First Century - getting nervous!

[ny biker]

If you're staying in a hotel the night before, I suggest packing for any kind of weather that is possible. I always feel better knowing I am prepared for the unexpected. And you can always just leave it in the car if you don't need it.

For packing lists, I do a head-to-toe checklist: what do I need for my head? what do I need for my face, eyes, lips, skin? what do I need for my top? what do I need for my legs? what do I need for my feet? Then I do the morning-to-night checklist: what do I need in order to wake up? what products do I need first thing in the morning (e.g., toothbrush). what do I need for breakfast? etc.

[TigerMom]

I just finished my first century with 2900 feet elevation (thankfully, one of the flatter centuries because my legs have been exhausted for 3 days). I was able to average 16.6mph because some really nice strangers let me draft behind them (I always ask and not just draft randomly because I am wobbly when I ride and I want to make sure that the rider in front of me knows to signal/warn me of obstacles ahead).

My advice for a first century is to stop and fill up your water bottles with gatorade and grab a snack to put in your jersey and pee at every rest stop so that you are as comfortable as possible to finish....at least, that was what I did. I also did take 1 Tylenol at the start of the race to try and prevent any aches/pains that was coming.

Most of all, I try to finish without injury/getting lost. Some of the riders that I know were lost for 10miles. So, watch the holes/the road cracks/being too close to the gutter/cars.