Night Before the Harvest

It's the night before my next race- the Harvest Moon 70.3- and I am sitting here with an ice cold Ginger Woodchuck Hard Cider thinking about tomorrow's adventure.  The swim should seem really easy since I did a 2.4 mile swim last weekend (twice the distance of tomorrow's race), but the bike...I am determined to not let this one hill get the best of me.  On my training ride of the course I went out way too fast at the start, feeling great, and hit a wall with 3 miles left (after I had FINALLY made it up this one hill in particular). I pulled off to the side of the road.

"How do your legs feel?" I asked my husband between gasps for air.
"They feel amazing!  I could do another loop right now!", He said, as I was remembering he was sitting behind me the whole way with a draft.  I rolled my eyes.  "Can you take my keys and go on ahead if I can't make it (of course I wouldn't dare say the word 'quit')?"  "Sure!  I'll be quick!"  We were both out of water and it had been a really hot, exposed day. We both set off at our own pace for the last 3 miles and I managed to make it back before he started the car to come get me.  It took everything I had to finish that bike loop (45 miles).  Anyway, I plan to hold back at the start of the bike to save energy for the hills and especially the run. 

I had a moment of panic when I took my bike out this evening to make sure everything was working properly.  I discovered my front tire was flat and I only had one more spare tube!  I called Bicycle Village to see if my special-order tubes were in, and they told me: 1) That they weren't, and 2) They had actually closed 10 minutes ago, but they open at 11am tomorrow!  He walked me through how to patch my tube and re-assured me he patches his tubes at least 4 times until he replaces them.--By the way, if this works out, I'll be patching my tubes regularly!  It will save a bundle with Goat Head season coming!-- I found the leak and patched it tonight so I have all night to pray it's not flat in the morning.  Wow.  Bad planning on my part. 

So tonight I'm going to eat some pasta (gluten-free, of course), put my feet up, enjoy a hard cider, and watch a movie. 

Good luck to those doing races this weekend!