I went out for a ride last night after work: goal was about 2 hrs at half IM pace with some sustained all out efforts (maybe 3-4 x 2 mile flat all out efforts). As I was only going for 2 hours I broke my boy scout code and only brought 1 water bottle with gatorade. I got out about an hour and was pretty low on fluid so I figured I’d keep going and hop on the bike path where I knew (or know) there is a water fountain. Well, I guess I forgot where it was and ended up riding for about 15 minutes, thus tacking about 1/2 hour onto my ride total. Anyway, by the time I got to the water fountain I think I was already feeling dehydrated. Of course being a type A triathlete I filled up and tried to hammer it all the way back. ON the way back I think you would call the feeling “cross eyed”…I was still sweating alot but my vision got a little weird and I was bonking I think. I made it home fine and as soon as I got some fluid and food in me, I was fine.
Lesson learned…bring enough fluids. You’d think at this point I would know this and plan ahead! I think the problem was that it was warm 85-88, but since I’m now used to the summer heat, I didn’t think I’d be that effected by it. Similar experiences? I heard Floyd Landis talk about being cross eyed on teh final time trial this year–is that just from effort or dehydration or both? Of course he was going 35mph!