Wednesday, September 14th 2011

Bike:  207km  (8:06)
transition:  about 5 minutes
Run:  90 minutes
Core:  40 minutes

Comments:
Mario and I had just started our ride when he says to me “ahh…today is going to be a very hard day…”
Its never a good way to begin a 200km ride when your stud coach comments how hard its going to be….

He had told me the night before the bike course we would take so I knew the first 60 minutes was one long, steep climb … it probably takes a good cyclist 30 minutes, but for me .. it takes about an hour from the time we leave Mario’s house until the top.

The sky was black .. and the weather report said lighting and rain all day … but Mario believes “there is no bad weather, only bad clothing…”  So we both were properly prepared for the rain.

As we rode towards Germany … the sky got darker and darker … and Mario slows to tell me “It looks like its getting better … this storm will pass.”  What????
I told him that I am glad he isnt the weather man …

About 2 hours into the ride, we had to turn around because the sky got darker and darker … and we rode back into Austria.

We had a great ride … but after 140km it started to pour down rain.  No exageration – poured down rain where I couldnt see … but Mario kept on riding.
Finally, after about 10 minutes of being drenched, we stopped at a gas station.  The sky was so dark it almost seemed like night – it was pouring down rain … yet Mario said again, “I think its getting better…”  What???? 

After a few minutes, we started to ride again …. in the pouring cold rain.  My shoes got filled with water … and it was very cold…. but we plugged away.
Another hour or so later, both of us soaking wet …  it stopped raining … and Mario slows down to tell me “see, i told you it was going to pass…” 

It was a great ride with several long, steep climbs.  When we finished Mario said that the 200+ km we did is like 250km in the Emirates …because of the long, steep climbs we did.

I had a great run immediately after the 8 hour bike.  My legs felt great.
After a small dinner with Mario, I came home and did core for about an hour.

10+ hour training day ….
Maybe my best bike workout ever – and easily, the best connecting run I have had.

Today seems like a day off … I only have 6 hours of training scheduled.