This week has been the week of the bike. Every day out at least an hour in the sunshine; Monday 2.5 hours, Wednesday 2 hours, Thursday 3 hours, Friday 1 hour, Saturday 2.5 hours, Sunday race. And almost all in the sun, it’s really amazing. I finally got into my groove and am feeling really strong; I’m getting used to this and am not sure how I will feel about giving it up to sit in an office 9 hours a day.
Wednesday I went on the morning PV ride out in Hillsboro; I kept to my zone 2/3 prescription for the most part; an out and back on Dairy Creek allowed me to ride by myself a bit and keep to my pace. Trying to ride slow in a group can be a real bitch. You have to swallow your ego and just slide off the back when necessary.
Thursday I went out with a few team mates to rip it up on Skyline; looped around Cornelious Pass/Rock Creek. It was a fabulous ride; I pushed it up the climbs, got my intervals and and had a great time. At the turn around point I said “see ya” and rode zone 2 back alone (I’m glad I did, apparently that was the fastest part of the ride!). We also had a fellow PVer show up in his Element, and he snapped a ton of pics of us, we felt really pro. I felt really, really strong on this ride.
Friday me and Uma hit up the spring water for an hour recovery, enjoying the sunshine and chatting about our impending trip to CO/UT to mountain bike our brains out. Saturday I enjoyed our team ride, occasionally breaking away from the group to ride the prescribed pre-race pace (always with a few others who were interested in going a bit easier).
And finally, Sunday Jack Frost. I went out Saturday night (typical), and felt like complete ass. I wasn’t even going to go, but I thought maybe I’d feel better after downing some Pepto. Yum. I didn’t feel great on the warm up. Legs were a bit heavy although not as bad as i thought they would be; stomach was still in knots and felt like little squirrels were running around scratching my insides. I toed the line and just sucked it up. My heart rate went right where I wanted it: surprise! I ended up riding a great race. The first 1/2 my heart rate was about 170-175, second have it was about 174-178. Around the 1k mark i started almost throwing up; thankfully i held onto it and got through without vomiting on myself.
The weirdest part was the mental battle. Around mile 9 I could really start to feel the burn, but I wouldn’t allow my speed to dip below 20mph. In the past I have created mantras, usually “pedal pedal pedal” or “faster pedal faster” or something to that effect. This time I just kept thinking “love the pain, you want the pain, feel it you want it love it…” it was kind of um…hm…strange. Whatever works, right? Sure…
I can’t believe its only been a week since the Lay Off. It feels like a million years. I’ve been doing some lingering projects and applying to jobs and actually have been very busy; I’m looking more and more at starting my own business. Right now biking is the only thing keeping me from going completely off my rocker (although admittedly I do feel like a complete mess right now). I’m so blessed to have all these amazing people to ride with; I can’t believe I haven’t done a single ride alone all week! I can only imagine the people who just sit around on the couch watching day time TV waiting for the phone to ring. Ughhghgh. No thanks.
Update: JF results are in.
5 people started cat 3 women (1 was DQ’d for crossing the centerline…somehow)
I got 2nd place therefore (otherwise would have been 3rd)
Time: 33:55
If I had raced Cat 4, I would have gotten 11th place (ouch)… although I lack all the special TT’ing equipment. It was all within a minute or two, so perhaps those silly helmets and squirrelly bikes can move you up a few places. 
No dedicated time trial bike? Sounds like you need a new bike when you get job stuff all figured out. 2nd place not bad with a hang over…;)
Nice job to you too! It was good to see a few women out there. Hopefully I’ll be seeing you around this season! Good luck!