I did it! Despite the fact that I didn't really train for this, yesterday I completed the Tri-State Seacoast Century in 6 hours and 40 minutes. This is a ride that can be done on either Saturday or Sunday (or both). Since Saturday was Rosh Hashanah, we had planned on doing the Sunday ride.
Well, all week the weather forecast was nice for Sat. and about 60% of rain on Sunday. I was not happy, but figured I could wimp out if it was pouring when I got up Sunday. I was packed and ready by 9 PM Saturday and fast asleep by 9:30. I woke up at 3 AM! (I did manage to go back to sleep until 5). We got to the start at Hampton Beach, NH around 7:30. Was I glad that I had not been there on Saturday. Another rider told me that there were around 1,000 people there, a 30 minute wait to check in, and heavy rain for the first 65 miles.
OK, so the first 15 miles are a loop back into MA. We started out slow (13 mph) to warm up , until we got in a paceline with a small group. We were drafting up to 22 mph (it's flat). Right before we passed the start point, they slowed down. I dropped my bottle with Accelerade and I had to stop to retrieve it. The other group stopped and on we went. The ride was uneventful and flat until we got into Maine. It was getting warm and the ocean was beautiful. We had to get off our bikes and walk across the bridge from Portsmouth, NH to Kittery, ME. The first SAG stop was at 40 miles, in Kittery. The food and stuff sucked (PBJ and I am allergic to peanuts), but I had come prepared with Clif Bars, Clif Shots, etc. I did eat their bananas. On we went. We rode up to the Nubble Lighthouse in York Beach. As we rode up the hill to the lighthouse, I thought something felt funny, but I didn't see or hear anything. We stopped to take a picture when Steve noticed my rear tire was flat! We changed it and went on. (now at 50 miles). I was feeling a little tired here, as there were some rolling hills; nothing bad, but I was fighting a bad attitude. Then at 53 miles I flatted again and there was a terrible noise, everytime I braked. We stopped and it started to rain...
Found a tear in my tire, used part of my ride # to fold up in there and changed the tube again. After a few minutes, Steve adjusted the brake pads and on we went in the rain. We put our jackets on only, since it was really warm and I thought if I put my rain pants on, i would sweat to death. Made it back to the SAG stop, now at about 60 miles. We ate more and went on. I knew that if I made it back over the bridge to NH, I would finish.
We started picking up the pace (we had really slowed after the flats, rain, etc) when we got into Rye NH. We turned off the main road about 15 miles from the finish when I noticed a very DARK sky... We ate, put our jackets on and BOOM. The skies opened up and there were wind gusts up to about 30 or more. Thankfully, it only lasted about 5 minutes. We turned off that road, it let up, but it was really cold for a while. When we got back on the main road, the wind was brutal along the shore. We passed a whole bunch of riders who were ahead of us most of the way. I think this is where hill training pays off, because it sure felt like we were going up, up, up, even though it was flat. I pulled my husband for awhile, going around 13-14. We finally made it back and I pretty much climbed into the car and could barely get my shoes off I was so tired. But, we changed and drove home and went out for a very nice dinner to celebrate this and my husband's 50th birthday in 2 days.
I feel a little sore in the quads today, but nothing horrible. My worst effect is the chafing I got from my sports bra because I didn't take it off when I changed and i scratched myself around the area where it was rubbing. I did wake up at 3 because I went to bed at 8:45.
OK, gotta get ready for work!
