SIERRA GOLD COUNTRY CHALLENGE 100 - May 14, 2016 - Auburn
This is my last long ride before I tackle my first LONG ride, the Davis Double Century one week away. So 100 does not seem like such a big number anymore! I've done four so far this year. In fact, it is easier on my legs than on my brain, where it still sounds pretty far. This one is going to be special, since I get to ride with good friends Beate and Tim Danielson. I met Beate in our TBF Women's Cycling Class last year, and she has blossomed into a very talented endurance cyclist! Long legged and full of grit, she challenges me on every climb, forcing me to work harder, which is exactly what I want. So I enjoy an evening of fine cooking (daughter Loren made fabulous turkey meatballs and tiny thin whole wheat pasta!), plenty of bicycle banter, and we turn in early to awake at 4 am. With over 9000' of climbing, we are going to be riding....all day, and an early start is required. Good thing I brought my Hammer Rem Caps, because they let me sleep peacefully thru the short night.
4am - the pleasant aroma of coffee awakens me and Beate is warming the fresh bread she made yesterday. I'm in heaven! We head out and I enjoy my power shake (with Hammer whey protein, sesame, sunflower, and chia seeds, berries, and yogurt) on the road. Auburn is only an hour away, and it's still chilly as we sign in. I do my usual gear appraisal and change my mind six times on what to wear!
6:30 am - Garmin is acting up, and I don't want to ride 100 with no info! Cheeeeze- times have changed, and it would just feel strange to not know a few stats along the way! It kicks in, but the map download isn't operating. Whatever, let's just get going! Off we ride into the most beautiful course of the year. We are at 3500' and there is constant climbing and descending as we ride through the canyons. I love the climbs, Altho it is frustrating to take so long to warm up. Beate doubles back and we reach various rest stops, which none of us is interested in. It's so much easier to bring your own food than to take a chance on what the events offer. Naturally I've packed my Hammer ammo: hourly Race Caps, endurance amino, Endurolytes, and anti-fatigue caps - so no free radicals are going to ruin my day! Of course I have my gel flask, mixed with espresso and raspberry - tastes so good I'm tempted to eat it even on my days off! Perpeteum tabs and Hammer bars cut to bite size round out my supply, and Beate has let me try her Hammer Heed, which combines calories and electrolytes. Fuel right - feel great ! Works for me - and if I get cranky, I know I forgot to follow my plan. Cranky hungry babies cry, cranky hungry riders frown a lot and lose enthusiasm. So I follow my plan. And my map system has kicked in - I really like the heads up before the turns. I also have the cue sheet, so even tho I have no idea where I am, I'm confident I'll end up wherever it is they finish!
The miles and hours pile up, and while I'm enjoying the climbing, I dread the descents. Beate and Tim fly by, and I creep downhill, humming (grunting really) to make myself focus. It only gets worse as the day goes by, and I'm upset with myself. I HAVE to improve this basic piece of riding, both to enjoy it, and to race well. I can no longer ignore the fact that it's costing me precious time.
I always love hitting 60 miles, because we are way over half done, and there are just two twenty milers left. I feel great, and take note of the fantastic Georgia O'Keefe sky clouds! It is beautiful, and in the open area, you could see clouds forever! I memorize them for a future painting.
As we approach 90 miles,we are relived the climbing is finally done, because we've gone 9000' and that's what the entry blank said. But, noooooooo, we climbed another 800', all the way to the finish, on teeny tiny one lane backroads. It was finally not fun thru this dark, technical section so near the end. But I got my head together and considered it great training for Davis Double and the 12- hour championship. We arrive at the fairgrounds gate with 97.4 miles, look at each other, and keep riding, because when you sign up for a century, you just gotta do 💯!
My stomach has finally become used to long rides, and I can enjoy the post race dinner and the drive back to the Danielson's without the usual grumbly annoying stomachy stuff. As we drive back I find myself fighting discouragement at being so much slower than Beate. I remind myself that she is 51; I am 65. That's something I keep forgetting, but as a racer, I know I have to be fast. And I expect to be fast. As we lounge around in various poses of utter fatigue, Beate is checking our strava stats...and the two of us have topped the women's list all day long! On multiple climbs, we've been earning all-time trophies! And so, just like my seventh graders, I'm suddenly happy! Life is interesting - we all really seek to excel at something, and be recognized for it, and so, at the end of the day, I'm feeling good. And tired. And happy. Ready for the Davis Double. Heck, what's another 100 miles? I'll picture it as 4x50. I can do that.
This is my last long ride before I tackle my first LONG ride, the Davis Double Century one week away. So 100 does not seem like such a big number anymore! I've done four so far this year. In fact, it is easier on my legs than on my brain, where it still sounds pretty far. This one is going to be special, since I get to ride with good friends Beate and Tim Danielson. I met Beate in our TBF Women's Cycling Class last year, and she has blossomed into a very talented endurance cyclist! Long legged and full of grit, she challenges me on every climb, forcing me to work harder, which is exactly what I want. So I enjoy an evening of fine cooking (daughter Loren made fabulous turkey meatballs and tiny thin whole wheat pasta!), plenty of bicycle banter, and we turn in early to awake at 4 am. With over 9000' of climbing, we are going to be riding....all day, and an early start is required. Good thing I brought my Hammer Rem Caps, because they let me sleep peacefully thru the short night.
4am - the pleasant aroma of coffee awakens me and Beate is warming the fresh bread she made yesterday. I'm in heaven! We head out and I enjoy my power shake (with Hammer whey protein, sesame, sunflower, and chia seeds, berries, and yogurt) on the road. Auburn is only an hour away, and it's still chilly as we sign in. I do my usual gear appraisal and change my mind six times on what to wear!
6:30 am - Garmin is acting up, and I don't want to ride 100 with no info! Cheeeeze- times have changed, and it would just feel strange to not know a few stats along the way! It kicks in, but the map download isn't operating. Whatever, let's just get going! Off we ride into the most beautiful course of the year. We are at 3500' and there is constant climbing and descending as we ride through the canyons. I love the climbs, Altho it is frustrating to take so long to warm up. Beate doubles back and we reach various rest stops, which none of us is interested in. It's so much easier to bring your own food than to take a chance on what the events offer. Naturally I've packed my Hammer ammo: hourly Race Caps, endurance amino, Endurolytes, and anti-fatigue caps - so no free radicals are going to ruin my day! Of course I have my gel flask, mixed with espresso and raspberry - tastes so good I'm tempted to eat it even on my days off! Perpeteum tabs and Hammer bars cut to bite size round out my supply, and Beate has let me try her Hammer Heed, which combines calories and electrolytes. Fuel right - feel great ! Works for me - and if I get cranky, I know I forgot to follow my plan. Cranky hungry babies cry, cranky hungry riders frown a lot and lose enthusiasm. So I follow my plan. And my map system has kicked in - I really like the heads up before the turns. I also have the cue sheet, so even tho I have no idea where I am, I'm confident I'll end up wherever it is they finish!
The miles and hours pile up, and while I'm enjoying the climbing, I dread the descents. Beate and Tim fly by, and I creep downhill, humming (grunting really) to make myself focus. It only gets worse as the day goes by, and I'm upset with myself. I HAVE to improve this basic piece of riding, both to enjoy it, and to race well. I can no longer ignore the fact that it's costing me precious time.
I always love hitting 60 miles, because we are way over half done, and there are just two twenty milers left. I feel great, and take note of the fantastic Georgia O'Keefe sky clouds! It is beautiful, and in the open area, you could see clouds forever! I memorize them for a future painting.
As we approach 90 miles,we are relived the climbing is finally done, because we've gone 9000' and that's what the entry blank said. But, noooooooo, we climbed another 800', all the way to the finish, on teeny tiny one lane backroads. It was finally not fun thru this dark, technical section so near the end. But I got my head together and considered it great training for Davis Double and the 12- hour championship. We arrive at the fairgrounds gate with 97.4 miles, look at each other, and keep riding, because when you sign up for a century, you just gotta do 💯!
My stomach has finally become used to long rides, and I can enjoy the post race dinner and the drive back to the Danielson's without the usual grumbly annoying stomachy stuff. As we drive back I find myself fighting discouragement at being so much slower than Beate. I remind myself that she is 51; I am 65. That's something I keep forgetting, but as a racer, I know I have to be fast. And I expect to be fast. As we lounge around in various poses of utter fatigue, Beate is checking our strava stats...and the two of us have topped the women's list all day long! On multiple climbs, we've been earning all-time trophies! And so, just like my seventh graders, I'm suddenly happy! Life is interesting - we all really seek to excel at something, and be recognized for it, and so, at the end of the day, I'm feeling good. And tired. And happy. Ready for the Davis Double. Heck, what's another 100 miles? I'll picture it as 4x50. I can do that.