Big day...

Lots to blog about today. First off, last night I got to bed before midnight. I can't remember the last time that happened on a Saturday night. Part of my dreams were about JohanStemmet's Ironman in South Africa. I dreamt I was watching him on the athlete tracker. During the dream his swim was 1:12. I got up at 7:30 and his actual swim was 1:15. He had an awesome 5:02 bike ride and finished 10th in his age group at a 10:25. I met Johan online, he lives in South Africa and was reading my blog. Now I also read his. I had to wait to go on my long ride because I had to see how he finished. It's interesting, winters coming for him and his season is ending while mine is beginning.

During the morning I carbo loaded and worked on my bike. I put on two $5 water bottle cages because my old ones weren't working and almost every ride I'd lose a water bottle from popping out behind my seat. I also put on a pump so if the CO2 doesn't work when I get a flat I won't be stranded. I finally got out the door at around 1:30 pm and within 1 minute I had a problem with my speedometer and then my shoe. Which was frustrating, but I persevered and within 5 minutes everything seemed to be going well. The weather was great and I was over dressed. I stopped early in the ride and opened my jacket and took off my gloves. There was a lot of cyclists out enjoying the day and every one of them waved when I passed. I think I've been too tough on cyclists for not being friendly.

At the 47 km mark my speedometer stopped working. It's the same one I had on my Quintana Roo last year and I had problems with it last year as well. That Roo was evil and I think it rubbed off on the speedometer. There is nothing more frustrating than not knowing your speed, distance and cadence. It's a good thing I have a back up watch and knew how long I'd been out on the ride. I did an out an back route. It's one of the few times I've done an out and back. I've noticed that out and backs seem to go quicker than circle routes. At the 2 hour mark I turned around to headed back and at the 2.5 hour mark my legs were starting to "SCREAM FOR MERCY"!!!

I decided to be the "LEG NAZI" and told them "NO MERCY FOR YOU"!!! At every hill, and there was a lot, I went as hard as I could within my target heart zone and every time they started to scream harder, I went harder. I was not going to let me legs off the hook. I was thinking about Johan's Ironman and was jealous. Not because of his great finishing time, but because I wasn't there doing it. Just watching him on the athlete tracker brought back memories for me. I knew how I felt at every mile marker and could empathize with him and the pain he was feeling at that mile. I didn't want to take it to easy, I wanted to try to push myself like I was in an Ironman. I wanted to feel some pain. My legs hated me! I told them that when we got back I'd give them a rest from riding by going on a brick run. On the ride I almost ran over a squirrel on a fast downhill with no time to stop. I'm waiting for it to happen, they cross my path all the time. This one came within 18" of my front wheel.

I got home safe with exhausted legs and within 3-4 minutes was out on the run. I was surprised how fast I was going and within 1 mile of returning to my house a great song came on the iPhone. It was the song from the movie "Crash". It was the song that plays when he is standing on the motorcycle in a hospital gown. It is that "every body's talking bout...". I love that song. When it came on I got extra energy, closed my eyes like the movie and ran blissfully. When it ended I wasn't home yet so I re-winded it and finished with it playing. 

After a good stretch, mapping the distance of the ride on "map my run", I barbecued a nice steak dinner and had some well deserved beers. Afterwards I was having fun going back and forth on Facebook with my Uncle Rick about Winnipeg vs. Burlington. I haven't heard from him in a while. I guess I won the "Yo City is so bad" or he's getting so old he gets to bed at 8:30 pm.

Long Bike - 4:00 / 127.70 km / 31.93 Km

Brick Run - 30:01 / 3.7 miles / 8:07 pace

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