Day seven 118km

First I have to talk about last night. We drove for hours and finally crossed the Texas border around 7pm. After getting out for the obligatory group photo we took a look at the glass like pavement and decided that we had to be on our bikes. With the Texas sun setting in the background we hit the road for a fast 20km. This is what makes this team great.

When we FINALLY reached a hotel our volunteer Mike and I were starving. Seriously i was debating the nutritional value of my fleece blanket. With no options left for food we hit the first (and only) McDonald's of the trip. Since the restaurant was closed and the bike wouldn't fit under the drive thru we had no choice but to walk thru. With the Sheriff car ahead of us we got some very strange looks and grabbed out Grilled McChicken and headed to the van for some high quality dining.

We had another rush transition (mostly due to some bad information about where team two was, partly due to our impromptu golf game) I later found out that it was the fastest transition that the ambulance driver had seen yet! Ann and I transitioned in our Halloween finest (Witchy underwear over top bike shorts watch for it on the runways of Paris this fall) it meant a lot of photos at transition.

We kicked off and enjoyed some speed on seriously sweet pavement. Unfortunately that was short lived. The team seemed to all be in our heads for the first time nobody was talking and I remember thinking that something was going to happen if we didn't shake off some comments on our riding made by a concerned volunteer. Under 20km in we had our first accident. Fortunately everyone was ok and the team carried on without incident. Despite not being anywhere close to the crash I found myself really shook up. For the first time I realized just what it was we were doing. Sure we were having fun but this was dangerous and things can happen in the blink of an eye. Fortunately for everyone I was up front as I lack the cat like reaction skills of Uncle Bill.

About half way through the pace or the heat or the shock of the day started to take it's toll on me. I was bonking, again. With a bad dinner (see above) no sleep thanks to a gross bug the size of Texas in our room, 30+ heat and a 35-40km/h pace I was hitting hard. I learned a lot about myself and my body this trip. I need food. and lots of it! I didn't realize just how much fuel I needed to sustain the pace. Despite the suggestion that i stay in the RV I knew I needed to carry on. I wasn't ready to call it yet. The team pulled me into the pocket and we kept up our pace of 32km/h. The team worked phenomenally again and I couldn't have asked for a more helpful or caring team. A bottle of Coke, a pack of Sharkies and lots of love from the volunteers and I carried on. We hit our mark and it to 118km in time.

I've never experienced digging that deep before. Feeling your body slowly shut down is a terrible feeling, but being able to pull up and clench through it was very cool. I didn't want to give up and quit and I've surprised myself with strength I didn't know I had.

I can't wait to get to Bee Cave and see everyone, hear about all of their adventures. To get to Austin and finally get to see the warriors and start the real part of the trip. I can't wait!