I had it in my head I was doing 100km on my bike today, come hell or high water. Justin had said to ride for 3.5 hours but I wanted to see how long it would take me to do 100km. Left my house at 5:30am and headed down Taylor Street and then out to Highway 16 towards Clavet. Took me an hour to the turn off towards Patience Lake Mine. Once I turned the corner I actually felt really, really good. The early morning grogginess and feeling tired were gone and it was a gorgeous morning for a bike ride. Dark clouds to the west but it looked like I was heading towards clearer skies so I did not let it concern me. About half way to Hwy5, a group of cyclists were coming towards me and it was a bunch of tri-guys...the very fast, competitive group that I try to steer clear of!! I don't know how far they had gone but they caught me just at the corner of Hwy5. They were kind enough to pedal with me for about 45 seconds...just long enough to say hi, give me a tip or two on form, and off they went! Seriously, they were gone in a flash. No chicking them. I got to the drive-in and turned right.
CoryF was waiting there for me as he had a really long ride to do and we had agreed (as he was flying by me a few minutes before) we would ride together. He was doing intervals and would loop back to get me. Those dark clouds were getting darker and scary and the forcast did say lightening before I left home. But Cory talked me into continuing on with him....bugger.
Because I just went to far and then had to turn around I had no idea how I was going to make it home. I even called home at 9:00 and begged for a ride but the kids were still sleeping so I had no option but to keep pedalling.
As Jenna says later "That was GOOD that you had no one to save you!!"
Then I hit the rain. Holy Cow. Cold and muddy and so tired and my ass was sore and I had had to stop about 6 times through out the ride to fix my seat. I was very close to tears!! I got to McKercher and called home AGAIN! The kids were STILL sleeping!! My husband says "Well, you are so close to home...just get on your bike and ride home..." Like it is so easy.
Made it home and into the door. I was SO hungry. I think my biggest issue today was that I did not eat enough and probably had a small bonk out there as I was seriously, mentally done. Just as I was heading into the tub, Jenna called and I gave her all the details and I was still very near tears...I did the 100km but it took me over 4 hours!!! That, in my opinion, is super duper slow. And then to run a half marathon afterwards....there is NO WAY my legs could have taken that.
But the POSITIVES are these (because I refuse to focus on anything else):
1. I just rode 100km on my bike!! An unimaginable task only a few months ago.
2. I now know FOR SURE...eat...Eat...EAT !!! on that bike!!! So IMPORTANT!
3. I still believe I can do this half ironman. I little shaky about an hour ago, but thank-you Jenna for calling when you did. I was seriously close to a meltdown. The Universe knows who to send your way and when.
4. Who cares if I am slow? Seriously!! Not one person, family, client, friends have asked me how fast I figure I can do this thing in. Nobody that is important to me really cares so I shouldn't either!!
1 comment:
Excellent! 100 K is a milestone. You know you can do it. In fact, you've done all three legs of the half ironman, now to do them all in a row.
Next time you do 100K take along some nutrition! You have no idea the difference it makes. Susi kicked my tail when she found out I was doing 50K + rides without nutrition. The first long ride I took with some Cliff's bars (90K, I think), I felt GREAT after the bike, and then did 5 K faster than I'd ever done it before. I was astonished how good my legs felt once I'd shambled the first K.
Plus, you stopped to play with the seat, so it's not fair to count that time. So don't get down on yourself.
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