Portales, New Mexico

July 13,
Portales, New Mexico

I really wanted to ride today but I was just too exhausted. I don't feel sick anymore but my body is just worn out from fighting off the virus. In addition, there wasn't any air conditioning in the gym last night so it was really hot. I don't think anyone got their required six hours of sleep. I know I didn't. We had a 4:30 wake-up today and I finally drifted off to sleep around 1:00.
I survived wake-up and managed to keep up with the rest of the team as we all prepared to leave but once my van pulled out and started driving to our designated crew stop, I leaned back in my seat and was asleep within a minute. It probably took even less time than that.
I awoke a few hours later when the pacelines started to arrive. My van was 50 miles in so it was awhile before we started to get cyclists. The entire group was pretty close together so it didn't take too long for them all to come through. I talked with the riders and helped fill up their water bottles, but it's a lot different when you're not on the bike. It's probably for the best that I stayed off the bike today but we had another guy who was running a fever all day yesterday who fought through it and ended up riding and I really wish I could've done the same. I've gotten through every other challenge this summer. Perhaps I should've fought through this one as well. I'm not used to stepping back or easing up.
We had lunch in Portales, the usual turkey sandwich provided by the crew chief. It's a lot of fun to be around all the guys at meal times now- you can tell how close we're becoming as a team when you see us all hanging out in the rare moments we don't feel like we're under scrutiny. After lunch, the cyclists took a police escort to the courthouse, where a small crowd cheered us in. After arrival, our boys did a Kids on the Block performance and then rode to Eastern New Mexico State University, where I am as I type this. Dinner is at five and it feels good to have my appetite back. I plan on biking tomorrow; it'll be good to be back.