IMCDA preview weekend

The above pic is the view from out room. In preparation for CDA next month, we decided to take advantage of the long weekend and head out to Coeur d' Alene. For me it is a wonderful opportunity to ride and run the course prior to race day. It's also a great excuse to get in a solid long weekend of training. Because training takes up so much of our lives, I thought it would also be nice for us to simply get away and relax (outside of some of the massive training I have scheduled of course). Unfortunately the weather in CDA is not much different than Portland. 50s and rain. Although, despite a gloomy forecast today, the weather ended up being ok. Actually, I didn't even get rained on!

Speaking of today. I had a long day in the saddle, 105 miles, followed by a 45 min run. I rode the course so my mileage should have been 112 but I missed a few turns apparently! That being said my total elevation was within a few hundred feet of what is posted online so I'm not too worried about it. I'm riding one loop (56mi) of the course tomorrow with a local so I'll make sure to see it all this time! The course is challenging. That being said, I really enjoyed it. The elevation changes are great in my opinion. The hills are much different than what I'm used to riding in Oregon however. These hills are steep and short. And there are a fair amount of them. After spending over 5 hours on the course today I feel really good about the course. I know where to push. I know where to hold back. I know where the turns are (haha, well most of them I guess!). All in all, I was very satisfied with today and will enjoy getting back out there tomorrow.

CDA is a great place. I'm very happy that we will be back here in a month for Ironman. It's a very beautiful town and the people seem very welcoming to all the Ironman athletes (I must have seen 200 riders or so out there training today). Thanks for checking in!

-T