I ran 5:10 mile pace on barkchip in sleet blowing completely sideways for 4x10 minutes
I rode 76 miles in that same sleet and 37 degree weather.
I ran through an total downpour, 40 degrees, inch-deep puddles on the track, clicking off 30 second 200's.
Everyone remembers the videos of Lance Armstrong riding in the mountains, preparing for the Tour De France. He would ride in the worst conditions, on the worst roads, whatever it took to get prepared for victory. His competitors would say that every time they took a day off, they knew Lance was out training no matter what. Hard weather makes hard people.
I have these internal dialogues when I train in the terrible weather. I go back and forth between thinking how miserable this is and how much I love that I don't see anyone else out training. How badly I want it to end, and how badly I wish I could just ride all day so I'd be that much tougher. It presents repeated opportunities to quit, and just that many opportunities to triumph and reaffirm why I train.
Here's a couple pictures from the super rainy day. I don't have anything better since Tahir and I were trying to finish as quickly as possible so we could go somewhere and get warm.
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| Outside of Taco Del mar. Gushing water |
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| Inside Taco Del Mar, victory burrito! |
So a funny anecdote.. He were were, eating burritos, dripping all over the floor and shivering slightly.
-The shift change walks in,
"Dude, look how wet I got just walking from my car!"
- He looks over, sees us and our glorious puddle of filth.
"Whoa. What HAPPENED to you guys?"
Tahir- "Oh, we were running."
