Hotter 'n Hell 100 - Wichita Falls TX

[Righteousbabe]

I have done 4 HHHs, and this year will be my 5th. This is how I ensure I make it to Hell's Gate before they close it, and finish it without killing myself...

1) Definitely start towards the front of the pack. But this will require you to get up way before the crack of dawn and getting down there to line up and wait. I hear they are staggering the start this year for the first time. I am not sure how they will do this (limited room on the roads at the start), and who knows how it will work out. But honestly, I have only done the mass start one of the four years. The other 3 I started with my training group a block or two up from the start line. We wait until all the racers go by so that we do not get in their way, and start right before the rest of the riders. The ride marshalls last year did not appreciate us and other riders doing this, so I am not sure if they will crack down this year. I will probably attempt something like this again, but maybe find another place to start. I don't like having to start this way...but again, this is to just make sure I make it to Hell's Gate. Most of the riders doing HHH are not attempting the 100 miles, hence the slow/dangerous mass start. We'll see if the way they stagger it this year does any good.

2) I carry a camel back full of water, 2 water bottles with sports drink, and gel shots with me so that I do not have to stop too often or too long the first 60 miles to Burkburnett (where Hell's Gate is). I will probably stop once or twice in the first 60 miles, and they are extremely quick stops (get off saddle, stretch legs, refill if necessary). If you need to use the rest room, my advice is to make like the guys out there...they never wait for a porto. This may sound disgusting, and I do not normally do this at other organized rides, but you can wait up to 30 minutes for a porto at HHH, and it is not worth it.

3) My pace to Hell's Gate is pretty fast (for me). But once I get through Hell's Gate, I back off. After Hell's Gate you turn into the headwind for a good 40-45 miles. Just settle into a comfy cadence and hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Miles 80-105 will be extremely difficult. Just stop at all the rest stops and take care of yourself. Last year was extremely difficult because it was actually HOT (heat index 111), and a lot of people hurt themselves out there because they did not listen to their bodies, pushed too hard, and did not pay attention to their nutrition/hydration.

We have had a pretty mild summer so far this year in North Texas, but who knows what August will bring. If the ride organizers decide to close Hell's Gate early again this year to protect the riders (see my posts: http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...t=hotter+hell), you can still make it. Make getting to Burkburnett ASAP a priority.

Good luck NMRider! I wish you all the best! Let me know if you have any other questions...I will be happy to help

[NMRider]

Wow, thank you all for the terrific advice! I had checked out the website, but thought much of it was sort of just spouting off. Got some great ideas from everyone I would not have thought of (bringing my own hand wipes, ice in the sports bra!, etc) and I am especially glad to know that it took an hour to get rolling after the start -- given my practice runs so far, I know that I can hit the 63 mile mark in 4.5 hours, which has included generous full stops to eat and stretch... but an hour to get rolling would put me just at the cutoff point.

I am going to re-read all of your suggestions and take to heart the well-taken point about people ending up with IVs in them. And I will definitely post and let you know how it went! I am very appreciative of all of you who took the time to offer your wisdom!

P.S. I am fortunate that a friend of mine is doing the ride and offered to share her hotel room with me... that she booked a year ago!

[Aggie_Ama]

I just wanted to say the ice in the sports bra trick along with water over the head really works! I had not done the ice trick until yesterday, we were riding without a lot of clouds and temps in the 90's. Really brought the core temp down and I was faster after that!

[NMRider]

Additional note - I checked out the HH100 forum again, and that wasn't the forum where I thought people were "spouting off," my mistake - not sure where I was reading where it was mostly just a fight-fest over who thought it was good that the course shut down early in a previous year and who thought it was a bad idea...

[denda]

My husband and I will be doing the HHH for the 3rd year in a row. Last year we did not make Hell's Gate because they closed it SO early. If we had not stopped at the rest stop before Hell's Gate we would have made it! We will not be stopping at that rest stop this year. We also start toward the front of the crowd. We have not had to wait an hour to get rolling, but this year they may prevent us from starting so far up. The reststops have water, gatorade, pickle juice, oranges, bananas, and cookies. We also take a peanut butter and honey sandwich, powerbars, paydays and some powdered gatorade to mix our own. Theirs does seem to be too weak. We don't usually stop until the 3rd or 4th rest stop.
We are staying with one of the host families this year. We waited too long to try to get a hotel room. So this will be a different experience.
HAVE FUN!!

[denda]

Oh, by the way, NMRider
My Daddy lives in Las Cruces!

[NMRider]

Thanks again to all who shared the good advice. I like the pb & honey sandwich thought, too...
Had my last long ride yesterday, 88 miles from Cruces to Hatch and back. Tailwind on the way there, headwind all the way back, and it was hot... but latest weather report for WF looks like the temps are heading way up. Ouch. Gonna start upping the fluids all week long. And ice in the sports bra is sounding more and more appealing. Anyhow, I look forward to hearing about everyone's experience. Luck to us all!

[li10up]

We are staying with one of the host families this year. We waited too long to try to get a hotel room. So this will be a different experience.
HAVE FUN!!

Denda, let me know how the host family thing works out. Sounds like a good alternative. What kind of fees do the host families typically charge?

[indysteel]

I just wanted to say good luck to all of you doing the HHH. I hope the weather gods smile upon you and give you some cloud cover and lower humidity. Short of that, I hope you have a safe and fun ride.

I'm really looking forward to the ride reports, so please report back.

K-