I did it!!! I did it!!

[Trekn Teresa]

I completed my VERY FIRST CENTURY RIDE!! (100 miles in one day on bicycle)

Well, I did it....Saturday August 12th 2006!
I completed 102 miles all in one day...one ride. I rode the Sugar River Trail several times- the surface is crushed limestone, and it had some sandy places.
A bikin' friend rode along with me; Anyway, it was an awesome first time experience for me, I must say.

I just wanted to share with you my thrill, and excitement of accomplishing something I didn't really think I'd actually would...this year. Oh- I knew that someday I eventually would do it.
Yes and I wanted it badly enough...and was sure determined...just didn't think I was really prepared enough, but really "how is one ever sure you've prepared enough and what is enough?" I had rode 77.7 miles the Saturday before....(my longest ride of the season so far) Then the following Wednesday, I rode 54.5 miles.

All I know was the night before I was going riding that if I started out early enough, there just may be enough time to "attempt" a century. So, there I was filling up water bottles part way to freeze them and have them all ready for the next morning. I guess it was kind of a spontaneous decision on my part. You know last minute maiking my mind up and saying I am going to "try it"

I think I had talked on messenger to a friend and mentioned something about filling up water bottles for my ride on the trails; and he said something about possibly riding tomorrow...but he lives closer to Chicago...so I never expected him to volunteer to come over "this way" I thought he meant he was riding in his area. Well, he mentioned about riding along with me? I really thought he was joking with me, but, no he was serious. All I know was; that I was serious about riding and attempting my century in this cooler weather we were having. Then he said that I should not attempt it "solo"

It was so nice tho to have a riding partner for the day. He was great. He rode a little faster than I did, (his cadence is more consistant than mine) This made me work just a bit harder to keep pace with him. He was not so far out ahead , that it frustrated me and made me want to give up. No it was just right to keep me striving. We didn't really eat a lunch...which sometimes I need to - in order to have strength (fuel) energy to ride. But-we decided to just keep on snacking and not stop for too long., cause if you do...it just makes it harder to get back in the saddle again.

I am not sure at what point I hit that mental brick wall, I think it was around 80 some miles! Had I been by myself I think it would have been easy to have quit right there and then, but I pushed thru it, then I started seeing all of these riders looking so clean and fresh...I started getting envious of them! No kidding...It was weird. I was feeling dirty and gritty by then, I had sand and grit all up my legs. yep- I thought I looked filthy. Anyway- I kept teling myself..but I am on a mission to accomplish this! I just want to get 'er done this season. So... by 90 miles...something kicked it -as I looked down at my bike computer, (which I did frequently) I guess it was an adreneline rush for me, and boy the strength arose up in me....and I did it!
I thought I must pinch myself to make sure it was real, that this all was not just a dream, cause after all I had wanted it so much... I thought that I must be dreaming...It is hard to explain the feeling of really accomplishing something like this.
Not to bad for a gal like me! (hee hee)

Ya know what...I wanna do it again!!! Possibly next month! Yee---Hah!!!!
Well, just wanted to pass along the good news.... that I actually did it!
I am on cloud nine.
~ Trekn Teresa ~