The E face

Not to be confused with the “O face.”

Gotta love Office Space

Say E and hold your mouth in place, and take a look at yourself. That is the face when endurance athletes are suffering. As Phil Liggett would say, “LOOK AT THE FACE!” It is also the face that a lot of old people make. I hope they aren’t making it because they are suffering.

EEEEE!

I had to eek out every last bit of effort I had left in me today, and that I did up Lefthand Canyon. I have done my job over the last couple days because today, my HR was really low, power was a little low as well, but not all that bad actually. I could push, but my legs were so tired that I wasn’t breathing that hard, even at max effort.

What I saw for most of the 16 mile climb…. the ground and my stem.

I tried to remember to look up and enjoy the canyon. I will miss my mountains over the next 1.5 weeks.

Here is a power file when I’m really tired and maxed out for a sustained effort.

Avg HR for the interval was 162 and avg power was 200. The HR and power kind of correspond (zone 3 HR, zone 3 power)… yet that was my max effort which, up this climb, is usually HR 186/PWR 235. I was so done by the time I got to Ward at 9000′. I noticed at the end of my ride going up Old Stage, that I still had some 30 sec – 2 min bursts of power left in me. Now it’s time to recover… on the beach. I am so excited! I haven’t been to the beach in 2 years!!

I am catching the 5:30 AM bus to the airport tomorrow and will arrive in Miami at 6PM. I can’t wait!!!!