STP, anyone?

Wow, my hat is off to you speedy one day riders! I don't know how you do it. Between the heat and a saddle sore that kicked in after 50 miles I was feeling pretty crappy most of the way. I'm pretty sure I took more than 17 hours to finish--and that's with a 20 mile gap in the middle because my group only made it into centralia and and one of us just couldn't make it the rest of the way to aour accomodations in Winlock (and the rest of us didn't want to miss the dinner we'd already paid for:().

Made many notes about what NOT to do next year, or for rsvp. We were totally unprepaired for the heat. Most of my training was done in 40-50 degree weather, so the sudden jump to the 90s was really hard to adjust to. I felt so elated yesterday, in spite of falling short. It still feels like a huge accomplishment (for me anyway). Dh made the trip down and was cheering for me as I dragged into the finish, and that was one sweet feeling...

hey, Raleighdon did NOT finish in 10 hours. he finished in 11 hours and 28 minutes. Not sure where i got that idea.

wanted to set the record straight.
it was still lightning speed, his average was over 18 mph!

Laurel, our weather this year made it very hard to train for these rides. The Cascade1200 had a bunch of DNF's for the same reason. Folks around here trained their hearts out, but in 49 degrees, so when the temps rose over 100 they were just NOT prepared.

I was a slowpoke, but I did the first 100. My ride time was 8:05. Felt like everyone and their brother's dog passed me! At least I wasn't the last one to Centralia, though.

DH got to Portland at 5pm. His ride time was 11:17 with an average of 18.4. His name got announced at the finish line and he was the first recumbent to arrive!

Ellen, great about your husband!
(They announce almost everyone's names at the finish line, some people they missed)

100 miles in that weather was pretty good!

Yeah, in the beginning when riders are coming in a few at a time they do, but later when they're in large groups a lot get missed. In the few years they've been announcing names, this is the first time they've said his. He was pretty excited!

100 miles in that weather was awesome! Although I could have done without the 10 miles of hot, freshly oiled chip-seal road outside of Centralia. So much energy wasted pedaling on that stuff. I almost shouted for joy when we got to the smooth roads!

Congrats Oxysback and Lauraelmore. It really was a very tough year this year because of that heat! Many, many people were in some serious pain. I had to back out of the pace line several times after the Longview bridge because I felt the heat getting to me. I think it is much better to ride smart then to push past your limits in heat like that. What saved me was taking a little extra time in St. Helen's and cooling down. Luckily I had a little bit left in me when DH starting feeling ill and I am really surprised he came back around at all. Once he started feeling better about 10 miles to the finish he took back the front and pulled us in at 18-20 mph which was amazing considering how crappy he felt. He slept all the way home on the bus.

Lauralemore, the RSVP has a lot more shade. If I recall correctly, you are riding through nice canopy trees most of the first day. I love that ride and think we will do that one next year instead. Very pretty and a lot less people.

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Originally Posted by oxysback

I was a slowpoke, but I did the first 100. My ride time was 8:05. Felt like everyone and their brother's dog passed me! At least I wasn't the last one to Centralia, though.

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well, you were faster than we were. We got into Centralia in 8:35. I was pretty pleased with that, considering the heat.

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Originally Posted by ttaylor508

Lauralemore, the RSVP has a lot more shade. If I recall correctly, you are riding through nice canopy trees most of the first day. I love that ride and think we will do that one next year instead. Very pretty and a lot less people.

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That's very good to know. At one point, lying awake and miserable in my tent, I was planning to cancel all rides in the future (including rsvp and an upcoming tour) and never ride again. Somewhere after vader, after flying down a series of hills I regained my enthusiasm for the whole thing again:D.

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Originally Posted by lauraelmore1033

well, you were faster than we were. We got into Centralia in 8:35. I was pretty pleased with that, considering the heat.

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What time did you get to Centralia? I was probably there enjoying my delicious creamsickle, yummy bbq beef sandwich and ice cold diet coke. I rolled in at about 1:50pm.

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Originally Posted by oxysback

What time did you get to Centralia? I was probably there enjoying my delicious creamsickle, yummy bbq beef sandwich and ice cold diet coke. I rolled in at about 1:50pm.

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Oh, you meant eight hours total! You were much faster than us. We didn't get into Centrailia until after 5. That was 8+ hours on the bike and 4 hours standing in line at the porta potties. That creamsickle was indeed quite delicious.

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Originally Posted by lauraelmore1033

Oh, you meant eight hours total! You were much faster than us. We didn't get into Centrailia until after 5. That was 8+ hours on the bike and 4 hours standing in line at the porta potties. That creamsickle was indeed quite delicious.

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Ooops...ok, the 8 hours ride time was just time spent on the bike. We got out in the first wave of riders right at 4:45, so I guess my grand total time was ~9 hours. I didn't stop for very long at the rest stops because I was afraid I wouldn't get back on the bike! Plus, the longer I stop the worse my legs feel when I start again. :( My average was 12.4.

There were lines at the porta-potties? I got right in when I needed to. Even though they put the ones at Spanaway all the way across the back 40...:mad: Or maybe I didn't drink enough...I only had to go two times the whole 100 miles!

We made it all the way to Castle Rock on Saturday and finished on Sunday with just under 14 1/2 hours ride time total. I was very pleased for my first STP. It was perfect except for that heat. I'm glad it's behind me though.

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Originally Posted by auntiebobo

We made it all the way to Castle Rock on Saturday and finished on Sunday with just under 14 1/2 hours ride time total. I was very pleased for my first STP. It was perfect except for that heat. I'm glad it's behind me though.

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WOW! You did great!::cool: