Training Weekend

Sorry no pictures, didn't even bring the camera out of the bag. Drove up to Grand Coulee Washington on Friday in the Headhunters van. There were 8 of us and 2 more in a separate car. Coach Denise had found a 5 bedroom house for rent in a resort, so that's where we stayed. The resort was in the middle of a remodel, so construction stuff everywhere and the cantina they had was closed. Anyway, we went to the swim part of the ironman course, put on the wetsuits and did 2 X 10 feet. The water was 53 degrees and was way too cold to swim in, but sort of invigorating. One of the guys on the team had made a turkey lasagna, so we heated that up for dinner. No kids, responsibilities, or driving, so I had a beer and some wine. The next day up and a 1.5 mile ride to the transition area. The race organizer gave out maps and said a little speech and we were off. About 4 miles into the course is the big hill- 7% for most with two 14% switchbacks. Overall the hill is maybe 1 1/2 to 2 miles, just took it easy at about 7.5 mph and it was over and then miles and miles of farm fields and rolling hills and not a soul to be seen anywhere. We were able to ride side by side almost the whole way. My training partner Ceselie said she wanted to do the ride by heart rate and stay back, so it was my job to be the conscience and make her stay back. I'm a bad conscience- I like being out front, just the two of us flying along. That's the way it was for most of the first 70 miles. We saw a grain elevator in the distance and guessed that it was three miles away- it was exactly 2.8 and then just past that was the best hill ever (bhe), 2 to 3 miles of straight moderately graded downhill with no cars and no potholes and perfect sighting. 44 miles per hour with a huge grin on the face. There was one town on the route with a port a pottie. The town had nicely manicured lawns and cute little houses- but not a soul outside, not even kids and the silence was incredible the whole ride. We had one person driving the van for support every ten miles- that was great because it was in the high 70's maybe even 80 and dry. The last 20 miles or so were not as hilly, but with huge cracks in the pavement every 10 feet or so. It was so bad it broke one of my rear water bottle cages- just snapped the metal. With about 10 miles left Ceselie decided she wanted to really soar and took off for a pull of 25, three of us did a small paceline at 20-25 for awhile, but I had lost my aerobar bottle straw on the trip up, so I didn't have enough to drink and started to be messed up at those speeds. Ceselie said she heard my labored breathing behind her and waited to the right moment and then pulled out and said "your turn", the look on my face must have been good because she laughed for a good two minutes and every time she related the story later would break down laughing- best look ever (ble). Stats: 108 miles 16.1 average. Then bbq chicken and broccoli and potatoes for dinner. Then downtown to a live band bar- dancing in a circle as a team, really fun. The next morning we went to the run course to do a run. They were having a sponsored run put on by the same people that do the ironman and they said we could run the course early since we had to go. It's a gravel path along the river and pretty with the start and end by the Grand Coulee dam. After about 2.5 miles Ceselie said my heartrate was too high, I guess she could tell by my breathing, so I turned around and did 5.8 while the others did 7.1 miles. Then the long drive home.
Monday we did a 1000 meter swim and then to Beaches for a paceline ride of 25 miles. Then Tuesday a 31.1 mile ride through the country side near the club. Then at work I ran around base and after three miles met up with Frank who did the Beaver Freezer tri and we ran together talking about tris and rides just jogging at 10-11 minute pace and I ended up doing an 8 mile run. Today just a 2700 meter swim- 3 X 900.