Today I did something I haven’t done since I was 26 years old.
I rode 100 miles.
{Heidi always has to find a way to get in the picture even if it is just her tail. Photo bombing Golden Retrievers are the worst}
Who says you slow down with age? I felt a million times better on this century ride than I did on the one 20 years ago. I’m not going to say it was a piece of cake, but it also didn’t kick my butt (although it hurt my butt).
Just like doing your first 20 mile run in marathon training is a milestone, I think riding your first 100 miles in Ironman training is a milestone. Now, if I can just run 26.2 miles after, I’ll be good to go. No, I did not run after today’s ride, but I am sure that is coming.
I split this ride into three loops. When we started out it was a balmy 32 degrees. Throughout the day I would shed my tights, gloves and ear warmers. Ken did the first one (31 miles) with me. My friends, Leigh and Barb, met me for the second loop (38 miles) and I did the last one by myself (same as the first loop – 31 miles). I needed to take in about 1,500 calories on this ride, and I did pretty well.
1 mint chocolate Clif Bar ~250 cals
1 peanut butter and jelly sandwich ~300 cals
1 almond/coconut Kind Bar ~ 200 cals
1 orange GU ~100 cals
1 blackberry GU ~100 cals
1 mint chocolate GU (ick) ~100 cals
48 ounces Power Bar Perform drink ~420 cals
24 ounces water
Total Calories: 1,470
I like to break up my solid food into small pieces and put into Ziploc bags in my Bento Box. Makes for easy feasting. After the ride, it looks like this, a mess of wrappers, coins and crumbs:
This ride made me a bit more confident for Ironman Florida. It took me about 5 hours and 56 minutes – but I also climbed 2,900 feet.
Florida will be more difficult due to heat, humidity and wind, but it is a very flat course and I’ll have sea level on my side. Who knows what the hell will happen on race day.
The only let down for the day was my freaking Garmin. I was excited to see “100 miles” on my watch for the first time. Instead it looked like this. Not enough space for a damn 100!
{I know that says 6 hours, but moving time was 5:56. Hey, and that’s a shit load of calories
burned sister!}
I am pathetic because I thought I rode 100 miles and I only rode 00.01. I definitely need this sticker now:
I am showing you this picture of me and Sam because you can see that I should have re-applied sunscreen to my nose. I am Rudolph.
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What has been a milestone in your training? The first time I ever ran double digits was HUGE for me.
Do you feel more fit than you did in your younger years? YES. I never was a runner and I was never consistent about working out. In fact, from age 29 to 40 I did very little for exercise.
SUAR
