All thingspossible

This is just a simple post of what you can do if you try.

Savannah Century (100 mile race/ride)

I was up at 5:30am on 9-4-2011, could not sleep. My wife came out with me so we could enjoy a mini vacation in Savannah the day before and after the race. I had a half a bagel with Peanut Butter for breakfast at around 6:30am. Got to the race start at 7:15 met some other entrants and stood around talking for a little while. There was from what I was told 750 per-registered applicants and they thought that another 200-250 signed up the day before the race and race morning.  As I mentioned in a previous post I am scared to death of heights, so I was apprehensive of the "Bridge Ride" which started out the race.  For those who don't know the bridge in Savannah it is approximately 185 ft off the water at it's center. 

The race began pretty close to on-time and we were off. The bridge was coming up quick and I felt a twinge of panic. I was in amongst other riders so I focused on them for the ascent up the bridge. I finally started to relax and started to enjoy the bridge ride a little before the apex of the bridge,and the ride down the other side was magnificent, by far one of the highlights of the day.

So, I started back in the pack around midway, and as people started to slow down climbing the bridge I started moving up the line. I was feeling fantastic. We came up on rest stop #1 and I felt strong so decided to blow past and keep on going. Ride was going well and I found myself easily falling into an avg 17.6 mile pace. Hit rest stoop #2 and picked up a half a banana and some watered down Gatorade. Spent maybe 4 minutes at the stop and pulled out.  The next 15 miles or so were going well I was still in about a 18 mph pace, and legs were strong. Hit rest stop #3 at about the 45 mile point give or take and legs and breathing was still awesome. Felt strong at this rest stop I picked up a 1/2 of a PB&J sandwich (they were pre-made) and filled the water bottle with Gatorade and water. At this point I have taken in the following foods over the 45 miles (1/2 banana, 1 Hammer Gel, 2 bottles of liquid, and 1/2 of a PB&J).  So spent about 5-8 minutes at rest stop #3 due to the line, and then hit the road again. I hit mile 50 smiling and said to myself half way home, and legs are still going strong, My time at 51 mile mark was 2:52. My pace has dropped to about 17 mph pace. I took in another Gel. I am riding pretty much alone, there are a few race teams that are in pace lines that are hitting about 20-21 mph, but I can't hang with them. Feels like the wind no matter which direction I headed was always in my face. I come to rest stop #4 at mile 67 in the race, and for the 5 miles prior to getting to rest stop #4, my stomach is killing me and I know what I have done to myself (too much sugar). I am down to about 13 mph. I guess between the Gatorade and the PB& J I had brought "doom" upon myself. The first time this has happened in almost 6 months. I pull up at rest stop #7 at make use of the Port a-John. I was in it for awhile, and I could here a line forming outside, and I am pretty sure I could here one rider say I could finish the race before this guy gets out. He may have been correct.   I came out, and waited in line to use it again.

Okay so out of the Port a-John finally, there was a hose at the rest stop so threw some water on my neck, and off I went. I took in some peanuts, but at this point was afraid to take in anything else. I was doing fine through mile 75, but then I hit the WALL. Legs felt good, but I think I let what happened to me the last 15 miles or so get in my head. I struggle through in my head afraid to take in my fluids for fear there was too much Gatorade and not enough water, and at mile 80 I "BONKED", about 1 mile or so from rest stop #6. Twenty miles to go. The taste of finishing looming in my head knowing that I do 20 miles in my sleep during training, I rested at 80 mile marker for about 15 minutes, saying one more mile dammit one more mile and you can get fresh liquid. I got on my bike to start moving again and a waive of dizziness and a cold chill ran through my body. I get off the bike before I fell over, and waited some more, at this time a women and her husband pulled up next to me and she said she was done, she had hit the wall as well.

The husband looked at me and asked if I were okay, I am not sure what I looked like, but it must not have been pretty. They called for a sag wagon and to my shame I took the ride back into town as well. I called my wife and took the walk of "shame" to my car.

I went back to the hotel room, took a shower, and stayed in the shower thinking that I should have kept on going, but knowing at the point in time going was not an option. There are a ton of positives that came out of the race, and some negatives which I will share below, but I plan on doing this again in the near future, and I enjoyed the hell out of the ride and the experience.

Okay so the food and liquid intake for the (80 Approx) mile distance ( I lost some mileage and time with a garmin user malfunction just after mile 50 where i pressed stop instead of lap) and 5 hours 22 minutes on the bike (as you can see I did not do well):

- 2 Hammer Gels
- 1/2 banana
- palm full of peanuts
- 1/2 PB&J
- 72 oz of fluid

Positives:
1. I rode 80 miles, the longest ride I have ever done.
2. I was in the top 100-150 people 80 miles of the race.
3. I had a PR of 5:22 minutes at mile 80, when I shut down my garmin.
4. I got over the bridge, faced my fear of heights.
5. I put myself out there and took a chance. Had the best time I have had in a very long time thinking about the days accomplishments still gives me goosebumps.

Negatives:
1. I did not go the entire 101 miles.
2. My training was not adequate enough.
3. I attempted a 100 mile race to soon. I should have done the 61 mile distance for my first race.
4. I set my goals too high for only starting riding 3 months ago, and being out of shape for the last 20 years.
5. I ate wrong, for me, on the ride. I should have made my own sandwich to bring or stuck with my training supplements of granola and raisins. (This was the giant killer)
6. I did not hydrate correctly during the race. After the race I was down approximately 7 lbs from when I started (by mile 80 I had only taken in approximately 72oz of fluid, I know better than that, but I was afraid after what happened to drink anymore of the Gatorade and I did not make it far enough to swap out with plain water. The second giant killer.)
7. My pace was too fast in the beginning, and I did not find a group to share pace duties with.

I encourage everyone to take the opportunity to live the new lives and the second chance at being healthy to the fullest. A person on the forum asked the question, "Am I an Athlete". Well I know that I was an athlete and I am an athlete again. Setbacks happen, but not putting yourself out there and taking a chance is one event you do not ever want to have as who you are. Don't let them put on your grave stone, "He/She watched as others did". So to all of you who have read the above don't feel bad, feel excited, that an attempt was made, and major effort was put forth, a PR was made, an understanding was obtained, and a thirst to do the whole damn thing over again will happen shortly, and this time it will be to completion and success.

Thank you for reading, this post.

Jay,

Dude you did amazing.  It takes a quality person to put themselves out there and even attempt something like this, so you need to hold your head high and be proud of what you have accomplished.

You learned some lessons for your next race, things like pack your own sammich, or take low cal G2 packs and mix your own Gatorade.  Every race you do you will learn something new about what you are doing, but the key is you are doing it.

Just think how many people didn't even get up at 5:30am Saturday much less set there goals on a 100 mile bike ride!

You didn't take a walk of shame, you should take pride in every step you took and every step you continue to take because you are doing something you probably never dreamed of doing.

Awesome job!

Thanks Paul.

I'm with Paul.  You did amazing.  I just started riding my bike, too, and I wouldn't even think of entering a race or even attempting 101 miles.  I am just doing it for fun anyway but I was so happy the day I rode 11 miles in under 2 hours.  A year ago I could hardly leave my house and walking up my stairs was a great effort.  The first time I got on my bike I never thought I would be able to ride a mile so that was such an accomplishment.  Yesterday I went on the same route I first started on a few months ago and I remember how hard it was and how much easier it is now.
Pat yourself on the back for a successful ride.  Learn and do better next time, and the next.  You give me inspiration.

WOW WOW WOW!!! What incredible work and good lessons learned! I am so impressed and inspired! Thank you!