Long live the King

I like being an athlete. Mostly because of the competition. I like sports that select winners and losers. But the other thing I like about being an athlete is that I almost always feel great! So, on the rare occasion that I find myself feeling a little under that weather, I turn into a 2 year old. When I'm sick, I'm not very tough.

Monday night I went to bed feel outstanding. I drifted off to sleep planning the Tuesday Morning Group ride and visualizing the climb up the backside of Gates Pass. Once we all regrouped I was going to go long, - maybe 2-3 more hours and then shut things down in preparation for one of my target races this weekend - Valley of The Sun. I registered for the Master's 55+ category, and was going in fully expecting to win every stage and the GC. Not cocky - just optimistic.

I woke up early Tuesday morning around 1:00 am laying in a pool of my own sweat and a had very upset stomach. I spent the next couple of hours throwing up.

In the morning, instead of attending the University Racer Ride, I went to see the doc who diagnosed me with something called a sudden onset viral infection. He prescribed lots of fluids and rest. And that is exactly what I have done all week.

I host a weekly group ride on Thursdays. Mostly retired people who are still very fit and healthy. I'd say about half of them also still race. They are role models for me. Yesterday we rode 50 miles - out to Saguaro National Park East for 1 lap and back. I felt just OK. Mostly kind of weak as you would expect after spending 2 days in bed with a fever. On the way out we rode up Freeman - one of my favorite streets in Tucson. It's approximately a 1.5 mile ascent full of rollers with a kick up at the end. I didn't think we were going that hard, but somehow I scored a KOM (King of the Mountain) on Strava.

I just signed up for Strava a month ago when I got my new Garmin. I'm still trying to figure it all out. I'm not sure why anyone would want to track a 2 minute effort (see illustration). But I am starting to understand now why sometimes I'll be on a group ride, for example riding through Saguaro East yesterday, and I'll pull over to re-group after the climb and most of the others will be looking down at their Garmin and fly past me with their ears pinned back. They're trying to record a good Strava segment. I dunno what I think about that.

Anyhow, no VOS racing for this boy this weekend. It's supposed to be in the mid-80's all weekend, so hopefully I can record some long recovery hours in the saddle.

And maybe a KOM or two.