100 miles

After last week's disastrous attempt at trying to PR on a 1/2 marathon, I took a few days off from running. Mainly to rest my very tired, hurting legs. It wasn't until I was tagged in this picture (on the right) that I realized how much I was suffering during the race. When I run, I normally focus on trying to strike my sole a mid-foot, which is better for you. This picture shows me heel striking rather than mid-foot striking--which is bad, bad, bad and my body was feeling it. So, I've ordered myself a few more days of rest from running with plenty of stretching, icing and foam rolling.


Back to 70.3 training. This week's training included a 50 miler bike ride. According to the weather forecast, Saturday looked to be the best day to do my long bike ride with high temps in the low 70's and light winds. So, it was time to rally my training buddies to join me on my ride--Jackie, Rob (Jane's husband and an avid cyclist), Missy and Anne.

Missy and I have been indoor cycling every Monday night during this past winter at our local bike shop. We have also been logging swimming mileage together twice a week. In the water, Missy is super fast so I should say it's more like me trying hard not to have her lap me a million times. Missy and I will be participating in two triathlons together over the next few weeks.

Anne is a triathlete and just recently completely IM 70.3 Galveston in what I would say was a phenomenal time.  Anne is about 3 weeks out from racing in IM Texas 140.6.

Two things checked off list,
two to go

Earlier in the week, Anne mentioned that she had a 100 mile ride scheduled on Saturday as part of her training. When she said 100 miles, all I could think of was that that is a century ride and I was planning to ride 100 miles sometime during 2014, most likely a few months after IM KS 70.3 (photo on the left). After taking a day or two to process the opportunity, I decided that I would attempt to ride 100 miles on Saturday with Anne.

The Plan: We would ride 2x50 miles. The course would be 25miles out to Atchison, Kansas (the birthplace of Amelia Earhart) and 25 miles back. Rob, Anne, Missy and I would ride the 1st 50 miles together with  Rob and Missy finishing at the 50 mile mark. Then, Anne, Jackie (her 1st 50 miles) and I would ride the 2nd 50 miles.

Jackie getting ready to start her 1st 50 miler 

Since I never ridden this course before, I was a little hesitant of riding on a major highway. But, I must say I really, really liked the route--It was fairly flat and I was riding fairly fast. The road condition was some of the best that I have ridden on in Kansas. It took me 1:25:00 to get to the 25 mile turn around point and Rob and Anne were probably two miles ahead of me with Missy about 1 mile behind me.

Anne @mile 87
She is so fast that she
finished way before we did

There was a head wind on the way back which made for the next 25 miles a little bit more challenging. I managed to finish my first 50 miles in 3:15:00. At the 50 mile pit stop, I met Jackie, ate some food, refilled my water bottles and bento food box. And then we were off for my last 50, her first 50.

I remember telling Jackie that there would be a small section of road that had major cracks and potholes and that we needed to be careful. Sure enough, at my mile 59 (Jackie's mile 9), Jackie yelled out "Potholes!" Unfortunately, I was riding too close behind her (yes, I was drafting her :D) and I hit a pothole. Then my back tire went flat--ugh!

Poor Celo looks so sad spread out on the side of the highway

30 minutes later with 2 "phone a friend" calls for help, 2 ice cream scoop tools and using 2 C02 cartridges,  we (or mostly Jackie) managed to put a new tire tube on Celo and away we went. Again, we made great time to Atchison--it felt like we were flying! Once we made it to the 25 mile turnaround point, the winds shifted and we were riding into the wind (24mph winds). There were times that the wind gusts were so strong (35mph winds) that I had hard time keeping my bike upright. By mile 80, I was feeling defeated and didn't know if I could make it any further. I just keeping repeating to myself--"just get to mile 90 and it's all downhill". Sure enough, those 10 miles were probably the hardest 10 miles I've ever ridden. Finally, we saw the sign "Welcome to Leavenworth Co." and I knew that I was about to complete my 1st 100 miles. I can't thank Jackie enough because if she wasn't there this would have been an attempt at 100 miles rather than completing 100 miles.

Finally FINISHED and enjoying
a recovery chocolate milk

100 miles in the books--even though
it took a LONG, LONG time to complete

It's been a few days now since I've completed my ride. Surprisingly, my legs were mostly recovered by the next day (Easter Sunday). I'm so thankful for my crazy friends that rode with me that day!! I still have a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that I rode 100 miles!

Next up: CGSC Sprint Triathlon on May 3