Recovering

Here's the funny thing about the difference between being well and being sick. When you're well, you may not be as enthusiastic about getting things done or going outside. When you're sick, all you can think about, and desire to do, is get things done and going outside. Suddenly you WANT to do yardwork, you WANT to ride your bike, etc. I guess that shows we all should take advantage of the times (hopefuly plenty) that we are capable of doing things and do them! Get'er done! Just do it! Now or never!

I'm recovering pretty quickly from my weekend of being sick. I didn't cough at all once I fell asleep last night. Got up this morning and met the Six O'Clock Ride guys. There were only five of us and I guess the threat of rain scared everyone else off. We probably averaged an easy 21-22 mph on the parkway and it was still dark as I headed back home (time change over the weekend). I tried a new route on the jogging path back to downtown Shreveport since I didn't want to ride the parkway in the dark by myself...once it's light, I'll be fine. Had no problem seeing the path in the dark but you had to be alert for some of the tighter curves along the way. It didn't really lower my average speed too much and the distance was about the same, around 21+ miles all told. There seemed to be lots more traffic today than usual.

Being sick over the weekend, I missed the final two days of the DEATHBLOW, our racing team's annual training camp. Just as well....Saturday is 124 miles and Sunday is 126 miles. After my 102 on Friday, I can't say I missed doing those rides! I had planned to do Sunday's originally after planning for an easy ride on Saturday, but I rode the couch instead of my bike. I think Russ, who plans this event, was the only one to do all six days this year, about 650 miles total. The most I've done was three days, 325 miles, last year. The saddle certainly makes an impression on you after a while!

Also, yesterday was the classic 100-mile Rouge-Roubaix road race down in St. Francisville. Four of my teammates went and had a wild time. Jason sent this race report below, and I've left in his typing as he did it early this morning:

"I can give a quick breakdown of the Race from the 1-2-3's. Started off with Several attacks, Patrick got in a move with the right people. Guys worked got it back together then I went with the next move. Couple of more small attacks then a larger group got up the road. Not one of the contenders were in the group so we didn't jump. Got to the rock section and placement was everything. I didn't get positioned correctly and everyone was all over the roads. I finally find Patrick and Bolt, bad wreck behind me and where Bolt was and at mile 30 Bolt flats. I get with a small group and we start moving through the 12 mile gravel part pretty good. Get on the road and we caught people and had some bridge up, one being Pat. We had around 20 guys sitting in, I was working with Scott from Herring Gas, we get away from that group, catch 2 guys - 1 CD guy and we drop the other guy. Pat comes across with a CD guy and Scott and I work b/c CD sat in b/c they had Matt up the road and Pat sat on those guys in case of an attack. We got within 45 seconds of what was left of the main field, then we hit the steep section of the gravel road and that was my only problem, both Pat and I picked the wrong line and hit sand. Spun out and had to walk. Bain pulled the group behind us and we get caught up the hill by some of them. Pat and I got back on our bikes and I was able to haul ass through the dirt roads. Caught 2 groups and we were making good time, lost all but 1 guy and he and I passed a couple of other riders. I ran out of fluids around mile 76 and we came upon a CD and Tiger Cycling rider, that is when I started cramping and hitting the wall a little, more hitting the wall than cramping. I worked with the Tiger Cycling and about mile 95 I had BONKED completely, mile 96 Bolt comes by me with Pat and I just waved goodbye. I have never hit the wall that bad, I was so hungry and thirsty that I was getting dizzy. The last 10 miles seemed long, but the last 5 lasted longer than the whole race. Overall the race was good, you definitely need a handup in this race, I carried 80 oz of fluids and still ran 1-2 bottles short. Fitness wise I believe all of us were fit, the guys that got away at first had experience racing this race. The winner is just a freakin' beast. He dropped the group he was with at mile 65-70 and won by over 8 minutes. My advice is if you don't have really good handling skills, skip this race. If you want to attempt this race, by a mountain bike and ride it for a year, then attempt this race. Mountain Biking helped me out through the off road sections.

"I tought the race was awesome, I don't think Pat will be back. Bolt, I don't think it matters as long as it's a race.

"T-Bone believes he got top 15 and possibly top 10, he enjoyed it also. Nobody got hurt, I wrecked in a 180 turn but nobody was around, going probably 5 mph. Pat and Bolt didn't wreck, Bolt just wrecked havoc...."