Disappointing my coach

 I’m sure my coach is very disappointed.

The plan for today’s ride was to ride easy all day. Tomorrow I’m leading a ride to Devil’s Punchbowl and The Pope is riding so I wanted to save my legs. Not because I have high hopes of keeping up with him, last weekend’s ride (https://www.strava.com/activities/10601714863) taught me not to be that arrogant, it was just a matter of maximizing my chances of survival.

All started very well when I didn’t have a coffee in the morning so I didn’t get the caffeine induced unjustified optimism I normally get.

Still the plan didn’t last long. A few kilometers into the ride I found myself at the front pushing a pace that was a couple of steps higher than what I was planning.

Even at the “climbs” I was going a bit too hard. 

Nothing crazy, just not quite the pace I had in mind.

It wasn’t my fault of course. It was JFW’s.

I’m only guilty of lacking any personality to stick to the plan and imitating him like a parrot.

JFW moves to the front and sets a strong pace and there I go, following his lead, moving to the front and keeping the pace..

JFW starts at the front in a small incline, soon I pass him pretending I’m riding easy while pushing the pace.

I wasn’t happy with my behavior. I even ordered a decaffeinated coffee at the coffee stop to make sure I went back to the plan.

Back on the road I stuck to the plan. Sat in the third wheel. Rarely moved to the front. Didn’t lead the group up any of the climbs.

I was so proud of myself…

But that only lasted until JFW started to tease me at every town sign sprint.

He would move to the front and start looking at me as if he were controlling me ahead of the sprint.

I very rarely enter those games. I prefer to keep my powder dry for the final sprint.

Today I took the bait again and again.

Soon I found myself sprinting for town signs I didn’t even know existed.

What was meant to be a steady ride home ended up looking more like a HIIT session.

My coach is going to be very disappointed I thought at some point. 

Indeed, I am self-coached and I’m very disappointed.

Taking the final sprint is a small consolation but I’m guessing tomorrow I’ll be even more disappointed.

Stay tuned.

The ride in Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/10639660626/ 

Take care

Javier Arias González