Notes Along the Way - Week 16

Six Weeks Out

Photo: Despite the busy schedule, I still got to spend the day riding with friends in Minnewaska State Park, NY.

The past few weeks have been full — the Smokies trip ran long (a cancelled flight resulted in a 24-hour delay), and we turned right around for Avery's Admitted Students Day at Boston University. Travel as mental training, maybe. Holding plans loosely, staying patient when things go sideways, managing the energy drain of disruption. These are all skills I need on a 200-mile gravel race, and apparently April decided I needed extra practice.

I am absolutely bursting with pride for Avery, for what's ahead of her. This time with her has been what the best of life is made of.

I am sitting here at my Jury Duty assignment right now waiting to see if I'll be needed. So, I am taking stock of where my training stands now. Over the past few months, I've completed a handful of hundred-mile rides and a good number of tough gravel days in the 40-mile range, with TrainerRoad filling the gaps. My legs have felt heavy since the Smokies and I've been fighting off something — a cold, allergies, hard to say. I struggled on a ride yesterday. But I've been here before. Consistency is the thing that brings me back, and I'm getting there.

Here's what surprised me on that mediocre ride: I realized I'm genuinely excited for Unbound. Not nervous-excited. Just excited. I know I can finish this. My pace won't dazzle anyone, but I'm strong — maybe at my strongest — and what I want most is a start line and whatever comes after that. The experiences out there. That's the thing.

Sunday I'm racing Lu Lacka Wyco, 75 miles of gravel. A dress rehearsal. I'm curious what it will tell me about where I am — and ready to be patient with the answer.