Epic Week ended with an Epic Ride

...and all I got were these wasted legs.

Bri and I took Monday off, but started training properly Tuesday. After all, off-season is now over, it's officially pre-season now. Whatever that means. I blasted up Harbour Heights (aka Houston) in my best time yet, well under 4 minutes, stop sign to stop sign. We then explored a new lunchtime route, a nice long flat one where one can really turn on the speed. It felt good to shuffle loose from the last remaining D.C. aches and leave them on the Boeing Freeway. Ah man, I love those stretches. Yes climbing is fun and rewarding, but I bought my road bike and haven't turned back to my x-country for one reason. Sheer speed. I love it.

But Wed was back to the hills.

Houston of course, can't get around that. But then we followed that up with two trips up and down St. Andrews Blvd. You know, for kicks. All in all a pleasant ride though, shedding some of those winter layers really helps and both ascents on St Andy were quick, I was able to keep my cadence up well enough and had some kick left for the last push.

Thursday we rode down the Goat Trail. And up the Goat Trail. But another great ride (and another day of leaving Bri in the dust). I rode this route in my best time yet, too.

Friday (yesterday) we retired the bikes and and made it a run day. A relatively slow 5 mi slog to the park at 92nd St. Also, I went out with some friends to an $8 show down at the Tractor Tavern after work. And after the bottom half of a bottle of wine. 4 beers and 3 bands later it's 1am and I'm not even home yet. Yikes, Brian is going to be knocking on my front door in just a few hours.

Which happens at about 7am. Bleary and bloodshot, I roll out with Brian for our 'Hilly Forty.' A quick lap around north Everett, including a 1.5 minute lap through the arboretum at Legion Park, then on to Mukilteo. A long climb up from the ferry (we opted out of the Goat Trail, thank gawd). Flat Tire. Brian's house for a quick pump. A call (while still riding) from my hair stylist, setting up an appt to tame the mane makes me feel ridiculous, no one else would field such a call apart from the overly-coiffed Italian himself. Back to Everett, but only momentarily as we quickly head east out along the Sno River. We get passed by a club ride (my legs are complaining today). Another Flat Tire and another 20 minutes down the tube (is that a pun? I can't tell). Hunger pangs pining for pho. Loop through Snohomish, then back home across the Ebey Isle flats.

Bid Brian goodbye and good luck at the airport, his mom flies in today from IL (where I'm headed in a week, coincidentally). But that's not the end of my Ride. My buddy Mike shows up and we head out to help him break in his brand-new ProjectOne Madone. This guy is green on his bike I'm expecting a leisurely 20 to finish my day with. But no, this kid has legs! I follow him for most of the ride and suck wind whenever I can get close enough. He can't climb yet, but I think we have more than an honorary contender for this year's TdM.

68 miles on my 'puter later we get back, I realize my pho dreams and bask in the sunshine with the kids for the last remainder of the afternoon.

My legs are toast. Shaky and achy I'm so looking forward to a day off tomorrow. Good night all.