It's Show Time!!

Well, it has been quite a busy, busy, busy week! Sunday I traveled to Paris to pick up the "package" Special delivery via United Airlines! My hubby finally arrived in France. Wow, 3 weeks is a long time to be away from your spouse. Lets just say I am happy to have him back!

After a few more doctor check-ups (health care is absolutely astonishing quality-wise and super cheap even without insurance so Gregory and I get our yearly maintenance done in France) and visits with friends we drove back to the Alpes.

We picked up my bike that had been dropped off for a tune-up/check-up before the race....


hmmm, this bike is RED, not black like the old one. What is going on?? Well, I just got this bike today, one day before La Marmotte!! I know everyone has bike problems and little tid-bits to fix before an event, but I thought my bad luck with this was OVER! I was wrong. Long story short, my previous frame had some length discrepencies, which were supposed to be fine for the La Marmotte, but an new frame was ordered and it would be replaced (we found this out on Wednesday). When I rode my bike, the spokes in the wheel creaked (not a good sign!) due to truing the wheel to accomodate the length discrepency (Thursday). To be on the safe side, the bike shop gave me a rental bike to ride. My auntie Cocole (and me too) was not happy on switching bikes 2 days before the race...it is hard to switch geometries and shifting (this was a triple). But I rode it and although it was not like my original bike, I was happy to have a bike to ride; things could be worse (oh yeah, I have been there before too!)

But, Auntie Cocole was determined and called the shop early this morning and what transpired between her and the bike shop I do not know, but Gregory and I ended recieving a call early this morning telling us to drop off the bike at the shop ASAP!! We dropped the bike off and at noon it had my compac crankset on, my proper stem length and wheels that cost more than the bike...lets say that the bike had a huge MAKE OVER! I think I ended up with a better bike than I started with!! It rides like a charm!

I am very fortunate to have an Auntie Cocole who looks out for me! If you are reading this Cocole, Merci Beaucoup et Gros bisous!

Now on to the La Marmotte details. This year there are a record number of riders! Over 7000 people are signed up! My number is 6306 and I start at 7:50 am. I am the third and final wave to start...although I won't be alone, I start with 3000 people!

There is a nifty athlete tracker where you can see where I am on the course. Here is the link:

http://www.la-marmotte.org/cartemarmotte.php

Just plug in # 6306 and you are set!

I am pretty much set for the day...it is supposed to be warm...But, you need your gloves and jacket because there are still snowpiles at the top of Galibier.

I am also going to be lugging around 10 hrs worth of nutrition (I am HOPING I am done around 10 hrs...if not, I resort to "real people" food) These are the times that having food allergies can be a little tricky. How do you carry that much?? Well, lots of plastic baggies and an extra large "bento box"! The basic plan involves Carbo-Pro, hammer Gels and Pamela's cookies.

Pamela's cookies are also pretty compact and easy to transport, especially their miniature cookies, YUM!


I told Gregory that I have "butterflies" in my stomach. This is like doing your first Ironman! I don't think that a lot of people who have not ridden over here grasp the concept of how difficult this is and how "just finishing" is an accomplishment! It is 174 km; however, the 22000 ft of climbing occurs over 73 km; do the math, it's a monster! but I am loving it, I am loving the idea of the challenge, the unknown, the amount I will learn about myself and the courage that I will have to find within myself.

This is what it is about...this is what I have missed. There are so many "if's" "but's" and "what's" but all I know is that I am going to start and try to get as far as my body and mind will allow me...

Hopefully that will be to the finish line at the top of Alpe D'Huez. Then, and only then, will I raid the the La Marmotte promotional store and purchase everything in site with a furry Marmotte (groundhog for the Americans) plastered over it.

Cheers!