WIBA Review

Many others will write better reports than I, but I had a great time training with everyone. Thanks to all who came and made the weekend a pleasure.

Friday kicked off with a CycleOps PowerTap Clinic that kicked me in the pants. Who knew that we'd establish our power threshold and then test it for several intervals? Oops. Looks like my ego got the best of me. I sweated through my shirt in the first ten minutes creating issues of reading my display. The clinic was fun, and Angie was a great instructor. Then it was off to Lake Monona for a quick dip. The weather was warm and I was still hot from the clinic, so I opted to go without a wetsuit. (Special thanks to Jennifer for loaning me a pair of goggles!) I stuck with Mike and we swam about a mile total in what was for me a leisurely pace. It was fun to be out in the lake again.

After the swim some went out for a run. I didn't. I went home and gathered everything for the dinner: Hammer Nutrition supplied five boxes worth of nutrition. Multiple tubs of Heed, Endurolytes, Perpetuem, and Recoverite for support throughout the weekend, along with 50 gels, coin purses (for the Endurolytes), bags and catalogs to hand out to everyone.

I headed to Tutto Pasta Cucina Italiana (on King St.) for the Welcome! dinner. We filled our initial reservation of 20 really quickly. People just kept on showing up. We eventually topped out around 60. I enjoyed talking with Bob, Erin, and Eric and his Bloomington crew. The staff were more than accommodating and did a great job taking care of everyone. I heard no complaints. I got to bed around 11 that night, slightly nervous about the big Saturday.

Saturday dawned HOT. Forecasts of 90° with humidity and high winds. Eerily similar to condtions when I did the Ironman in 2005. (Note: 2005 is now referred to as "the hot year." The 2006 version, when temps were in the 60s and rainy is referred to as "the cold year.") I felt like it was race morning, but it wasn't. Very odd.

I got to the lake and there were two large groups that went swimming for about an hour. We competed for space with the Madison Ski Team. We explained our presence and agreed to accommodate each other. Though there was some close calls, everyone made it to shore safe.

Most of the group, approximately 70 riders took off from the Monona Terrace set either for a 72 mile single loop course, or the whole 112 mile two-loop course.

I was set to lead the third group on the two-lap only route of the course, starting in Verona. Scott from BMC bikes drove the team car to Madison to help with the bike portion of the day. I passed over all the Hammer Nutrition to him and lead him out to Verona. Once out at Fireman's Park, I met up with Raina, Sarah and Bob. Peter was eager to meet up with a group so he tagged along with us. The five of us set out into heat, wind and hills of the driftless southwest of Wisconsin.

We all held a good pace, enjoying the scenery. I haven't been out on the course in a long time and I forgot how striking the views are. We did our best to stay hydrated, stopping at all the Kwik Trips to refuel. The gas station/convenience stores were abuzz with regular customers and us cyclists out on the course. Gallons of water were shared amongst the groups, and Gatorade was flying out of the fridges. By rule the checkout attendants ask all customers if they've purchased fuel. Many riders simply stared blankly in return, with their sunglasses tucked upside down in their bike helmets, sweat dripping from their eyebrows, as they hand damp bills to pay the goods. I chuckled and offered "You're lookin' at it."

At the end of the first loop, we met up with Scott and his squirt gun. The heat got to Sarah. Her arm was on the mend from an earlier bike crash and she wisely didn't want to push it. Bob decided to join her on a run. Raina took off for her next loop and I waited to see others as they stopped. Peter arrived from getting his spokes checked at the shop and we went out for a second loop.

Now in the early afternoon hours, the sun cooked down and the wind blew, but I felt good. Today I tried the Enduralytes for the first time and found myself extra perky at the start of the second loop. Sure, part of the ride was with the wind, but I didn't feel sluggish during the parts that weren't. I even had to pee between pit stops. A good sign on a dehydrating day. Although it might have been a mistake, we skipped the second rest stop in Cross Plains. However, the good people at the top of Timber Road hill put a simple sign saying "WATER" with an arrow pointing into their front yard. There, a hose was resting simply on a stake. In my mind, it looked like an oasis that you see in movies where the guy is struggling through the desert heat only to be tricked into seeing palm trees and lush greenery. Only this was real! Quite possible the most refreshing, coldest water my lips have ever touched. I whispered thanks to the owners and promised to send a thank you card.

Peter and I worked our way back to Verona, cooled down and saw some more WIBA folks finish. I waited for IronWil and finally made contact when she was in Cross Plains. While still fresh and most likely able to continue, time was of the essence and I went to pick her up. After some lively conversation, I dropped her off and made it to my house at 6:38. I was showered, dressed and back in my car on the way to the Great Dane at 6:46. Fastest transition I've ever done.

The Great Dane accommodated an extra ten people and dinner went smoothly. You could hear great conversations between new friends and stories shared between old ones. By the time all the schwag was handed out, it was 10:30 before I got home. I fell into bed with two fans blowing cold, conditioned air on my body.

Sunday started just as hot. People limbered in slowly to the run start. I gave a brief review of the transition process and about 30 of us headed out to run the course. Simply Stu lead us around on his bike while I provided commentary and factoids about the buildings as we ran through campus. We reached the 6-mile point on State Street and rested. I intended on stopping there, but I decided to continue to complete the mega training weekend. There were five of us that finished the entire course (with some adjustments to stop for water). It was a nice two-hour run. I was soaked with sweat, but still beaming from the strength that remained in my legs.

I showered and changed to head out to Endurance House for the foot strike analysis and bike clinic. Jamie had opened up the store for just us on Sunday morning and was awesome at helping lots of people sort through shoes fit issues. He said my feet don't pronate as much as I thought. I might be able to try out some race shoes, rather than run in the tanks that I normally wear. I promised Jamie I'd be back to discuss some it further. Scott gave a quick run down on bike packing and cleaning tips and then everyone started to make their way home.

Thanks for a successful weekend. Everyone was energized, friendly and accommodating to our on-the-fly adjustments. Thanks to IronWil for her planning and ideas, Simply Stu for his energy and support, Scott and BMC for support in Fireman's Park in the hot sun, Hammer Nutrition for the products, Tricia and Snickers MarathoN (my new favorite), Mike Ricci and D3 Multisport, Bob, Sarah, and Raina for making my bike ride more enjoyable, TaconiteBoy, Jeff, Dave and Amy for listening to my babbling on the run, and everyone else that attended.

I've already started mulling over ideas for next year. If you've got some suggestions or recommendations, please send us a note: wibainfo (SHIFT+2) gmail (DOT) com