Getting Strong Now

OK, so that's from Rocky, but it definitely applies here.
Today was another monster day. It started at 6 AM with a breakfast of coffee, english muffin, fruit and more coffee. I hit the pool for a moderate 3k with some pulling and fast 75's. I love 75's and 100's when I am going well. I wasn't going too well today though.
Back at the hotel it was time for more food. The hardest thing for me to do is to not eat so much at breakfast. Give me oatmeal, fruit, cereal, bagels, pancakes, eggs, muffins, anything with syrup and I can't help myself. I have to force myself away from the food. I worked on emails and got the bike prepped for the day while the bagel, egg, oatmeal and more coffee worked it's magic.
I really like to do a quick clean and lube of the bike before a big ride. It gives me a sense of purpose and it ensures that my bike is ready for the miles.
Today's route was much like yesterday. Out the Bee Line, which is part of the IM AZ course, but this time I went past Fountain Hills. I climbed up in a big gear and dropped into Saguaro National Park. The last time I was there was 3 years ago. I was staying with friends and joined a small group ride. The group was myself, three guys I don't know, Chris Baldwin who was riding for Navigators at the time and was the National Time Trial Champion, and Robbie Ventura, who was riding for Postal and who is now Floyd Landis' coach. It was a great ride although I popped a bit at the end. Chris was such a great guy that he dropped back and paced me back up to the group. I was very impressed by that gesture and have been a fan of his ever since.
It got me thinking about how far I had come. Three years ago I was on these exact roads and thought I was just hammering it. How wrong I was! I guess I was perceiving what I wanted to, rather than the reality. When I look at where I am now, and how far I have come, I feel a great sense of both satisfaction, and the desire to go even farther.
The ride was great and I did some high wattage sections at 260+ watts. That's just over IM wattage for me and really the first time I had tried to produce those watts over a period of time. It felt great and the numbers were right were I wanted them to be.
Off the bike it was another run around Tempe Town Lake. It's not a bad run at all. Relatively flat with some soft surfaces as well. I was surprised to feel good on the run and I held 6 43 per mile! I was shocked to go so fast at the end of such a big push, but I will definitely take it.
FEELING STRONG NOW!!!