Where The World Ends

It sure is good to get out with the group from time to time. To drive the pack, to force the line, to push the climbs... You've all been there, and you all know what I'm talking about. But sometimes, even better than riding with the local group, is riding solo. And personally, I like to hit the roads solo from time to time, especially when I have hard workouts on the docket. Take this for example: two weeks ago I took a little climb (okay, so it's actually a 3 mile climb) with a group of riders. For the most part, I just rode it as tempo, setting pace for the folks behind me. I hit it hard, for sure, but not wide open. A week later, I went back to that same climb - stag - and laid it down hard. My goal? Go harder alone than with the group - something I've always had a hard time doing, but something instrumental for long-course racing. A test of motivation and determination, on a road with nary a vehicle, in a place with barely a name. In the middle of Nowhere, NY, I opened it up, and tore it down. All by my lonesome, I pushed myself up and over this beautiful little climb, descending down the long, deep far side, as the late spring air chilled me to the core.

This weekend brought about the close of the first 3 weeks of Build 1, and now I'm happy to be living it up during a week of recovery. After Thursday's speedwork session at the track, I signed myself up for more suffering on Friday with a 2800m sprint session in the pool, followed by an hour-long tempo run - the latter of which really put the hurt on, and started to seal up a pretty tough week. Saturday I enjoyed my usual Green Mountain routine, followed by 4 hours on the bike with my good friend Christian, and then a quick run with Liz immediately off the bike.

With temperatures flirting with the upper 70s, Sunday was a beautiful day for the long run. And so with tired legs and a weakening will, I turned out my 12 miles on the rolling roads surrounding my neighborhood. Despite the stiffness in my legs early on, I loosened up after the first several miles and turned out the remaining miles right on race-pace. I couldn't think of a better way to end Build 1.

Thanks for reading.