First metric century

[DebTX]

Hi everyone -
I did the 45 mile LiveSTRONG Challenge last weekend. It was my second year doing that event. I trained all summer on 20-30 mile rides and did just fine. I wasn't "fast", but I did get up all the hills upright, and on the bike!

I want to "kick it up" a notch and start training for longer distances. So I signed up for a metric century in 2 weeks (also a charity event). Is this a good strategy for slowly becoming ready for longer rides?

I'm a nervous newbie - so any advice welcomed!

[Aggie_Ama]

Are you doing the Wurst Ride? It is really fun! Try this weekend to do another ride that is 45-50 miles. If you did 45 last weekend you should be pretty close. Maybe the next day this weekend you can do another shorter recovery ride of 20 or so. Just take your time and enjoy the metric, really I think you are probably already ready to go.

ETA- Uh I just re-read your post. Yes, I think gradually trying a longer ride is a good way. Maybe not the structured "training plan" way but it is how I did it. Now I prefer 50-60 milers and have done centuries.

[wildhawk]

Awesome - you can do it and it sounds like you are definately ready.

[DebTX]

Yes, it's the Wurst ride, Amanda - it does look like fun. And didn't look too hilly!
Thanks for the advice

[indysteel]

Hi everyone -
I did the 45 mile LiveSTRONG Challenge last weekend. It was my second year doing that event. I trained all summer on 20-30 mile rides and did just fine. I wasn't "fast", but I did get up all the hills upright, and on the bike!

I want to "kick it up" a notch and start training for longer distances. So I signed up for a metric century in 2 weeks (also a charity event). Is this a good strategy for slowly becoming ready for longer rides?

I'm a nervous newbie - so any advice welcomed!

Sounds like a good plan. That was my approach. For my first year of riding, I gradually worked up to about 60 miles before I had to put the bike up for the winter. The following year, I did my first century in May, after working up to about 75 miles prior to that. I then did a 160-mile ride that July. I can't say that I really worked up to that; I just did it! This year, I worked up to doing longer, hillier rides, but the approach was much the same. I just gradually increased mileage/feet of climbing so that my body (and mind) got used to it.

As your rides get longer and longer, your body will continue to adapt to long hours in the saddle and you'll learn what you have to do or avoid to go even longer, e.g., stretching, hydrating, eating.

[Aggie_Ama]

Yes, it's the Wurst ride, Amanda - it does look like fun. And didn't look too hilly!
Thanks for the advice

We did it a couple years ago and had a good time. Just have a conflict this year so we have to pass. The headwind would be more of an issue than any hills, it will be feel flat compared to Dripping Springs. Come back and tell us about it, I am sure you will thoroughly enjoy the ride.

[TrekTheKaty]

You should be fine on the metric if you did 45 miles. If you are looking to go farther, it's good to build up gradually--adding 5 miles to your long ride each weekend. This will make it more fun and you are less likely to get burnt out. I tried to jump 10 miles each weekend in a crunch to join my husband in a century--it eventually caught up with me. I did fine in the century, but missed two longer rides because of it. Just make sure you are still having fun

[TexasKate]

Dang it, Deb - I did the 45 miles in Austin last weekend as well! Wish I'd known you were there so we could've met. I was riding alone and it was pretty lonely - especially after seeing all those other teams arrive! This was my first LIVESTRONG ride and I had no idea what I was doing lol - things will be different next year, that's for sure! We're thinking of starting a team - Team Spin Cycle!

I'm glad you finished and did well. I managed to finish, but it was HARD. We don't have hills like that where I live and they definitely took their toll on me. I'll know how to train much better for next year. I want to try the Outlaw Trails 100 up in Round Rock next year as well.

Congratulations on finishing and good luck with training for your next event!

TK

[Aggie_Ama]

I want to try the Outlaw Trails 100 up in Round Rock next year as well.

Don't need to worry about hills on the Outlaw. East of 35= pancake flat prarie land. All you got to worry about on the Outlaw is wind.

[DebTX]

It would've been fun to meet you - I don't know many cyclists here (and I'm dying to find some women to ride with who are true beginners, like me!) The hills are tough in Dripping Springs - they killed me last year. It was a bit better this year, at least I rode them, even if my cadence dropped.

My husband is a 2 year survivor and we ride with a large group called Cyclists Combatting Cancer (www.ridetolive.org) You're welcome to join up with us next year if you'd like

Deb

[arielmoon]

I used the same strategy training for my century. Like Indysteel said, sometimes you just cant work up to the distance in a training rides but if you are fit and consistent you can do it!!

[DebTX]

I'm happy to say I made it through the 62 miles!

I did great for the first 45 (having done that distance twice before in charity rides). I really enjoyed the riding and the scenery. There were some hills on the route, but like Amanda had said, they weren't as tough as the LiveStrong Challenge hills two weeks ago. I'm still horribly slow on hills, and I hope after another season or two I'll get stronger at riding them. It was on the hills that everyone just zoomed by me (depressing!)

The tough part for me hit right around mile 50. I took a good break at the 54 mile rest stop (where I was actually near tears) and chatted with a few nice women who diverted my attention for awhile and it helped a lot. I got back on the bike, and the last 10 were easy.

One more "life adventure" I can check off my list. Sometimes, though, I wonder why I put my fat, old body through this...

I feel like I should wear a jersey at these events that says, "I'm not an athlete but I play one on my bike".

Thanks for your support everyone - and for all the good advice that always pours out of the women at TE!

[redrhodie]

Congratulations, Deb! Yes, you are too an athlete! Nice job!

[bikerchic]

Awesome Deb!

I still remember my first........fun times!

[crazybikinchic]

When we are training for the HHH, we up our miles by about 10 miles per week, which is very easy to do. If you just did 45, you can do 60 with no problems.