BC Bike Race day 3

We're waking up a little earlier this morning for a 1 hour earlier start. I had my last antibiotic last night and I feel like (know) it impeded my absorbtion of food. Also had a really hard time jamming at least a small amount of breakfast in me. So started with an emptier tank, crawled through first half of day up nice singletrack and a downhill shady gravel road descent. Rode at a moderate pace most of the day whilst feeling hollow, and had fun in the 15k of singletrack at the end of the day, which was awesome beyond belief.

Cold sore coming through, a firm sign that I'm tired enough that my immune system is hooped.

BC Bike Race day 2

Hot, dusty day, mostly on gravel road since they couldn't get access to some land. Felt strong for the first while, then Jon led out some bridge-ups to groups ahead of us that burned me out. Managed to eat and drink somewhat sufficiently for the heat, but it's hard when I haven't had much heat this year. I felt like a goose being prepped for foie gras stuffing food in me, man it's hard to choke it down when working/in the heat. It's funny this qualifies as vacation. Talked to Tom Ebbern on the massage tables for a while - it does qualify because there's not a single way to think about work here. Felt human after the race, and through the evening, which I'm taking as a good sign.

Food has been fantastic so far. Organization seems very good. Massage tent and team are phenomenal.

Deadgoats all doing well, seeing lots of friends from other races here too. It's one big family really.

BC Bike Race day 1

Here's the brief version:
- phenomenal course with copious amounts of delightful singletrack
- it's hot, supposedly hotter tomorrow
- deadgoat's, exclusive of Erik, doing great
- my antibiotic is unpleasant thus far, the notes I got with it say it it makes me sensitive to the sun and may cause digestive issues. Since it's hot and I need fuel, this is tough.
- Jon is great, and riding strong. He may not be aware that behind my glasses for 4 hours I was choking back tears. Need those salts inside me instead I guess.
- most of today was a softpedal on my part, there's no juice inside. I'm hot, med tent checked my temp. I hope I survive.
- The song in my head all day was Creep by Stone Temple Pilots, with the chorus "I'm half the man I used to be".
- lying down on the concrete floor of the hockey rink felt good, we'll see what tomorrow brings.

BC Bike Race day zero

We had a few hurdles getting out here, but we're all ready to go. My food left at the airport found us, Jon's bike is now working, we've got all our gear.

I have a sneaking suspicion this is going to be fun.

I also think they under sell this race on the web site and marketing materials... I didn't see anywhere mentioned that like 25% of the field is 25-40 year old mountain biking chicks. It seems there's more girls riding here than I've seen mountain biking collectively in the last 5 years.

La Ruta news

My sources tell me this is the last year of "hard" La Ruta - a 4 day version again this year. Next year will be a 7 day stage race format.

Private Health Care

It hadn't dawned on me prior that I have access to private health care through a corporate relationship. Based on my experience today, it's a fantastic addition to the health care mix. Yes, there are those whose ideal is to wait two hours at a walk-in clinic with kids with runny noses and those who need stitches - and get service for "free". But there are also those who don't see free in that scenario, those who like the axiom that "time is money".

If you can sell a service for any price, where the alternative is endless waiting, investment bankers are target market number one. I called in at 4:45 saying the same plaugue that's been in the throats of my co-workers is in me, based on my qualified degree in close-ology, but I'd love to supplement that with a professional opinion. By 5:10 I've walked to their building and have lights being shone in my throat and ears. Doctor says the look red and inflamed and uncomfortable. Yes I'm doing a bike race soon. Correct, I'm the kind of guy who wouldn't have bothered coming if it weren't for the race, I would have just lived with it. I'll take all the pills, yes I promise, that's the kind of guy I am.

Meanwhile I've just saved a spot at the walk-in for the kid needing stitches, and at my "family doctor" who could book me in 10 days from now.

BankingBakke believes there's a role for capitalism in the world.

Concept to execution, under 40 minutes, my desk to pharmacy. Sweet.

Back Muscles, Bonus Day

My back muscles aren't as bad as they were yesterday and the day before, which is an improvement. I'm going to assume that everything's going to work out peachy.

It's been a tough week. I was in at 5am on Monday, and by the time I leave today (Wednesday), my tally is an hour short of 50 hours thus far.

Someone asked me today, what mountain bike race is like my job? I thought for a minute and responded with La Ruta. It's no walk in the park. That analogy works both ways. My job is to the finance world something along the lines of what La Ruta is to the bike world. Maybe not 100% accurate, but both on the harder end of the spectrum.

Why oh why? Is it all worth it? This depends on one's tolerance for walking a line near work induced insanity, and definition of "worth" of course. Questions without answers. I guess I keep coming back for more, so there's at least one answer.