More carbs...less fiber...(Joe Martin part 2)

You last saw Jessi and Sue speeding down rural Arkansas roads, cringing at the sound of quarter-sized hail pounding the Jeep. We now rejoin the two cyclists watching the Weather Channel trying to predict whether the TT is still on...

At 1pm, the tornado warning was still in effect. J and I had our TTs around 530...while J was desperately awaiting the warning to be cancelled, i really wouldn't have minded if the TT was the one to be cancelled. 2.5 miles, majority uphill with an average of a 6.8% grade. Not my idea of fun. In the meantime, i was forced to drink a protein concoction that in one word was "vile" (i have since bought my own container of protein mix...the things i do...) and then just took a nap, falling asleep to the beeps that was the tornado warnings.

A couple of hours later, we head out into the sunlight and humidity, to a dry Arkansas. It was as if the last few hours had never happened. We drive out to Devils Den and it was so pretty. I didn't think I'd make this comparison, but it reminded me of Waipio Valley in Hawaii. Just gorgeous. The drive down the curvy roads/switchbacks and steep decents was so fun, but in the back of head, i thgt "i have to ride up this? on a bike?"...a few minutes later, we parked and began our warm up. J said we had to ride for an hour...i don't think i've ever done an hour warmup. But, J says, S does. Simple as that.

TT: 2.5 miles. 680 ft of climbing. Seemed so small compared to the 1500ft of climbing from the RR. Nevertheless, i would rather have ridden the RR course multiple times than do the TT. I don't like TTs in the first place, and while i will admit that i never became bored...mainly b/c i was concentrating on not falling over...this was painful. a slow cadence, the smallest gear on my bike, and people zipping by (lucky ones who finished the course already) made this 2.5 miles take forever. I had asked a rider who had done this b4 to "take pity on a little chicago girl" and asked for advice. I was told that once i saw the "horse" sign to give it all i had b/c i was almost done. i was never so happy to see a horse crossing sign, but i did just that. once again, it went as well as i probably could have expected, but nothing to really get all excited about. But J? She was awesome and took 4th...and was only a minute off Laura Van Gilder's time. (She finished the day in 9th overall GC!)

After a quick change, we headed out for a much deserved dinner and to walk the crit course. I couldn't wait til the next morning b/c it was the crit that was calling my name. plus it had a hill...in a crit is the only time i will admit i like hills. Repeating the mantra J taught me "more carbs ... less fiber..." we headed to dinner and to discuss the following morning...

to be continued...