El Tour de Tucson - CycleCentury

Lost my left knee about 33 miles into the race. The week before, it acted up during a training ride but I thought it was healed up. I think it's just tendinitis, but it hurt off and on throughout the rest of the race. A little ibuprofen helped but I didn't want to load up on it too much. I broke out of the pack I was with after taking my final turn pulling and slowed down a lot. Still joined with other packs as I could. Around mile 80 I started getting cramps on the inside of both thighs. They were painful but there was nothing I could do so I just kept pedaling. Eventually they worked their way out.

I should have taken better care of my knee in the week leading up to the race. Ice/heat, etc. Also, my longest training ride was only 52 miles. I think that's why I ended up cramping later into the ride.

Get off the bike, find some water and buy a piece of pizza with Gatorade.


Bad knee and cramps in my thighs did not help my performance. Before the knee pain, I was on a sub-5 hr pace with a good group. If my knee had not hurt, I think I would have finished under 5 hours. It's all supposition now.


The race was a lot of fun. I wish my body would have held up better, but it happens. It's very pricey so I'm not sure I'll do it again. It's easier on the pocketbook since I don't need to spring for a hotel or food but still costs a lot more than other organized century rides.

It was pretty cool to be cruising along and a steady pace and glance back to find someone drafting me. After a few miles, I'd wave them up to take their turn only to find out a group of 20 people were latched on. This happened several times during the ride and made me a little proud each time. It was a good mental boost.

The headwinds for the last 40 miles were a killer! I ended up getting with a group for some of them, but for a while I carried a good number of people who told me they were just hanging on and couldn't take a turn at the front. I was totally cool with that since I was just riding my pace but as soon as a group rode by that I was comfortable with, I left the rest behind.

I also need apologize to the guy I blew a snot rocket on. I have never done a farmer's blow in my life, and I had just taken my turn pulling in a group of two (sorry for dropping everyone else on the hill). I took my spot in line and decided it was a good time to let one go. I had no idea you had caught us! I know I apologized like 20 times on the bike, but I want to apologize again.