Longest bike ride ever. Flatted about 15 minutes into it; Robin showed me how to check to ensure the tube wasn't being pinched since we think that was the culprit from changing the tire on the road with Dean last time. Went up 9-mile hill same time as Ragnar was running down, so saying "Good job!" to all of the runners provided some entertainment. Wind at my back helped. Felt good until the final climbs an Cave Creek; started bonking but ate some Pop-tart at the turn around and the general downhill helped too. After the climb back up Dynamite, I was looking forward to the downhill on 9-mile hill, but the wind was sufficient to require work to go downhill and it was not as fun or restful as I was hoping. 

I still haven't changed out to the compact crank, so I'm spending a lot of time in the small chain ring and am much slower than Robin, who is now used to her compact crank and spending more time in the large chain ring. I am still worried about making the bike cutoff at St. George. I know I can complete the distance, but I must stay an average pace of 13 mph to beat the cutoff, and I know there are a lot of climbs that I'll be going 10 or less. I guess I just need to continue training and hope for the best on race day.  

Life isn't going to get any less hectic any time soon... BIG changes on the horizon! It's a very exciting time, although trying to fit in all of the Ironman training is going to be difficult.

I can't believe we got back from Houston at 10:30 a.m. and I still failed to get my workout in today. Between cleaning the house (it's amazing how much fur 3 dogs can shed, and how much mud they can track in, in five days), laundry, working 4.5 hours and talking to various family members, the day just went by...