Jet lag

Its really a pretty minor side effect of the transatlantic flights that we have to make several times a year. However its still frustrating when your awake at 5am and know that your already sleep deprived after being awake for 24 hours. At least this trip, I have a couple days to catch up before racing. It actually turned into a really pleasant morning. I came down to the lobby of the sheraton hotel to the in house starbucks, got a whopper of a coffee (I think the equivalent of 500 euro coffees), and read the paper. I wouldn't have had such a relaxing morning if I would have woke up 30 before our ride at 10, like I had planned. That said, its still barely after 7:30. I'm sure I can find something else to do before hitting the breakfast buffet.

Here in Arlington, VA, getting ready for "philly week" starting with the CSC invitational on Sunday. I've never done these races before and am really looking forward to the experience. The weather is perfect here. I mean PERFECT! In the 70's and not humid at all. I hope it hold for a few more days.

When's the race?

Well, I finished the first stage of the biggest race I've ever started, Volta Catalunya, about 3 hours ago, but I feel like I'm getting the countdown to roll down the starting ramp. I was super excited for this race to get under way. I had trouble sleeping last night. I had great sensations in the warmup. Totally in the zone. Only 1 kilometer into the 3.7k prologue, I heard the unmistakable pssshhh, which could only be one thing, but I was totally in denial. I couldn't believe it... a flat, now? I pulled over to the side, still trying to figure out if that really happened. Yep, sure enough. Luckily there was a follow car behind me and before I knew it, I was up and rolling away on a spare bike. That got me to the line, but, man, I was so frustrated. Not that I had any great expectations. I'm terrible at these short efforts. However, I feel empty at the loss of a chance to absolutely give it everything for a few minutes. Its thats feeling of accomplishment after gutting yourself out there, no matter what your placing, that we crave. Now I'm totally restless, with nothing to do but wait until tomorrow's stage. I seriously feel like I'm about to start a race any minute. Anyway, I'll be able to use all this pent up energy and more in tomorrow's stage. Its our hometown race! It goes through Girona with about 30k to go and we know all the roads from training.

Latern rouge, baby!