Confidence Building Weekend

This weekend was a great one.
Saturday's workout was 5 hours 51 minutes and was the same climb we did up to Mount Baldy Village a couple of weeks ago. I rode with Coach Tony again and if I had one of those wise relatives who put me on their knee and gave me advice as I grew up they would have said, "Never poke a stick in a hornet's nest". Coach Tony is one of the quietist people you would ever meet, but he is a fierce competitor. On the ride out to the start of the climb, I took the opportunity to test out my legs on a short climb on Baseline right by Webb Schools. I hit that hill really hard, and when I got to the top, Tony had answered my attack by quietly going past me right before the summit. I knew I was in for a tough day, but I noticed something else. My heart rate was way higher than it should have been and I wasn't recovering right. My resting heart rate had been 75 that morning, which is an indicator that I was still sick from that stomach virus I had been dealing with all week. It should be 62-64 for me. On the climb up GMR it really showed itself. 2 unknown guys joined us on the ride for a little challenge up the hill and when the pace picked up, I could not play. I did get to watch Tony hand out a butt whoopin' first from the road below. It was pretty impressive. When he attacked, they tried, but alas could not answer the pace. I was hoping they had been demoralized by his attack and tried to work my way back into the fight from a long way back. I would find out at the summit that once he had destroyed them, their next battle was to not let me catch them. I got close, but when we got to the top, I was still the last one there.
The remaining climb up to Baldy Village was just a stupid sufferfest for me. The good thing was that I knew it was from the sickness and could measure my pathetic showing against a great showing two weeks ago on the same road, so it didn't effect my attitude too much.
60 miles and 5000'+ of climbing, then we get back to Tony's house and go for a 6 mile run. We ran about 8 minute mile pace on the run and I was starting to feel better. When I got back to my house and ate, I found out that my stomach virus was still alive and well though. I was hoping all the exercise had killed it.
Sunday, I got up feeling better. RHR (resting heart rate) 64. Laced up the shoes and headed out for a 12 mile run. 1 hour 50 minutes. It was a really good run. The body worked well. Hopefully all this sickness is behind me.
2 weeks until the Auburn International 1/2 IM race. I'm feeling pretty confident about it right now.