geoffreydean wrote:
Anyone have the experience where you completed one of your long bike or runs leading up to your big race, instead of giving you confidence and assurance, it has the effect of making you think - why the heck am I doing this? - that ride (or run) was so damn long and hard and it wasn't even race distance - That really wasn't much fun. Anyone? Bueller?
Tell me about it. I have done 5 to 7hours on the bike around May time. Come 90kms I start moving in the saddle. 100kms and I am wondering why the last 10 took so long. 120 kms and I look at the watch just to notice I still have 2 to 3 hours to go. I despair. I wonder why I am doing this. Why am I not with the kids? If I am a bad father and if I will make the 180kms on the bike. At 140kms I start to wonder if I should hang my bike. I slow down terribly in the last hour or so. I am desperate. Close to the end I think I can't move anymore, much less run a marathon.
I get home, have a shower, hug the kids, kiss my wife and forget about it. 180kms on the bike followed by a marathon sounds impossible but then come race day and all goes well. Go figure!
Paulo Matos