Yesterday, I rode 400k, four hundred kilometers (or about 250 miles).

Ok, for those in semi-shock for my apparent idiocy, let’s put this in perspective.  Yes, I did do IM Placid last weekend and IM CDA five weeks ago.  Yes, I am still planning on an ironman or two before the year is out. Yes, I rode with a group that turned filtered into just one other dude by 150k. Yes, I rode all day, from 0400 (requiring lights for several hours) to about 1830. Yes, my butt is a little sore because I spent 12.5+ hours attached to my seat.  No, the pain in my butt was not the worst and my legs were never really tired.  It was the pain in my feet in that last 20k that nearly knocked me off my bike.

However, what I did yesterday pales in comparison to Lara’s accomplishment in 2007.  In 2007, Lara completed Paris-Brest-Paris, a 1200k ride to the west coast of France and back.  It is an amateur cycling ride held every four years that requires completion of four brevets of distances 200, 300, 400, and 600 kilometers before you can start the 1200k (that must be done in 90 hours). She completed all these rides in the mountains of Colorado then suffered through three days of 50 degrees and rain to go 1200k with 5000 starters and over 25% failed to finish.  In 80 hours on the roads of France, Lara proved that in our house she is the toughest.

Believe it or not, there is an increasing overall interest in doing this ride to include my own for the 2011 event. Lara is the best bad-idea influence in my life sometimes. In order to get myself a decent shot at registering, I needed to complete an official brevet of distance over 200k in 2010.  This weekend, seemed to be the best option and if it were not for the ridiculous heat on the plains of Colorado in the afternoon, it was a good course and good conditions. It is way too early to make solid plans for 2011, but I am considering a run at a fast ride for PBP in 2011. I thoroughly enjoy ironman/triathlon training and racing, but I would hate to pass up all other endurance sports opportunities along the way.

I could go into more detail about the actual ride (maybe some other time), but I am go back to enjoying a relaxing day and taking the Bogart for a swim.