Seven days from right now, I will (with luck) be well done with the Almanzo 100 – my big spring race, 100 miles of gravel roads around Spring Valley, Minnesota. I’ve been training hard since well before the snow melted, and I’ve liked the way my work has been paying off. I’ve never felt fitter in my life. The next seven days will be largely devoted to keep the mental and physical stoke high and filling my body with as many calories as possible. The former task is easier when I read stuff like the race organizer’s blog post on last-minute preparations and expectations, including this bit:
These are challenging courses. 100 miles is no small task (and 162 is certainly nothing to balk at) and when you ride them on gravel and they become something entirely different. It is going to punish you, but it is definitely manageable if you pace yourself and understand the big picture.
I’m eager to get out there!