Camp day 2- The good, the bad and the ugly

Day Two of camp is clearly one of my favorites. It is the long ride around the shootout loop with the added on 13 mile climb up Madarea Canyon. The first ten miles are pretty gradual and the last 3 are lung busters.  Last year we all woke up in the morning to the sounds of what we thought was a storm only to find out it was a wicked wind.  The only person not phased was Michele Simmons who lives in Hawaii and trains in crazy wind all the time.  I was really excited when I got up in the morning to a calm day. Now I was going to see what a year of training with watts was going to give me.  The group gathered and rolled out. True to form, Neil set the pace right out the gate.  Maik kept us in control and the first half was pretty uneventful except that this year I noticed scenery on the rollers more than last year.  Right before the first sag stop (sag this year was one of my dearest friends Gail) the boys punched it.  I tried to go with them but knew not to use up all my coins this early in the ride. We regrouped at Sag and then headed down to the turn into the canyon.  Tim and I had already talked about how we planned on capturing our power output going up the canyon so when we made the turn I hit my "lap" split. The group started up the climb together and then brakes and then wheels touched and the profanity and then I had a face to face meeting with Arizona's asphalt. 

Now this was not my first rodeo at bouncing on the pavement and one thing I know is getting back up and riding as soon as an asessment is made that all is ok is critical.  A Once over proved that nothing on my body or frame was broken, both wheels rolled fine so it is was time to ride.  Blood dries fine and while I knew I had hit my head hard I was sure that I would be ok.  About 3 pedal strokes in, I reached down to shift to an easier gear to spin my legs and the shifter came off in my hand. Now this was a problem. We were at mile 2 of 13 climb and my bike was stuck in the hardest gear.  Maik was not thrilled about my insistence to see how far I could go and stayed with me as the rest of my group rolled on.  Stay focused Dawn - if things get wonky I can get in the sag car but you came here to see what you are about so now is the time to decide.  I can always guarantee on big ring strength workouts and I told myself this was just another one.  Sometimes I even fantasized that I would be able to make it up the last 3 miles.  Gail drove by and asked if I wanted in and I told her that I wanted to see how far I could get. At mile 10, it was clear that I would need a ride up the last 3 miles.  Coachie rolled up as she was leading the second group and told me I had taken a page out of her book and to get on up to the top.  From there I got to cheer on all the athletes doing it for the first time and decide what the next step would be. Clearly I could descend and the ride home is flat. I borrowed a helmet as mine was cracked and rolled out with my group. At the bottom, Hillary suggested I go with her group. It is flat and fast for the last 40 miles and without gears I would be a hazzard with the fast group.  Still, I was able to put in some good efforts leading the second group and that gave me chance to be with most of the crew from San Antonio.  Hillary had already called the folks at Freewheel to let them know we had a bit of an mechanical so Tim (who was also having some issues) Andrew and I took our bikes in.  The crew there was great and even had a set of my shifters. They were awesome and got us rolling in time for the afternoon swim.  Getting in the water with this- 

Was less than desirable, but the water would help loosen up the stif joints that were on the way.  My head did not love moving in any direction quickly so flip turns were interesting.  Still, we got in a good session and I was even asked to demonstrate band swimming. Who knew that even though I have grown to like swimming with my ankles tied together, I had gotten good enough at it to demonstrate!  That was great for my bruised ego. 

That night a group of us went out to eat dinner and I discovered that I was not the only one that questioned the famous 'Mr. Woodling" book. (* we got to hold the Holy Grail of swim workouts later in the week - So I can attest that while it may seem like Coachies way to get a giggle, the book exists and was typed on a real type writter!)

Sleeping that night was interesting, but I managed to stay on one side to get some rest.  The next day would be my second out of 4 10k swims of the year as well as another little jaunt up Gates Pass. 

Gail and I at the start - One of my dearest friends that I didn't get to see enough! Means I have to go back very soon!

 

We all looked so great in our AWESOME Smash Kits. (this was before I found out how well it holds up when you hit the ground hard) 

While this was not my ideal start to training camp, it did give me exactly what I asked for.  I view camp and the time to see EXACTLY what I can do when all other distractions are taken away.  Usually that falls in the physical capacity, today was finding out exactly how mentally strong I really am. No one was forcing me to continue, but I am about facing challenges and seeing what is REALLY possible.  Sometimes I get to meet myself coming and going when things are going my way.  Sometimes life is going by so fast I don't get a chance to meet myself at all so I just show up. And days like today, I get to put on my "big girl panties" and suck the very marrow out of the life I have been given and once again prove to myself that fear exists only in my head and I am way more than I can conceive most of the time.