"A Happy Intersection of Need"

Those familiar with the title quote know its origin... I coined this phrase to describe how what Jimmy needs (usually) turns out to be the best for everyone involved - or perhaps he's simply very good at selling his viewpoint.

The situation arose again yesterday when Jimmy commented he could not make Tuesday's ride because of a meeting. Turns out Allen has one too. The weather looked best for tonight, there were guys free, so guess what... we rode pace line tonight. (For those interested, I will be riding again tomorrow night, providing it isn't raining.)

During yesterday's ride I told the guys (Scott, Jimmy, and John T.) I would not be time trialing - it was going to be a pace line ride only. I even went as far as to post those words last night. At the time, Scott's comment was, "Even if the wind is strong out of the southeast?" I took it as a joke and laughed it off.

I got off work this afternoon with the idea of lifting, running, then riding. I had just enough time to squeeze it all in if I hurried. The first phase was running beautifully, then I looked out the window. Spotting a flag across the parking lot, it appeared as though the wind was indeed strongish out of the southeast. Scott wasn't joking?! Now I had to rethink things.

If I ran, the opportunity to capitalize on perfect time trial conditions would be lost. This is no small thing - a night this perfect happens maybe once or twice a year at most. True, I have ridden almost 240 miles in the last four days, a pretty big week, but these nights can't be squandered. No matter how it came out, I had to try. I would kick myself later if I didn't.

Six of us showed for the ride - Jimmy, Allen, John T., Scott, Rand, and myself. There was a bit of a rush on things because of the regularly scheduled Monday night swim. With that in mind, I offered to help pull the crew out to the start (into the headwind), though I stated I wouldn't take it all the way (I normally might). I really wanted to take a hard crack at King Troy's KOM, and I could not afford to blow out the legs on the way out.

John T. took the first turn, for a couple of miles. By the end of his pull Rand and Allen had popped off the back. I'll own this part... when Jimmy asked what we should do, I said keep going, because Rand and Allen were together, and I doubted either had a big appetite for what we were doing anyway. Neither were alone, so no harm was being done (yet).

I took over after John T., pulled a couple, then Scott did an amazing 20+ mph pull up the stair steps to Bromer, into the wind. He doesn't give himself enough credit for how well he rides. Jimmy did his turn, passing to John T. one final time.

The four of us were waiting for Allen and Rand, but lo and behold only Rand came rolling in. Now I started to feel bad, because I'd make the call to leave them. Rand said, "Allen said 'Go on, I'll turn back up here'." (Hey, catch that tricky use of nested quotes?) Oops. Maybe we should have waited.

I flat out asked what they wanted to do. I suggested a time trial for everyone, because it was absolute ripe for the taking. What was there to lose? It wasn't a hard sell, and in turn everyone went for it.

Rand, least fresh of us all, turned around and headed out. Jimmy didn't let him get to the end of the drive before he followed. Scott gave it a more, and as he pulled onto 337, who should come into view but Allen! He hadn't turned back after all - Rand was a liar!

John T. and I decided to wait until Allen got to the tree - it was the only cool thing to do. Allen, ever the thinker, correctly divined it would be pointless to come all the way to us and turn back out. He hit the county line, turned, and was on his way.

John T. let Allen get completely out of sight before he left. I gave him the same courtesy. John T. looked great all the way out, in fact has looked very strong the last few times we've ridden together. I wasn't sure I could close the distance, much less catch him. It was something to chase.

There was a tail wind, and though it died quite a bit by the time we got to the tree, it was there. It wasn't enough to really blow the first leg up all that much, maybe lifting me a mile an hour. It wasn't until I hit the top of the first climb that I actually felt it at all. By then I was clearly closing on John T., steadily if not quickly. He was the only rider I could see at that time.

I was focusing on key things... keep the leg pressure on, control breathing, ride the race line, check for the next rider, drink on small downhill glides... and in the back of my head I knew this time trial would come down to how much speed I could hold on the climbs. Troy is strongest there, and that's the best chance I had to pull time out of him.

One by one the miles ticked away, one by one the riders came and went, one by one the hills challenged me. The first I topped in the 24-25 range, good, but not good enough. Lost River I maintained better until the very top (which is where I caught Jimmy). I laid back down, and for a short time felt a bit of headwind (John T. mentioned this too). By the time I hit the rollers I was back upwards of 29-30 mph, and had but one challenge left.

I thought I might keep it above 20 all the way, but right at the top the speed dropped off. No problem - over the top and it was back up to 30+. In the final straightaway I held right at 30 most of the way in. I was very confident at the end it was one of, if not THE best effort(s) I've ever done. I also felt confident it was likely a KOM. I had several mile splits under 2 minutes, several just above, and even including the hills, most of the time was in the upper 20's range. It was a solid effort.

Everyone rode well. John T. and Scott both had best times, John T. moved to 3rd place overall. Jimmy snaked Rand by one second, and Allen, injured leg and all, had a very nice ride a few days after one of the biggest riding events of his life (so far).

So thanks, Jimmy, for bringing your concerns and needs to us. As usual, the solution to your problem benefited everyone. ;)

How did I miss THIS?!

Okay, so the last few days have been somewhat of a blur. The weather finally broke enough to get riding in, and that's what I did. I posted my stuff to Strava and moved on. No reason to dwell on it much.

I usually skim through the other members' entries and kudo or comment (or both), but I must have gone extra light on the skimming. Only today, when riding with Scott and John T., did I find out Troy has the KOM on the time trial course. My most cherished possession, gone.

Kudos.

This was of course inevitable, and he's certainly earned it. No excuses, no qualifications, King Troy now owns one of the crown jewels of club riding segmentom. Well, more than one, but one that I prize. Anyway, he did it the right way through tons of hard work, and I'm sure this isn't the last time the bar will be raised by Troy. Well done!

It was a beautiful day today, and as previously mentioned I threw a bonus ride on the week. Scott, John T., and I left Parkview and picked up Jimmy from Allen's church, then we rode out and around. To change things up we left Mitchell, passed through Liberty, on to Leipsic, then back to Orleans. At the stop John T. traveled on alone down 37 - he had a deadline to make. The rest of us returned to Mitchell on the Super 2, where we dropped off Jimmy. Finally, Scott and I headed back to Parkview, and I ultimately rode home. Total distance for me was just under 54 miles, bringing me to 234 or so miles for the week. Not bad considering how the week started.

We took some different paths today, and given the state of our normal roads, this might wind up being a necessity. Several of the secondary roads are in abysmal shape, and if the counties wind up chip-n-sealing, the only cost-effective way to repair, we may find ourselves with impassible roads for a time. Better to scout and plan now, says I, than to wait and be surprised. With all this in mind, we were on several roads in great shape, and this might be an interesting thing to do if nothing else.

Okay, so Jimmy has a meeting on Tuesday and asked if we could move the group ride to Monday. I said yes, but since I can't speak for everyone, let me just say I plan to ride both days. They will be the two nicest days of the week, and the way I see it, will comprise the bulk of my mileage for the week.

Running will happen this week, though it might get rearranged. More on that later. 

...and we OUT!

It was supposed to rain and be cold this morning, and I'd resolved to go back to bed if this were true when the alarm went off. It was, I did, and I didn't look back. Totally the right call.

My plan was to wait until midday, because the rain was supposed to stop. Around 1 o'clock Roy started the group text, looking for anyone running. His timing was perfect, so we set the run for 2 o'clock. 10 miles! This was exactly what I needed for the week.

Of course it felt awful at the start - who am I kidding, it felt bad pretty much the whole time. After two days of riding long, I am totally wiped. We weren't fast, but we did get it done under 8:30 pace. That left only one thing left to do - lift!

This is where I really felt it. My eating had been light today, and after the run I was completely tapped. Normally I do a circuit type of workout, but there was no way to hold my normal pace. I could feel my heart rate beginning to rise too quickly, so I was forced to back off the pace quite a bit. Thankfully the core part went very well.

The week is done!

Now I will try to tack on an extra ride tomorrow. Distance? 20-50 miles. I want at least 20 to make 200 miles for the week, but will be willing to go to 50. Early afternoon start? Roy wants 2 o'clock, if anyone is interested.

Palmyra!

Things were getting desperate. As of yesterday morning, the week had yielded exactly zero biking miles. Waiting for the good weather to appear had been a total failure; it was clear Mother Nature was having nothing to do with outdoor exercise plans, at least in a positive way.

My hand was forced. The forecast for the rest of my break looked grim, and there were miles to be made. There was only one thing left to do... spin. Oh, how I despised the idea! Once I get outside, I don't want to get back on the trainer for anything, but that's what I had left.

My plan was to stay on the saddle as long as I could take it. I absolutely had to have 40, needed 60, wanted 80, and hoped for 100. I was successful in getting what I wanted, but not without cost. The ride really sapped me, worse than I've been hit by a ride in a long time. I'd considered forcing my way through another 20 miles, which would have been a huge mistake. I was trashed, and there was the matter of at least another 70-120 miles to be done in the next three days.

I finally caught a break with the weather, or I steeled my resolve, because today's forecast altered significantly from rainy to sunny but windy. No matter what, I was going out, and it was going to be as long as I could take it. There was no way to tell how long that might be after yesterday's workout, but it was a risk I had to take.

I left the house thinking about making the Washington County line on 337, and perhaps going all the way to Milltown if I felt up to it. There were plenty of opportunities to turn around if I needed, a couple of places to stop for supplies, and I hadn't done this route in a couple of years. That all changed once I got to Highway 60. I turned east toward Spring Mill, and the going was so easy I decided to take it to Salem. Sure, I was going to pay for it later, but I wanted to get buried deep enough in the course that I'd get the miles no matter what. How far? Well, Salem is 34 miles from my door step. If I felt good once I got there I could go down 135 to Palmyra; if not, I could turn back and I would be at my minimum distance for the bike week.

While it was mentally tough to be out (at first), physically it was a piece of cake. I blew through Salem, cruised all the way down to Palmyra in what might be the easiest 50-miler I've ever done. I never got caught at a light or anything - I clipped in at home and unclipped at the gas station in Palmyra.

It was a quick turnaround. I didn't want my legs to seize up, I had a time limit (Leisa was waiting for me for supper), and the wind was going to be there no matter what. It was time to pay the piper. I sent Leisa a text and told her I had three hours of hard riding left (it had taken only 2:33:00 to get the first 50). That seemed about right.

Heading out of town, things really didn't seem all that bad. Yes, there was a headwind, and there would be pretty much all the way home. However, outside of the occasional gust, it didn't hold me back as much as I feared. The second 50 miles took around 2:40, not bad at all. I made great time on Highway 60 from Salem to Mitchell. After that, my neck was done with aero. It had been right at 87 miles of it to that point.

The rest of the ride was a snap. I didn't push anything, just cruised. I hit 100 miles right at 5:14, one of the fastest training 100's I've ever done. Coming the day after a brutal 80-mile trainer ride, I'm extremely pleased.

No riding tomorrow! Looking for 10 miles running. I don't have to, but I think I'd like to take advantage of the weather Sunday afternoon. I'd like to ride a bit... 20 miles would make my 200 for the week, but I'd certainly be happy to take that up to 50 or so. 

Memorable Run

Been away for a few days, not much to write about, so I haven't. I was off on Sunday all day - actually was sick, so that worked out okay. Yesterday was pretty hectic, though I managed to lift and run 5. No ride! The weather was just a bit too windy/cool to go out the day after being sick. The forecast for today was for snow, but I was hoping to get an opportunity to ride anyway.

Fat chance.

If anything, it was colder and windier than yesterday. Leisa and I went to the Eiteljorg Museum in Indy, and when I got home I had just enough time to buy some new shoes and get ready to run. My shout out to my friends elicited exactly one response, Miller, and we agreed to meet at the regular place and time.

With no Allen or Jimmy there to change the regular plan, it was left to me. I'd had it in my head to run north to the trailhead of the Milwaukee Line. I got the idea on my way home as we passed by the line, and it occurred to me then it would be a perfect wind break. Miller didn't have a problem with giving it a shot, so out we went.

The condition of the trail is "improving". There is still a large-gauge gravel on most of it, but it's beginning to pack in. More and more often there are very comfortable stretches along the way as well. We ran about 4 miles out in the direction of Williams, getting down by the river. We were almost halfway between Bedford and Williams before we turned, and for my part it was all a very enjoyable run.

I'm hoping it continues to improve. I plan on taking the girls team on this trail a bit this summer, especially when it gets hot. I won't be able to take them very far on it unless it smooths out a great deal, but I could see the possibility of a point-to-point run to Williams. That could be cool.

No rides this week thus far. With 5 days left it's still easily doable, but I'm getting the feeling of being backed into a corner again. One way or another, tomorrow I must ride. 

Calling it Early

I know I have averaged good numbers on the riding all year, and traditionally I try to bump my mileage up at Spring Break, but I need tomorrow off. Never mind I'm a little short riding this week - I need a day off. Haven't had one in a couple of weeks, and it's starting to show.

It's been hectic all week, what with the stress level in the building being so high as it always is the week before break, doctors' appointments, weather... I've just come up short. Can't stress about it. It is what it is.

The running side of things went very well. I managed three 10-milers in one week, completing my 30 for the week in only three days. It's one of the highlights of the week for sure, because this pattern will allow me to balance training enough to earn a day off every week.

Take today for instance. It started with a 10-mile run, then a weight/core workout, and finally a 52-mile bike. All told that's over 5 hours of activity, and it was mentally tough to face through the first 2/3's. If the argument is it makes you mentally tougher, yeah, maybe it does, but it's also a sign of failing to rest. One rest day a week can make all the difference in being mentally prepared to face the big days. Everyone wears down after a while.

I was able to train with a few of the guys today and Allen is kicking the idea around to have Strava challenges for different aspects of our biking. I like it - it's similar to the challenges we had a few years back with our "Wendy's Cup". The awards could be as simple as stickers for the bike or helmet, but I was thinking maybe of a traveling award for some of the bigger challenges. How about a traveling car magnet for the sprint king every week? I can see that already... pulling into the Spring Mill lot, winner walks up to the previous owner's vehicle, swipes the magnet, and says something like, "It's mine NOW!" Love it.

Anyway, I think Allen is looking for input. Or maybe just approval. You never know with him. I have an idea for an award, but for now, I'm keeping that under wraps...

Well, well, WELL!

The sky finally cleared this afternoon, and it got BEAUTIFUL! I hadn't planned to get a ride, but you know what? Though it couldn't be long, I was going to work something out. Thanks to last night's run, I'm ahead on running miles. That meant if I could carve out an hour, I could at least make 20 miles. And that's what I did.

It wasn't as pleasant as all that though. The wind was turbulent, and there really wasn't an easy direction to ride except one - west. Unfortunately none of my courses have a great deal of west in them. The only thing to do was head south and make it a quick as possible.

I wound up a bit over an hour, a bit over 18 mph, and my riding miles a bit more in order for the week. I have over 70 now, so with 80 miles I could have the bare minimum week. That ought to be easy from here on out.

10 more running miles to go, three days. I can do this.