July 4th Swiss Gigathlon

Mountain Biking-  Today I set out on a mountain bike with Rodolfo.  He has done a 10:20 ironman so I guess you could say that he is pretty fit.  He has not done much since a half ironman a few weeks ago but he was riding good today.  I set out on my Giant bike and right away I had some problems and they could not be fixed.  This happens sometimes when you ship a bike.  The good part about having two bikes is that I got to turn around and grab my second bike.  We started up a nice trail and had a simple little technical downhill that I stopped on in the middle of.  I did the unknown for me and went back to the top to do it right.  I made it just fine the second time.  We then did some climbing on the road and jeep trails for a while.  You could see down in the valley between us and it was really pretty.  I could also see the cold water that I will be swimming in on Monday.  It looks nice and blue but very cold!  Anyway we got to the top of a mountain and did some single track down.  Rodolfo is able to control his bike and can go through technical sections slowly.  When he would slow way down I would think that it was going to be a horrible section and I would freeze at the top of the section with “chicken blood.”  I did have to walk some of it and I did not go back up to do it again.  This happened several times.  We then came to a rope that he moved so that we could continue.  I asked him what it was for and replied “cows.”   I was hoping I would not see any of these.  I have a huge fear of cows.  Well there were 4 of them right in the middle of the path. I did not cry like usual but I sure was not going to get near them  Rodolfo had to move them out of the way before I would pass. I am not sure why but I have always been scared of cows.  After this we went down a really technical steep single track that scared the you-know-what out of me.  Rodolfo mentioned that his kids went down it with no problem but I was scared to death.  I was doing ok and starting to feel ok about it until my jacket got stuck on the seat.  After this the “chicken blood” was back in me but the ride was almost over.  Thank goodness.  Just as soon as we got out of the trees and started home the wind started to blow and some rain started to hit us.  It felt like needles and I was laughing.  Rodolfo might have thought that I was crying but I was laughing about it.  We ended up riding about 2 hours and 800 meters of climbing.  This was great for me.  I also learned a lot from Rodolfo.  I still get scared every time I am on the mountain bike but I am hoping that after day 4 at the gigathlon that goes away.

Inline Skating- This is another thing that Rennie and Rodolfo know how to do.  They did the gigathlon as a couple one year so they know what they are talking about.  When Rennie needed to learn she just kept the skates on everywhere she went. I waned to go do a swim so Rodolfo followed me on the bike.  I had to go over train tracks and was hanging on to him for dear life. The road was also wet.  Rodolfo is going to let me use his skates for the wet roads at the gigtahlon.  I thought about bringing my second pair for this but I thought that might be overkill.  Now I am borrowing some.  I looked pretty bad on the way to the pool.  I actually asked Rodolfo if he thought there would be someone worse then me and he was nice in telling me “no.”  He said the Swiss had much pride and they would not want to look like idea. I pointed out that some of them could not swim well and he said that was ok because no one could see them.  After the swim on the way home I did do a little better. Rodolfo really does know what he is talking about.  I am going to get on them a few times a day just to get used to them.  This is some good advice and so I am going to do it.  While we were on our way to the pool we were trying to cross some train tracks and someone got out of their car and told me to bed at my knees.  Yhi guy looked like he had never exercised in his life so I  must have looked really bad.  I still think that I am doing a bit better.

The Swim-  I did this on my own and only about 30 minutes of it.  This was really dangerous.  This was probably the hardest thing I did today.  It is holiday here in Switzerland and their were a million kids swimming all over the place.  There were times when I would feel a one jump in almost on top of me.  I also had them swim in front of me with some crazy kicking. I am not sure which is worse.  The kids at this pool or swimming at an ironman.  I did swam in Holland last year and they had rafts.  I think this was worse.  They were jumping off the sides onto them and headed right for my head at that pool.  I am thinking god that they did not allow rafts at this pool.  After the swim I was changing in  the dressing room and some of the ladies had their kids that were boys starting at me.  It made me a bit uncomfortable. I think after today I have decided that I only like kids from a distance.  Rodolfo’s and Rennie’s kids are really great up close.

Rodger- He is back again and we are up at the Dirk’s place and he is fixing my bike.  He is so great.  Remember he is the hero that saved me yesterday.

Thomas Ratchcomb-  I know that he I have the name spelled wrong.  My stomach is growling and Rennie and Rodolfo have made a great dinner.  Anyway Thomas was at Le Tour last year and will be coming tomorrow to get me around 10 for a bike ride. I am a bit scared since he is so fast.  I do not need to over do it but we are going to check out the downhill on day 2.  This means that I will have to go up before I come down…yikes!

Dirk-  What a great guy!  He is going to get Peter alone tomorrow morning so that I can rest up.  I would have to get up at 6 am but now I can sleep in.  Peter will be staying at Dirks and we will be getting the car ready to go on Friday.

Happy 4th of July….Drink a beer and pop some fire works off for me.