We’re 4 weeks out from “The Race” and I’m feeling the effects of long training. Paul and Roch say in their MultiSports training schedule that you should feel a little overtrained at this point. I feel a lot overtrained, but part of that has to do with getting the cottage ready for an open house today from 12 until 2. Several people came and it kept Ron busy so we’ll see. It forced me to clean and dust. I try not to say sexist things in these e-mails in fear of the fallout, but the house was “man clean”. Clean enough for a man to think it looks great, but not clean enough for a woman to say the same thing.
The saga of the bike seat continues. On Wednesday of last week I noticed that the seat was sitting nose down about 1 cm from level. I thought I had it at level and 1 cm is quite a difference, so I got out the 4 foot level and reset the seat. Wednesday’s ride was only 24 miles but was comfortable. Not so yesterday. Larry and I did 3 loops from his house to Wayland and back. Each loop was 28.5 (approx.) miles and I was starting to feel it after the first loop. The second loop was uncomfortable and the third loop was downright torture. Instead of the 6 to 7 hours I was supposed to ride, I quit at 5 hours and 22 minutes.
This week I’m going to try my Trek again. I never got sore on that bike until about 85 or 90 miles, a point when everyone is ready to get off the bike. It’s different than riding the Roubaix, a road bike, but I ride it every week on the trainer for 70 to 90 minutes, so it’s not like starting all over again. The next step is to see my dentist and see if I can get enough Novocain to deaden my posterior for seven hours or so.
On yesterday’s ride I had several people honk while they were coming up behind me. I’m not sure if they’re trying to let me know they’re coming or they’re trying to let me know I should get the heck off the road. Every one of the ones that honked were young men (anyone under 59 1/2 is young to me) with big pickup trucks. Maybe it’s a testosterone thing. Remember ladies, men can blame their actions on hormones too.
On Friday’s swim Bill and I collided in the middle of the lake. He usually stays left on the way over and I try to stay in the middle. Jean usually stays right and the other swimmers go wherever. There was a pretty good breeze and enough of a ripple on the water that I couldn’t see anyone else. Bill said he saw me just before and I was on his left, then all of a sudden we hit. Just like other geeks who try to make something good from an unpleasant experience, I hope I didn’t hurt his fist with my nose. Actually it was his forearm but it was my nose. I was sneezing a lot anyway so it’s good punishment for a nose that betrayed me.
Better cut this one off early. This morning’s run was 120 minutes (over 12 miles) and this afternoon we have to do an additional 30 minutes. On the plus side, it feels better to run than sit on a bike seat.
Just (Anxious For The Race To Start) Jack