I am afraid of dogs in general but especially when I am on a bike!

Lets start with last weekend then get to the dog....

Sunday, May 10 - Ran with my mom at the Mother's day race. I went out for a 20 minute warm-up and then got ready for the race. It was cool (around 50 degrees) with a little wind but not too bad. I got to the starting line and took off. It felt like the longest mile ever but it was under 10 minutes by a lot which was what I wanted. The next 2 1/2 miles went about the same way but I was getting faster. It is so hard for me to run that hard for that long. I am more of a distance runner - find a pace and keep it for a very long time and then, if you feel good, go faster and pass a whole bunch of people. I ran a 32.18!! I PRed. It felt good. I ran a little after (total of 1 hour 15 minutes) and then got to go to Tulip Fest and got to hang out with my entire family at dinner.

Monday and Tuesday - I had great workouts and felt really good.

Wednesday - Day off - I just didn't feel very good and I felt very tired. Felt like I had legs of lead. Better safe than sorry???

Thursday - Swim and Run. I felt like I couldn't get into a rhythm and couldn't find my balance. The entire short time I was in the pool, I was getting frustrated. I also had a run to do. My mom's work does a run at the Crossings on Thursday night so I went. It was supposed to rain and it did on cue - as soon as we decided to start running. I started and didn't feel too bad but within a couple of minutes the legs of lead returned. I ran for my hour but it was really difficult. Oh, well - maybe it was the weather, maybe it was the day off. Not sure. Not worried either.

Friday - National Ride Your Bike to Work day!!! - I got up at 5:15 am and was out of the door by 5:45. It was extremely foggy!!! Fog is scarry to ride in! Not so excited about this. I had major issues the entire time. I figured it was because I hadn't eaten breakfast yet and figured I would get better on the way home. Not so. I got on the bike and immediately felt my legs of lead not wanting to work. I got about 1.5 miles from home, had the option of hitting sand and going down, getting hit by a car, or hit a hole. I hit the hole and immediately knew I had a flat. I pulled over, worked to change the tire (had a couple of questions which my dad answered over the phone) and then went to fill it with my carbon dioxide canister. Then as I thought I was being successful, I hear a BANG!!! It sounds like a gun firing. No more tire. Called Dave and had him come and pick me up since my husband was out on his own bike ride and I had to get to prom. Nap time was completely obliterated by my hour of dealing with a flat tire and waiting for a ride!!

Saturday - got home at 1:15 am from prom - day was wasted. I was exhausted.

Sunday - went out to Stillwater to do the 63 mile course. I was so tired still from Friday night and getting up earlier than I was prepared to this morning that I fell asleep on the ride from Joe's Mom and Dad's house to the high school. Got to the high school and felt ready to go. It was a little chilly (55 degrees and windy). Got started and wanted to just be - not try to hard - prepare for the IM course and not pushing at the beginning. Got out there and had some hip and groin problems but I wasn't too worried. Got to eat my PB&J uncrustables at an hour and a half and was excited. Struggling but ok. Upper back was sore and my "undercarriage" was suffering from the bike seat (I really can't figure out how to stop both of those things from being annoyingly sore while I am riding). Got to the place where the 63 mile course was supposed to turn and rode passed it. Turned around and found my way back to the right place. Kept riding and then got to the end of a road without an arrow and didn't know which way to go - I picked the wrong way, of course. As I am riding on this unknown road, I hear a dog barking. This little white haired dog starts running down toward the road. My first though is "There must be an invisible fence." My next though was "It won't cross the road." My next thought while I am yelling at the dog is " Oh s%$t, what do I do - keep riding faster or stop." As I am telling the dog to stop it is nipping at my ankle and barking. At no point was the owner visible or yelling for their dog that is attacking me. I was convinced I was going to be bitten by that stupid dog. I am already afraid of dogs and when they come at me while on my bike, I get even more afraid. I pushed it into another gear with the help of some adrenaline and got up to 24 mph while on a slight uphill telling the dog to stop and go away. That was a fast little sucker though - he/she followed me up to 19 mph. I was afraid of the dog running into my back wheel and me falling too. It was not nice. After the dog was gone, I realized I really was not on the correct course, had no idea which road I was on, and knew I wasn't going back the way I had come as to avoid another introduction to the dog. I called Joe to see where I went wrong but he hadn't taken the same course and couldn't help me. I continued down the road and found a road that looked familiar but I didn't know which way I should be going - of course, I picked the wrong direction. At least it was on the 50 mile bike course so I just turned around and followed the arrows. At this point, my legs were tired, my upper back hurt, and the wind was just not fun. 20 miles left to go. Kept on truckin' though. It was a slow battle with the wind. It was not fun at all. Had another sandwhich which didn't effect me or my mood. I finally got back to the high school 60 miles later. Another workout that didn't feel good. Something really has to change before next weekends 100 mile ride.

GHI Workforce team challenge is on Thursday night. I am in-charge of our team at school with 27 people. It should be a good time as long as my lowerback pain and my groin/hipflexor muscle pain goes away by then.

I just don't understand why I could feel so good 3 weeks ago and then now feel like such crap!!! Maybe this is how training goes but I don't know. People keep asking how training is going, am I going to be ready but I don't know. I won't know until race day since I haven't done this before. I am a little frustrated now though. Hopefully, all will get better this week!!