Paris-Brest-Paris

[jobob]

Don't you think the first thing she would do after finishing 88 hours on the bike would be to post on TE??. Wow, this is seriously impressive!!

Heh, order a chocolate croissant and a caffe mocha, and then post to TE!

[indysteel]

Oh, the things I would indulge in if (a) I were in Paris and (b) had just ridden a bike for 88 hours. I wouldn't stop with a pain au chocolat, that's for sure!!!

Susan, enjoy the fruits (and pastries) of your labor. If anyone deserves it, it's you!!!

[crazycanuck]

That's just way freakin cool...awesome...Wayyyy cooolio...!!! That's one amazing feat

I do want to know..when you've recovered ...did you come accross any Aussies??? I checked a few of the Perth Audax riders times & holy sheep...

[smilingcat]

I'm excited for Susan and Chris!! I'm loss for words for their herculean achievement.

I've participated in some endurance events and races but this... This is in a totally different league. Speechless and in total awe.

[Bike Chick]

Awesome!

[ShubieGA]

Congratulations! What an amazing accomplishment!

[Susan Otcenas]

OK, I *do* love you guys, but logging in to the forums did, in fact, take a lower priority to getting some much needed sleep. I wasn't even all that hungry afterwards, surprisingly enough, but man was I pooped! (I had a sandwich when I was done, but dinner ended up being just a veggie salad!)

Gosh, I don't even know how to sum it all up. I will do a ride report, I promise.

Quickly, though... the first two ride segments were amazing.
I rode 450 km (279 miles) to Loudeac in just 21:45. I had buckets of time in the bank (I was ~9 or 10 hours ahead of the control closing time!) and got 4:15 of sleep. Awesome. The ride from Loudeac to Brest and back to Loudeac was extremely hilly, but I covered the 340km (~211 miles) in 19 hours, which I was again very happy about. Still had oodles of time in the bank and took another 3:15 sleep break.

Day 3 was when things started getting tough. I was fine for the first few hours riding, but around 7 or 8 am, I suddenly realized that I'd just had a "micro sleep" moment on my bike. Scared the crap out of me. I ended up taking a 30 minute nap in the next control, which was good for another couple of hours of wakefulness. But by the time the sun went down on the 3rd day, I was *really* starting to struggle. My pace had slowed and my mood had declined. I ended up getting to my next designated sleep stop about 3.5 hours later than planned. Basically, it had taken me 22 hours - and a couple of woe-is-me crying episodes - to go just 310 km (193 miles). That sucks. Still with 4.5 hours in the bank, but I like to LEAVE a control with 2 hrs banked (in case of mechanical). Well, that just wasn't going to happen.

I woke up in INCREDIBLE pain. I could barely move. No exaggeration. Couldn't sit up, couldn't turn over. There wasn't a spot on me that didn't hurt (well, except my hands which were basically numb to the world). I decided to DNF. But Jeff wouldn't let me. I'd given him STRICT instructions to get my *** moving and that he did. But, not before I had the most violent episode of projectile vomiting ever. Jeff said he'd never seen anything like it. Even as it was happening, I was thinking "wow, that's impressive! Who knew the human stomach held that much stuff??" Clearly, my body had stopped processing what I was putting into it some time before.

Anyway, once I vomited (all over the spectacularly white and shiny bathroom in this lovely hotel.....) I felt much better. Or, at least, my stomach did.

So, somehow, I don't KNOW how, but I rode. The final 87 miles from that control took me 8:45 to cover. There was one interim control I had to stop at 40 miles before the finish, which sucked up 30 minutes, so basically I was puttering along averaging a whopping 11mph. (Well, truth be told, I was going UP the hills at about 4mph and coasting DOWN). But, when all was said and done, I made it to Paris with 1:15 left in the bank. It meant I didn't have to stress the last section, and could try to enjoy the accomplishment.

It's hard to express just how challenging this ride is. It isn't just the distance. It's the hills (38,000 feet!!) and the lack of sleep, and the unfamiliar foods, and the chaos of the controls (so very much NOT like getting in and out of a control in the US) and the epicness of riding in France.

So, here I am 29 hours later. My body has taken quite a beating. My knees (which have never given me trouble) are very very sore. My right shoulder (which I injured falling on railroad track in March) is really uncomfortable, 8-9 of my fingers have some degree of numbness, my butt is sore (though in remarkably good shape thanks to awesome shorts and Lantiseptic. I have no broken skin.), and obviously my quads are completely depleted. My lower back is definitely tweaked too, but it was sore most of the week leading up to the event for reasons having nothing to do with PBP.

Will I do it again? Probably not. It's a checkmark on the bucket list, yes, but jeez louise, it was really really hard. Really hard. I'm not entirely sure doing it again would be worth the damage to my body.

[indysteel]

Wow, Susan. Thanks for taking the time and energy to do a write-up so soon after the ride. The amount of mental and physical will that it took to complete the ride is utterly inspiring. I can't imagine getting back on the bike AFTER projectile vomiting. I'm so thrilled that you get to cross this off your bucket list. I hope your body heals soon. It sounds like a good massage (or two) is in order.

[maillotpois]

Wow. Brutal. I know the full report will be great, and probably a little more rose-colored/positive, but the raw brutality of the summary is simple and straightforward. Reminds me a lot of how a friend described his PBP 2007 (though he has worse weather of course). He didn't go back this year. I know a lot of people do it time and again, but I have a sense I might feel like you, that once would be enough.

I'm so impressed that you toughed it out. You should be SO proud of yourself.

[bmccasland]

Wow Susan, just wow!

I hope a massage is on order, or two, or three.

Now you're going to enjoy yourself in France right? Drink some good wine, eat some good food, have a pastry and coffee?

[jessmarimba]

That's incredible! Hope you're recovering enough to enjoy the food and drink there now I also can't imagine getting back on the bike after vomiting...but I guess you probably felt TONS better after your stomach was empty again.

[gnat23]

SUSAN! OMG WOW!

I mean, you're not selling it as a goal to look forward to , but HOLYSNOT YOU DID IT! YOU ARE AN AMAZON!

Get a massage, stuff your face with pastries, rest up, and THEN let us know what's next on your bucket list!

-- gnat!

[GLC1968]

and THEN let us know what's next on your bucket list!

Pretty sure that would be Ironman. It will probably seem like a piece of cake in comparison to PBP. I mean what - only 17 or less hours in motion? Pffft!

Oh and Susan - You ROCK.

[Grog]

Congratulations Susan! You are AMAZING. I wish you a prompt and restful recovery. Take it easy.

[Dr.Doo]

Awesome! Congrats on such a fantastic achievement.