Lessons to be learned

On crummy workout days you have to remember that there is always something good that comes out of it.  There is always a lesson to be learned.

Today.... was a rough day.  I set out with a spring in my step and feeling great about the day ahead of me.  A little short on sleep, and in a rush, no breakfast.  Mistake one.  No fuel = starting behind the 8-ball.  I had leftover iced coffee from a shift I worked last night, perfect start to the morning.  I drink an iced coffee before every race and have never had a problem.  This morning I thought, wouldn't it be wonderful to drink my coffee as my first bottle on the bike?!  Yeah.... mistake two.

Out on the bike, feeling good on the rollers and couple climbs on my way over the river.  Very nauseous... drinking coffee while riding... not a great idea.  Dump the coffee, switch to water.  Except I am still nauseous- not able to take much fluid.  Thats alright. I'm doing great.  Make the turn into unknown territory (roads I have traveled before but it has been a long time and I have never biked them.) Mistake Number three- underestimating the unknown.  I climb and descend and climb and descend.  I still can't drink and now I am starting to notice.  This is a problem.  Climb and descend.  Total climb for the ride: over 3000 feet.  For comparison- Ironman Wisconsin has a total climb of 2890 for 112 miles.... oh boy. 

I am not the strongest climber and my lack of fuel and fluids is taking a major toll.  I am much slower than usual and I am swearing that the next time I will ride this course is right after I become a professional triathlete. HA! 

Right around mile 30 I am finally not sick to my stomach and I start pumping fluids.  Much too little, much too late.  Then, I am so distracted and frustrated with myself that I miss a turn.  This adds ten miles to what should have been a 50 mile ride.

I made it.  I did it.  It hurt.  It all but broke me.  The upside- Ironman is not easy.  You struggle.  You don't feel good.  You think you are going to break.  Then you embrace the suck.  Today was a true training ride in all sense of the words.  I trained physically and mentally. 

I also learned.  Never again will there be coffee on a ride.  Never again will I forgo my fuel before a huge workout.  I can't say that I will never go on an unresearched ride again- as it was a good training experience, and goodness knows I know I will miss plenty of turns on this long crazy road to Ironman, but hopefully every missed turn in a roundabout way brings my closer to the finish.