Training Log Archive: Browner

I think this was my longest bike ride ever. I certainly didn't make it easy on myself by carrying 2.75 of water, 2 tall boy can of Starbucks drinks and my trekking poles. At around 3:00am we tried the CrushSmellGo smelling salts I carried around to races last year, but never had the guts to try. They were no big deal and worked immediately, but the effect was gone in 30 minutes.

Otherwise I tried not to burn my self out and took her easy behind the boys. I'm glad I did because there were a few mammoth hills at the 100k mark.

We had mercy on ourselves for a breakfast break in the morning and finished the last 20k or so with Ursula - welcome new company and conversation.

Thanks to DD11 for inspiring the whole thing, Simpy for keeping us on track the whole way, and Reeder for staying back with me, even if he was too pissed off to talk because the bakeries we passed were all closed.

Team Training at DD11's cottage. It was a full dress rehearsal with mandatory gear and bins. Starting on a Friday night at 1045 was a really great way to fast forward to the mental challenge of expedition racing.

The trek was fun, lots of swamp crossings in the middle of the night and almost no bugs in the dark.