A nearly perfect Saturday
The Plan: Travel to St. Louis, Ride with some good friends.
The Reality: Made the trip, Had a phenomenal ride, had some great conversation.
Boz got sick and could not make the ride (hope you are healing up my friend). Andy, was able to join Mark and I for a little over 40 miles at a variable (fartlek) pace. Man I love that word, fartlek...good stuff.
For two "old" guys that claim to be out of shape, they can roll like rats scurrying off a sinking ship! Mark may have lacked a little top-end on the steepest hills, but regardless of his attempts to sound weak (which are poor efforts at sandbagging) he was rolling strong. A little polish and this guy will be killing it in 2010 (mark my words). Andy...do I need to say it? This guy is a dynamo.
I had a great ride and enjoyed picking Andy's brain a bit (when I could hear him...the wind noise and my heavy breathing made it hard to hear much more than the pulse in my ears).
Yesterday was a great off-season training ride. A lot of color in the trees, a lot of great conversation, and a fair amount of training stress (for me). I really hope to do a lot more of this before next season arrives...I think I can benefit a lot from this sort of ride/partners.
Having Boz along may have pushed this ride into "perfect" status, but I am not sure my legs would have been able to handle it (I hear this guy is known to un-cork a pretty good sprint on occasion). One of these days we will get the whole team together. When that happens, I think we will all sleep well for a night or two!
you're too kind
Man, it was hard not being able to join you guys yesterday, but there's no way I could have managed anything beyond a light spin. A sinus infection and a lot of it is moving south into my chest. I'm sure I would have been on the receiving end of a lot of the pain but would have relished dishing a little of it out, too.
Another time, mi amigo.
Right on man!
Yeah, I understood that you were in no condition to administer any smack-downs. I know under better conditions you would have been there swinging the hammers.
I look forward to it...bring the pain!
Better to lay low
Yeah I agree, it's better to lay low and get better. No point in setting yourself back 3 weeks when it should have been only 3 days. Rest and get well. You'll be glad you did.