Summer Sufferin'

WTF?? I thought Summer was done!! It sure was hot this weekend!

After a week of pain, from my quads cramping all of the time, walking down hill, I decided to do something about it. I went for a run last Monday. Most of the people I spoke with said I need to do some cross training. So, I went for a noon time run. I ran about 3 miles and was pretty much spent. My legs were pumped and sore. The next day I was suffering with quad pain, hamstring pain and Achilles tendon soreness. So much for running. It wasn't till Friday that everything was starting to feel okay. I rode on Wednesday on the Hill ride, however we went out for a slow pace. I didn't have much chance to ride any other time this past week. Coppi was Saturday and I wasn't sure I had anything positive going for me.

Coppi... I arrived to see my teammates getting cooled down from the finish of the CAT4 race. Both of them said they cramped up and to save enough for the finish. It was damn hot. I was a bit worried that I would not have enough water, so I made sure I drank enough before the start. I filled up one of my bottles with some electrolytes (powerbar electrolytes. I was feeling pretty good through out the race, sipping often on my bottles. I even attacked and tried to ride away on the 2nd lap, though not pushing too hard as I had no one who decided to go with me. After a bit the pack caught me as I saw them gaining on me. Well, I fell back into the pack and rode on. I grabbed a water bottle from the feed zone as I didn't have the need to refresh till this lap. We rode up the hills and I was now feeling a bit queasy. My stomach wasn't feeling too good and everything seemed to close around my view. The pack picked up the pace on one hill, I started feel dizzy and fell back. I was thinking, should I chase back on??? The answer became apparent, as I started feeling the reflux action on my throat. I pulled over, thinking of passing out. Immediately I started to heave, (I remember telling some of the folks that I sometimes vomited after a major sprint to the finish). Well, happened again. I vomited another four times hoping someone would drive up. Of course the folks standing outside their houses didn't mind me heaving across the road from their yard. I waited about 10 minutes to see if I could stand without falling over. No one came!!! I decided to get back on the bike and ride. Another 10 miles to go. Well, I could make it. And I did. Slowly and surely I did, I was amazed, John from Coppi rode by me. I didn't really care at this point. All I did was to hope I could make it back. Of course, I was looking at the time and thinking that I had a Black Tie event to go to later with the wife and she would be pissed if I missed the car which was picking us up. Well, I made it back, missing the crash, refilling my bottles and leaving the scene. I did eventually get home in record time, showering and changing for the event. Damn, was it hot at the event that evening. We were outside under a tent and all I could think about was the sweat pouring down my back. We did get to go in to the performance later in the evening and I did eventually dry up a bit. However after the show ended we went back outside for the dessert. The car picked us back up about 11pm and we got back to our friends house only to continue the partying. Bottles of champagne and wine were continued to be served. Oh yeah... our children were still up playing video games and watching movies with each other. 2 AM rolled around, and my eyes were rolling back in to my head, I had to pry my kids away from their activities and then pull my wife away from our friends. Enough... time to go home. Sleep!

Well, we got up the next morning, fairly late, but early enough to make Church. It was a special day at Church as my youngest daughter was being presented her own bible. 11:30 rolled around and I had to depart from the Church gathering to get to Turkey Day race. I got on the Beltway only to find it backed up. Oh yeah.. all of those damn Redskins fans. I forgot. Oh crap...less than an hour to arrive before the race started. I crept along and arrived about 10 minutes before the race started, registered and had enough time to race up to the start line only to find out that I pinned my number on the wrong side. Yep.. I was the guy with my jersey off repining right before the start. I finished just in time when they blew the whistle. I pretty much sat in as much as I could as it seemed to me that no one would stay away. Immediate Mortgage did a good job of chasing down the breaks and I pretty much just stayed up within the first 15 riders. A few attacks, I chased a little bit, but for the most part I just hung in there. On the last lap the Immediate mortgage team did a great job lining up for the finish. I was one rider behind SuperDave. The train was off and running, unfortunately the guy I was behind didn't react hard enough and was distanced, I was hoping to have him lead me out, however he faltered and fell back more. The last 100 meters, I went around him trying to recoup the distance, however it was just too much and rolled in at 11th place, not enough to even contend to the sprint. Oh well.. Last race of the season, probably. Not too bad for staying up til 3 am for the night before. Next Sunday at the ING Capital Criterium, I think I'll pass on that as the night before, we have a late night family camping night celebration, so again, I won't be in a good form.

Clearly, the motto is correct: Don't train like me.
'cause you'll be suffering.