Thinking ahead to fall

Putting aside the triathlon jitters for a moment (In one week I'll be on the course... AAAHHHHHHH!)...

I made a big decision about this fall this week! Friday I registered for the Wine Glass Full Marathon.

It'll be a tight turnaround in between the necessary rest after Musselman, July 14, and the full Oct. 6. I'm also planning on the Highlander Cycle Tour, a century ride (will I brave Quads Hilla?) Sept. 7.

I hear so many wonderful things about this race, it's point to point, in beautiful wine country, and all downhill.

And it's called the WINE GLASS. Do I really need to justify it further?

Race report: Highlander Cycle Tour Corkscrew Century

Best swag ever.

Observation #1 from my first organized bike ride: Cyclists kinda speak a different language. "Hey flat handlebars, nice." "I did that whole hill in the big chain ring." There was no t-shirt involved either (just a bottle of wine, which more than makes up for it!)

I asked someone there, "where's the starting line?" "The starting line?" "Yea... where we start?" "Oh, there's no line, persay, just roll out whenever you want. Go that way."

Observation #2: After waiting in long, long, long ladies room lines before MIT and running events watching men walk right in and out of an empty bathroom, I learned that distance cycling is more men than women, sweet revenge, muhahaha.... :)"

Observation #3: Once they're done bragging about their equipment (ah-hem, Mom ;) ) they are such a wonderful community! I was lucky to not get a flat, but my chain popped out (shifting too quickly) and three people stopped in the middle of this massive uphill to see if I needed help. And everybody I saw changing a flat had others helping.

I did the Highlander Cycle Tour Corkscrew Century Saturday. I rode 101 miles in 8 hours and 7 minutes at an average of 12.5 mph.

(This will be a long post, but it was a long ride. The short version.)