For those that don’t already know, we’re having a minor heat wave here in the Twin Cities. It’s been into the 90s the past couple of days and we’re supposed to have two straight days into the 100s (according to the radio) which hasn’t happened here since like 1988 or something like that. Couple that with the fact that I need to ride long this weekend and I’m not exactly looking forward to this weekend. But it will be a huge deposit into that Ironman bank account. I’m talking palettes of phat bills, y’all.

The national weather service was nice enough to put out a bulletin, too:

Excessive Heat Watch

/O.CON.KMPX.EH.A.0001.060715T1700Z- 060716T2300Z/ HENNEPIN-RAMSEY- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF… MINNEAPOLIS…ST. PAUL 303 AM CDT FRI JUL 14 2006

…EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON…

AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

WITH POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING CONDITIONS FOR SHUT IN SENIORS OR ANYONE CURRENTLY IN POOR HEALTH WITHOUT AIR CONDITIONING… PLANS SHOULD BE MADE NOW TO ENSURE THAT SAFE…COOL LOCATIONS CAN BE PROVIDED DURING THE UPCOMING WEEKEND.

AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH MEANS THAT A PROLONGED PERIOD OF HOT TEMPERATURES IS EXPECTED. THE COMBINATION OF HOT TEMPERATURES AND HIGH HUMIDITY WILL COMBINE TO CREATE A DANGEROUS SITUATION IN WHICH HEAT ILLNESSES ARE POSSIBLE. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS… STAY IN AN AIR-CONDITIONED ROOM…STAY OUT OF THE SUN…AND CHECK UP ON RELATIVES AND NEIGHBORS.

It just goes to show you that all my ranting about Europe and their lack of AC isn’t totally without merit. :)

As for training, I’m up to 10 hours and 35 minutes so far this week. I’d like to get another run in and hopefully somewhere between 5-6 hours tomorrow on the bike, so I should be up at 17 hours come Sunday. That’s a solid week, for me, and will be a big confidence booster for Moo (barring any unforeseen circumstances with my ride tomorrow).

I’ve still been eating fairly well. I’m going slower in all my workouts and I’m not sure if it’s due to the lack of training that I had while on vacation, the heat, or if it’s the lack of calories that I’m taking in? Or some combination of the three? I do know yesterday that about 1/3 of the way into my ride, I wasn’t sure I was going to make it back home. I was really hungry and just felt totally depleted energy wise. I got back home and had almost a whole can of reduced fat Pringles, but still managed to be barely over 2k calories for the day so not all was lost. I’m thinking of giving myself a larger dinner tonight with more carbs and what not so I have adequate fuel for tomorrow’s ride. Feeling like I did yesterday but for 5+ hours instead of 1:30 would totally suck.

I’m planning on pushing off tomorrow at the crack of dawn to hopefully beat some of the heat. 90+ degree temperature with humidity and wind! I’m sure it’ll bring back fond memories of IM Wisconsin 2005. :P

Have a great weekend everyone!