I have had an exciting seven days of biking. First, last Sunday was the much-anticipated (and fretted over) Three Gap Fifty, half of the Six Gap Century, in Dahlonaga, GA. The deal is, the ride goes through either three or six mountain gaps, with 10,700 vertical feet of climbing for the 100 mile course, and half that for the 50- a horrifying idea for someone from Flat Florida. Elevation is around 3800 feet. It was the most fun bike ride I have ever done! Good thing I didn't know about the eight mile climb at the beginning, and the ten mile descent at the end was wonderful. I was _so_ pleased with my ride- I had imagined trudging up the mountains on foot pushing my bike at 2.5 miles per hour, but I actually averaged 10.5, counting the 30-35 mph descents! I _never_ had to walk my bike, (although I did stop for a minute a couple times to catch my breath- and whoever's post that was, about that being the way to ride hills, instead of giving up and walking, thank you!!! I finished faster than I had hoped, and was definately not last! And I felt _great_, absolutely _great_ when I was done, and was not sore at all the next day. Weather was perfect- cloudy, misty, cool. I had dressed for hot/warm, and had goosebumps, even on the climbs. I would HIGHLY recommend this ride to anyone in the area. Next year, I think I will do the 50 again, not the hundred, because it was just so fun. The hundred is a super accomplishment, but not right for me, yet. http://tinyurl.com/9xq6d (My only decent event photo EVER!!)

Then I sat like a slug in my house for five days. I _meant to_ get out and ride, but I had a bunch of late days at work, blah, blah, blah. AND I ate my weight in Lo Mein Thursday...

Today I achieved the second of three New Years goals- the first being to compete in a triathlon. I rode the Santa Fe Century in Gainesville, FL. I knew a few of the other riders, but most were too fast for me to ride with, and one that I rode with a bit was only ("only!!") doing 50 miles. I was nervous not so much about the distance, because I had previously a few weeks ago done a 92 mile ride (and was pretty tired at the end) but about making the time cutoff. That's something I really don't like- finishing a race or ride when everyone has packed up and gone home. I had hoped to take 7-8 hours, with a 15 mph pace. I tagged along, off and on, with a couple small pace lines, and did some by myself. After 50 miles I started riding third in a non-rotating line of three- good for me! The husband/wife I was riding with were going at a perfect pace for me, ~15 mph, and stopping for the right amount of time at the four stops. I, as usual, didn't take in as many calories as I thought I ought to, but felt pretty good until 65-75 miles, when I got a little tired. Not legs, really, but just stiff neck, tired hands, feet trying to go numb, and very hot. The husband really slowed down at about 80, and at 90, at the last stop, got a ride back. I don't think he was taking in enough electrolytes for the unexpected 92F high. Good thing it was partly cloudy! The wife and I continued on, and were going along nicely- I had the _best_ second wind going from 80 on- when I suddenly yelled "I have to stop!!" and threw Lava down to the ground, and ran out into the four lane highway waving my arms to try to save a box turtle who was blundering across the road. A car missed him by four inches!! I brought him safely to the side of the road. The wife was amazed that I would pick up a ferocious turtle...When we got to the end, I didn't get to talk to them at all, because Husband was now vomiting in the parking lot. I feel bad for him. He did all the work, the last 40 miles.

I'm pleased with my ride. I rode for 6:55 hours, and rest-stopped for 1.0 hours. I never bonked, didn't feel like I was going to die at the end, didn't have any bad moments of doubt during the ride. Now tomorrow is a recovery ride, 45 miles of the Horse Farm hundred in Ocala, FL. I _almost_ could imagine doing back-to-back centuries- maybe next year.

Have you guys ever felt kind of let down after achieving a big goal? It's like, what now? With running, you can _always_ go further, but it's kind of hard to find bike events longer than 100 miles. I suppose the smart thing to do is work on improving my pace, but I have always been better at endurance rather than speed.

Anyway- time for some chicken alfredo and a glass of wine!

Nanci