July 1st 200k "Unto These Hills"

[Nanci]

(Sorry about the double spacing on that report, BTW- I wrote it in Notepad, and it didn't look like that there, and I'm too tired from Saturday to change it! :-)

I got the Brave Soldier Friction Zone at Performance Bike, maybe $8 or so?? I think it's pretty new. It smells _delicious_! It's tingly, but not numbing. A semi-greasy consistancy. No lanolin in case you're allergic to that. I haven't seen how it washes out of undies yet.

I've been putting it on Mr. Bird, who has a curled up paralyzed leg that gets pressure on it, no sores, but trying to prevent that, and on his vent area which has no feathers and gets washed frequently- just for protection. I wonder if he gets tingly from it! I've used the Brave Soldier Antiseptic Healing Ointment on me and the birds for years- love it.

Nanci

[Nanci]

(Reptile lovers only...) I saw the coolest snake accident avoidance! We're on a paved trail, rain has just quit, and a big stripy snake comes out from the left. Barb and Greg are ahead of me, and I scream "Watch out for the snake!" But they either don't hear me, or don't care. Snake continues on, it's a collision course with Greg's front tire. Suddenly, with an inch to go, the snake sees the wheel and LEAPS into the air, twisting in mid-air and landing going back the direction he came from! It was amazing! He jumped, the snake jumped!!

Nanci

[maillotpois]

Great report!! Thanks for giving me a ride to live vicariously!! Hills are tough, I know - and I am sure with the added humidity I'm sure that makes it even worse.

Cool snake story. I did think I saw a snake leap out of the way on our last ride. Good that he saw you coming.

[DrBee]

Wow Nanci! That was quite an adventure you had! Congrats on pushing through it.You're tough! Thanks for the great writeup (as usual). I feel like I'm on the rides with you.

A jumping snake - very cool!

Glad to hear the shorts worked out! Now I know what my reward will if I get the new job!

[Lise]

Great story, as always! On my big tri I'm going to ask myself, "What Would Nanci Do?" when the going gets tough! I love the jumping snake story. Suggests more awareness than I usually attribute to snakes.

It stopped raining here--I'm going to nap for 1/2 hr, then run, and if it's still not raining ---------------------> to the BIKE! L.

[Nanci]

This is the elevation profile for the Horrible Hundred Century. The July Unto These Hills Brevet did all these, and more, and the biggest ones two and three times! Just so you see how "hilly" it was!

[DrBee]

That does not look like fun.

[Jones]

On my big tri I'm going to ask myself, "What Would Nanci Do?" when the going gets tough!

I don't know what I would have done. Well, sucked it up and continued on, I guess. That was all I could do.

Great ride report! Thanks. Jones

[Lise]

Good GRIEF Nanci! I am a flatlander, man. That elevation map makes me want to lie down and take another nap. Whew.

Jones, nice cut and paste. I guess that's the point: Suck it up and continue on. Or, as I said to myself during the marathon last year: It's a marathon. You might as well run.