Breakthroughs and Breakdowns

This past week was the first of two really tough weekends. Saturday we were scheduled for an 80 mile bike ride followed by a 50 minute run. The idea with this workout was to put some miles on our legs and then follow it up with a run. Hoping off the bike, you sort of do a goofy run until your legs get used to changing motion. This workout gets you used to race day conditions. So that was Saturday's workout, Sunday was a 17 mile run. All in all, it was two days of tough work. Nutrition would be a key element in everyone's success. Along with the training, you throw in some food poisoning that many people encountered, and you got some good old fashioned drama.

Many of us participated in a charity ride which included a post-ride fajita buffet. Since we rode 88 miles (23 miles further than any of the normal routes) and we did a 50 minute run, we were fortunate enough to be amongst the last diners. Hence, you got yourself some food poisoning. I woke up in the wee hours with all the effects of food poisoning. I won't go into details, and you are welcome. I thought it was just me until I showed up for the run on Sunday and found out that there were probably a dozen of us were ill. The 17 mile run quickly collapsed into short runs from bathrooms to bathrooms. Some people did not make it out of bed; some made it 5 miles and then called it quits. I made it 14 and then ended up walking the last three. It was a miserable day.

Saturday, after the ride, before the food poisoning, I was on a high. The ride was great; I had good energy, my nutrition worked great. I was able to get off the bike and run a good 5 miles at a 9:17 pace. I was really feeling good about things, mentally and physically. Then having the run fall apart on me brought me back to Earth. The run experience really took the wind out of my sails.

The whole training program is a drama in real life. The highs and lows were evident everywhere. Reading and listening about other people's experiences was amazing. Throughout the course of a day riding 88 miles, the terrain changes, the weather changes, calories are consumed, muscles get fatigued. People go from the excitement of starting the day out and then reality hits them in the face with wind, hills, heat and lack of nutrition. Some have the ride of their lives, everything works just fine. The wind does not bother them, they climb hills with ease. The same goes with running these distances. They last over 3 or 4 hours and a lot can happen.

Next weekend, we have 100 miles to ride on Saturday and then a 20 mile run on Sunday. The drama continues.