Mount Hamilton Ride Report

[aka_kim]

I've been very religious about eating every 30 minutes and I don't feel like a sandwich. I eat two bites to make him happy....

We eat a little, use the facilities. Thom has a Coke and I try to drink a little but gag on it. I guess Coke is out....

But this first climb out of the Junction is just awful. It's here that I begin to wonder if I'll be able to do DMD.

Dude, ya gotta eat! Listen to your coach. Have you tried Ensure? - Some say it's awful, and I haven't tried it, but I know that some long distance riders swear by it - maybe something to try during your training rides.

Good job on the ride. The Pilot says that the key to finishing DMD is believing that you can and will finish it. So you've just got to believe.

[Veronica]

Thanks - I think I can do it. I may be the last person in...with Thom following me in the car. I think I should have brought more Honey Stingers and hammer gel. After the summit I switched to Pay Days and I don't think they gave me the energy I needed.

V.

[SadieKate]

Dude, ya gotta eat! . . .

Good job on the ride. The Pilot says that the key to finishing DMD is believing that you can and will finish it. So you've just got to believe.

Isn't it "Studette?" And, I agree. I'd be taking one of everything I could think of in the big 'ol bag of yours and see what tempts you. I like Nanci's or Maillotpois' (somebody's) list of what she did eat. Also, do the temperatures make a difference? I really change what I like to eat winter to summer. Someone somewhere was talking about chocolate milk. I usually can only eat chocolate during cold weather rides and milk rarely sounds good to me, but chocolate milk on a 200 mile ride might be wonderful. Just stocked up on Trader Joes's dark choc coffee beans. It will be significantly warmer then than now.

Remember how much energy there is to be absorbed from the other riders. Use that to bolster your belief that you can do this. I know all of us think you can.

Between you and Nanci and Jo and Snap and everyone else's reports of this weekend's rides, I'm exhausted but cheering everyone on. Somebody has to do those rides. Hills, haven't seen those in a while. Must try again.

[slinkedog]

You rock, V! I want to be like you when I grow up.

[Bike Goddess]

Great riding V! That ride is the very one that I have a goal to do as well-an out/back via Mines Rd. I thought that was what you had done from the profile and your report!

Are you doing Abs exercises? I do them at the gym and it's really helped my back on longer rides.

Keep up the good work! I'm right behind you cheering you on. If I can get the day off, I'd like to volunteer for the DMD just for you!!!!!! I'll see what I can do! It's on my calendar, now I have to ask!

[maillotpois]

Great ride, Veronica! That climb up the back side of Hamilton is a tough one. (The other side is a lot easier.) I just did Mines from the Junction back down as part of my self supported century a week or so ago. I love that last part of Mines where its' mostly down with some rollers and you can just fly!

Sorry about the knees, but it sounds like they got gradually better?

I just read a great article in the NY Times Sports Magazine about the guy who's won RAAM the last couple of years. Basically he's a nut case and slowly goes crazy and delusional during his rides. Don't emulate him. However, the positive point from the article, and the reason I bring it up, was they cited a lot of research that basically proves that most of what gets you through an ultra endurance event is mental. And it's pretty clear from your posts that you have the mental thing DOWN for DMD. I think if it can be done, you'll do it!

Sarah