| Hi, GCC...a big thanks to all the people who have
pulled me in their draft over the summer and fall...is it fall?
Different people, at different times, sometimes knowing they were pulling
me for a reason, sometimes I bet there were riders not realizing it, but
each of you gave me inspiration to go faster and farther,
incrementally. Today, combined with a bit of caffeine, a great group of Sunrise riders, I tempoed through 56 miles with a average of 19.8 mph. Not quite 20 mph...but I will take it. And, I was able to contribute with short pulls at ~20-21 mph. That gave me 101 miles for the week...first time since the weekend of 20 June. I could have done all this alone...but doing it with people around me made it a lot easier...frankly, in perspective, overall it has been a breeze. Things could have been a lot worse & a lot harder. But despite this near miss, great medicine based on great science, combined with various personal life incentives...including you all who I have ridden with for the past weeks...my comeback has been fun, memorable, and doable. That seems a strange thing to say about a heart attack...but life is an adventure...sometimes it hurts, deeply...the trick is to make a lot of it fun &/or find fun to replace the hurt. Keep in mind, my definition of fun includes hammering at 20+ mph with good form, trying to relax, monitoring my energy, think about the terrain and how to use it to my advantage, who's around me, nursing various body pains, some of it intense, sweating, for long periods of time, till I'm so sore and tired I can barely move....but I do move and somehow spin it in to the finish. And, it feels damn good at the end. So, next weekend we will be at the beach for a short vacation since the summer one got canceled. Great way to taper. Will not be here for a weekend ride. The following weekend is the Cycling Festival. If there is anyone out there who wants or is planning to do the 56 mile route of the SFC on Saturday...email me here. I intend to go out and sit in near the front group at ~22 mph...the main leaders will pull away...but there will be a second group to form up. I now know I can last nicely to the left turn they will make on 1491 just past the I75 overpass, north of Hi. Springs. Then from there it is a reasonably flat and smooth run back in to the Boys Club following the back half of the Sunrise route. My goal is to spin at ~20+ mph for the whole 56 miles...but this will be WAY easier if I have someone to trade pulls with. Anyone interested in getting back early? Getting lunch and fluids WAY before the fastest century riders? If my plan roughly fits your plan: email me here so I know to connect with you at the start and more importantly, at the split in the routes. C U on Sat 24 Oct...may it be cooler...spin the hills...Bob Howland |
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