I finally went all the way...
...south on the lake front path, that is! :p The temp is 98F as I write, but, well, it's my day off. What'r'ya gonna do? I left at 8AM with a bottle of Gatorade Endurance (into which I add some salt), a bottle of water, and a 32 oz Camelbak with ice and water. Stopped a few times to fiddle with my saddle, but once I got that on straight, I was off. Stopped once to pee, once to take off my socks (an experiment--hate it). Rode down as far as the path goes, and turned around. Along the way I ate some Cliff Blocks, and sport beans.
The view of Chicago from the south lake front is the most beautiful cityscape I've ever seen. I love my city. I'm sure NY'ers feel the same about taking the ferry over from NJ. My heart just swells to see it.
I wanted to get a swim in, too, so I rode with my bathing suit on over my bra, and the Sugoi shorts over that. It's so freaking hot here that there was no way I was carrying the wetsuit for the ride. Swam maybe 1/3 of a mile, and ended up climbing out of the water. The water felt great on my hot, tired muscles. But by the end, I just wanted to doze off, a little snooze...whoa! Now I know why the swim comes first in a tri! No sleeping in the water! :eek: Walked back to the bike, ate a Maya bar, rode up to North Ave, bought a mango-passion fruit smoothie, endured major brain freeze, poured said smoothie into Polar bottle :p , and rode on home.
Cold shower, traumeel to the forearms, icing the R one now. Ate left over Hunan Shrimp and Scallops (shared with Isaac the cat), and now...to bed, perchance to nap. For sure to nap!
35 miles on the bike--no big for the likes of MP, SK, and V, but a big deal for me. Went all out most of the way, in the aero bars a lot. I'm considering wearing the Shimano sandals for the tri; my feet were so hot in my bike shoes. Let us all pray that it's at least 10 degrees cooler on August 20! :D L.