The first group ride...

The time changed this morning. I was well aware of that. I knew I had an extra hour to chill before heading out to the group ride. I sat and watched a movie on TV that was supposed to end at 9am, the time I wanted to leave. It is about a 15 - 20 min ride to today's location, so leaving at 9 would be plenty of time to get to the ride before the 9:30 start.....

You know, sometimes, how the more time you have to kill, the quicker it passes without your noticing? Well, the stupid movie (and it was stupid) didn't finish at 9am on the dot, so I left late - less than 20 minutes to get there. I kept telling myself, on the way, to not bother and turn around and do today's 10miles on my own, kept watching the clock as I got nearer, but not getting closer as quickly as the clock neared 9:30. I consoled myself with the thought that they would be talking to newbies like me at 9:30, so I had a few extra minutes to be late if I didn't get there right on time. I got there at just exactly 9:30. The high school's parking lot was full - probably the majority Team Zers..... quite impressive. They were all hanging around, picking up cue sheets and grouping up. I saw a gaggle around Coach Z and headed there, where he was explaining cue sheets (ride maps), and other pointers for our ride.

It was hilly. Quite so. I had a mountain bike (the only one there.....) - I had to walk the bike up a couple of hills, but it was no problem. Coach Brian and others were there to help me along and give a lot of pointers and tips. No one left me behind, and there was nothing but encouragement from everyone there, no pressure to go faster. Coach Brian pointed out that getting off the bike to walk up some hills was actually better to keep you in your training zone rather than fighting your way uphill.

I only had 10 miles on my plate for the day, but we never got back to the high school as 10 miles passed (on the way uphill, mind you.....). I kept looking for the high school, but there was nothing but hills ahead of me - big, giant, tall, killer hills - I thought, as I kept looking forward, we were riding our way directly up a mountain, rolling along taller and taller hills - I think we were working our way to the top of probably the second tallest mountain in the US behind Mount Ranier.... it's amazing that I have never noticed this on the commute to Eric's work inside the beltway. Amazing. I'll pay more attention next time we pass on Route 50 in the car. It's amazing this is in the middle inner suburbia....

It turns out that the cue sheet was set for the full 20 miles (I missed this since I was late), and it turns out you get picked up by the sag car (support car) when you are done for the day - Coach Z was there to pick me up. I had a nice conversation with him while we kept an eye on other riders along the way. One other person was finished before the 20 miles (she stopped at 15).

So in this group of newbies that I have joined, I was the only one training on the basest schedule for their first triathlon, everyone else from the talks yesterday and today seemed to be going for their second or more, and had joined the team for tri-specific training.

Which was my biggest fear before joining the team.

It turns out, it's no big deal. They are there for you, Olympic athlete or first-timer......