A loonnngggg weekend...

This weekend just about ran me into the ground but luckily I'm still here ready to tackle another week full of training. On Saturday, as part of the GNAC picnic, we rode from Edwin Warner Park straight out to Puckett's, Fly, the Trace, and all the way back for a total of 85 miles. It was windy on the way out which made for a tough ride but we stopped a couple times which broke up the misery a bit. We stopped at Puckett's In Leipers Fork which is always a favorite pit stop...

Then we headed to my favorite little town of Fly, TN. We didn't stop long in Fly but after riding a couple miles on the Trace we stopped again in Fly where we met some of the locals...

...we admired some of the treasures buried in the back room of the general store...

...and we took a potty break in the "bring a friend with you" bathroom...

Never a dull moment in Fly! I think the men in the back were pretty amused by us...probably not as much as we were amused by them but oh well. The ride back was fantastic. We stopped at Puckett's again and they had the BBQ fired up and people were out eating ice cream and a lunch buffet inside. After eating energy bars, Hammer Gel, and Gatorade for 5 hours I would have donated a kidney for just a bite of what those people were eating. We left pretty quick because I couldn't stand it. Luckily we had an awesome tailwind on the way back and we pushed 20+ miles per hour the entire time. When we got back for the picnic Bert, Rolf, and Nick had waited for us (thanks guys!) and we knocked out a quick 20 minute run. We then got to pick over the leftovers from the picnic that had ended hours before...congealed pizza from hours before tasted amazingly good!

Saturday was long but I had never ridden my bike that far before so that was a big milestone. I also got up to 39 MPH on the Trace which was pretty awesome...and a little frightening. Over all we had a great ride and everyone made it back safe and sound.

On Sunday I woke up and felt like I had been run over by a steamroller. No time for complaining though because I had to run 8 miles and bike for an hour and a half...ugh. Rolf, Lisa, Julie, and I ran from Percy Warner Park towards Radnor Lake. We turned at 4 miles and headed back to the cars. The run was pretty tough in the beginning but I settled in at the end and averaged about a 9:30 mile which is pretty good considering what I had done the day before. I followed the run up with a very easy ride around Belle Meade Blvd and the neighborhoods. I took "easy" to whole other level and only averaged about 12 MPH.

Sunday night we met at Rolf's house for an awesome dinner and a planning session for the logistics of getting to Lake Placid. All the plans are coming together and it will be here sooner than I can imagine....I think this weekend moved me closer to feeling that I'll be ready though...bring it on!