1/2 a minute

Thirty seconds, it's a measure of time. Sometimes 30 seconds is but a blink of an eye, like when Jody and I are talking about bikes, or chatting on the phone about something really funny, or riding our bikes on a Summer day at the Fort. Sometimes 30 seconds is an eternity. Like when you listen to a song you can't stand, or when you are talking to someone when you are running late, or being chased by a big dog down a country road, or the last 1/3 of a mile of the Fort Custer time trial.

Today we did 30 seconds sprint intervals in our workout. We did a dozen or so. For the first 10 seconds they are all the same, it's all about getting your body to that place you think it's supposed to be at. Where you are pumping your legs as hard and as fast as you can. The next 10 seconds feels awesome. You know you are pushing your body to it's limits, you feel like you imagine a professional feels. The last 10 seconds are HARD. You tell yourself there's only 10 seconds left, no problem. Then a few seconds later your legs go numb. Two things happen now: 1) You build strength 2) You build mental toughness. Of these two things, #2 is what separates the pack. #2 is also what I need to work on more than anything. Luckily my training partner has lots of it, and I think some of it's finally coming my direction....