Last weekend I competed in a bike race. While I ride my bike to work and enjoy getting out for longer weekend rides this isn't something I've done a lot of. But it won't be my last. [caption id="attachment_4926" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Bob, Greg and I before the L'alpe de Grand Blanc bike race. A friend, GD, registered us a few weeks ago for this race. I do remember while preparing for the conference that he was planning to do this. Part of me subconsciously acknowledged this. And part of me buried the prospect deep below everything else that needed to get done for the conference. Then on Wednesday last week came the call. 'You need to pick up your race packet on Saturday. The race starts Sunday at 9 am.' Ok I thought. Game on. Let's do this. At this point where was no point for distractions. No concerns about which workouts to still do. How much of a taper I could use. Or anything else relevant to prepping for a race. Instead all I needed to do was make sure my bike and gear were ready to go and to get a good night's sleep. Here's how it went and how I did. Plus a few things I might do differently next time. SleepWhen I say that I wanted to get a good night's sleep the night before what I mean is that I got good sleep for a few nights before the sleep. I knew I was going to be picked up at 745 am on race day. So to factor in enough time for fuel and hydration I wanted to comfortable getting up for 6 am. No problem there. TrainingWhenever you enter a race you want to feel you were able to bring your best on that day....