Are you ready?

The stupid little clock over there says 26 days, 15 hours... So here I am with 4 weeks to the start. Everyone keeps asking if I am ready. Maybe. Maybe not. To date I've ridden over 161 hours, covering 2,127 miles and have climbed 131,727 feet in preparation for Leadville. These numbers are impressive for me and are not too far off of an unattained annual goal I've made from time to time of riding 5,200 miles in a calendar year, to average 100 miles a week. But while riding through Santa Paula yesterday en route to 100 miles, a guy rode up to me and we chatted. He was riding from Saugus, went up to Ojai and now was on his way to Zuma Beach. Someone will always ride father and go faster than me.

So am I ready? I honestly won't know until I'm a few hours in to the race. I feel like if I can make the 4 hour time cut, I'll be good. I'm not worried about the 8 hour cut because if I make the 4 hour cut I can bank a little extra time and start my push up Columbine climb and back down. From there I can go slow. Probably real slow at times. And if I don't finish? Too bad... I not going to try again because all the training I've done to this point is all the training I am willing to do. I've turned myself inside out and have sacrificed a lot of time. The amount I've trained to this point is the maximum amount that I'm willing to do. If I tried again next year I wouldn't put one more minute into it. If this isn't good enough, then I'm not good enough and that is absolutely okay. I am sick of training. I mean even my tan lines have tan lines! It's ridiculous. Belt buckle or no, I've learned the depths of my commitment, how hard I can push myself physically and mentally and how supportive my family is, and most valuably how supportive my fiancée is. And all that is far more valuable than a damned belt buckle.

-PW

The Countdown Starts

The nerves are getting a little shaky and life has been quite a challenge, but here we are with ~42 days until the starting shotgun is fired at Leadville. Physically I don't know how much more preparation I can do for the race, but I know there's plenty of time to blow it all. I'm still doing by scheduled weekday intervals, but the weekend rides seem way too short. How are 3 to 5 hour ride supposed to prep me for an 8 to 12 hour race? So I'm extending the distance on those rides. Saturday was a 5 hour jaunt around Lake Casitas and I felt pretty good but it's clear to me that I need to get more long distance rides under my belt. By mile 60 my ass hurt, by mile 70 I was slowing down and my legs were tired. So I'm getting closer and I know I could finish a hundred miler tomorrow, but it wouldn't be pretty. Including tomorrow I basically have 5 weekends left to prepare.

I've pared my equipment choices down and am close to having a final setup, but now there is a crack in my frame. I don't think it a huge problem, but the boys at Trek Bike of Ventura are going to try and get me a replacement in time for the race. Otherwise I'll race the cracked one. C'est le vie!

I have to say that some days I am simply tired to riding. It used to be so simple to just jump on and fall into a warmed and readied pace within a few minutes. Now it takes me about an hour of riding before everything feels relaxed and comfortable. I don't understand this phenomenon, but after that first hour the time and miles just fly by and next thing I know I'm nearing the end of my ride.

Happy Independence Day and I'll be out riding early and trying to enjoy the holiday weekend for the rest of the time. Enjoy!

-PW