Storms and Speed-bumps

Today was my first day back on the bike since visiting my dad for Father's Day - and it's already been a rough one.

I love visiting my dad, always good times and great food. But, it did lead to a bit of a speed-bump in terms of my cycling - the 10lb one that formed over my belt during the 5 days I spent in sunny South Carolina. Who would have known that drinking gallons of sweet tea - Mmmm... Sweet tea - and eating copious amounts of BBQ and seafood served in a bath of butter could be bad for you?

Lucky for me, there's a conference at work (The "Donut Conference") where delicious Buckeye Donuts donuts are served all day long. I figure if you pile enough donuts around a speed bump it should level itself out - at least that's my rational for eating three before noon.

Where are the Blueberry Cake donuts? In my stomach - that's where.

This morning though, I earned at least the first one. I started out on my commute in to work as usual, happy to be back on familiar roads and trails, and happier still that it was only 70 degrees out this morning. South Carolina summers are just a bit hotter... at 10am...

**Now with matching humidity!!**

What started as a bright and sunny morning in Ohio had quickly turned cloudy and off to my West - a storm was brewing. So much for taking it easy y first day back. Now, it was a race - me against the storm.

It turns out storms don't play fair. It kept taunting me, blowing wind in my face, then calm, then more wind; and trying to intimidate me with flashes of lightning and rumbles of thunder. It had even recruited geese to come out and hiss at me in a desperate attempt at a diversion.

I put my head down and pushed, it felt like a few days of getting a "reasonable" amount of sleep had done some good for my legs. My lungs on the other hand weren't so happy and they were letting me know about it. It was going to come down to the finish line. Huffing and puffing I sped on and the storm roared in. I don't mind getting a little wet on the bike - but my laptop is pickier. This was going to be close. Pop, another gear. Faster. Almost there. Pop. Raindrops were starting to fall now. One more hill.

In the end, it was a tie. With a flash of lightning as I opened the door serving as a photo finish, the storm hit; I had made it.

Sounds like a good time for another donut...