Natchez Trace Century Ride - CycleCentury

So how do I say this? I hadn't planned on riding 100 miles today. In fact, when I registered I signed up for the metric century instead. I carpooled with a buddy of mine who has more riding experience than I and we talked about how we were flirting with the idea of going the full 100 miles.

Once the race started we latched on to a group and were cruising fast with little effort. This was my first group ride so I was in uncharted territory but it was great to take advantage of group riding.

So we're talking, cracking jokes and flying along at the back of this group and pretty soon we come up to the 62 mile turnaround. We look at eachother and say "Oh, we got this. We're going the whole way." How on earth we knew @ 30 miles that we could survive another 70 miles is beyond me. But we did.

We stuck with that group all the way to the 50 mile turnaround, grabbed a snack, refueled and hit the road. This is when the tailwind we thought we had earlier was confirmed. The headwind wasn't bad but it was enough to slow you down. We hung on to the group and decided to keep riding when they stopped at the next aid station.

For a good portion of the last 50 miles it was just the two of us with the occasional third rider. We took turns pulling and just let the miles pass. The legs felt great, we stayed hydrated and fueled, everything was going smoothly. Eventually the group we were with caught up and we latched on again until the next aid station. Most of the group stopped but a few of us continued into the homestretch.

The last 15 miles seemed to go on forever. I really couldn't believe we decided to go 100. It may have been foolish that I overshot my previous long ride by exactly 50 miles. I knew I had the fitness for it if I was able to pace appropriately and stay fueled. But oh how that could've gone wrong. And to think @ 30 miles we thought we could go another 70! I owe a big thanks to my riding partner for helping get us through that ride alive.

I'm proud of myself for doing a century ride but next time I think I'll decide how far to go a little earlier than 30 miles in.

A big meal. Sweet tea, pasta, salad, veggies, pecan pie. Just like every cooldown should be, right?


I'm happy with the ride given my longest ride prior was half the distance. But properly training @ longer distances would've been nice.


This is a perfect place for your first century. The Trace is smooth, flat and straight with only occasional traffic. The ride was well organized, aid stations well stocked and it's the perfect time of year to ride.