Lake Placid, flat tires, and race season!

I went up to Lake Placid over Memorial Day weekend to do some big training miles. I haven't felt the urge to write about it because I still haven't decided how I feel about the training that I did.

I rode the entire bike course on Saturday (well, 111 of the 112 miles). I got caught in a thunderstorm for the last mile of that ride and got completely drenched. I did a split long run on Sunday while the humidity was on high in Lake Placid, with a 2 hour bike in the middle. I am now unable to sit on my bike seat without cringing. Ouch!

I got my 2nd flat in LP on the Ausable Forks out and back section (I got my first flat there the day after Tinman last year). One thing I love about Lake Placid is while I slowly changed my tire ('cause I am not very fast), every single person that rode by asked me if I needed any help. I was FILTHY after changing this flat.. I'm not sure how I got so dirty but I had gross tire grime all over my hands, legs, and most likely, my face. HOT.

I also ran into one of my blog friends, Emily, while riding the bike course. Apparently I have honed my stalker skills to perfection because how did I know it was her? I have seen photos of her bike on her blog and it's a red Cannondale. In the land of Lake Placid you see lots of Felts and Cervelos, but you don't see a lot of Cannondales. I rode up behind her and the person she was riding with right after High Falls Gorge and we chatted a bit. (Note: I asked "Are you Emily?" like the creepy stalker that I am). I had another blog friend up in Lake Placid as well, but I didn't get a chance to meet up with him (because of my strict pass out at 9 pm habit).

Anyways, perhaps I will post more about the weekend. I'm not sure yet. I am in a major funk right now.

I have my first triathlon of the season on Sunday at the Keuka Lake Triathlon. I am excited because apparently, 54A (which I think was the worst road in all of NYS) has been PAVED! I'm doing the sprint (per Mary). Since it is somehow already Wed., I am trying to get my stuff ready to go. I have washed my race kit. I need to get my Zipp wheels ready (ahhhh.. the Zipp wheel drama begins again). I need to clean my bike. I need to locate my wetsuit and get an open water swim in on Friday. I need to clean out my transition bag and make sure I have those crucial items such as: race number belt, timing chip strap, body glide, safety pins, etc.

I got into a minor car accident on my way home from work this morning. An older woman was pulling out of a parking lot and hit me. There is a decent amount of damage done to my car - it is drivable - but I hate driving around a banged-up car. The accident was her fault so it's nice that I can get it fixed without having to shell out thousands of dollars. I lost a whole bunch of sleep today dealing with insurance companies and dropping my car off at the garage. It was a pain and I am tired, but now my poor little car is waiting to be fixed and I have a rental SUV (UGH - I know!) that will get me to my race this weekend. Going from accident to garage to rental car in less than 12 hours is pretty impressive, I think!

More later, I am tired!

bazinga

This pseudo-recovery week is amazing. I have done laundry. I have gotten in some quality time with my couch. I have SLEPT! The weather is finally nice! I don't think I realized how thin the thread I have been hanging by has been for the last several weeks. (Did that sentence even make sense? It is 4:30 am as I type this).

I have watched this clip at least 20 times and laughed my ass off every single time. (I am getting The Big Bang Theory through Netflix; currently I am on season 3 and I am LOVING IT! How did I not watch this show before now??).

I am heading up to Lake Placid on Friday for a Memorial Day weekend training camp with some friends! Because I was a late addition to this trip - they are all staying at a condo while I am staying at a B&B (it is all the same place.. the B&B is in front and the townhouses are in back). I go back and forth between being bummed that I am not in the townhouse with everyone else and thankful that I don't have to share a room or a bathroom with anyone.

I have made a giant list of things to bring (broken down into categories) and I am packing later today (after I sleep and do my workouts).

The bad part about this is that I have to work an overnight from Thursday - Friday morning and then drive 5.5 hours on only a small amount of sleep. The other bad part is that I have to drive home on Monday and then go into work that night. :(

The good part is.. well.. I get to go to f-ing LAKE PLACID for the weekend!

Mr. Mike's, you'd better watch out because I am going to eat the shit out of you!

I am not so excited about doing the climb past Whiteface (my least favorite part of the course) twice. Nothing invokes fear in me like the last 11 miles of the bike course does, but in my opinion - the 3 bears? Easy-peasey. Riding past Whiteface? Not so much. I also hate the climbing once you make the turn towards Wilmington (between the 2 out and back sections for those of you familiar with the 2010 course).

To anyone who is going to be up in Lake Placid (I know there are at least 2 of you), shoot me an email if you want to meet up!