7/1/07
I woke up and felt like [censored]. I sat on the floor for thirty minutes
deciding if I wanted to ride today. Of course, the "it's going to be a
beautiful day today so how could you miss the chance" kicked in.
Originally, this was going to be a Kenosha pass ride, but that was
changed to something else. So, I figured I would take advantage of an
odd Sunday ride with Team Evergreen at Keystone Ranch. I have done this
ride before and enjoyed. Why not try it with a full year of
acclimation. On the carpool ride up I started to feel light headed and
my breathing just wasn't right. I knew I was in for some trouble.
We arrive at the parking area and I am already thinking about bail
points. Not a good sign.
http://www.schnauzers.ws/images/070107/IMG_5850.jpg
http://www.schnauzers.ws/images/070107/IMG_5850.jpg
Within a few minutes, I am struggling near the back of the pack. At this
point I am not getting full breaths at all and I am dizzy. Asthma is the
only thing I can think of. We pause at the lift before heading up to
the Colorado Trail. By now I am ready to chuck. I have never felt this
way on a ride.
Not wanted to blow the whole day, I trek on. I figure as long as I can
keep a few people in sight, I should be ok.
http://www.schnauzers.ws/images/070107/IMG_5854.jpg
Once on the CT, it's downhill to the meadows. This is a fun part of the
trail. I'm not thinking about my condition right now as I blasting down
and keeping an eye on 10 mile range views.
http://www.schnauzers.ws/images/070107/IMG_5855.jpg
http://www.schnauzers.ws/images/070107/IMG_5856.jpg
http://www.schnauzers.ws/images/070107/IMG_5857.jpg
http://www.schnauzers.ws/images/070107/IMG_5858.jpg
http://www.schnauzers.ws/images/070107/IMG_5859.jpg
http://www.schnauzers.ws/images/070107/IMG_5860.jpg
http://www.schnauzers.ws/images/070107/IMG_5861.jpg
http://www.schnauzers.ws/images/070107/IMG_5862.jpg
We regroup at some more awesome singletrack.
http://www.schnauzers.ws/images/070107/IMG_5863.jpg
Unfortunately for me, it's uphill some more and the sickness returns. I
am wheezing pretty bad now and my heart rate is sky high. Not a good
thing, but there's no turning back now.
http://www.schnauzers.ws/images/070107/IMG_5864.jpg
Then another great decent to the bog.
http://www.schnauzers.ws/images/070107/IMG_5865.jpg
http://www.schnauzers.ws/images/070107/IMG_5866.jpg
More skinny singletrack to the rec complex. Of course, I take a nice
digger trying to escape from a muddy rut.
http://www.schnauzers.ws/images/070107/IMG_5867.jpg
http://www.schnauzers.ws/images/070107/IMG_5868.jpg
Finally, a bailing point, but do I bail? No. What was I thinking?
http://www.schnauzers.ws/images/070107/IMG_5869.jpg
It's uphill to the Blair Witch Project (every state has one of these).
At this point, I am starting to think I will not make it. Visions of
Search and Rescue having to fly me out and the bill that follows keep me
going. I am not having fun anymore.
http://www.schnauzers.ws/images/070107/IMG_5870.jpg
http://www.schnauzers.ws/images/070107/IMG_5872.jpg
Finally some downhill. At this point I barely see the people ahead of
me who are hanging back purposely to keep me on the trail.
http://www.schnauzers.ws/images/070107/IMG_5873.jpg
We make it to the residential neighborhood and just before the Aquaduct
Trail I give out. Only three miles to go and I just can't go another
inch. I seek shelter in the shade and try to keep from retching as the
others head on to fetch the car to pick me up. Even after fifteen
minutes of laying down, I am still at a 120 BPM heart rate. Scary!
I don't know what it was that caused it, but I certainly hope it never
happens again.
Thanks for TE being so patient with me.
--
o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
www.schnauzers.ws