Monday, March 10, 2008

THIS IS A TEST!

Pam and I took Todd's Honda Element, a.k.a. The Elephant, and headed up to the Space Coast for the first official Time Trial AND Team Time Trial of the year. Todd had to work this particular Saturday, which never happens, so he wasn't able to join the Girls for a little TT fun but we assured him we could handle it on our own.

TEST #1: I left the house at 5am in The Elephant to go pick up Pam for the day and noticed my cell phone battery was drained. I must have forgotten to charge it but that's ok, Pam will have her phone, right? RIGHT buuuuut I was a little surprised when I arrived to pick her up to her telling me that Todd had been trying to call me...to tell me that I had accidentally packed HIS cycling shoes, not mine! Oops...so we loaded her bike and bags and drove back to my house to swap the shoes...oh and grab my cell phone charger. (Yeah, I've done this before!)

TEST #2: Did you bring the directions? Yeah, uh no, they're on my desk at home! Grab those when you get your shoes...

TEST #3: We did actually arrive, about 30 minutes later than projected, but without any wrong turns. The directions were good, at least! So a quick pick up of race numbers, stop off at the port-o-potty and it's time to get ready to race. We decided to pump up the race wheels and discs since, of all things, that would be our biggest challenge of the day. We did it...not easily and not without a little stress, but we did it!

Then, presto- chango girls in skin suits head out to warm up. And I'm ready and Pam's ready...the 2 of us are doing the individual 20k time trial...It's time for the final step...

TEST #4: ...change the wheels...thank goodness Pam had taught me well years ago so this one was no problem! I did it and we were ready to go.

As we roll up to the line to start the TT our record against the tasks of the day to get us here to the starting line is 2-2...speaking for myself, I can say all of that was forgotten and I looked forward to around twently-eight minutes of suffering, better knows as the Time Trial, my favorite event in cycling. Weird, but true. Pam starts right after me. The wind was strong, which is normal in Florida, but I felt good and as I crossed the line, I was happy. Pam crossed shortly after me and, based on her full-time Mommy job and 20 miles per week of training, I'd say she too had a stellar ride. Next up: Team Time Trial...and we're the only girl team!

More than anything, though, for me, it was a fabulous day with my best friend and that's what I remember more about this day. As far as I'm concerned, we got a 100%...100% of FUN that is!

2 comments:

Carmen said...

I guess I can say I didn't bring Brandon's cycling shoes...forgot almost everything else though.

Kristin Sanders said...

that's hillarious...you know you hid it well, i had no idea until meredith told me in the hotel after carmen dropped us off. just look at it this way, you got your frazzeled weekend out of the way and for the rest of the year it will be someone else in those shoes!