Fighting the Demons

June 11, 2011: Tour De Cure Report

Along this journey I knew I'd encounter those "workouts" that would push me to my physical ability, and I knew that the only way to advance my fitness was to ignore the demon inside that kept telling me that I couldn't go any further. This demon had won so many battles in the past, and I would always seem to listen. What I didn't know, and was totally unprepared for was the persistent nature that this demon possessed.  His vengeance knew no bounds on June 11th, as I rode the Tour De Cure.

The morning had started off rainy, and I didn't have rain gear so I was already dredding the ride.  I had plenty of saddle time and I knew I could ride the 31 miles easily, but didn't have much time on hills or extreme heat.  I was scheduled to ride out with the 30 milers at 10:30, and by 9:00am, after checking-in, the clouds gave way to sunshine and the temperature started creeping upwards.  I triple-checked my bike, and hopped on for a little warm-up ride, and immediately started feeling a sharp pain in my right knee, the knee that NEVER hurts.  The demon was starting early!  I got off the bike and slowly worked my knee.  I got back on the bike, rode around for awhile and did a little warm-up ride.  The pain started to subside slowly and I figured that it would be fine - battle won.

I milled around for quite a while prior to the start, meeting people from many different walks of life.  The Tour De Cure is a benefit (nationwide) ride for the American Diabetes Association. There were 100s of riders and several sponsor tents.  I was getting anxious to start as I was starting to cool down.  We lined up at 10:20 and the announcer/organizer made some announcements and then discusssed the rides and the rest stop.  One of those announcements was a route change, which would add a couple miles to the ride.  We were also told that course was flat to slightly rolling with one big dip going into Johnstown (and of course, going back out of Johnstown back to Westerville).  Flat in Ohio is either constantly rising, usually with wind, or constantly dropping.

The first 3 miles was the constantly downhill grade and I was able to go out strong and put some distance from most of the pack.  The next 12 miles was rolling to constantly rising, and while my speed slowed, I keep peddling. My heart rate was comfortable in the aerobic zone just a few beats from the anaerobic zone and it was steady.  I was doing good.  My knee had stopped hurting and I gained confidence as the ride went along.. I had slayed the dragon...   or had I...

Mile 17/19 was the "dip".  Going into Johnstown, the downhill is on a curve and since I'd never been on that road, I took it slow. what I didn't know was when it straightened out, it was only a few yards to an immediate steeply graded (step pattern) hill that was approximately 1 tenth of a mile.  Not large, but I wasn't prepared and didn't gear correctly, and my speed immediately slowed and I desparately changed gears to get back to a solid 85-90 cadence.  The dragon was back.    I spun in my lowest gear until about 20 yards from the top when I finally had to stop.  My other knee (the one that normally gives me problems) was screaming, and my foot on that leg was going numb.  I stopped, walked the bike up the final 20 yards, meanwhile walking the numbness off, and proceeded to the rest stop.

At the rest stop, a banana, two waters, and a gatorade later, plus a refill on my bottles and I was off again, with a renewed determination  to finish strong.  On the way back, I attacked the downhill switching into the big gear and flying up the start of the hill, and quickly switching gears to try to maintain momentum and cadence.  This hill, the dragons main weapon was long and continuously, no steps to regain some power, and I faded again with about 30 yards to go.  I knew I still had 17 miles to go, in 90 degree heat, so I got off quickly before any massive pain and walked my bike up over the knoll.  rested about 30 seconds, got on and took off.

The next few miles were basically recovery miles, but I then turned into a headwind and the continous slight grade downhill was acting like an uphill ride.  I kept peddling and the miles slowly clicked off.  The detour wasn't all that bad and some of it was actually downhill.   I made the turn back on to the original out route, across the bridge and started the 3 mile constany uphill.

With a little less than 2 miles to go, the dragon reared with a vengeance.  My heart rate was all over the map, spending most of it's time in the anearobic zone. My breathing was becoming difficult.  The dragon kept whispering .. "The SAG van will be here shortly. No shame in sagging in".  I wanted to listen, I really did, so I pulled over, got off the bike, bent over and looked to the sky.  I knew I was either going to throw in the towel or dig a little deeper.  My mind was mush, my body was aching, the dragon was softly telling me that I had done a good job, and shouldn't be ashamed. I started remembering the workouts, pushing the envelope and how proud I was to see my fitness get better, and my weight drop.  I looked the dragon in the eye, and told him "NOT Today, not EVER".  I got back on the bike, and pushed off, telling myself that each cycle on the pedals was that much closer to the finish line.   A group slowly rode past me and I dropped right in behind them and pushed with them.  My heart rate was approaching the anaerobic zone again, put I pushed on. 1 mile to go, 1/2 mile to go. It was getting so hard, but the dragon finally was replaced with "Just think how good you'll feel when you cross that finish line knowing that you finished what you started".

The Dragon was Slain!

Running with the Club for the First time

Tuesday, May 31st - joined the YMCA Running club for the first time..   Here's a few pics..