South Carolina - Ready Or Not!

Tomorrow I'm leaving for a 3 week training stint in South Carolina.  Holy cats!  Before we even get to the issue of packing for such an adeventure, let's look at the reasons why I'm going.

1) to consistently be able to ride my bike outside (I decided to race in March this year - I must remember how to steer beforehand!)

and

2) to put in a nice hard training block free from pretty much all of life's distractions

As you can imagine, this is a very exciting prospect!  Although I'll admit, I have mixed feelings about going. 

For one, I haven't even left yet and I already miss Roxy and Oscar terribly!  I have never been away from either for that long and just thinking about it makes me a bit sad.  The good thing is, I will be staying with my parents and so will obviously still be surrounded by people I know and love.  I just really wish Oscar and Roxy could fit in my suitcase and come with. 

Besides that, I will also admit to being a huge fan of routine.  Here at home I ride and run on the same routes over and over and over and over again.  I swim at the same pool, in the same lane, with the same people over and over and over again.  I know which bars in the weight room are the ones I like and I use them over and over and over again, etc...  Going to train in a new place is a scary prospect!  Although I'm not worried about swimming or running, riding is definitely a concern.  Because one thing is for sure, I will be doing A LOT of riding!  And although Hilton Head isn't an entirely new environment, I've not done any serious cycling there in the past.  I guess now is as good a time as ever! 

Despite my concerns, I know this is something I need to do.  And because of the benefits I know I'll see, it's something I definitely WANT to do.  I'm truly looking forward to what I know is going to be the challenge of a lifetime in terms of training (I don't have my schedule yet but Dirk has warned me...it will be significant) and I'm looking forward to tackling this challenge with little to no other responsibilities standing in the way.  So it's South Carolina Training Adventure or bust!  Here.  We.  GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Oh, and the packing?  Well let's just consider the fact that I must fit ALL my s/b/r gear, nutrition and clothes in 1 suitcase and 1 bike box.  Seeing as how I can barely accomplish this for 3 days away for a race, I'm relatively certain there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth tonight.  Perhaps THIS will be the year I learn to pack light?  Nah...  ;)