Now I can start my 2 week taper for the Great Buckeye Challenge Half Ironman.
I've been through 16 weeks of hard training and now I'm ready to take the challenge of my first Half Ironman race.
Today's 50 mile (2:55:49) bike ride was in the Cuyahoga Valley National Parkway. I felt quite comfortable for the ride and for the last 15 miles I was able to push the pace to average 20 miles per hour. I had no gels but only 2 water bottles filled with Hammer Heed in 1 and Hammer Perpetuem (with 1 added scoop of organic soybean powder) in the other. During the ride I had no sense or feeling of thirst or hunger. At least for today that was all the food I needed for the ride because I felt good.
Today's picture perfect moment of the ride was when I noticed in an open field sun rays shining down on an angle with the morning dew rising over some old farm equipment. I wish I had a camera to capture that moment.
Another highlight of the ride was when I passed the lead runner of the inaugural Burning River 100 mile foot race. I applauded and encouraged him and continued on my ride. It was a cool feeling to see the lead runner. He look quite strong and relaxed.
I was looking forward to seeing more ultra marathoners later in the day because I would be pacing a friend for the run. I originally signed up to volunteer to help man the 91.3 mile aid station but found that they had enough help and was encourage by the aid station coordinator to just go and help pace with my friend. My friend (Dustin) wanted me to meet him at the 65 mile aid station and to hopefully, run to the finish, depending on how I feel. His wife would be his support crew and would call me when he was about an hour from the aid station so that I would have plenty of time to make the check in and be ready to run with Dustin.
I'll report on the run in a day or two.
6 comments:
Lou I am glad you had fun pacing your friend in and I am so impressed that you went out and ran from 65 to the finish with him! I am sure he truly appreciated it!
You looked great when you came through our station. What fun that it was right when you would have shown to volunteer! It was like you knew we would be expecting you :)
I'm sure you are going to rock the 1/2 iron! Hope you had fun pacing your friend! That would be really cool...
I can't believe you rode for 3 hours in the morning and then ran 33+ miles at the crack of dawn. You guys looked great when you came through the aid station and I'm sure your friend greatly appreciated your company!
Now, rest up well and we'll see you out there on Sunday! (Matt and I are in charge of one of the run aid stations)
Its to bad you didn't work the aid station. I heard about you from Luke Yang (who I work with) while I was training for the BKT50k. I worked the stop with E-speed and it would have been nice to meet you. I left at 3:45am though so I may have been gone when you came through.
I don't know how you folks run that far. I slog through my 2-3 miles for crosstraining. You folks make it seem effortless.
You'll kick it at your 1/2, Can't wait for the race report!
Way cool! Good to hear about your long ride. Best of luck at your 1/2 ironman.
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