STP countdown!

[AppleTree]

Way to go smittykitty, lauraelmore, and especially ttaylor508 for doing it in ONE DAY...

I think we were VERY lucky as far as the weather, we missed any thunderstorms and real rain. It sprinkled a bit Sunday morning coming out of Winlock, but only for a few miles. Stayed nice and cool for most of the day.

I was still slow, but I did manage to better my time by a few hours from last year.... and I didn't have to walk up the big hill in Puyallup like last year... yay me! I felt stronger this year. And I didn't forget anything!

But still, at the start line in Seattle I was thinking... WHY oh why am I doing this again??

Last year, I was overcome by emotion at the finish line...this year it was coming over the last bridge, over the Willamette River...and tears just rolling down my face. After all my worries and doubts, I somehow managed to do it again and make a little better job of it... and it was so beautiful.

Okay, who's up for RSVP???

[lauraelmore1033]

Yay you, Appletree! I had that why, why, why am I doing this question running through my head the whole time I was prepairing and riding. Not really conducive for happy riding, I gotta say, but probably normal considering that it is kind of an insane thing to do--riding from Seattle to Portland...

[ttaylor508]

But still, at the start line in Seattle I was thinking... WHY oh why am I doing this again??

I felt the same way, I have done this ride 6 times (4 times One Day) and say every time this will be the last, but somehow I get talked into it. I guess its kind of like childbirth, you forget the pain... except this year there really was no pain (except the normal saddle sore stuff). I really can't believe how good my legs felt at the finish.

DH just walked into my office and asked if I wanted to do RSVP2. I love the RSVP, so I am totally up for it!!!

[smittykitty]

I'll try to make it quick! Well, we did it and did it well. No mishaps at all! I was definitely the slow spoke, but hey, we had three 20 somethings and two very fit men my age!!!! No bruises for the wedding pictures. Team Wed: bridge, groom, bride's maid, father of bride, father/mom of groom (DH and I). So here goes:

Long day, last minute changes with Wonder Support Team (DH, myself and Support Team left house at 4:00am Sat. morning instead of staying in Bellevue Friday night as previous planned).

5:30 am: First of all we cheated, we started on N. Capitol Hill a couple miles into the ride. Team Wed. joined a couple of ladies (one a long-time friend) and left from their house. Got to use the flushy twice (no waiting). The 8 of us worked our way into the Lk WA Blvd craziness and never looked back. Unfortunately, we lost the ladies after the Spanaway stop.

We hit the big stops: REI, Spanaway, Centralia College and Napavine. We ended our 1st day at Winlock in the mid-late afternoon (times are a bit of a blur).

Our support crew drove us back to the college and ushered us to the front of the beer garden/pizza line where our good friends were serving. We were given chairs, beer and pizza and life was good!

Next stop for Team Wed. was our house where pasta dinner was waiting for us. After a quick shower, I tossed everyone's bike gear in the wash. The masseuse was set-up in the back yard! Again life was good! We went to bed early!

Hit the road in front of the big egg (Winlock's claim to fame) about 7:30. Light drizzle that didn't last too long. Tried to actually rain for a bit, then stopped. Our group got separated a few times on Sunday and rejoined on the Portland side on the St. John's bridge. We then rode into the finish together around 3:15pm. Bridge's father pulled the bottle of champagne out from under his jacket and we drank from Starbucks cups!!! Nice surprise! (he had plenty of time to pick it up while waiting for me).

After food/drink, we squished 5 of us in our pick-up for the trip back north.

Just a few details: High/low lites

My average (per my not so dependable computer) was 14.6 mph, my usual average for any ride! 13.6 hours of riding time. The others would have been done much earlier. My poor husband really wanted to ride faster and would get ahead of me then pull off and wait. (Due to the better/worst part of his marriage vows 35 yrs ago, he was required to wait for me).

Centrailia College is JUST CRAZY. People, bikes, tents everywhere. I have to wonder how many struggle day two after spending too much time in the beer garden!

The party in Portland is also awesome!

Not so sure if we will do it again. I'm so very proud of myself for being able to do it and do it well (for my body). Mentally/physically I did fine! All the time spent in the gym and on the bike really paid off. The training and prep were really fun. I've lost 10 pounds since spring (5 after the STP!). My clothes are all too big!

The ride is 200 miles of very "intense" riding. There was never a time when we weren't surrounded by other bikers. Everyone was very polite and safe, but it is not our style of riding. Much of the roads were very busy with car traffic as well.

The food was some times a little tough on me. So much junk food for the sugar. The Costco roll-ups on day two were the best, as well as the watermelon. My food (if you call it that) of choice was Shotz Blocs. I pretty much ate them non-stop.

I think the day two route is STP's best kept secret! We heard just a few rollers from Napavine to Castle Rock, then the climb over the bridge at Longview. Well, the rollers never stopped from Napavine on. Nothing too serious, but definitely not flat like the first day!

I did just fine on both the Puyallup hill and the Longview Bridge. Actually passed a few other riders. There was no way I was gonna stop! It was nice that I was fit enough that I never came close to needing to.

The finish into Portland was terrible. Going up the narrow hill to the St. John's bridge, trying to pass other bikes with cars passing us was a bit scary. Everyone was very tired at that point. I did sit through the red light an extra time before heading over the bridge! The route through the Rose Quarter was just plain scary too!

We got home and immediately switched gears and moved on to the wedding the following week-end. The bridge and groom are now off on their honeymoon and we are all finally catching our breath. The wedding was beyond spectacular! We are so happy to have a new daughter in-law. Hope to be able to think about getting back on our bikes here soon!

To sum it up: Great fun, great group of people. I'm very proud to be one of the 2,600 women to do it! But, we will see about future rides. Too soon to say.

Thanks again for the encouragement. Pinch me, I rode the STP!!!!!!

[AppleTree]

Smittykitty, thanks for the ride report. So glad you had a great experience on the STP! As far as being a slow spoke, I only WISH I could manage a 14+ mph...that is my goal in life.

Also wish I could have the same weight loss experience you did, I am jealous, wow!

I don't know that many people can say they accomplished STP and the next weekend a big family wedding, whew. But you did it...what a great feeling eh?

A big congrats to you!

[smittykitty]

Thanks. I hope I didn't sound too negative about the ride. I really did love the whole thing (hard to tell).

Been a wild couple of weeks. I'm officially on vacation (started a couple hours ago) for two plus weeks. Off to Idaho camping for a week to finally rest up from all the craziness. The following week we will be back on our bikes. Just haven't figured out where.