Crashes?

I don't need no stinkin' crashes!!!
(ok, so, points if you can name the movie)

This weekend I had a great bit of actual training going on. Saturday I hit Arrowhead for a lap. It was slow and steady due to the CRAZY heat. While Beth went back out for a second lap, I tied up the tennys and jogged the trail. My legs felt like bricks! The heat was really taking it out of me. I figured though, better get used to it. It's summer in Georgia, and this heat ain't goin anywhere! After the short jog (ended up being like 40 minutes of jogging/walking/panting) I shored up my courage and jumped in the lake. Those of you who know what the water looks like on the Arrowhead side of Lake Tobo know what I mean. It was COLD and it felt great! I splashed around a bit and cooled off considerably.

Sunday I headed back out to Lake Tobo, this time the Claystone side, for a little swim. The water was cold at first, but felt great. I swam back and forth in the designated swimming area, dodging kids with swimmies and babies in diapers (um ... ew!). The asthma was a little harsh and I had a difficult time breathing, but hey, I'm used to that by now so I swam on.

Afterward I met my "escorts" Jake and Grant for a pre-ride of the Memorial Day Tri road course. I call them my escorts because they were both sporting their Max Cycling Team jerseys. I was wearing a plain red one. At one point they were riding two abreast in front of me, almost like they were my armed guard. It was a hoot. We didn't know which way the loop was being run, so we just picked a direction and went. Come to find out, we rode it backward, but from observation, I think it will be easier the race direction. At least I got a taste for it and a nice spin in! Sunday night brought some ab work -- gotta love those crunches -- that left my belly sore come monday! nice!

So after a successful weekend of riding and playing in the sunshine, I followed my race week plan and set out on one more hard ride for the week. I headed back to Arrowhead last night planning to ride 2 medium-paced laps. Well ... I was going along at a nice pace on the first lap and took the turn into the new section of the trail. I saw that double-dip thing coming and told myself I'd finally balls-up and ride it. So I head for it and all the sudden I realize I'M GOING TOO FAST!! so I grab and handful of brake ... a little too late ... and endo'd into the first dip. I sat on the ground for a while moaning and cursing, as I couldn't get my left foot unclipped during the fall and my bike came down on my back and rolled to the left, twisting my ankle as it went. I managed to get up and hop back to the double track, and one-foot pedaled my way back to the car.

This sucks. I crash exactly one week before the tri. My ankle hurts to walk on, and my knee on the other leg ain't feeling so hot either. It hasn't swolen, so maybe i just pulled some ligaments funny. Hopefully I can go for a nice walk tomorrow and see how it holds up. It had BETTER get BETTER before monday, cause I'm gonna finish that damn tri even if I come in dead last and limping!!!

Arrrgghhh!
p.s. yes, the bike is just fine.