HARRISONBURG, VIRGINIA
Today was a special day – the Alpine Loop Fran Fondo VIP Ride for top fundraisers. This event was on my calendar all year but as the time approached I did not feel well.
Something respiratory. Tuesday and Wednesday was spent napping. Nyquill was my best friend. I wasn’t feeling like a ride on Thursday but by 5:30 decided to try the Thursday Night Ride. It went okay.
Yesterday Tim and I headed out to Bastable Mill Road for a 32-mile ride with bailout options. I chose one that cut it to 24 miles.
I had been targeting this event for some age group KOMs. Those were gone. My fitness was gone. It may have peaked in August with the ferry rides. I changed my registration for tomorrow from 100 miles to the Metric Century (65 miles).
We met at the bike shop. It was great to see Jeremiah and Erin as well as Robert, the founder of Cancer Journeys Foundation. We had nine riders for our VIP country ride. This are is nestled between the Blue Ridge Mountains and Skyline Drive to the east and the Shenandoah Mountains and the West Virginia state line to the west. While technically the Shenandoah Valley, this valley is anything but flat.
We rolled out and rode as a group. I was testing my fitness and failing. I’m not congested but never felt I could breathe. I was short on nutrition this week – oatmeal was my dinner last evening. I needed to see how I felt for yet another decision.
We had a flat in the group and I convinced Robert to ride ahead with me until the group caught up. I told him we would soft pedal while waiting for them but of course, I meant we would ride normally and still be caught.
The ride ended at the bike shop and registration tent. However, that was an hour away. I had ridden from the hotel and decided to ride back to the hotel. Normally I would ride back and then return by bike. But the climb back to the hotel drained me. I showered and then drove back to registration.
At registration, I was asked to confirm the Metric course. And I said to downgrade me again to the 38-mile route. If I had to I could ride the 65-mile route. But I would be going so deep on a depleted body that it would set my recovery back even further. I know things aren’t right because this is a ride I look forward to and I am dreading it. I need recovery which isn’t there.
Fingers crossed.
