Well that was interesting. My first Seagull Century (aren't there a lot of cyclists in MD, VA, DC) and - to coin a soccer phrase - it was a game of two halves. For 60 miles it was lovely - wind mostly at the back and humming along at 21.5mph average (with looks of disgust from the roadies as Rob and I were in full TT kit) ... then the rest stop. Rob doesn't go over the bridge - I wait for 40 mins thinking he has flatted or keeled over in the gutter (one trip back to the base of the bridge to check if I need to give CPR) then give up and head back. Winds on the short section to the bridge (again) and then over are completely scary - hanging in there with my HED6s and my 136lbs !

Then into the wind for the next 40 miles it seems. So the average goes down and down. Carried on passing loads of people who were suffering more than me. But my legs are completely trashed and so the brick run becomes far more of a lesson in not pushing on the bike than it needed to be.

Actually the whole day is a great wake up call for IMFL. I guess the winds COULD be that brutal and 'lengthy' in PCB if they are out of the West or East but let's hope not. If they are I certainly can't hope to push that much on the bike and still manage a decent Marathon time. After 4 miles I was feeling it in my legs.

So it is all good training, all good learning for Florida.