Century nears!!

[7rider]

Hey there!
DH and I are going to attempt the Seagull again this year. We tried last year - in the pouring rain and blowing wind - but had to quit with 50 miles in b/c DH's knee was in too much pain (he just had surgery in June to fix it).
I successfully completed the Seagull in 2000 - it was awesome. Two things about it:
1. It's pancake flat, so there are no hills to worry about (but it can be windy). No hills is good and bad. It means you have to pedal all the time. No coasting. But it also means no hills to burn out your legs.
2. Don't think of it as a 100 mile ride. Think of it as 4 25-mile rides...just all in one day! Okay, maybe I'm deluding myself. But my longest ride to date has been a metric (62 miles) in June and DH's has been 45. I only hope we're ready. I hope at some point to get out for at least 50+ with him very soon.
There are so many interesting people on this ride that you can ride and people watch at the same time, and the miles will fly by before you know it.
I think I read on this site last fall that the best training for a century is "T.I.T.S." - Time In The Saddle. I pointed that out to a friend who also did the Seagull last year (her first) - it became our battle cry for every ride we did, no matter how short. She did fine, and I'm sure you will too. Snag a few granola bars or Fig Newtons at an early rest stop and stash them in your jersey pocket if you're concerned.
Good luck, and have fun!

[latelatebloomer]

Maybe I should write "latelatebloomer" under my number so someone might see me. Or we could have a TE rondevous (sp?) sometime during the weekend!

You are all helping me so much! Every positive word helps fill my tank. I will probably even print these out to read before I start out.

[Cyclesome]

Great thread! Good luck! I too am getting ready to ride my first century, the Seagull Century, and will turn 48 on 10/13. I will be riding a hybrid since I am still researching road bikes (down to three options Specialized Roubaix, Specialized Ruby or Trek Pilot 5.2 any advice about these bike is appreciated)
I work out at the gym 3 - 4 times per week (1 hour on the bike 1/2 lifting)and take a bike ride on the weekend. My longest ride has been 80 miles. I too am wondering, with the Seagull Century just a week away, how do I ensure my legs are fresh? Should I stop lifting? Should I take only short easy bike rides or stop going to the gym and riding this week altogether?

[latelatebloomer]

Cyclesome, I'm still quite a newbie, but my trainer says we're already in our rest period for the Seagull Century! so light maintenance riding, no more push for distance, lots of sleep, lots of hydration. I am doing milder upper body weights this week, none next week & also trying to keep up on daily stretching and some core work - will lay off the core work a couple days before. (I haven't been doing leg weights this summer.) My biggest ride will have been the metric century I did on Saturday. I was hoping for a 70 & even an 80, but DH and I have both had an increasing workload, so we just did the best we could. But since I felt strong all the way and had lots of bounce after, and no soreness or fatigue the day after, everyone's telling me I should be fine. (oh, I hope so!)

I am doing a spin class or two, but at a very low, fat-burn, endurance level, and I'm using the time there to close my eyes and visualize myself riding strong and having fun. This is the first big athletic event of my life - I want it so be a good "first time."

[Geonz]

Sounds like the anticipation is even more fun :-) we'll have to tell all the storms to stay away so you can HAVE A BLAST!!!

[7rider]

LLB, sounds like you got your preparation well in hand.
Now.....
If we can only keep that tropical storm Issac that is developing out in the Atlantic FAR AWAY from the Eastern Shore of Maryland for next week, we'll be all set!
I did a 10-day forecast on weather.com, and at least for the D.C. area, looks like it'll be nice (fingers, toes, legs, and even eyes crossed!)!!

[latelatebloomer]

I AM getting psyched! So many nice things are happening. A very nice benefit of my summer training - my trainer's face as he saw me in person for the first time since the end of March! (he's away all racing season, but kindly kept helping via email and phone.) When I show up at the gym, the cyclists run over and say "rest phase! rest phase!" I feel the love!

Regina, thanks for checking in on the weather. I'm afraid to look. Shall we TE'ers attempt some sort of meeting? Are we all going to the breakfast in the morning?

I'm bringing my helmet to work so my dudes with brain-injury, who inspired me to start using this healthy body I'm so lucky to have - and who have cheered me on from my first struggling miles - can sign it. I told them it's so they can "tap" me on the head if I think of quitting. I call one of the guys my assistant trainer. He was a high school athlete, about to go into the Marines, when he was in a terrible car wreck. Twelve years later, he still battles to learn to walk. He has terrible memory and self-control problems, but remembers how to train and has given me absolutely priceless support and inspiration. And I swear that when I have felt overwhelmed, he's shown up in spirit.

I ordered 2 rain jackets (but it won't rain, right?) so I can pick the best. I'm going to the fabric store to get material to make some armwarmers (don't know how, but there's a sewing maching around here somewhere!)

I'm babbbling! I MUST be excited!! Gotta go!!