Back from the Dead

(In honor of the Tour de France this month’s distances are in kilometers)

This Ride: 27.7 km
Kona Distance: 3,349.2 km
Month to date: 471.9 km
2010 Total: 4099.8 km
Pace to 8,456.78 km mile goal in 2010: -71 km

“Back from the Dead” overstates the case, but it has been a week where the rides have taken the back seat to a nasty gastro-intestinal illness. Seven full days off the bike. I was itching to get back on again, and Mosey Monday suited me fine.

I woke up to a very humid 75 degrees, pulled off the fenders, re-inflated the tires, filled the water bottles, put on the new shades, and rolled out the door.  Just feeling the breeze as I gradually accelerated was like a sweet kiss.  The ease with which the tires roll over the pavement felt like freedom.  In the early morning light, I was surprised to discover moisture on the roads.  I didn’t know it rained last night.  Occasionally there was a light mist in the air, and there were some threatening clouds in the distance.  Soon I was at the Rusty Bridge and within minutes Chris, Chip, Alex, Brian, and Jeff were also there.  I think only Brian and Alex were “well”, all the rest recovering in our own ways.

It was an easy pace out.  At Old Country Road we hit a surprise.  They are resurfacing the road!  The road crew ground the roadway down some … and improved its condition already.  We were still slowed as we picked new lines over rough roads.  I continued straight at the turn, choosing today to not do the hills in Round Bay, and Jeff joined me.  We rode leisurely, allowing ourselves to be caught by the others at the turn around at the end of the trail.

With the kinks worked out, the pace picked up on the return, and that actually felt pretty good too.  I really had no lung support to speak of, but hung with the group dropping back once about 75 yards.  There was no extra end of ride distance.  The 17 miles for the day would have to be good enough.

It was great to hear Chris talk about his New England ride.  He rode 600+ miles in 7 days with 25,000 feet climbing as a fundraiser for Diabetes research.  It was a major accomplishment for him and he received the appropriate attention and kudos.

Now to get back on track for annual distance I’m planning.  I’m 44 miles short of my expectation for this date.  I’ll claw those miles back in the coming weeks.  Before this illness, I was 63 miles ahead of my planned pace.  Plenty of time to go yet.