This event was The Wrap to a perfect first season as Total Body Fitness women's cycling coach! We've trained about forty gals in three separate classes this season, most from raw beginner to century rider, in just three months! Our riders train with us for three months, and each class culminates in a century event, riders selecting either the metric or full distance.
Last Saturday Foxy Fall Century was on our list, and with predicted high temps, we rolled out at dawn, the lights of other riders creating a beautiful snake of blinking red dots in the dim and chilly morning. We'd ridden part of the course two weeks earlier, and I hadn't needed arm or leg warmers then, so I left them behind this morning as well, which I regretted for, ohhhh, about 60 miles! Today's weather was cloudy and our First Chilly Ride. My group of four rolled along all smiles, proud of what they'd set out to do. For two, this was their first century, and for my over-achiever, her sixth - this year! One metric rider had opted for the charter distance to accommodate date night at a concert, the envy of my other gals! All had been bitten by The Bug, and no matter how difficult this course was about to become, success was written into their expression. We made full use of every rest stop, and Kelly knew of a few secret porta pottys out there! I'd ridden my longest and fastest training ride ever a few days prior, and so today was a welcome break from race intensity. I encouraged my riders to eat and drink, choosing PBJs and bananas, and I indulged as well, hungry from the miles I'd put in this week. (Some weeks I just cannot seem to eat enough to support my habit!). At the lower intensity, my stomach did just fine, but it's not likely I'll be able to indulge at the upcoming 12-hour championship, at 5 mph faster pace!
I couldn't help yearning for my running shoes, as our weather remained chilly and overcast. In just a few weeks I'll switch gears and run again for the off season, and this fall weather made me hungry for that! I doubled back for My Gals here and there, and each time I was met with their unwavering enthusiasm. What a satisfying feeling to have Happy Riders, as the course started a long and unrelenting series of hills. Francesca and Dawn supported each other up the most challenging sections, and I'd come back to let them know a summit was in sight. Which summit, I didn't know! But I let them know there was a reprieve and they were rejuvenated.
Somewhere out there we experienced not just one, but two brief rainstorms! We reviewed safe riding strategies and carried on, Francesca the only one wearing a jacket. Happily, this was a warm rain, and we weren't descending, so all was well. My Gals were still smiling! It is an indescribably satisfying feeling to coach Happy Determined Riders! I never heard any complaints or discouragement, they simply persevered thru the challenges and smiled on. As we reached our finish town, I reminded them that the course was 99 miles, not 109. Well, this wouldn't do at all! They wanted that garmin to read 100, and I feel the same, so, as tired as they must have been, we rode right past the finish line and got in the Extra Mile(s). We agreed to use the garmin with the least mileage as the one that counted - so we rode two miles thru town and into the finish! They simply would not accept my offer of splitting my Extra Miles (from doubling back)! Ha! No surprise there! ONE HUNDRED MILES ! My beginners are not beginners anymore!! We passed on the event dinner, took some finisher photos, and headed home our separate ways, hanging back just a bit to savor the moment...no one was hungry, but driving away meant our event was over, so we hung on just a bit longer, reliving the highlights.
And tonight, four days later, we celebrate! Fun Time and dinner at Chevys on The River, with all our Total Body Fitness Friends, Athletes, and Coaches, to a toast a Great Year of Fitness, Fun, Growth, Joy, and Happiness! Thank you, Bill Driskill and Mark Shaw, for your faith in me as your women's cycling coach, and to Spence, Mark, Mark, Becky and Laurie for your frequent assistance on our weekly training rides! I work with an awesome team, and can't wait for our 2016 season to begin!