Prep prep prep

That's what I'm trying to do, get prepared. In my 40 years there's been nothing that compares to the stress that riding in Death Valley brings. Sure, it's stressful on the body. I live in good 'ole humid Michigan, I'm not used to the water being sucked out of my body like it is during the ride. That brings the other stress - mental. I like to think that I'm always thinking straight, but there are times out there where I'm not. It's when I haven't been drinking enough when I'm despirate to be done. I feel irrational. It's difficult to explain and I can remember it. I hope I don't go there this year, hence the preparation. 121.5 miles in the past week with strength training at the gym and a few long walks mixed in there too. I've dropped some weight in the past month too, I'm hoping to get below 200. I was around 217 last year at this time. It'd be great to have less carcass to carry on the bike!