Thunder Storm..

Last night i went out for some good threshold work. Was planning on 2x20:00 at 97%. I waited around the house till about 7pm to leave since it was about 99 degrees, I wanted to wait for it to cool off a bit. Big mistake.

By the time I headed out it was nice and cool, due to the dark cloud cover that had moved in. Thats ok ill stay close to the house i thought. I did my usual lazy 20 minute warm-up and started on my first 20:00. I do these on the same exact loop, and usually 20:00 takes my right to a certain stop sign. This is good because i can test different techniques like position and cadence to see if what is more efficient and will get me to the stop sign a few seconds quicker.

Anyway, at about 16:00 in, i started to see bad lightning on the horizon and i was headed right for it. I was really pissed because i hate not being able to finish an interval, much less an entire workout. But i did the "safe" thing and pulled off the road and hung out under a church awning in the middle of nowhere and waited out the storm, about 30 minutes.

It was a bad storm and i still got wet form the wind blowing in, it had to be gusting to 60mph, at least it felt like it, and a little bit of hail as well. I found this info below and thought it may be helpful, not exactly a "training tip" but its good to know. I was surprised to see that rubber tires will NOT offer any protection against lightning.

This Sunday is the Morganton Cycling Classic in my hometown, of which i am one of the promoters so it is high on my list of races to do well at. I feel pretty good but the crash hasn't helped any and im still stiff and sore. Ill try to post every day for the rest of the week so all can see what a "mini-taper" consists of.

Surviving a Thunderstorm

A PREPAREDNESS GUIDE for severe weather is published by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/National Weather Service. The following is our adaptation of that guide to specifically address cyclist concerns. National Weather Service has reviewed and approved this adaptation.

In general . . .

• Cyclists on the road are most at risk from thunderstorms if they are under or near tall trees, are on or near hilltops, or are themselves high points on flat terrain (such as crossing an open field).
• Lightning often strikes outside of heavy rain and may occur as far as 10 miles away from any rainfall.
• Rubber-soled shoes and rubber tires provide NO protection from lightning.
• If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to the storm to be struck by lightning. Look for safe shelter immediately!
• When skies darken, look AND listen for increasing wind, flashes of lightning, sound of thunder
• Lightning remains a danger even when a thunderstorm is dissipating or has passed by.

When thunderstorms approach . . .

• If you are on a hill with exposure to the sky, try to head downhill, seeking out an overhanging bluff or a valley or ravine where you can lower your exposure.
• Move to a sturdy building or shelter if there is one within reach (such as an underpass, a large barn, a store or railroad station). Do not take shelter in small sheds or under isolated trees.
• However, get to higher ground if flash flooding is possible where you are (such as by a creek bed).

If caught outdoors and no shelter is nearby . . .

• Find a low spot away from trees, fences, and poles. Make sure the place you pick is not subject to flooding.
• If you are in the woods, take shelter under the shorter trees. (Lightning is more likely to strike the tallest trees.)
• If you feel your skin tingle or your hair stand on end, dismount fast, get away from your bike, and squat low to the ground on the balls of your feet. Place your hands on your knees with your head between them. Make yourself the smallest target possible, and minimize your contact with the ground.