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Cap2Cap Ride - CycleCentury


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Richmond VA, Virginia
United States
Virginia Capital Trail Foundation
70sF / 0C
Overcast
Total Time = 6h 36m 22s
Overall Rank = /
Age Group =
Age Group Rank = 0/
Pre-race routine:

Complete and utter disorganization. I should have packed the car the night before, but I told myself "It's only a bike ride - no stress..." Except that half of my bike stuff was on my TT bike (and I was taking my roadie). And my daughter had taken one of my water bottles. And I left home without my purse & phone so I had to drive back to get it. And I managed to pull into the parking lot with about 15 minutes to the start...
Event warmup:

So, in 15 minutes, I got my bike all configured (including putting on my bento box that had been on the TT), aired up the tires, checked the brakes etc., put a tube & snacks in my pockets, packed in my phone & the cue sheets, and made it to the start as they were saying 3 minutes until we were off.

If wasn't a big deal to totally hit the start but 1) I wanted to give myself as much time as possible to finish...just in case... and 2) I wanted to be part of the "peloton" start.

Totally had to pee and there was no time or place to do it, but I started with the group and decided I could make it to the first feed zone.
Bike
  • 6h 36m 22s
  • 100.63 miles
  • 15.23 mile/hr
Comments:

I am so excited to have my first century done. I'm ready to do another one, which isn't how I expected to feel. (It'll be a while before hubby gives me a day off to play on my bike anyway. :))

The peloton start was pretty cool. I got to ride shoulder to shoulder with all kinds of folks for the first mile or so as we had a police escort out of town. I didn't get to see the super fancy paceline at the front but I enjoyed riding near the people I did. I realized that I probably ride in too hard of a gear too often and on the way back, I eased up the gears a bit and found that riding was much easier. :) Something to keep in mind,instead of grinding.

Carrying: water, nuun, pretzels, uncrustable

First rest area - ate a couple gummy bears (hadn't had them in years, figured why not - they're still gross) and some pretzels, drank my water & nuun

Second rest area - ate my uncrustable (they were serving PBJ sandwiches but I'm attached to the uncrustables) & filled my nuun bottle w/ powerade

Third rest area - ate a banana, some pretzels and a cookie, filled my nuun bottle with powerade

Fourth rest area (turnaround) - lunch - ate a turkey/cheese roller, pretzels, powerade, and some ibuprofen

Fifth rest area - filled up nuun bottle w/ powerade, ate some pretzels and a banana

Sixth rest area - filled up nuun bottle w/ powerade

Last rest area - filled up nuun bottle w/ powerade, ate some pretzels and a granola bar, took some more ibuprofen

The way out felt wonderful and I did 52:xx in 3:17...bodes well for my HIM, especially this early in the season. Of course, I did have the wind at my back :). I unfortunately forgot to start my garmin after the lunch rest stop and so I had to guesstimate about 3.5 miles or so that I didn't have on my watch - I just put it at my overall average - seems fair.

During the ride, what hurt the most was right over my right hip/back side. Not sure what that is, but I shifted around a lot to try to get comfortable there. It didn't kick in til the way back, though - hence the ibuprofen. I even rode aero for a bit on my clip-ons to take some of the pressure off. No issues with the seating. My wrists/elbows got sore but were easily shaken off.

I rode by myself, even though it was supported. I figured it was good to get into my head and stay there for 7+ hours. Prove to myself that 1) I can ride 56 miles (heck ya!) and that 2) I can be in my brain for that long (yep). Good confidence builder for the HIM.
What would you do differently?:

I'm not sure - I had a great time and feel like I took care of myself. Perhaps I could have pushed myself a little more here and there, between miles 70 & 85 were tough and I probably slowed quite a bit...but I'm really happy with my performance.
Post race
Warm down:

Parked Baby in the car - she was more tired than I was! Put on some regular shoes and a baseball hat (helmet hair is SO attractive) and went up to the bbq. Had bbq sandwich, beans, brownie, and a beer. It was crappy beer, but man did it taste good. (I could do without blue powerade for a long, long time right now.) Called hubby to let him know I made it in. Called brother to brag that I finished my first century. And then drove home. Didn't feel bad at all.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Headwinds. Not knowing what to expect.

Event comments:

Where do I sign up for the next one??? :)

A couple pictures & more at my blog: http://trimomhalf.blogspot.com




Last updated: 2013-04-11 12:00 AM
Biking
06:36:22 | 100.63 miles | 15.23 mile/hr
Age Group: 0/
Overall: 0/
Performance: Good
Wind: Strong
Course: Fantastic course - a big loop out to Williamsburg and back, riding through the battlefield parks, along Hiway 5 & the plantations, lots of gorgeous wooded areas, and then some backwoods farm roads. Wind at back on the way out, stronger wind in my face on the way in.
Road: Smooth  Cadence:
Turns: Cornering:
Gear changes: Good Hills: Average
Race pace: Drinks: Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Good
Mental exertion [1-5] 5
Physical exertion [1-5] 4
Good race? Yes
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Good
Race evaluation [1-5] 5

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2013-05-13 7:39 AM

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Champion
6107
50001000100
Out running or enjoying a fine glass of red...
Subject: Cap2Cap Ride


2013-05-13 8:02 AM
in reply to: #4739363

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Royal(PITA)
14270
50005000200020001001002525
West Chester, Ohio
Subject: RE: Cap2Cap Ride

Well done!

I think one year I had enough power aid powder packets for an army for that ride--by the time I hit the turn around the LAST thing I wanted was to drink that stuff and I alternated it with water!

2013-05-13 11:11 AM
in reply to: #4739363

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Regular
641
50010025
Chicago
Subject: RE: Cap2Cap Ride
Great job! Sounds like you had a lot of fun.
2013-05-13 11:15 AM
in reply to: #4739363

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Science Nerd
28760
50005000500050005000200010005001001002525
Redwood City, California
Subject: RE: Cap2Cap Ride

Great job!!  Congratulations on finishing your first century. 

I remember getting to the lunch stop and thinking those turkey sandwiches were sooo good.  They probably weren't, but I just wanted real food at that point.

2013-05-13 12:34 PM
in reply to: #4739363

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Veteran
1677
1000500100252525
Houston, Texas
Subject: RE: Cap2Cap Ride
Nice work!  A century is a big ride!!
2013-05-13 1:00 PM
in reply to: #4739363

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Extreme Veteran
668
5001002525
NW Georgia
Subject: RE: Cap2Cap Ride

Nice job, especially dealing with the chaotic start.  Congrats on your first century!!

 



2013-05-13 1:45 PM
in reply to: #4739363

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Extreme Veteran
541
50025
Virginny
Subject: RE: Cap2Cap Ride
Hooray for 1st century! Great pace! HIM bike will be a piece o cake, yes? Too bad they won't have "feed zones" lol.
2013-05-14 3:02 PM
in reply to: #4740221

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Master
9705
500020002000500100100
Raleigh, NC area
Subject: RE: Cap2Cap Ride
Great job!  It sounds like a great ride to :-)
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