Challenge Roth Training: Week 23

3 weeks to go.

Week 23 totals:
Swim: 2. 5450m, 2hr 44min
Bike: 3. 10hrs 15min, Saturday Ride: 100mi
Run: 2. 24.4mi, 4hr 21min
Strength: 0. 0min
Total time: 17hrs 20min

Challenges:
Oh man, you guys. That 100-miler on Saturday was a BEAST. We started at 4am, but it was already 85 degrees. Got my first flat of the ride at mile 20. Okay, no problem, I'm pretty speedy at changing flats. Got everything put back together and noticed a sizable hole in my tire, which means I had to take everything apart again and boot the hole (where you put something strong and flat (like a gel wrapper) between the tire and the tube so the tube doesn't balloon out of the hole and pop once its inflated), and then put everything back together again. Okay, fine. Got that done.

Then, 15 miles later, I felt the telltale bounce of a slowly deflating rear tire (ALWAYS the back tire. Always.). Changed flat number two, and managed to snap my (very old) tire lever in half. This second flat also depleted my store of spare tubes and CO2 cartridges, so if I got another flat I was pretty much screwed. Decided to just keep riding and hope for the best. My friends were far ahead of me by this point, but our course was somewhat out and back, so I knew I'd see them eventually. I did finally run into them, and wonderful Gerry rode back up the uphill section that he'd already done so I'd have some company. He also gave me one of his spare tubes and cartridges, as well as a spare tire lever, just in case.

Things were going alright. I perked up a bit around mile 72, and tackled the final miles with renewed energy. And then...(you knew this was coming, didn't you?) as I was rolling down the notoriously glass- and debris-filled shoulder of the Beeline Highway, into a gusting headwind because of course, I felt the thump thump thump of a completely flat rear (ALWAYS the rear) tire. It was mile 97.5. I was 2.5 miles from the end. I stopped. I rested my forehead on my aerobars and allowed myself a moment of self-pity. And then I got off my bike to change one more flat tire. And everything was going fine... until I went to inflate it. And then I discovered that my CO2 adapter and the stem on the tube Gerry gave me were not compatible. I could hear the CO2 hissing futilely out into the 105-degree air as I attempted to inflate the tube. And then it was gone. And there I was on the side of the road with no way to go any farther.

I called Kristi hoping that someone was still at the gas station where we had parked 8 hours earlier and could drive back with a bike pump. But, as I had assured them about 45min ago that I was nearly done, they had headed down to the bike shop and breakfast, where I was going to meet them. I battled some weepiness as I assured Kristi that I could walk back to the gas station in the time it would take them to drive all the way back out there, and began my slow trek home. (Have you ever walked in bike shoes? The big cleats under the ball of your foot make them like reverse heels. Super fun.)

But! After about a minute of walking, I noticed another cyclist heading in the opposite direction! I stopped and frantically flagged him down and explained my predicament. Luckily he had a spare CO2, and using his adapter, I was able to inflate my tire. Sweet baby Jesus, I've never been so happy to talk to a surly stranger. I thanked him profusely (and he sort of grunted and went on his way) and began my 2-mile ride home. By the time I got back to the gas station, the tire was flat again, but I was close enough that I could just jog across the highway and be done.

I never did find out why the tire kept flatting. There was nothing stuck in it, nothing wrong with the rim. I had my bike shop guy check everything over carefully, and bought a new tire just in case. He couldn't find anything either. Here's hoping the new tire takes care of it, because Hansel is currently disassembled and packed up in a giant bike box and in the (I hope super careful) hands of FedEx on his way to Germany via North Carolina. If he actually makes it in one piece, in a rideable condition, I will consider it a minor miracle (for which I paid several hundred dollars).

Accomplishments: 
Ran 16 miles before work on Wednesday.

Not okay.

Surprises:
That run actually went really well. Stayed steady and strong the whole time. Yay.

Bonus:
On Thursday morning, JK and I toured the place where we will be getting married in January. It was even better than expected. :)