Back on track

Maybe inspired by my good result at Lapham Peak last weekend, or maybe just as a result of some time off the bike this summer, I've been back in the zone and training like I feel I should. It's fall, it's cyclocross, it's hardman time. Hill repeats in the pouring rain, pre-dawn recovery rides, past-dark miles spontaneously added on long after the hunger knock starts to set in and dreams of dinner start dominating my attention. Burnout is nowhere in sight, this is how it should be. Whether the results keep coming or not, I'm racing once again and it's what defines me.

Last night's session was rudely interrupted. The data:

The summary:

0:30:00 - heading south on Timer Ln, set of 3 "crit sprints". all is well.
0:38:00 - turn east onto Military Ridge. recovery.
0:40:00 - pssst, pssst, pssst, pssst, pssst
0:40:15 - flat tire. not a puncture so much as the entire tread decided to wear through rather suddenly.
replace tube and boot with piece of sandpaper. continue riding gingerly.
0:45:00 - flat again. cellphone comes out. start walking toward Verona.
1:00:00 - fuck this, I'm riding it.
1:04:00 - stop to reconfirm position via cellphone. continue riding
1:06:40 - should I try to take it easy on the rim? walk for a while.
1:10:00 - fuck this, I'm riding it.
1:14:00 - walk
1:24:00 - ride
1:30:00 - arrive in Verona, sit and wait for ride to show up

I didn't get to finish my workout, but that's how a tire's life deserves to end.

No racing this weekend, but hopefully a lot of saddle time between mountain biking and a team ride on the road.