Last week, we were told that today would be the annual N2 century ride.
"No way," said I. "I'm not going to do a 100-mile time trial at max heart rate chasing after THOSE goons." And so I spent the better part of the week, firm in my belief that I would do the "regular" N2 route - a 40 mile route that I now know by heart. I also secretly prayed for rain today.
But a friend of mine on the ride is training for an Ironman in November (crazy woman) and wants to start doing these longer rides. She assured me that she would keep me company in the back of the pack. Another friend assured me that it would be at a more relaxed pace. The ride had been advertised on the shop listserv as "moderate but demanding."
So I agreed.
And set off to do a century this morning.
That climbed Sugarloaf Mountain....not huge by any stretch, but probably the tallest point in all of Montgomery County.
And survived. Barely.
Some cramping. Lots of Gatorade consumed (blech..that stuff is wretched after 60 miles and practically intolerable full strength). Had the ride leader's son been at the 2nd to last rest stop (a general store by Riley's Lock...local gals know it, no doubt) with the car, I would have sagged to the end. BUT...I caved to peer pressure a SECOND time, and after an impromptu massage session on the grass on the side of the road, was off again.
103 miles at a gut-busting 16.7 mph.
And tomorrow morning I sit on a plane for a cross-country flight. Oh, yay. My legs will fill me with such joy!