This frosty morning in Missoula finds me gearing up for a recovery ride. The roads are inviting, and with the right layers, it’s bound to be a good one. Yesterday’s ride wasn’t just for the sake of it; it was a journey to the Freezer Burn Half Marathon.
After an 18-mile spin out to Frenchtown with Josh, we met Larry at the race. A bonfire warmed us before the start, where the entry fee was a steal. Early on, I was doing well, close to the lead pack, until my leg warmers began their descent. A quick stop to remove them, and I was off again, this time with bare legs. The weather was kind, sunny and encouraging.
Running alongside Ashley, she nudged my pace from 160 bpm to 168 bpm. It seemed doable until my stride began to falter. Eventually, my pace dropped to a shuffle, the hard pavement challenging every joint and ligament. Crossing the finish line at 1:41, I smashed my 2-hour goal. Mission accomplished.
We capped off the event at Iron Horse Brewery, celebrating with Cold Smoke and a heap of nachos. What a day!
Boneshakerbike 
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