Happy New Year

It was difficult, but I took the Polar Bear Challenge again this year. On Jan 1, 2011 I entered the metric century ride in Winston-Salem. My peak bike fitness occured sometime in early November, and because of the shorter and colder days I haven't been able to ride much and have lost my conditioning. I know, I know, I know - everybody has, so it really isn't much of an excuse. Fitness is an unfair beast. It takes so long to build it up and you lose it so fast! Anyway, temperature was in the low 40's there was a fog warning with visibility at 1/4 mile and it rained the whole time. Dangerous potholes littered the streets from the recent winter storms and I couldn't wear my glasses because the rain would cover them so bad that I couldn't see anything. Salt from the snow plows and street grit kept spraying into my eyes and mouth. Conditions were poor. However, I stayed with the lead group at what felt like a relaxed pace for the first half. After about mile 30 the pace did quicken. I made the mistake of chasing everybody who broke away from the pack so all the other bikers used me as a sheild to the wind to catch back up. I led for several miles, which was a bit uncomfortable, but I consistnely stayed in the lead 5 bikers for the first 47 miles. I didn't feel like I slowed any, but I went from the lead position directly to the rear and was spat out on a small hill. I could see the group moving away, but there was no way I could catch them. The next 6 1/2 miles were lonely - just me and the fog and the rain. I finally caught another rider who had been dropped and we helped each other limp back to the finish line. Not sure how far off the pace we finally finished, but my average speed said 20.0 mph over 60.15 miles. I know my odomoter is always off - the cousre is 62 miles and my speed and distnace always are short. I didn't check the average before I got dropped - I wish I had, although the effort wasn't as hard with the group as it was by myself, even though I went substantially slower by myself. What really sucked is that I was so worn out I had to sleep all afternoon Saturday, slept late Sunday, took a nap on Sunday and went to bed early on Sunday. I was worn out! Time to start training again.