Morning Ride and Afternoon massage

I went for an early morning group. There were five of us. I thought about doing 20 minute tempo rides with a short recovery in between. So after a quick mile and a half warm up I jumped to the front of the pace line. I picked up the pace but after just about half a mile I was already cooked. But by jumping to the front I primed the pump. Everyone continued with the hard pulls. It was tough to hang on!

I had taken a lap when I first started the hard tempo. I clocked the slight uphill from Lake Thoreau to Epley (which is the first part of our time trial course) at 14:33 which was 24.5 MPH. We then attacked Epley Road. This is out king of the mountain route. It was another tough ride. There was a lot of hard riding and drafting. We were going at a good clip. I sprinted ahead just before the last hill. I was out front for a short while and then Raland came around me. I was working hard and should have jumped on his wheel. I just did not have it. I continued to pursue him from about 15 feet back. I caught him about half way up the last hill. We were neck and neck sprinting for the line. We were both pushing as hard as we could. My heart rate was climbing to never before seen levels. I gave it up. Raland was king of the mountain today. I did see 187 BPM on my watch. That is the highest ever for cycling!

I have continued to follow the diet. I will post a follow up and list some of the meals later this week. But the meals are keeping me satisfied and I am able to reshape some of my eating habits!

This afternoon at work I got a call from my good friend Ben. He puts on the local triathlon race here in Hattiesburg. He said that there was a graduating class at the massage school and then need another person for their final in sports massage. He asked me if I was available. I jumped at the chance.

I have only ever had a massage at the end of race – at the end of IM Louisville in fact. That massage consisted of about 10 or 15 minutes of very light touching on very tender muscles. This was much different. This was much better. It was very relaxing. There was a lot of stretching. It was not strenuous at all. My legs were a little sore from the weekend, yesterdays run, and this morning’s ride. The massage felt good. The massage school was Healing Touch.

You can’t pass up a free massage.