Another great day for cycling. This bicycling across the USA is EASY!!! Temps in the 70's, sunny, and a slight tail wind. The trip to Dodge City was "routine".....not a lot to see but super large wheat fields and grain storage elevators every 10 miles or so. In preparing for this journey, I trained at a heart rate in the 130's and low 140's. After 8 hours riding like this, I was very tired the next day...which concerned me very much about my physical abilities to ride across the USA in 33 days. But it is Day 13 and I'm doing great. Here are the reasons I think my body is accepting the 8 to 10 hours of exercise day after day: 1. The adrenaline and excitement of the ride allows me to play a little above my capabilities. But as the day click off, this factor is lessening. 2. Nutrition plan. I am diligent in drinking and eating something every hour. And I try to eat high quality food at breakfast and dinner. I think this helps quite a bit. I also drink/eat a recovery drink right after completing my ride for the day....and I drink a chocolate milk right at bedtime to provide protein for muscle repair. 3. Riding at a lower heart rate. My heart rate is usually in the 120's and in the 130's for short periods of time. Never, by design, in the 140's. And when I'm riding with the rear guard, my heart rate is typically below 110. This lower heart rate compared to my training heart rate has to be a significant part of my success. 4. Riding to a new destination. When riding around home, I end up riding the same routes and always end up back at home. Going to a completely new destination each day certainly helps the mind keep the body moving. Two items that I don't do that I should work on are 1) stretching and 2) sleeping. I'm not doing stretching or foam rollers for my muscles. And I'm getting only around 7.5 hours of sleep per night when I would love to have 9 hours. But given the intensity of the day, I don't have enough time for 9 hours. We spend more time in Kansas than anywhere else....so I have several more days of flat Kansas to look forward to.