Last 3 weeks of training for 111 hilly miles

[Starfish]

Hey, writing wireless now from Shasta!

My eating plan is to mimic what I've been doing in my long training rides, which have been up to 80 miles.

These days I am carrying a bottle of plain water, and a bottle of water with Nuun electrolyte tablets. I also carry a third bottle that I can either drink or dump on my head to douse my hair if the weather is really hot.

I have been eating a combination of Payday Pro candy bars (just like regular Payday bars, but with extra vitamins, like the B's), Power Bars, and CarbBoom gels with caffeine.

On some of these rides I have had a midway yogurt with almonds, and that sits well for me, but that is only when I'm close to home and can stop there for lunch. I might take a few almonds on the bike with me in case I get hungry and want some extra protein with fat.

I plan to stay away from any real foods at the rest stops, because I find them unpredictable for me. Sometimes something will sit well and work (a bagel, some fruit), and other times the very same thing will make me sick.

For me, the one trick with eating just the bars & gels, and the same ones all day at that, is that toward the middle/end I can find I haven't eaten quite enough. So, I really have to watch the clock to make sure I'm eating enough.

Finally, for me, I like to alternate maybe 1/4 or 1/2 a bar with a few "sips" of gel. That works better for me than eating a whole bar at once, or a whole gel at once.

Side note: I live at sea level, and I'm here in my hotel room at between 3000 and 3500 feet. The ride goes up to about 7500, and at home, the highest I can get is 5000, and only for a short time at that...just the top of the hill climb. I can really feel it. The elevation is the one thing I'm a little concerned with. Hope it doesn't sap too much from me!

[Bklynmom]

Hey Starfish-
Thanks for the eat drink suggestions - I found the hard way that I can't really eat real food and then climb hills - ugh! Gels and maybe a bar for me too.

You will do great -- your ride is Saturday or Sunday? In any case you will have plenty of time to adjust to the elevation.

I have to admit that I am getting a bit edgy, but we will both be fine I have a feeling. We leave early tomorrow for Hartford, Ct, then Friday DH will drive me to Sturbridge MA. There is a dinner the night before then the ride which starts Saturday at 6AM.

I have been in touch with a few other TE members, it will be fun to meet them. I am going to the ride with a friend, but I am riding on my own. She did about one third of the training mileage I did, but has become much faster. I'm sure I will find riding partners along the way - it is a friendly group.

I am sending good vibes your way for your ride!

Lisa

[Starfish]

I am sending good vibes your way for your ride!

Good vibes back at ya!

For some reason, I have begun to get worried about this ride, and I'm not sure where that's coming from.

I keep reminding myself that my goals, in this order, are:

1) Have fun and stay positive!
2) Accomplish a PB for elevation gained.
3) Finish the whole ride.

I'm trying to remind myself that if those really are my goals, then I have full control over goal #1, regardless of what happens! For some reason, I'm still nervous, which is a little strange for me. I mean, what do I think will happen?

[Bklynmom]

Starfish-
Nice to have someone to have an anxiety attack with

Seriously - we could just be hanging out at home watching movies, and instead we are seriously challenging ourselves athletically - that totally rocks .

You are going to climb a Mountain on your bike - wow!

My goal is to stay on the bike, not get sick to my stomach, have fun and meet some new people. This ride is the reason I bought my bike and started this whole process (since this March). And I raised almost $3,000 for cancer research too.

The Pan Mass ride actually has a start group for casual riders under 13 MPH - at least I can count myself as having graduated from that group.

I look forward to some day having the same skill level on the bike as I do in my work! (OK, not a professional bike rider, but a competent B16 rider who does big hills at 7 MPH would be good).

Being excited and a bit anxious is the totally appropriate response!

Lisa

[Starfish]

You're right, we totally rock!

You really, truly rock, with the money you raised for your ride, and the fact that you just started this process in March. That is pretty amazing to me.

Don't know if you'll get this before you leave, but good luck! We will have to debrief when we're done!

[Bklynmom]

My ride was just great. I trained correctly, and the Tapering worked. The hills were so much smaller than I expected. I really preserved my energy, so I was not fried when I was done. It did take 9 hours, but it was fine - I met all kinds of interesting people along the way too. I raised more than $3,000 too.

Having a hydration/eating plan and sticking to it was a good thing too.

Starfish-
How was your ride?

Lisa

[Starfish]

My ride was just great.

Starfish- How was your ride?

Lisa

Oh, I'm SOOooo glad you had a great ride! Yippee!!!! I DEMAND A RIDE REPORT!!

You can check out mine at: http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=17819

Congrats! Sounds like you were really smart, and really prepared. Way to go! And, you should feel pretty awesome about the fundraising. Thank you for doing that.