have on my bike. Oh well, at least it keeps everything cool. It was probably only 70-75 degrees during and after the rain, and it would have been 85-87 degrees without the rain and humidity. Mallie jinxed me up here in Atlanta, I think ;)
There were only 20-25 people that were there for the ride, I think due to weather (c'mon people, a little rain will not hurt you!). James was out there tonight with me. Start was a bit slower, and this time I sucked his wheel going through the first hill. I stayed up with the group until the golf course, and then I began to lose them. As I was catching up with them through the first series of hills after the golf course, well, you know the "hill effect." And what makes it worse is that I am already a bit more cautious than the best riders there. Henceforth, the DROP.
One of the riders from team Cycleworks was in charge of the "second group," which I was leading. Well the funny part is that everyone behind me in the second (last) group decided they did not want to do the Oglethorpe Univ/Silver Lake area, so I was by myself. Except that the rider from the team decided to stay with me. We chatted for awhile, and I did not get his name ( I will next time). We traded places, and I think that when he got behind my wheel it was to let me set the pace and push me. When we got towards the last 1/4 of the ride though, I began trying to push the hills (not 110%, but more like 95%) and I turned around and he was not there. I got to the light at the top of the first ascent, and then he caught up. I did not say anything, but I was thinking, WTF??? The second ascent before we got to Chastain park (pretty much the final stretch with my dreaded large rollers). he got dropped. You must be kidding me. His chain must have broken or something. There is NO WAY this guy dropped. I finished up and James was waiting on me. As I was packing my bike, the guy pulled in and was talking to his teammates. I overheard, "yeah I have a Velodrome race tomorrow, and I was taking it easy tonight..." Well there you go.
With the rain, and not pushing it 110%, I finished in approximately 1:37:00.00. I am ok with that.
I will hopefully be signed up for a race in August after the weekend is over, and I have it narrowed down to two races. I am kind of excited. I also need to sign up for South Carolina half by the end of the month to get around the price increase. Crap. Yet another month of spending. IT NEVER ENDS.
In other news (on the topic of spending) I need to get new work pants for Wolfgang Puck. Holes are starting to form in the seams (in certain places) and they are just looking nasty, no matter how much I clean them. I also have not bought new "bank" clothes for work in almost 2 years. Why, well, because I am a guy, and because it costs money. But it is needed. I will use some Clark Howard tactics though, and try to shop around and save a few dollars.
I think I am going to skip my Thu night ride to ensure that I get some more running/swimming in this week. I am only working Sunday lunch shift. This means I have ALL day Saturday to train, and then Sunday morning early and Sunday afternoon/evening.
I'll keep you posted. Let's see if it rains on Thursday, since I will be training, but not on my bike.
Murtha...
10 comments:
I'm always hoping that it will rain on my bike training days sending me to the pool for an extra swim workout instead. (Granted I am new to the sport of Triathlon and don't have the appropriate tri-specific bike yet, am hoping that purchase will make the difference and turn me into a biking enthusiast, my race times could use the improvement!)
Ick. Rain sucks. Come to San Diego. I've never been rained out of a bike ride here.
I might just take you up on that offer. Jackie and have always wanted to move to another city, as long as we can both find jobs, and as long as we can "afford" that city. I have been to San Diego twice and I love it.
Murtha...
we can never understand the thoughts of people. For many months I continued to get beat by a member of my running club, though he never knew my challenge. Finally on a 21 mile run, our longest together in a group, I beat him. He may have had some leg issues but I had had them in the past myself. But i beat him. I never saw him again and wished it was because he secretly too was competing against me.
Probabaly not, he just got hurt.
But I still beat him.
Rain, Rain, Rain. It's not bad when you are on a training run. Still not too bad in the open water. (If you brave it out). Rain in not too fun while on the bike. It is even worse during a race.
That's right...blame Mallie for the rain. Really you need to blame Chris in TX. He's the one who brought it up first!
Good job on getting the ride in despite the rain. It'd be easy to puss out and you didn't!
Yeah it's so hard to justify spending $$ on work clothes when there are always more fun options (tri stuff) to buy instead!
i just read that Spence from Two Thirds the Venture is moving to Atlanta...
Hi!
First time reading your blog! Nice weather you got there. I got 1/2 ironman here Finland last weekend. It rained all day. It was something new..
I think my first 15-20 training rides in prep for Ironman Canada this year were in the rain.
It got real old, real fast.
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