Everest Challenge - I

Much like I attempted to do with Gila, I've decided to record race prep, details, and nutrition strategies for the upcoming Everest Challenge.  Fantastic.

Coach D and I have decided that, since my end of season blow-up happened 3 weeks ago, I'd use this race as a big base mile block.  What does that mean:  according to him, I should only go at 70%.  Right.  That's very hard to do when the skinny-minies (aka:  Ruth Clemence of Simple Green) take off like they are filled with helium at mile 1 of 200 and something.  Oh well, I will do my best to keep steady efforts.  This will be made easier because I just put on a compact crank.  Last year I raced with a 50-34 and 12-26, but this year.....ah a 50-34 and a 12-29.  Yes, 34-29, how wicked will that be for getting the Orignal over the 20%ers?

I just checked the temp for Bishop.  It's supposed to be mid 30s (celcius -- I think I just learned a trick to convert that, but I can't remember it right now -- something with fractions maybe?).  This will suck.  I think I'd have preferred another snow storm like last year.  What does that really amount to?  Much more electrolyte in my H2O.  Normally I only drink water or Emergency; however, given the temps I'm going to use Cliff Shot and MotoTabs (I've been testing those for a week and they seem ok).  I will also have a follow car this year, so I should be able to eat stuff I want to instead of the "i'm going to imagine it's vegan but it probably wasn't" fuel fed to us by aid stations last year.    TCTMJ caught pneumonia at Leadville and had been sitting on his scrawny butt for the past 6 weeks.    Since he won't be racing, he's offered to be my soingeur extraordinaire.  Supèr Fantastique.  This will make my fueling like much easier, especially since I tend to do much worse in the heat.  However, he will always be behind me telling me to stuff more food into me.  Blah.

Rides this week are very easy.  Apparently coach D has started reading this blog and noticed that I may have a slight tendency to overtrain occaisionally.  Shit.  Spin spin spin all week.  Blah.  Ultimately this will probably be a good thing, especially as I was sick over the weekend.  Since it was my BIRTHDAY weekend, I just took lots of magic powders and hid the effects.  

Look for another update after I get to Bishop on Friday.

Now I must re-glue my tubulars.  Yay!!