Eye of the Tiger!

Somehow I survived the 58-mile Zoka training ride on Saturday, though if someone had been driving behind me blasting "Eye of the Tiger" I probably would have enjoyed it more. Saturday officially marks the longest ride I've ever done on the bike. When my alarm went off at 7:30am I was thinking to myself, "Why the hell am I getting up at 7 in the morning on a Saturday to go ride my bike in the rain for 60 miles just so I can get dropped on hills and end up abused and punished?" I honestly don't know what I'm thinking most of the time....

We started the ride from the 405 Exit 9 P&R and of course there was immediate climbing heading into Newport Hills. Somewhere halfway on the ride (I think maybe Issaquah-Fall City Rd) there was a monstrously long climb that nearly killed me and left me about a good 5-10 mins behind the main pack I'm sure. There was a smaller slower pack of about 2-3 people behind the main pack so I was trying my best to not let them slip too far ahead.

About 30 miles into the ride I was so convinced I was done that I have no idea how I finished. The guys on the team are absolutely awesome and two of them came back midway through the ride to make sure I was still back there. They even rode with me up the hills when I was nearly grinding to a halt. I apologized profusely for being so slow but they didn't mind at all and I was happy for the encouragement.

I think what I love about cycling is that point at which you hit the wall but then astound yourself at your ability to keep going. You learn that your body really can do things that you don't think possible and that it's really all a mental game. I felt great when I finished the ride (even though I was the slowest) and looked back at all the times I thought "I'm done....it's over!". At some point all this pain will make me a great rider I hope.