Congrats on the century! RAIN is very personal as far as goals. For many it is the one yearly yard stick they measure themselves against. For others it's a great achievement to just finish (these are the people that are the most motivational - great stories and effort).

Last year I was off the bike for 1 hour total (WOW!), Ride time was right at 8:15, total time was around 9:13. But I had a great time talking to my wife and friends at the stops, getting refueled, hearing the rumors and gossip that trickle along the route (did a guy really hit a deer, did so and so crash?, etc...) I had a very good ride after little sleep the night before (nerves), and felt stronger as the day went (too many nerves at the start).

Several of my riding buddies will be top 10, top 20 and top 30, but they don't stop, use feed bags, and it's a different experience. I would love to break 9 hours, but I'll need decent conditions, more training, and less time off the bike. I'll do the best I can, and hope to have a great ride, but I also want to enjoy the time with Kim as she helps me along the way.