The race is one week away (yikes!!) and we’re on the taper part of our training. There isn’t anything we can do now to improve fitness but the taper should keep us at our peak or so that we peak on race day (I never know which).

We did an easy bike yesterday. Larry was supposed to go 2 hours at an easy pace and I was supposed to go 2 to 3 hours at race pace, so we went 2:40 at an easier than race pace followed by a 20 minute run. The run was at a 9:02 pace which was a little faster than I had planned to go off the bike, but you know Larry and Bill. It’s testosterone. It’s chemical. It’s not their fault.

We couldn’t decide on a “for sure route” so we started out headed West (for Bill it was East). It was going to be a little cool and at coffee on Friday I said I didn’t want to go any later than 10 so Larry said meet at his place at 9 (Bill chimed in “What was wrong with 10?”). It was chilly and I was a little cool with a long sleeved “Primal” bike jersey. Bill rode with both long and short sleeved shirts and Larry wore a Trilanders jacket over his bike jersey.

We went over 131 and pulled into a “park and ride” lot. I thought one of them may have felt a call of nature so I turned my back and was staring out at the highway. I happened to turn around and they were both stripping down to their bike shorts and I turned away as fast as I could. They’re both grown men and what they do at rest areas along highways is their own business. I just hope I don’t read about them in the paper at one of those camera surveillance sting operations.

At about an hour and 30 minutes I mentioned that I could use a bathroom break sometime and if we were more than 20 minutes out I couldn’t wait for Larry’s house. So Larry, Bill and I broke the law again and relieved ourselves in front of nature and everyone who cared to look. Larry picked the spot and I thought it would be desolate but it was the dirt extension of a heavily traveled road and the cars were constantly coming up to the corner staring right at us. I really think they were all laughing “with” us, not “at” us. Several people stopped their cars and looked for sticks to poke their eyes out with.

Becky came out to the cottage last night and we cooked out on the grill. She always bring her wine mixed with diet squirt (she can’t figure out why that hasn’t caught on with one of the wine companies…they could make a fortune) and she was drinking it out of a “sippy cup”. She said she picked it up in the grocery store in the infant and child section. Yes, It’s the same Becky who claims she isn’t pregnant when we asked on our Torch Lake training trip. She said today on the boat ride after our morning run that the father may be “that guy that won the Tour de France” but she couldn’t remember his name. I just don’t know what to think.

We’ll be leaving on Thursday and will be back late Monday. Our original plan was to come back by way of the Upper Peninsula and stop at some friends’ house in Iron River to make up for a trip we didn’t make back in July when Jean did her “not so graceful” tumbling act off the bike and maybe get back late Wednesday. Now she’s working with a group of ladies to get started with weights and her first class is Tuesday evening. She’s bummed because she’ll miss the second class on Thursday and missing the following Tuesday is out of the question. So, Jack and Mum…maybe in Florida?

We’ll be swimming at the cottage tomorrow morning (Labor Day) since Diane isn’t home and we have a short (40 to 50 minute) race pace swim. It’s at 8 AM so anyone who wants to swim or go along side with the kayak and protect us, come on out. We’ll have coffee, bagels, English muffins, ham that Judy left today and the last two cinnamon rolls that Pat left today.

Keep us in your thoughts next Sunday. We’ll need all the good vibes we can get.

Just (Counting Down The Hours Until The Big One) Jack