Race Schedule and Results

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

It's all about T.I.T.S my friends...

**First, our trip to Napa and Sonoma was fabulous and once I get pictures uploaded, I'll write a whole blog about it.  Truly an amazing place, the vineyards were breathtaking, the wedding we went to was one of the best (besides the freezing cold temps), we got to explore a little of San Francisco and we made it home with little delay (for us, that's a victory in itself, especially since I got a call on Thursday after we landed in San Jose that our return flights were canceled and they had rebooked us on separate flights, with me leaving late Sunday night and Tom leaving early Monday morning.  I love American Airlines so much...)

Anyway, yesterday we had the brilliant idea to head out for a century - the first of the year.  I hadn't been on my bike for a few days and thought the T.I.T.S (time in the saddle) would be good. Little did I know how hellish, yet amazing the ride would end up.

After being in 60 degree temps of California for the last four days, we were a little shocked by the high of 92 predicted for the day.  I slathered myself in sunscreen (which, a little PSA - DO IT KIDS... being tan may be cute, having cancer sucks).  We filled as many water bottles as we could both hold, loaded up on food and money, printed out a new route sheet which would take us to the Utica Ice Cream Festival (gotta have a destination) and headed out.  The first 20 miles or so were amazing.  Wind at our back, not a cloud in the sky.  At one point, Tom says to me "I think we're going to be fighting on the way back".  Whatever... I was thoroughly enjoying my T.I.T.S.  Around mile 35, we hit some gravel roads.  These were new roads for us and we didn't know what we were going to get.  We got rocks... I'm not talking the typical summer-in-Ohio chip and seal.  These were rocks.  I slowed my pace to about 5mph, death gripped my bike, unclipped one foot and slowly made my way forward.  For about 5 miles.  It was on and off, but it sucked big time.  Totally takes the wind out of your sail.  At about mile 46, we couldn't take it any more and changed the route according to my GPS.  5 miles on a busier road would be no problem as long as we didn't have to endure the rocks.

But, I put the wrong address in my phone.

Opps... so maybe 10 miles later we arrive in a town.  Cold beverages.  That's all we wanted.  Screw the ice cream festival which was outside... there was a brand new Subway which had air conditioning. We nom nom nomed a sub, downed 32 ounces of Poweraid and filled up all of our bottled empty bottles with ice cold water.  Our return route home was on different roads so we were fine.

The ride home was in the wind.  By mile 65, I was dead. Our next turn was on more gravel roads. My water was hot, my stomach was sloshing, my eyes couldn't stay open.  I had flash backs of Ironman Louisville... this is dehydration / heat related.  I stopped at a tree, laid my bike down and cried.  How was I ever going to make it home 35 miles? And then I realized that it was more like 45 miles because of our detour out... I started thinking "I'll call my mom.  She can come get me".  But I knew they were having a BBQ for Memorial Day and I didn't want to ruin that.  And who am I to quit when the going gets tough?  At that minute she called me - mother's intuition I guess.  I cried to her and of course she said in a stern voice "figure out where you are and I"m coming to get you".  I hung up, defeated.

This ride wasn't about time or speed.  It was truly about T.I.T.S and enjoying the day with my husband.  I'm not a quitter.  We'd be in a little town soon enough to get fresh water.  My spirits started lifting and I called my mom back.  "Don't come get me... you just called at a bad time".  We rerouted ourselves a more direct, albeit busier, way home.

Within 5 miles, I felt like a new person.  Granted we were paceline riding on a 55 mph road and it was getting late so the sun wasn't as strong.  But I felt awesome.  We stopped at a fire station for ice water.  And then again at a pizza shop for more poweraid.  At 85 miles, I felt like I could ride forever, but that pizza smelled so good that I just wanted to get home!

I knew the ride would be around 108 to our house and I was actually excited.  I had made it through a miserable low and felt strong.  My pulls were 22mph, nothing hurt.

At mile 99.58 were hear it.

Psssssssssssssssst

Tom's flat.  Our spare tube is faulty.  I try to call my mom just to tell her we are alright because I know she's panicked.  I get one and a half rings out and my phone dies.  Great.  We're 8.5 miles from home.  I tell Tom that I'm going to start riding to get the car and he insists that he'll go since he's faster.  So I sit (luckily on a bridge over a beautiful body of water here in Delaware), and wait.

I count 110 cars in a 20 minute period that pass.  Only one asks if I need help.  Tom finally arrives and we head home.  What a crappy end to a hard day.  And I'm short .42 miles of my century.

I got home and hopped on my bike.  I went around the block until I hit the 100.  I had come too far to not finish what I started.

Might have been the hardest 100 I've ever done, but if that doesn't built mental toughness, nothing will!

Afterall, it's all about T.I.T.S my friends and 100 miles of T.I.T.S in May makes me happy!

28 comments:

Matthew Smith said...

Way to go on finishing! I had a rough time two weeks ago on my first century. Flats suck! Isn't it nice to have moms or loved ones that are willing to come get you? :) Enjoy your recovery.

Hollywood said...

It was totally the title that hooked me; damn 22year old male brain. I knew it had to be an anagram. But anyway; I feel for you. I've hit that same wall many tines when I was training for my full last season, and those times are there's on reason I didnt quit when flatted the third time knowing I had 60miles to go on little more than rim. You'll be glad you didn't quit the next time

Christi said...

The highs and lows of a workout can be brutal. Congrats for conquering your lows and riding a century.

Unknown said...

I suspect you'll get some interesting traffic with that title.

That said, my favorite part was where you went around the block to get the full 100. :) Did Tom do the same??

Ironman By Thirty said...

It sure is all about the TITS. Oh wait, yes, it is all about time in the saddle too.

"being tan may be cute, having cancer sucks" - put that on a t-shirt. better yet, on a long-sleeved t-shirt. haha

What kind of bottles do you have? I love the insulated Camelbak ones and they do a great job keeping my drink cool. At $10 a pop it sucks when I launch them and lose one though (happened twice now).

I've never been good/confident about stopping random places to ask for water. I gotta get better at that.

Way to grind it out on a hot day!

Matty O said...

My motto in life applies to riding a bike now, "Its all about the TITS" LOVE IT!

Great job on fighting this one out... felt bad for you guys having everything tossed your way but you showed it who was boss by getting triple digits!!!

During your race, just think of this day, can't be that bad right? :)

Betsy said...

Oh man...It sounds a lot like my 'almost century' on Saturday. AS we were heading out that morning Neil said this is going to be an adventure. And he was right! I might get around to a blog about it this week!

Big Daddy Diesel said...

I hate centuries, centuries are only good for one thing, mental toughness. I would say riding one is 15% phyisical, the rest mental, and it all goes down hill around mile 65-75. There was plenty on that ride that was out of your control. Congrats on finishing it. If it happens again, call me and I can come help out

Carlee said...

Way to tough it out! I can't believe the flat. Glad you got your T.I.T.S in!

Unknown said...

I've been over 100mi 7x this year already and all of them combined were not even close to yours on the suckitude scale!

Wow - way to finish that sucker off right at the end. You deserved to finish it in triple digits!

adena said...

Way to tough it out.. man that's a long ride!

Kim said...

man col i give you credit for carrying on! i would have been still crying on the side of the road. way to hang in there chica - your mind is so tough!!!!!

Unknown said...

those are tough. Trust me, when its 100 plus here, the wind and heat kill you! James love it though. he's crazy!

Unknown said...

Way to keep going! You will be stronger for this!

Caratunk Girl said...

100 miles is so tough. I love the TITS - speaking of which, I need to go get some TITS in a few minutes!

Tri4Success said...

Wow, brutal century. Finishing that ride will pay off in the future. It'll give you great strength when faced with your next challenge.

Jon said...

What a story!!!

I did a Century once and @ mile 99 a person in our group got a flat. So demoralizing!

I woulda turned around @ a gravel road. No thanks! I like smooth pavement.

MMMmmmmm, Pizza would be nice right now :)

KovasP said...

That is one epic ride!

Aimee said...

Ugh..what a crazy ride you had! But, I think I would have rode around the block to get those 100 miles in too! :)

misszippy said...

That was nothing short of epic, if you ask me! Nothing worse than a flat w/ no way to fix it. Especially so close to home! The next ride will be smoother!

Birdie said...

Way to stay tough!! What a crazy day you guys had!! Congrats on your century!! Impressed you rode around to block to make it official! good work!

Unknown said...

Dang girl - way to go! I have a 200 mile bike ride coming up in July and I have not gotten my TITS in. Definitely need up up the ante on that. I too am a firm believer in sunscreen. If it's slightly overcast, you know i'll be wearing at least SPF 30 :)

Molly said...

wow, what a ride, but I love how you finished the 100 when you got home! I always have to make my planned distance, I've been known to run back and forth on my street until the number on my garmin is what I want it to be. Nice job!!

Kurt @ Becoming An Ironman said...

Way to get in that last partial mile!! No one's going to steal the full 100 from you!

Erin @ UntilYouTri said...

Oh my goodness! What a ride. Good for you for getting that last little bit in to make it 100:)

Wes said...

being tan may be cute, having cancer sucks

That's a great quote... I'm keeping it :-)

I'm partial to T.I.T.S. myself, but not 92 degree rides. You're too dayum HTFU! Is that even possible? I dunno!

Janet Edwards said...

Dude, never have I heard it abbreviated T.I.T.S...too funny! Way to go on the ride!

Jason said...

That is a great story about how hard you fought to get to that 100. I love this and I am so proud of you that you took that bike out after getting home for that .42 miles. That is pure awesome.