Feeling not so Peachy on this century

On Sunday I completed my 2nd century ride: Peach of a Century. It was 102.66 miles and I was sick that day.

When I got to the registration table I realized that I had no checks, not cash and they didn't accept credit. I had driven 1 1/2 hours down to Salem to do this ride and here I stood looking like a big dufus with my wallet wide open and no payment. The very kind lady said that I could write them a check and mail it from home and could do the ride. Thank you so much kind registration lady!! Check is in the mail.

After I got all geared up and on my bike I rolled out. I have no idea what time it was, but I did start my watch to keep track of time. I was not going to keep track of the time, but I couldn't resist. Even though I was sick and was going out to enjoy myself a little voice told me I just needed to do this ;)

The first rest stop came up rather quickly (22.4 miles) and I had only gone through 1/2 of my water and 3/4 of my Accelerade. I had only had a couple bites of my breakfast (a bagel w/ peanut butter) and had 2 cups of coffee. I was not fueling very well. The bathroom line was soooooo long. 3 porta potties and over 1,000 people on this ride??? Shifty from Bike Forums was there and gave me a hello hug and encouragement. So I stood there waiting for what seemed like eternity, but had a nice chat with a girl behind me who was very friendly. I ran into my biker buddy Chalrotte and her friend Kim their smiles gave me encouragement. I topped off my water bottle, topped off the fuel bottle with some more water and popped 2 more Dayquils and was on my way. About 5 miles before the split for the metric people and century riders I latched on to a tandem who already had 2 other riders firmly attached. I totally get the sweet spot now. The guy in front of me was about 6'2" tall and created a HUGE wall. I will be a better wheel sucker in the future. I was flying with them and getting a full recovery while boogie-in at 25-27mph! Too bad they split off on the metric course. I was sad, but at least they helped me escape these 2 stubborn guys who got mad every time I passed them and had to pass me and then slow down. Hate that.

The next rest stop came up at mile 54.7. I had gone through only 1/2 of my water and 1/2 of my Heed and one gel. I refilled my water bottle, filled my fuel bottle with some Heed, grabbed a handful of pretzels to stick in my jersey pocket and made a 1/4 bagel with cream cheese and jelly. I saw another couple of friends at this stop, but one particular gave me a great laugh. Ernie came up with a friendly hug and with his chest all puffed out shouting: "I feel great! I feel like a ROCK STAR!!". This made me giggle and I told him I wanted some of what he was taking. So he gave me some electolytes and that was so nice because I stopped cramping in my calves after those. I got back on my bike after a quick potty break and went on my merry way. Oh almost forgot Mary, I saw Mary D. also she swore she had seen Mara, but indeed she had not (Mara was enjoying the comfort of her home--lucky girl). She told me of her adventures in wheel sucking.

I was feeling okay at this point, certainly not my best, but o.k. When we hit mile 70ish there was this really nice climb up from Stayton to Silverton and I loved it. I really needed some hills by now. I was starting to ache all over and focus on all my little body aches (neck, wrists, ankle, calves, etc). When we hit that climb I was just feeling energetic again. The endorphins totally kicked in...yay adreneline! Right after the climb was a nice descent into the little town of Silverton and the 3rd rest stop at mile 77.7...I MISSED IT.

I should have turned around and gone back to the stop, but all I kept thinking was: I have 1/2 a bottle of water and 1/2 the Heed, I'll surely be fine to make another 25 miles, it's just another group ride. I've done a group ride on a total of only bottle. I just want this thing to be over. At mile 85 I was DONE. I had no more water left, it was now in the high 80's, I had to pee like nobody's business and I still had 17 miles to go and I was allllll alone. I was not feeling the love. In the distance I saw a golf course and hoped there would be a porta potty on the green...there was and I ran through the ditch to get to that bad boy! Thank goodness for old man bladders that it was there. The other saving grace was the John's (not toilets), the John's (John C and John D) who heroically came by, stopped, smiled and then told me to ride back with them. I would not have made it back w/o a few tears had they not towed my spirits back to the finish. They rode slow for me which I thought was very nice considering John C's love of hill attacking and normal fast pace.

The last 3 miles I just changed my computer because I couldn't look at how slow the miles were ticking by any longer. We finished all together and I ran to my car to chug a V8. Then...I indulged in a giant slice of peach pie.

Conclusions: I should have fueled better. I should have eaten a bigger breakfast. I should not miss rest stops on accident any more. I need to do more sit ups. I need a new set of lungs. I need to not drink wine the night before a century. I really need to learn more about this base building stuff :) Smiling faces on a ride can get you through.

My First Century

Yesterday, I rode the Covered Bridge Tour century. It was a beautiful route on pretty much all country/rural roads. I think there was only one traffic light the whole 101 miles. The route takes you through 5 covered bridges and was so very well supported, thank you volunteers!! There were plenty of food choices at all the water stops and I heard the lunch stop was great; however, I overshot that one.

On to the more interesting details: My details from the bike.

Alarm went off at 5:30 am.
Jumped out of bed, made coffee, gathered my stuff and out the door we went by 6:30 to try to eat some breakfast in the hotel lobby. Nothing looked good to me. I tried a couple bites of PB on a bagel, but I couldn't stomach solid food that early in the morning. The coffee totally sucked at the hotel and I needed my bucket of coffee :(

My friend Mara and I arrived at the registration table around 7am and got checked in, went to the bathroom, met up with Shifty from Bike Forums, and went back to Mara's car to get geared up for the day. Geared up this morning was my short sleeved jersey, arm warmers, Pearl Izumi sugar shorts, bad kitty socks<---very important for a long ride, helmet, mirror (don't laugh) and sunglasses. We saw Dan and Liz from the Vancouver Bicycle Club on the tandem in the parking lot as well as a couple other guys from Bike Forums getting ready (Skip and Dennis). I think we actually left the parking lot around 7:40am. I was already 40 minutes off my plan, but I was okay with that because we had a friendly bunch to start out with which often matters more then having a personal goal I've learned :). After about 7 miles we all kind of split up from each other and into our own pace. I didn't feel warmed up enough to keep up with the BF guys and the tandem so I just took it easy warming up alone. Mile 0-19 was very flat. Perhaps there were some small inclines, but no hills. It was so peaceful and the sun was rising, I passed by lavender and mint fields, farms and rolling hills abounded.

Mile 19 (first rest stop): I had gone through both my bottles of Accelerade so I refilled those, downed a Power Bar gel, went to the bathroom, said good bye to the lingering peeps and got back on the bike. I was feeling great and by about mile 30 I was all warmed up which was good because at mile 36.8 we hit Jordan Road which was a steep hill. We powered up that hill and I felt great, finally a hill to get my legs working. Right after the hill was another rest stop.

Mile 37.7 (2nd rest stop): I went in the fire station, used the bathroom, refilled my bottles, downed another gel and got back on the bike. At mile 40 I thought, wow I feel fantastic I cannot believe I had already knocked out 40 miles. But in the back of my mind I remembered how so many people had encouraged me to take an ibuprofen early so I did. Wow, that I believe was my #1 mistake of the day. #2 was that I didn't apply sunscreen later in the ride...ouch i'm a lobster. So back to the advil mistake. I was doing great, feeling great, so great that I overshot the turn off for the lunch stop at mile 52.7.

Mile 53.6 (Meridian Road): This was a fun little climb up a moderate grade "stair step" kind of hill. There were 3 humps to it and I'm guessing it was about a mile total, maybe a bit more. It was fun, but right after that little climb my belly started giving me trouble. It felt like my intestines were cramping up and a twisting; burning pain like this stayed with me for another 40 miles. I was running really low on water. I only had 1/2 a bottle of diluted Accelerade to get me to the next rest stop which was at mile 69.8 and I knew there was going to be a good climb at mile 64 so I saved it until the climb up Mt. Hope drive. I started taking bites off my bar of choice to help my stomach, but to no avail.

I met a rider back on the stair step climb who ended up riding with me to the end. We both had our ipods plugged in and only had a couple small little conversations which was just fine with me. I enjoyed my tunes, he enjoyed his. He tried to get me to draft him, but I was uncomfortable with his inconsistent pace to be *that* close to his wheel.

Mile 63.4 was my favorite mile of the whole day. It was a great climb up and a fun descent down. Okay, the descent actually would have been much more fun if it hadn't been freshly gravel/oiled or whatever that is they do around here. After this section there were only going to be a few rollers to play up and down. The ride was quite flat. I felt super after the climb up Mt Hope drive. Sometimes the right hill will do that to me, it kind of drains me, but immediately afterwards my body tingles and kind of kicks into a higher gear. I love that feeling, it must be adreneline. So off we sped onto the next rest stop.

Mile 67.1 was very special because now I was embarking into new territory. My longest ride prior to this century was 67 miles.

Mile 69.8 (rest stop 4): Oh how glad I was to pull in here and refill my water bottles. I couldn't stomach the Accelerade any longer so I refilled one bottle with water and one bottle with some old school lemon-lime Gatorade :)--->also YUCK. I ate a half of a banana, went to the bathroom, I put on some Tool on the ipod and jumped back on the bike. Good tunes can really get my mind off the aches and pains. The only real aches and pains were still my stomach, but it wasn't debilitating. The next 20 miles were fun. A few rollers and one fun descent. The day was heating up and I was feeling bothered knowing my skin was getting fried.

Mile 88.6 (rest stop 5): I was absolutely famished by this time so I was so happy to see some lemon poppy seed muffins, granola, and another 1/2 a banana. I literally inhaled those items, refilled my bottles with plain water and got back on the bike feeling so much better. My stomach cramping subsided shortly after.

The remaining 12 miles were VERY flat so my new found riding partner and I took turns pulling each other along that section. At mile 94 I got a second wind and came up to the front for a turn and started pedaling as fast as I could maintain at 20-21mph (that is Ticia fast lol). We must have had tail winds because I never pedal "that" fast. My knees were beginning to ache a bit and I thought that my seat could probably use an adjustment, but I was still feeling like I could have gone on for at least another 20 miles ;).

Pulling into the finish we were welcomed by root beer floats which TOTALLY hit the spot. I was craving those the night before and was surprised to see such a finish line treat. So I parked myself under a tree, layed down and waited for Mara to finish (she ended up riding the full century instead of the planned 85 er)!! I was so proud to see her smiling face when she came pedaling into the parking lot. We did it and I achieved my goal of coming in under 7 hours. My total time on the bike was 6 hours and 31 minutes.

Lessons learned:
-Don't take advil w/o solid food in my stomach.
-Eat a better breakfast.
-Bring sunscreen!
-I didn't need 10 scoops of Accelerade for this adequately supported ride.
-Having a riding partner at your pace can be a huge moral support.
-Don't pay attention and obsess over my mph average ;)
-Training was good, I felt confident and not in over my head which translated to a relatively "easy" ride (by easy I mean a strong finish with energy to spare).
-Check the camera to make sure it is charged. Thus the lack of pictorials.

Now for the thanks...where is my podium? Where are my podium boys? lol
Big thank yous to my dear hubby who supports my desire to go ride all over town and is the studliest Dad and husband ever. He never complains about all the time I've worked on cranking out the miles to achieve this goal. He lets me go on and on about my rides. Thank you to my kiddos for letting your mommy ride her bike. Thank you Mara for motivating me in the mornings ;) Big thank yous to George and Brandy for their constant lectures ;) and fantastic coaching tips, tricks, listening to me go on and on and on about my rides and their constant encouragement. Lastly, but certainly not least by any means thank you peeps of the VBC group rides who have both hung back with me or teased me into chasing them up the hills of Vancouver...you know who you are :P

Another lastly,
Writing this tonight (the night after) I feel good. My knees were sore, but I think I know the remedy for this and I have some mild soreness in my quads. Otherwise, my wrists, neck and back don't hurt like I had anticipated they would.

I just found that someone (Hill pumper) on Bike forums posted some great pictures of this ride. You can view here.

I'll be riding with some more distance in my future ;)

I think I can

do a century on my bike. ??? That is a LOT of miles. I've only ever ridden 67 miles.

I was planning for my first century to be in September and it would be this one: Peach of a Century. It sounded tame with promises of mostly flat, rolling hills and moderate climbs. I like hills, but over about 30 miles or so I like them...not so sure about 100!!

So, I got to thinking about my goals. You know those pesky little buggers that guilt you subconsiously into conscious guilt ridden action for setting them or in my case a blatent and frequent sabbotage. One goal for this year was to knock out a "couple centuries". This idea rolls off the top of my tongue like butter. The idea rolls smoothly. In application I'm still unsuccessful only because I haven't even actually attempted the goal. That is of course a very important step in success or failure apparently.

I was toying with the idea of doing the Crater Lake METRIC Century on August 16th. However, we are going camping that day and I was trying to figure out all the logistics to make everyone happy and the traveling smooth and it isn't going to work so smoothly. Although this is a very excellent goal for next year.

My biking partner in crime up here suggested we attempt the Covered Bridge ride out in the Willamette Valley. So, I being the geek that I am had to go investigate the elevation gain for the ride and fancy that it is only a mere 3,500-ish feet of gain the whole 100 miles. The first number doesn't scare me....the second number "100 miles" doesn't feel like butter on my tongue anymore! It feels more like indigestion.

I am going to knock this baby out of the goal box on August 10th. Wish me lot's of physical and mental endurance. There, I'm committed I said it out loud.