Training Log Archive: OutdoorsMama

We are the drought busters. Farmers in Australia should be paying us to come camp/ride in their drought stricken areas.

It rained 2" on Friday in the panhandle of FL. And almost that much again as the Dirty Pecan was about to start. With lightning. Since it was an event, more than a race, a lot if us started half an hour after the posted starting time. In the rain. But after the lightning.

The roads were a sludgefest. I was using my climbing gears on the flats. Then on some of the hills I actually geared up as the slop had washed down to the bottom of the hill.

There was a bail out point mentioned in the course notes and folks were bailing out before that. Some (perhaps wisely) bailed out in the parking lot before the event started.

We got to US 84 (not an official bail oit point) which turned out to be a controlled access 4 lane road. That was when I declared that my brakes were done (Paul figured his rear ones were done and his fronts were sketchy). So we back tracked on New Hope Road (ironic choice of name for another soul sucking sludgefest....that is actually closed to through traffic) and found another pair of cyclists bailing out. Their 3rd rider had no brakes but was going to wait for them to return to the start then come back to get him. Me, I just Fred Fintstoned it back. Thankfully the downhills weren't too steep. The return 15 ish miles were pavement. And we kinda got lost and did a few more miles within 3-5 miles of the finish. I blame Gary the Garmin. "Back to the start" may have been interpreted as "re-start the course" but at least it wasn't raining any more :)

But it was warm so I didn't worry about hypothermia. Our white Banded Goose jerseys are now forever Georgia clay red, which should make for some good stories. And I don't recommend doing anything like this with nothing to eat/drink 20-48 hours before. My digestive tract was in even more distress than usual. I wish I could have chatted more with the 2 riders we came back with, but I was not in a good place for about half of the ride back.

I was looking for a private bush to hide behind (this was a heavily wooded area but tall slim trees are not good for hiding behind when wearing a high viz jacket). We passed a Baptist church with a side door open so I did consider asking if I could use their facilities in exchange for a healthy donation for the collection plate, but I was such a muddy mess, I wasn't sure if the $20 in my pocket would be enough. TMI, but when I did use the facilities at the finish, my chamois was FULL of grit.

Our bikes are in intensive care at a bike shop that was highly recommended on Yelp. Sadly, VeloFix does not have anyone in the Gulf Coast area of FL which is crazy, given the number of cyclists around here.

Pray for our bikes.

I would do it again. It benefits the local 4-H clubs (proud 24 club member here!) Camping in a pecan grove the night before/after. 60/80/100/150/200 mile routes. And this was the first year in 5 or 6 it was a mudfest.

C • Can’t wait... 4

This morning's plan was to go to 6 am yoga, work from home til noon then set off for the south.
Before my alarm went off, I woke up with a funny feeling in my tummy, as the kids used to say.
Long story short, thank goodness that hit me in the privacy of my home. And that the last round hit me before we crossed the Ambassador Bridge, and not mid-span or while going through customs.
Total net nutrition intake from 6 pm Wednesday to 10 am Friday: one can of ginger ale.

Intervals

3 on defence tonight.