Fleche, Trentino, Wednesday and Tuesday Recap

Fleche was a great race today. Pretty decent action leading up to the Mur de Huy, where Evans drug the rest up and... (wait for it, Scott...) ran out of steam as Rebellin jumped away to take the win ahead of A. Schleck. My picks finished 3rd and 4th. Dale stopped in and Jim came up to watch the last 10k. Great way to start a hump-day! Looking forward to L-B-L on Sunday.

Giro de Trentino is also going on this week as a prep for the the big boy Giro. Astana did their usual thing by grabbing an early lead and it will be interesting to see what Kloden can do this week (with another weak team surrounding him). Also interesting to watch is the fitness of DiLuca and Basso. I have no picks for this event, but lean toward Kloden taking top spot.

Tuesday: Got off work early and headed out on the road bike for 2 1/2hrs solo. Weather was clear and warmer than lately, but still a bit brisk so I sported the arm warmers (it's got to get above 70* one of these days). Got home to see... that's right, Ian and Deb playing some basketball. I changed up quick and he and I took a new route and played some baseball in the backyard until Deb rang the dinner bell. This kid has a cannon (and accurate) of an arm! Deb made one of my favorite dishes (pasta with some spicy turkey) and everyone chowed down.

Jake hit another rehab session on the trainer as we watch 'Yes Man' (it was ok - I like Jim C.). Jake rode 45 min straight with an average hr of 140, which we were trying to simulate a mid-paced run. His butt was pretty sore from the night before, but he toughed it out (I have forgotten about 'sit-bone tenderness' for newbies - kinda funny).

Deb hit the gym for a workout and came home red-faced so it must have been a good one.

Wednesday: Got into the office early to knock out some stuff before Fleche started. Listened to the race while working until the last 40k and then started watching. Got out for a 1:45 mtb workout at lunch. It was a warm day and the sunburn on my shoulders are evidence of such. Deb got Jake to his PT session and I went a little early to pick him up to hear the progress report from Tom. Progress was the word, but just how much we will find out in the upcoming sessions where he starts to put some stress on his leg. Jake and I headed down to track practice where they engaged in some team building fun relays in place of regular practice (well deserved as the kids have been going hard for some time now). Jake headed off to Focus with Scuba (Jake's best bud), Deb hit her women's bible study so if was another evening of I&J time. We orded up some pizza and played a ton of baseball until it showed up. We scarfed it down and headed back out for some BP (batting practice). After I shagged all the balls I could take we headed to Wally World for some mulch. Got home and spread it to all the designated areas and then the stud and I were off to the disc golf course at SBU. It was our first trip of the year and we were rusty. Many laughs were had and we called it an evening and headed home. On the way Ian said one of those serious little lines that makes you just die laughing inside: "...you got any body wash, dad? I have regular soap and it just isn't making my skin feel silky smooth..." - direct quote from my 8yr old. Jake just walked in from church and we are heading to the trainer for a tough interval session simulating a ladder track workout.

Fitness: Skipped the strength workout yesterday (mowed the lawn instead), but got in a 2 1/2hr road ride. Still felt Sunday's efforts early, but by the end had flushed the heaviness and was feeling fresh. Rode at lunch today (Wednesday) for 1:45hrs and got 8 x 2:10min repeat climbs up a section of 15% dirt backroads; totally feel blitz (but great). Doing a strength workout tonight while Jake is on the trainer.

Pic of me on the Frisco trail enroute to hill repeats.