Countdown to OC11 – 4 Days

This Ride: 24.6 miles
Kona Distance: 4,360.2 miles
Month to date: 550.2 miles
2010 Total: 4,846.7 miles
Pace to 5,254.8 mile goal in 2010: (322.4 miles ahead of goal pace)

Weather was a treat this morning. Dry and 64 degrees at 5:30!  That meant exposed arms, short gloves, and a half zipped wind vest.  The promised pace was fast.  As it turns out, I wasn’t as fast as the others.

I think there were five of us at the RB to start, at least six rode most of the route semi-together and Chip was riding well off the back today.  Dan told us that the trail was closed once again south of Severn Way, so without any real vocal objection it was decided to ride (dramatic pause with foreboding music in the back ground) THE WALL as our turn around point.  Knowing that we would have a fast pace and THE WALL, I elected to go solo on Old County Road instead of joining the group up the hill in Round Bay.  I couldn’t see spiking my heart rate to maximum twice in one ride.

The trip down THE WALL was a bit dicey.  A car came up fast on our tails, there was some sand in the road on a curve, and I was braking all the way down.  This bit of road is not very smooth, it is unfamiliar, and remember, it was dark.  I kept following and waiting for uphill section.  Soon, I realized about half way through, this was it.

THE WALL has a moderately steep short climb, a relatively flat sharp right hand turn, and then the steep section straight up.  I know that there are longer and steeper hills, I’ve ridden some, but this one is pretty intimidating for those of us accustomed to a few little rollers.

Halfway up the steep climb, I’m panting like a steam engine and I see later my heart rate reached 173.  I’d say that is my maximum.  I’ve not been higher this year.  With nothing left in my legs and trying to remember how to breathe again,  I was not able to keep up with the group for the next several miles.  Near Severna Park, three of the riders were waiting for me and we had a pleasant enough finish to the ride.

I tacked on the loop near home just for good measure.