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Comments: The first 40 miles just whizzed by. I tried to take in some of the scenery. I was never really alone for long. I was amazed how the race spread out, despite the mass of people. Debbie, my pace mentor stayed with me the entire time, well kinda because I get dropped like a bad habit on the hills. I made some friends along the way: a lady from Philly who carried a small boom box on her handlebars, playing show tunes. There was a couple doing the 30 mile ride on a surrey carrying their chihahua in a basket. The man doing the race in the handcycle. My friend from North Carolina, who got separated from her group and rode with us the last 15 miles, I stopped to help her put her chain back on. My 2 coaches who came back and rode me in. There were times when I want to quit, when I wanted an ice pack for my butt, but I kept trudging. I had no shame, if the lines at the porta potties were too long, the bushes were my friends, until I got some stickers in my chamois. Ouch, but I got them out. There were so many inspiring riders. I rode with a guy for a while, who had an awful sounding bike, he was all bandaged up; he had crashed early in the ride but refused to stop. I rode with an older man from NY, who was riding for his son, who had leukemia. My last stop was about mile 80 and I didn't stop again till I crossed the finish. I felt like a rock star, people were screaming and clapping. It was so overwhelming, I cried at the finish. What would you do differently?: It was my first century ride. I would not have changed a thing..maybe get new legs to generate more power so I wouldn't have to be out there all day long. I was really worried about my nutrition; I had such distress during the training rides, but I ate cookies, bananas, oranges without any problems. cliff blocs rock!  Post race
Warm down: I felt bad for the people who took our timing chips, were were filthy. I went to the TnT tent, got some pizza, found my husband, my cycling sherpa. We picked up my medal and I could not wait to get a shower! There was a TnT party that night and I lasted about 20 minutes before I had to go home and go to bed. I had a cup of soup and a coke and was out. What limited your ability to perform faster: My engine, lol.... Event comments: This was my first century. We were well prepared through our training, while there was one hill that was really steep and I maxed out on my heart rate, I thought my training was right on. While I swore I would never, ever do this again, I’m already thinking about next year. Profile Album Last updated: 2005-11-14 12:00 AM
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United States
Perimeter Bicycling
70F / 21C
Sunny
Overall Rank = 3726/3991
Age Group =
Age Group Rank = 0/
My husband, my cycling sherpa, got to Tucson about 4, checked in and picked up my packet. I wandered through the expo, bought a poster, thought about buying a jersey but they were $70. I should have because I went back later and they sold out.
We had our TnT dinner that night and it was so inspiring. There were over 800 team members from all over the US. Our speaker was a guy from NY who was battling hodgkin's and his wife was battling liver cancer, he was going to do the ride. Listening to those who survive, made my problems seem so, so small and riding 109 miles a piece of cake compared to chemo.
Our team met at the Marriott and rode over to the race start. It was a sea of humanity, with all the TnT people lined up at the end. It was very cold and of course I needed to go to the bathroom but there wasn't enough time.