Pre-Ride-

I start talking with Heidi from TE and we decide that we will ride together. As the day gets closer we talk about a ride plan... nutrition... hydration... etc. We are pumped and ready to take on the 100 mile challenge!


8-25-06/Friday-

I leave work at 1:00 PM and hit the road for Whichita Falls (WF), TX! Woo-hoo! Hotter Than Hell... here I come!

In Decatur, I meet with with my friend Diane and she follows me into WF since we are staying at the same hotel... the Ramanda Inn Limited (3209 Northwest Frwy, US. HWY 287- I am giving you the address so you know to NEVER stay at THAT hotel).

As I am checking-in, I get into a discussion with the front desk as they are tellling me I MUST pay for 2 nights. I let them know that I was NEVER told about the 2-night minimum and they tell me that they sent the information to Marvin Parker (who I got the room from, but I did call the hotel and switch the reservation in my name!). So, after going back and forth, they finally agree to charge me for one night at $109 instead of $89. Fine.

After we check-in, we promptly leave and hit the Expo center around 4:30 PM. There is this HUGE line for packet pickup. I get in line and Diane goes to register. She got in/out a lot quicker than I did. *Note to self- Do not pre-register.*

I give Heidi a call and she finds me in my long line... we chat for a bit. I get to meet her hubby and look at the cool new jersey she bought for the ride.

Once I got my packet, Diane and I hit the Expo. There seemed to be some really great deals, but I didn't NEED anything... and it was really crowded, so we headed to the Remington Hotel to eat the Greater Dallas Bicyclists. The food on the buffet was filling... which made up for some of the taste! HA!

When are bellies were full, we headed back to the hotel and went to sleep around 10:00 AM.


8-26-06/Saturday-

OH! 5:15 AM comes too quick! Diane packed up and headed out, while I hit the breakfeast in the front office. After I as full, I proceeded to check out.

The manager (I spoke with his wife the day before), tries to charge me for 2 nights. I emphasize I was told the day before I would be charged for 1 night. He says he REFUSES to let me only pay for one night and I MUST pay for 2 nights. We keep going round and round. I get so pissed off, I start to SHAKE in anger.

I then stomp out to my car and I grab my cell phone... go back inside and call the local police. At that point, the manager realized I was SERIOUS about NOT paying for 2 nights and he calls upstairs to find out that I was told I would only pay for 1 night. Then, and only then do I get charged for 1 night.
Moral of the story: Never stay at the Ramada Inn Limited in WF, TX!

So, I was completely pissed and got in my car to go to the ride. I can't find a place to get ice, so I am do not have cold water in my Camelbak or Polar bottle. Not a good start. I find parking at 6:15 AM (the ride starts at 7:00 AM) and call Heidi.

I get all my stuff unpacked and head over to find Heidi. After finding her, we got in the HUGE line of cyclists. At this point, she realizes her back brakes are NOT working. Not good! We finally find a mechanic, and he *sort of* fixes her back brakes. She just hopes and prays that she doesn't need to make any quick stops for the rest of the day.

8:00 AM we are finally PEDALING! The original ride plan called for starting at 7:00 AM so we could make it to Hell's Gate (62 miles) by 12:30 PM. We are determined though, so we figured if we up the average some, we can make it.

Miles 1-20, we run over a 16 mph average. The morning feels good and we are doing good. We stop at mile 20 because I need some COLD water. Unfortunately, I got some mud gunked up in my cleats, so I had to spit water in my cleats and dig the mud out. Heidi got a picture of this move! HA!

Miles 20-30, we run over a 16 mph average. It's getting a little warmer, but we are still holding strong. We stop at mile 30 because I need more to drink. I am looking for food, but I can only find fruit. I eat some, but that isn't going to get me 100 miles.

Around miles 35-40, we start realizing that if we don't pick up the pace, we will NOT make Hell's Gate by 12:30 PM. So, we buckle down and starting pedaling. And we do a great job. The road was a straight away with some crosswinds hitting us, the sun was beating down on us (no shade to speak of), and it was just MILES of chip-sealing road. I put on my iPod and start focusing on getting to Hell's Gate.

This is where I start feeling it. I'm not feeling bad... but I'm overwhelmed by my need and want to to keep going...to NOT give up. I see a SAG wagon full of strong looking guys/girls... and I say to myself, "Screw that, I will not be taking one of those today". I see that others have given in to the pain, the heat... but we are still going... and going strong.

I put on a song that I love and I start to focus on my music and I start thinking about the Ironman videos I have seen with the finishers, and the heat is just beating on me... I am focusing on the words to the song... and I almost want to start crying. Not a, "I'm in pain" cry, but a "This is hard but it WILL NOT BEAT ME" cry. I fight back the tears and keep pedaling.

Around mile 52/55 we see a rest stop. I think it's Hell's Gate... closer than expected and I was SO EXCITED. The road we just left had taken it's toll on my body and mind. But it's not Hell's Gate.

At this point, Heidi and I talk about it, and we are OK with not making the 100 miler. It's very hot... and we are giving it all we have... but we think the 100 will be too much for us. Up until this point, we ran a 16 mph average. Which was I was VERY HAPPY about!

I'm looking for food, but I can't find any. At this point, I have only eaten some gel shots, sport beans, and 6 peanut butter crackers.

We hit the road and back it off a little since we know that we only have 25 miles left. The pressure is off. Then we see a sign that Hell's Gate is closed. I later found out it was shut down at 11:10 AM. We never would have made it... unless we started promptly at 7:00 AM and ran a 16+ mph average the whole way.

So, we pretty much keep a solid speed and keep going. I think around noon to 2:00 it was around 100-104F degrees. It was HOT. And the wind was blowing. We keep pedaling and we stop whenever we can. At this point, I lose track of how many stops we make, but I don't care. We are doing to make the 75 miles and we are doing a great job.

There is a stretch with headwind and Heidi takes the lead and keeps us running 14-16 mph! I duck in behind her and keep pedaling. Again, we stop when we can. But we are passing people who look like they are struggling. It's obvious that the heat is getting to everyone.

At some rest stop after mile 52... I find some pickels and saltines to eat. Wow! Talk about food *smirk*. Then, at another stop, I find some chex mix... but at this point I feel like I might vomit if I eat anything... so I pass on the food. I probably should have taken something in... because I think the pounding headache hit around 1:00 PM and didn't leave until 7:00 PM.

We get to about 3 miles from the end... and we have to stop and take a rest in some shade. Fine with me. The heat is a killer and my head is pounding.

After a short rest, we get up and finish the ride.

FINAL STATS:
74.53 miles/ 15.1 mph average/ 4 hours, 55 minutes and 26 seconds (rode from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM est.)

Once done, Heidi hooks up with her hubbby and I rush off to my car. I have a 2-hour drive ahead of me, and I know if I stick around I won't be awake to make it home safely. So, I hop in the car, find some food... carbs! (french fries and biscuits- HORRIBLE, I know)... and drive home.

I get home around 4:30 PM, finally take a shower and then I crash out on the couch around 6:00 PM. I wake up around 9:30 and then I go to my bed and sleep until 4:00 AM. Then at 4:00 AM I had to get up so I could go watch my sweet boyfriend compete in his first triathlon!


In closing, I would like to say that I was very lucky to have Heidi ride with me. We worked great together as a team! Each of pushed the other, but neither of us broke down and had to "pushed" to keep going. She was really kind, and willing to be flexible to my plans and she was willing to stop when I needed to.

Overall it was a great ride and I am really proud of our performance. I know for me, I have never done a 16 mph for 55 miles... but I did it. I was surprised at how strong I was... but then again... I had a buddy to draft behind! I think both of us really did more than we expected and we did it with a smile until the end! It was a great challenge, but it was fun and I hope that Heidi and I can meet up for another bike rally in the future!

I am only rating this race low, because of the fact that the food at the rest stops was pathetic. When people are riding as far/hard as we were in the heat we were doing it in, they needed to have food other than cookies and fruit for us.

It was really nice though, because people ALL ALONG the route just sat outside cheering us on. I even saw some 80 year olds sitting in the sun at noon still cheering people on. I thanked them for being out there for us.