At first I was freaked out about missing turns because I was on my own. Until I figured out to follow the green arrows. The course was VERY well marked. There was a pretty significant hill right off the bat. 6 miles in, I got a flat in the rear again. Figures! I don't know if it was my fault or the tube was old. I called support, but even as I was talking to them a SAG vehicle pulled up. They drove me to the first rest stop (10 miles), picking up a guy with a broken spoke on the way. There, hubby met me with two new tubes. I let the SAG guy change my tube while baby nursed. Then I headed out. The next 16 miles were quite hilly, on the way up to AP Hill and then stopped at the Caroline Library for the next rest. I was feeling behind and wanting to draft - it was windy. But either I was dropping ppl quickly or getting dropped quickly. Headed out right behind a big group. As soon as we turned south on 601, it was gorgeous easy peasy gentle downhill for miles! I was drafting one fast tri woman with aerobars for a while, but then she stopped to take pictures of the horses! The miles went quickly, until about a mile out from the rest stop, there was a brutal hill. I saw SAG buddy there; he had gotten his spoke fixed and was doing well. I was feeling pretty beat. Sat down and ate two pb&j, oranges, and a lot of gatorade. Headed out with 13 miles to go. Found a really good pack to ride with. Was ahead of them a while, and then 3 miles from the end they dropped me. I think the course went uphill a little then. I had very little left. My knees were sore and my legs tight. I don't know how it would have gone if I had done the full 63... So I'm still happy with riding for almost 4 hrs, even if it was less than planned.

Wear sunscreen on my shoulders!!!! What was I thinking??

Texted hubby but then discovered the bar-b-que. Chowed down! Felt so good to sit on a chair and put my legs up.


Weight plus not much time in the saddle since having baby.


This is a fun ride and very well supported, with lots of SAG and great rest stops, well stocked with fruit, bagels, sandwiches, even homemade cookies!