Tough (but good) weekend

Finally a spring like weekend. Sunny 50s. Was supposed to be end of rest week, so just easy of off planned. But upcoming week is a total wash so figured I'd hit it hard then start over after next week.

Trail Maint. Sat at 10. Torn between going riding or giving some back. Hardly ever have chance to ride outside for real esp. with nice weather, but decided to do my share and helped out. Glad I did. Always nice to help a little. But oh my traps are sore from raking and picking.

Was able to get out for 1hr mtn bike ride, up my nemisis singletrack climb. It's the only trail I ever time. Lived here for 10+years and I've never felt like I've conquered it. Each time it wins. But I am getting closer. Two strikes against me on that ride
1) coming off extended rest. Legs sluggish
2) very little time on MTB, so technical climbing skills, timing, all the other little off road nuances you need for your A game are not there yet

Result. I was raging it. Even went too hard on the lower section. Didn't fully clean it dabbed plenty, but the final time. Only 10 secs off my Record pace. And I'm not even into my inseason training yet. I was SOOOO stoked. A few more weeks and some time on the mtb and I am hoping to shave 30sec to a minute. Even going down, I felt halfway confident and fast. It was good for overall confidence, esp. after training so much in a vacuum on the trainer.

Sunday, busy with church. Got out with friend John on the road bikes. He is on the Morris plan too, but several months behind me. I convinced him to do the H5. Blacksburg is blessed with many climbs in and around the town limits. Not super long between 5-15mins. But some pretty steep pitches. This route includes 4points + two 1/2 point climbs to total 5....The H5...the Hilly 5. At any point in the ride you are less than 5 miles from home, but it takes 2hrs+ to complete.

And I was raging. Felt awesome. Until the end. Been messing around with position after my fit. Still waiting on some parts to complete it, but what I changed so far seemed to help. Only made it to H4 before ran out of time. Wife wanted to get a ride in. But I was cooked by then anyway. The 4th climb has some pitches that are Cat0 level, and had to high tail it home in a headwind. Man it was hard. Rolled into the driveway with that whipped feeling that we so crave.

But, being a family man, sometimes the hardest part isn't the brutal ride, but the aftermath. You just can't vege, you gotta be ready to be Daddy and husband still. No pity here from wife or kids. Wife was really tired from lack of sleep and I am wasted from ride. Kids are like packs of wild dogs, they sense weakness and they get cross wired and feed on. Breaking down all day, 5pm wishing it was time for bed.

On top of it all, I knew I had to go to work after they got to bed to get stuff ready for some out of town visitors. Putting to sleep the 4 year old is an excercise in patience. He is obsessive neurotic, and has to have a certain toy before bedtime. This would be fine if it was always the same toy because then I would buy a case of them and stash it for when we lose it. But it's like Russian Roulette. You never know which toy it is that he wants this night. And if you can't find it....Look out....You get torn between putting your foot down and just making him suck it up and deal with it (which means locking the door and he crys himself to sleep), or you tear the house apart looking for it just to shut him up and move in with the night.

Last night it was this Bionicle. But not JUST the Bionicle. The Bionicle and his GREEN mask. NOT the blue mask, not the brown mask but the GREEN mask. Are you with me.. The GREEN mask and only the green mask.

Of course, being the super dad I am, we found it and all was good.

Sore all over this morning. Tired. whipped..... And feeling like a million bucks.