7 Week Countdown

Seven weeks from today I'll be boarding the plane to LA. There's now a large map on wall in the breakfast nook that traces the route from LA to Revere Beach (Thanks, Mike!). I stare at it while eating my oatmeal and ponder....Man, it's a long trip.

The tour operator has been sending weekly emails consisting of training tips, favorite products and tools to consider, and an essay on her first cross country tour. It's intent is to encourage us and keep us motivated to keep training. It's working.

I'm now getting focused on compiling lists of things to do.
-Order shipping box for getting bike to LA
-Set up Bill payments for when I'm away
-Coordinate prescriptions for two month supply prior to departure
-Compile Email list of contacts
-Get fitted for new helmet (Smashed my other one in crash last September, broke clavicle)
-Get fitted for new shoes (starting to get hot foot in training. No. Not good)
Equipment:
-New tires / spare tubes / patch kit / CO2 cartridges
-Estimate in-ride and recovery nutrients. (Chewy vs Gels)
-Clothing- bibs, jerseys socks, arm/leg warmers/coolers, rain gear, jacket.
-Chamois Butt'er
-Check battery sizes and get new for Heart Rate Monitor, Speed Cadence sensors
-Test portable power-rechargers for cell phone and bike computer
-Test Bike Lights
-120 to USB connectors for daily recharging
I could go on but this is just a start.

In last two weeks I was able to set up a trainer in the attic and have spent 20 plus hours running drills recommended by my coach. Set up a TV with DVD and have been running through some old movies and a season of The Simpsons - a guilty pleasure. The final 4 indoor class training sessions started last night. Depending on weather and if snow banks continue to recede, Coach may take us out for road ride the next two Saturdays. I can't wait to see how I'll perform after the winter training program. Stay tuned for update.

My concern now is the foot issue I mentioned above. In last night's training I really noticed a hot foot issue I'd been ignoring. The ball of my right foot really began to burn so much that I had to stop pedaling in the middle of a drill to reposition my foot. Worse, favoring that foot made me overcompensate using left leg so I started feeling a shin strain. Coach believes its a shoe issue so we'll see what a new shoe does and if spraying Icy Hot on shin prior to riding alleviates the shin issue. Just a problem to be solved. Still optimistic.