NASCAR starts up again tomorrow

Tomorrow is qualifying for the race at Indy. It seems to have been a long off period. It will be nice to get the guys trading paint again. Maybe some of the tempers will have calmed down!

I'm still doing my own race - a race against myself as I prepare for my first metric century. Of course, I will be aiming for a real century ride once I can get this one under my belt. I'm encouraged, though tonight I kind of hit a wall.

I didn't push myself. I concentrated on keeping my heart rate under control (I dropped the average by more than 15 bpm while still averaging over 15 mph). Even on the climbs, I didn't come close to my max heart rate. The 20 mile ride didn't seem to take that much out of my heart and lungs. However, the legs were kind of tired after riding last night farther than I had ever ridden on this bike. Tomorrow morning I ride with the Sunshine group. The thing that scares me is that I might not be recovered enough to hang with them...

I had a good amount of climbing since my ride ended up at my friend's house. He lives on Paris Mountain. It was so nice to get there and jump in the pool. The beautiful red head was there with the kids and we had a lot of fun playing with them in the water.

Right now I have to cram in some sleep. The morning ride will be here before I know it.

Today's Training Line:

Distance: 20.94 miles / Average Speed: 15.3 mph / Time: 1:22:17
Average Heart Rate: 151 bpm / Level 5: 0:13:12* / Work: 1507**

* Level 5 is the time heart beats between 163 and 182 bpm
** Comparative number to measure exertion during different sessions
Data collected by Sports Instruments ECG Pro 7 heart rate monitor and Cat Eye Astrale 8 cyclocomputer