Back to the Grind...

[Bluetree]

Vacation's over!!!

I just spent three days in cycling heaven (well, add another day for travel) and am having a hard time getting back into my training program.

On Thursday, I managed to sneak in a 2-hour ride because the weather reports were predicting rain for the next few days. Like a dolt, I believed them and didn't bring my bike with me. The drive up to Central California was raininy and miserable, but once I saw the Santa Ynez mountains admist clearing skies, I was kicking myself. Oh well. I walked around Solvang, saw the crews set up for ther Time Trials, ate a lot of Danish pastries, had a giant pork chop for dinner and turned in early.

Friday, I was up at 3am and walked out of the hotel. At 30°F it was still too cold to run with the gear I had so I went back to the hotel fitness room and did time on the dreadmill and weight training. By 5am, I was warmed up enough to brave the elements. I met a cute guy in the elevator and he told me to stop by the conference room after my run. I went out, ran a mile or so, noticed a bubba following me in a pick-up truck, and ran back to the hotel. I knocked on the conference room door (lotsa locks and security devices there) and was admitted into Shangri La. Bikes bike bikes everywhere! All carbon fiber Orbeas with racing wheels. I think I drooled on myself. Next thing I know, I'm putting on some borrowed shoes, mounting up a bike, and being pushed out the door! Just a short spin, though. Those SRAM components need getting used to. The rest of the day was spent watching the time trials, eating, talking to riders, eating, ogling bikes, and, did I mention eating? After all that, I ate dinner (rack of lamb, mmmm) and ended up back at the hotel bar, partying with the afore-mentioned cute guy and his colleagues until the bar closed down. At this point I was up for 23 hours and fried. But it was a great day.

Saturday was a beautiful day, but I was still pretty toasted from the night before so I bailed on my training. (Sorry, Coach). I had to do a photo shoot so I checked out of the hotel early and spent the day taking photos (and playing with) the new foals on a thoroughbred farm. I even came across a few old "friends" from the racetrack, who were rehabbing from minor injuries. My two pounds of carrots didn't last very long. And the foals were so darn cute! I left to head back to Los Angeles and hit tons of traffic on the way back. I was beat when I got home. There was nothing in the fridge so I had a sad dinner of ramen and crashed out.

Sunday I woke up, still had nothing in the fridge (you mean stuff doesn't appear when you're sleeping?!) and had to settle for the last two pieces of wheat toast with jam. Not much to go on for a bike ride, and it was predictably terrible. I had intended on practicing hill repeats. I got the "hill" down, but my body was adamantly refusing the "repeat" part. This was a lost day on my training schedule. After I got back, I was picked up by some friends and we headed to the final stage of the tour in Long Beach, which was a blast. The only neg part was that were were sitting near a the pizza stand, and were subjected to tantalizing pizza smells for hours on end! There was no hope for us. We ate a pizza on the way home. (Sorry, Coach).

So... here it is Monday morning. I was scheduled for a brick workout. Nope. (Sorry, Coach). My laundry is piled up, staring at me. My fridge is STILL empty. I have no desire to work, or train, or anything. It seems I need a vacation from my vacation. And I'm still dreaming of a hot red Orbea with a cute mechanic alongside. Sigh.. how do I get back to work now?????