Should I do it?

[Wasp]

As I have mentioned in a previous post, I signed up for the Chuckanut Century ride in Bellingham WA. Sept 16/12. This will be my first organized event. My original plan was to do a half century. As the ride date draws closer, I started thinking can I actually ride 50 miles?. Yesterday I set out to find out. I rode 54 miles in 3 hrs and felt pretty good afterwards. So now, I'm thinking I need to rethink my original plan. The ride has a variety of distances that you can pick from which would give me the option of upping the mileage to the next level which would be 62 miles. I know I could do the extra 12 miles, however.........I have a little voice in my head telling me to try to do the century. The more rational side of me is worried that 100 miles is a bit much......BUT! I want the challenge.
Anyone else doing the Chuckanut? Or has done it?
Any advise?

[Tri Girl]

I haven't done that race, nor do I have any advice about it. That's great that you were able to do the 54 and felt so good afterward, tho!

I will tell you, though, if you feel like you want to do the century- DO IT!! I'm always of the athletic mindset that if you want to do something just get out there and do it. I signed up for my first Iron distance triathlon before I had even done a sprint tri. People thought I was nuts and that there was no way I could do it- but I did!
There *IS* a big difference in how the body feels at around 60-70 miles and how the body feels at around 90 miles, that's for sure! And there's definitely a HUGE difference in how you feel after 54 and how you feel after 100.
I would ride long one last time before the event (next weekend?) and see how you feel. If you can ride about 75 miles next weekend and feel good, then go for it! However, if you feel like crap after 75, then I wouldn't do it. Then again... maybe I still would.

[indysteel]

How hilly is the century? For me, I can gut out a relatively flat ride for which I'm undertained, but hills add another dimension of fatigue and pain that can be difficult to overcome with less than adequate training.

But I otherwise agree with Tri girl's suggestion. If you can get a long ride in next weekend and feel okay, go for it. The pace in which you did the 54 miler in suggests to me that you've got it in you. Just go out pretty easy, drink and eat enough, stretch a bit at the stops, and you should be okay. Of course, weather could play a factor, too, so if it's windy, just play it by ear.

[Becky]

For me, it all becomes mental at ~75 miles. If your legs can ride 50 and feel good, they can probably do 100. But can your brain? Only one way to find out (Yeah, I think you should try the century!)

Do you have to decide on distance at the start, or is this one of those rides where you can make that decision partway into the route?

[lauraelmore1033]

My Dh and I are doing the Chuckanut Century also! The South Route looks to be a reverse variation of the Skagit County Classic ride--at least the metric century route, which I've done--and then another loop and an out and back which I'm not familiar with. You can play it by ear and see how you feel after the big loop and see if you want to ad on more. The north route appears to be much flatter, but we know from experience to expect ferocious headwinds. We're going to do the north route, metric century on our tandem. If you see a big blue tandem with a fat lady on the back, that'll be me!

[Wasp]

My Dh and I are doing the Chuckanut Century also! The South Route looks to be a reverse variation of the Skagit County Classic ride--at least the metric century route, which I've done--and then another loop and an out and back which I'm not familiar with. You can play it by ear and see how you feel after the big loop and see if you want to ad on more. The north route appears to be much flatter, but we know from experience to expect ferocious headwinds. We're going to do the north route, metric century on our tandem. If you see a big blue tandem with a fat lady on the back, that'll be me!

Ive been told the south route was more challenging, so it's the north route for me
I never considered strong headwinds in that area, so thanks for the heads up. I'll definatley keep my eyes open for your tandem.
Thanks for the advise.

[Wasp]

I haven't done that race, nor do I have any advice about it. That's great that you were able to do the 54 and felt so good afterward, tho!

I will tell you, though, if you feel like you want to do the century- DO IT!! I'm always of the athletic mindset that if you want to do something just get out there and do it. I signed up for my first Iron distance triathlon before I had even done a sprint tri. People thought I was nuts and that there was no way I could do it- but I did!
There *IS* a big difference in how the body feels at around 60-70 miles and how the body feels at around 90 miles, that's for sure! And there's definitely a HUGE difference in how you feel after 54 and how you feel after 100.
I would ride long one last time before the event (next weekend?) and see how you feel. If you can ride about 75 miles next weekend and feel good, then go for it! However, if you feel like crap after 75, then I wouldn't do it. Then again... maybe I still would.

That's great advise, I really never considered how the body would be feeling. It's definatley something to consider. I'm heading out today to give 75 miles a go, and see how my body reacts to that. I definatley do not want to overdo things and end up sore and miserable....or even worse injured.