Ride Report: Solvang Century 100 mi Ride - March 14, 2009

Since this weekend's ride coincided with progress report time at school I will grade my efforts for my first 100 mi ride:


Adhering to 100 mile ride Nutrition Plan: EPIC FAIL

Adhering to 100 mi ride Hydration Plan: EPIC FAIL

Maintaining Sunny Disposition while completing 100 mile ride: EPIC FAIL

Maintaining even TOLERABLE Disposition while completing 100 mile ride: EPIC FAIL

Completion of 100 miles on a stupid, fucking bicycle: PASS (barely)


Here is the story...

This week was long, stressful and then culminated in an very emotional and painful event that I prefer to not go into. I followed this shit storm by immediately leaving to drive the 4 and 1/2 hours to Solvang, CA to complete my first 100 mile bike ride that I was both wholly unprepared for and not excited about.

I arrived about 2 hours before my LA Run Buddy and I checked into the hotel and did some work until she arrived. When she got there we were planning out the morning when it became obvious that I had somehow neglected to register for this ride.

Are you fucking kidding me?

Fortunately, they had 'Day of' registration. Day of registration at almost TWICE the price. $105 dollars to be exact.

Again, are you fucking kidding me?

Whatever. Totally my fault.

I got registered and after what seemed like an inordinately long amount if time, I finally got my HIGHLY unorganized, ass on the bike.

Planned start time 7:30 am. Actual start time 8:15.

Again, whatever. Totally my fault.

Getting ready to head out. Yes, I am wearing the same freaking shirt as Napa. It was cold and this was the only long sleeve shirt I had packed. I do own other shirts. Really.


LA Run Buddy all layered up and ready to go. It was colder than we had expected, so we basically put on all of our clothing and hoped for the best.

Miles 0-20

If I am truly honest with myself. I didn't want to ride 100 miles, or 50 miles, or even at all on Saturday. I was worried about the distance because my longest ride ever is 65 miles. Plus the farthest I got in the Cinderella training was 50 miles and my last two long rides were on the trainer due to over a month of rain in Northern California. But, really, my biggest problem was that my mental game was off. WAY off.

I have finished every endurance event I have entered not because of fitness or spot on training, but largely because I am SUPER stubborn and typically pretty mentally tough. Saturday, I just didn't have it.

The first 20 miles went by pretty fast. I adore my LA Run buddy and we hadn't seen each other in over a month. I dumped a bunch of emotional garbage on her and she, as always, made me laugh and feel better. I don't deserve such an amazing friend, but I am damn sure glad I have her.

This is an action shot of us riding out of the first aide stop taken with my Blackberry. After drying out, my run camera briefly came back to life. However, this morning it was pronounced officially dead, so my pictures are few and sucky. I love my big melon head in this picture. Super cute.

Miles 20-40

It took all the internal strength I could muster to turn away from the 50 mile course turnaround at mile 25, and head out on the 100 mile course. I just kept thinking if I continue to move forward, no matter how slow, eventually it will end or I will be struck by a car on Hwy 1 and be killed instantly. Either way, a 'win' for me.

Then at Mile 39 we hit the next aide stop and the HIGHLIGHT of the ride...

I was walking my bike through the stop simultaneously trying to stay out of real cyclist's way and pissing and moaning about the ride, when I hear "RBR!" I turned to see

Formulaic!

Ok, now I probably terrified the poor man. I was so excited to meet him and to see a friendly face during this torturefest.

RBR and Formulaic! Next stop Rage in the Sage!
I promise to not be such a spaz then!

This really improved my mood and I honestly believe it helped me finish this ride. We didn't actually ride together since he was, you know, riding faster than my 'slug on thorazine' pace, but it was a real boost to my spirits.

Miles 40-60

There was wind. Then more wind. Then we hit some wind.

But it was ok, because we were riding on a pothole riddled highway with no shoulder and semi-trucks passing us at 50 miles an hour. That helped distract you from the wind.

Miles 60-73

Here is where after a screaming downhill you were supposed to turn a sharp corner that was covered in a fine layer of gravel. I yelled, "Gravel" to warn LA Run Buddy and heard her scream as I proceeded to NOT make the turn and went shooting off the road into the side of the hill.

Thank God it was muddy and I just got stuck in the ditch. Here is a little bit of the hill in Santa Maria I got to take home with me (BTW, they warned us about this turn on the ride sheet IN LARGE BOLD UNDERLINED LETTERS that I conveniently ignored)

What I did not yet know is that this was only one of THREE times I would head off road that day. Yessiree I got MAD skills!

Miles 73-87

The longest 14 miles in the history of miles being traveled. Steady, uphill, and looooooong straight aways that seemed to NEVER end. A cyclist at the last aide stop had told us that it was the worst part of the ride. At least we can't call him a liar.

It was here that I proceeded to ride off the road twice for NO reason. Then I fell over trying to get back on my bike and rolled on my back still attached to it like some drunken turtle. This concerned LA Run Buddy greatly. Well, at least she seemed greatly concerned after she finished snorting out her Gu.

This prompted me to think about what I had eaten and drank so far. Hmmm.... 4 fig newtons, 1/2 a PB&J sandwich and about 20 oz. of water max. I am pretty certain that is insufficient to keep your motor and mental acuity sharp. I know better than this. What the hell am I doing?

I tried to eat and drink more, but I was not doing great at it. All LA Run Buddy and I could think was "we want to STOP fucking pedaling!"

Elevation profile for Solvang Century. See how fun 73-87 was?!

Miles 87-103

Home stretch. My attitude improved at the prospect of being able to stop pedaling and get off the bike.

I had a burst of energy in the last 13 miles, which makes me feel like the horror of this ride was mostly mental and not that I should just give up any hope of making the CdA bike cut off. But I have some serious work to do in the short amount of time left.

My bike computer, the ride sheet and LA Run buddy's computer say 103 miles. My Garmin said 101 miles.

Which ever it was. I was glad it was finally over.