Training 2.0--The Next Chapter

My first Saturday back from France, and what'd I do...a bike race, of course!  The beautiful Blue Ridge Valley town of Shenandoah, VA (http://www.townofshenandoah.com/) settled along the Shenandoah River hosted the annual Shenandoah Time Trial a 35 kilometer out&back race into the foothills of the nearby Blue Ridge mountains--what a beautiful area for cycling! 

Stevens Cottage, our Race Headquarters for the day

I've done this race before, but this time it was made better by having cycling teammates Rod (Tank) & Sue (Sprint) Gregory joining me to help out with the bike gear & the driving--what awesome teammates to have there not only to help me with the warm-up but to see me off at the start line and to be there when I crossed at the finish.  Though I missed my target time goal, this event was a good one as a follow-on to last week's Thomson Trip--motivating, challenging, and "teaching"...

And what was I "taught" today...?  That I really like riding bikes...that no matter how much I think I'm ready for something, sometimes I'm not (see Rule #51, Sometimes You're Wrong)...that the conclusion of one finish line is the starting line for the next training session...that good friends are dear treasures...that apple donuts, while very tasty, are dangerously addictive...that I really like riding bikes. :-)

This week marks the 2nd half of 2014 cycling season and the launch of Training 2.0 where everything changes--workout sessions, food choices, sleep, everything---the Next Chapter begins now...