HAIL?! (training update)

Did a 45-miler today out in Petaluma. Cold, raining, headwinds and episodes of HAIL! You kind of tuck your head down so the pellets won't sting your face as much, but then it goes through the vents in your helmet and pelts your bald head. At one point the road ahead looked like a sheet of white, it was coming down so hard, bouncing off the road like little white BBs. I was like, 'what the ?' I had to pull off the road and huddle underneath a big tree, it was the only shelter I could find, country backroads and all. 'This is crazy!'

It does make you ride faster, you and the rest of the team just want to get back to your car and into some warm, dry clothes. All my 'waterproof' gear was soaked, head, hands and feet numb, breath raggedly breathing out cold mist, legs flat and fatigued coming off a 6-mile run the night before. You have to make sure you're eating and drinking enough to keep your energy up. You burn a lot of calories trying to stay warm and grinding through the wind. Three and half hours later I finally pulled into the parking lot and let out a seemingly primal, expletive-ridden diatribe. That felt good.

On one hand, probably the most miserable bike ride I've ever done. You either laugh or cry. On the other hand, it's good to train in difficult, adverse conditions. It makes you physically and mentally stronger, more resilient, tough. You look back at days like this with a sense of accomplishment. It's money in the bank for race day. A little sunshine would have been nice though :)