1,2,3 strikes your out?

so i had heard about flats.  i had even seen some on the side of the road.  the defeated look on the bikers face of annoyance mixed with just enough persistence to finish the day's scheduled ride.  or race.

we set out early at 7 am.  it was going to be a hot one.  sunny and close to 100.  unlike my east coast friends battling irene, makes me wonder how i'd train in philadelphia for these things?

 the first one was on the way up, the second was in between and the third was downhill.  i was frustrated by the third one and my east coast lady like personality was alive and in living color.  i really was more mad because flying down that hill is my favorite part of the entire ride and halfway down the third flat on a 45 mile ride reared its ugly head.  lucky for me i have a very patient riding partner who not only holds me accountable for these rides but changes my flats, gives me dating advice, provides me with post ride refreshments when i run out of water and listens to me talk pretty much the entire ride!  for those that know me yes,  he is being nominated for saint hood. either way, it was a good lesson in always riding with a group or with a partner.  just another rule i usually don't follow.

today, sans weekend of a long hill run and 45 mile La Tuna Canyon ride, even with flats i took it easy at the gym.    so i did sprint work via treadmill.  i got up to 11.0 for the first time ever and when i hopped off a guy asked me if i ran track and field, when i replied no, he said you should.   flattered, i was indeed.  more because he thought i was young enough to run track and field still!   and no i did not get his number, he was an old man (hence the track and field reference)  but i'll take it regardless.