Too many energy drinks, not enough sleep

For having very little sleep for the past 2-3 days, I feel not nearly as old as I really am. Must be all that taruine in the Monster Energy drinks I consumed between Friday and Sunday. It's a hangover of a totally different color. I've become Nate's unknowing guinea pig and protege when it comes to sampling the variety of energy drinks out there. I'm craving a Red Bull right now. I don't think I can handle the triple serving in one can...too much temptation to drink them all at once.

The details of the drive down will remain locked in the "Element"... but the subsequent biking and beach time are open to all....

So, for those who could not accompany us on our epic beach Metric Century ride between Kill Devil Hills and the lighthouse at Cape Hatteras, here's a brief [its all relative] synopis and a map:

After arriving at the beach house after 12:30 a.m., we stumbled to bed by 1, with a 6:30 wake up call to be on the bike by 7 a.m. for what was touted as our 100 mile ride (a first for all of us). Sleep, precious sleep. Mind you that Meghan and I had run 9 miles that same morning (my longest run thus far). Awake by 6:15, to drizzle and rain--which, as the blog says, is contrary to the rules of riding...must be dry. After a bit of debate and passing the buck since nobody wants to be the 'wimp' and say they don't want to ride, we decide to go (or I think that was me, since no one else wanted the responsibility).

Roads were slightly wet which wasn't bad unless you were riding close behind someone (Nate's got a cool all purpose tire on the back that minimizes 'splashing'). After a brief 7-11 stop for caffeine and breakfast, it was off to the long open road and the "bridge". I was in the lead and really dislike close car traffic while I'm on a bridge with no where to escape to if trouble hits. So I virtually sprinted across the bridge, sticking to the small strip of pavement between the white line and the curb at the edge of the road. My anxiety was apparently quite obvious to Nate and Meghan....who, unbeknownst to me, were taking up a bit more bitumen [there's a great joke] than I was.

Along the way, we spotted a variety of road kill, to the point that I thought about making a game of it...you have to make the sound of the animal you've just seen smooshed by the side of the road. Tough to do when it's a snake. Suffice it to say that we saw a number of birds, mammals, and some that were thoroughly unidentifiable. The scenery was amazing, and when were weren't being honked at or shouted at [I'm sensitive...], it was a great ride.At mile 40, I needed a stretch and a break, so we pulled off and did just that, decided we needed more water and we reconsidered our total distance we hoped to accomplish that day. We rode on, Nate called Mary (savior) and she drove down to meet us at the Lighthouse at Cape Hatteras (which I thought was another 17 miles from where we were....not.) We ended the ride with a photo (that Meghan has trapped on her digital camera) and a drive back to show and change to go watch the Tour at the Outer Banks Brewing Station. Crab cake and two beers for me and I was feeling every ounce of alcohol. Mmmmm.....peach cobbler for dessert....never tasted so good.

The rest of the day (since it was only about 5 p.m. when the Tour was done...grueling day for Rassmussen) we spent naping and then to dinner at Tortugas Lie eating scrumptious dinner and watching Endless Summer II before we went off to see Fighting Gravity at The Pit Surf Shop.

Again, to bed late (past 2 a.m.??) and up again at 6:30 to get showered, and out to Bob's Grill where the motto is "Eat & Get The Hell Out." Bacon served to order (extra crispy or soft), pancakes larger than your head and no biscuits. An experience, to say the least. Off to Chris' house (who bakes muffins and cookies for a living) to watch the tour. Nibbled on scrumptious cookies and tried to stay awake...woke up long enough to see Vinokorov win the stage [Krazy Kazak].

I think we ate and rode our way from one end of the Outer Banks to the other and by the time we left on Sunday, I was craving fresh veggies and fruit...nothing like too much 'training' food and energy drink to push you over the edge.

I'm blogged out for the moment...this is all very fun but takes a toll on my 'real' job...