Pain, nutritional errors, lack of bike fit adds up to poor mental attitude

Bad idea number 1...... On Saturday, I was scheduled to do 5.5 hours on the bike. I was excited to be back on my TT bike after not being able to ride it for 2 weeks. Unfortunately, those two weeks had rides of 4.5 and 5 hours and I did those on my road bike and I had not done more than 3.5 hours on my TT bike prior to Saturday.

Bad idea number 2..... Friday night, I mixed my bottles with the usual maltodextrin with Crystal Lite for flavour. I got a bright idea, since I needed to have some electrolytes, to put a scoop of Hammer Nutrition's Heed. Well, looking back on it, VERY bad idea. First off, the bottles tasted so sweet, I didnt want to drink it. Secondly, and I should know this already, there was not enough of the desired electrolytes to make a difference. I think I drank one bottle in 3 hours, about 600 calories then I replaced it with water I bought. I had also taken some watered down Hammer gel in a flask. All told, I had two bottles of fuel, one flask of gel, and one large water, one Cliff Bar and most importantly, no salt. Guess what Im doing today?

Bad idea number 3......... So, around 11am, I put my bike in the truck, drove down the hill to the gym and got geared up to ride. I have two kinds of Chamois Butt'R, the original one and one called "European". That means there is some cooling agent or something like that in it, kind of like Assos cream. I brought the original one and should have brought the other as it seems to last a lot longer.

I felt pretty good when I started out. I got aero a few times but for the first 25 minutes, I have to go through traffic, lights, stop signs, etc so it was pretty much sitting upright for the first 10 miles. I got down to Marine Drive, got up to speed and went in the aero bars. I stayed that way for about 6 miles. I still felt pretty good. I got to the first of my 40 minute climbs around 17 miles. Its not a terrible climb, just long. I guess there were a few parts that were more than 6% but probably averaged 5%.

I got passed by a skinny kid from Rubicon/Orbea, he obviously didnt recognize me (Im their team doctor) but I was too beat to even call out to him. I crested the hill almost right at 40 minutes then began the descent towards Multanomah Falls. It was a windy, fast descent, lots of fun. I was starting to get sore in the shoulders and neck and was contemplating just going back on the flats instead of climbing back up to get my second 40 minute climb. Well, I have at least two 40 minute climbs coming up at IMC so I figured I would just get it done. In general, I hate climbing, Im too damn big. My 230lb body, grinding up a 10km hill at 5-7% doesnt sound like fun but I have to do it to finish my second Ironman. I turned around and headed back up the windy hill. This one hurt much worse. I got to the top, absolutely knackered and was beginning to feel the time I had spent in the saddle in obvious places, and the time in the aero bars in my shoulders, neck , and lower back. I was having trouble getting aero down the hill and then on the flats, I had nothing.

I got back onto Marine Drive and started to ride around the Troutdale Airport. My phone started buzzing in my back pocket. I first contemplated letting it keep vibrating since it kind of felt good on my LB but I picked it up. Apparently I had just passed my friend Frannie. I needed a break so I turned around and had a 15 minute break while we talked. I took some of her water and some salted nuts. That was mistake number 4. Within 10 minutes after getting back on the road, I felt kind of sick. So, on top of all the pain in my back, neck, and ass, now my gut was not being cooperative.

I rode the rest of the way to the 205 bridge then to Home Depot and grabbed a couple of waters. I wasnt finished my time on the bike but mentally, I needed to go home and forget this horrible experience. I dumped the remaining malto/Heed mixture and filled my bottles with water. I had some gel, drank some water, and painfully, began the journey back to the gym.

Normally, I can ride the 205 bridge at 11-12mph but didnt manage more than 9 the entire distance. Every time I stood up to pedal, my inner thigh would cramp. I geared down and tried to spin faster. It helped a little. Every bump in the path was amazingly painful. I had my phone, I was going to call home and get picked up at the top of the bridge but I didnt. I persevered and made it back to the truck.

I was supposed to do a 40 minute run afterwards but running didnt appeal to me at all. Walking was all I could muster.

I guess this is what training is for. I took pics of the bike afterwards and was going to put it on Craigslist or Ebay but i thnk I might try and have a good fit done before I do that. This late in the season and this close to IMC, there isnt much left in my size. I need to work with a team that rides Cervelo or Devinci, I like those...........