It's almost here!!!!!

It's Thursday night.

Less than 31 hours till check-in.
Less than 32 hours until my heart races and the adrenaline pumps and a cascade of near a thousand shoes clip into pedals and the gentle crunch of wheels grinding sand into the pavement as we roll out. The chaos of the check-in melts and the chatter of riders yields to the chatter of shifting gears while riders find their position... slowly, we're off. I can picture the first long curve as we head out of the lot. It comes around to the left. I'll be out on the inside waiting for the pack to stretch and thin out till the break where I find my rhythm. Fast enough to get the stretch going and the blood circulating and the breath remembering how to go deep for efficiency.

I'll adjust my rhythm to control the adrenaline rush that will want me to race like a thoroughbred but would spend me just as quickly. No, we're in for the long haul on this one. Sure and steady and strong throughout, that's the way to go. My breath will be even and smooth and from the saddle, vocal training will afford me an advantage here. Later I'll sprint, much later, when everyone else is spent and my power just begins to surface.

I go over all this in my mind. If I set the stage, I can control the action and I can master this ride.
I have my time goals, my hill strategy and my rest stop critera. I'll skip the first rest for sure, so don't look for me there, I won't need anything yet. I am armed with the voices of many supporters and I'll pull those words out as I need them in the challenges. I'll let them whisper to me in the wind past my ear. I'll do fine, I'll do fabulously, I'll have the time of my life.

You'll be with me.
Call me if you can. If I can't answer, leave voicemail that I can get when I need your encouragement most.
Check out the route(link on the right) cheer as we pass. Ride along for a while if you can, but if you do, be very careful and WEAR YOUR HELMET!!!! Sponsor me if you can for as much or as little as you can, it all counts and it's all good.

I had my jitters on Monday and Tuesday when it was raining and I couldn't ride and the energy just had to get out, but I am okay today. I'm nearly packed, I have my supplements ready and I'm confident in my choice of fuel. I am really looking forward to this. I've waited a year, trained nearly four months and met every goal I set for myself so far. I'm prepared.

I'll keep you in mind and try to remember the best parts to share with you, and I'll write you when I can.

Namaste,

Sandie