Thank you. Great idea to do it by car before. I know the area as it is on my own turf but have not done it for "real". I did receive the map and husband knows the road very well. I don't. So this weekend it rainy so might as well put it to good use and check it out. The other one I have the map (and hills, etc) but not seen it and we will do it by car too.

I cannot eat when exercising. It just rolls in my mouth and I feel like spitting it out instead of swallowing. I tried a few times and it just does not work when I'm working hard. And I cannot stand anything sweet during that time. So it will have to be something easy to swallow or take the opportunity when I have a slower pace at some point.

My trainer is scheduling me a very easy training week the week prior (next week is hell training she said but I have not seen the plan yet). And a 30 minute ride the day before Challenge. Nothing strenuous.

Knowing the 1st Challenge is not far from home, worst case scenario, hubby gets back home or start point and I wait for him to pick me up whichever is closer. And they also have an end car for those who have issues finishing it up. On the 2nd Challenge, my LBS will be the one on the road at the end. So I will be riding with some of their staff who will be participating in the challenge and they will push me if needed and if I'm "dead" I can ride in their truck. So not all is lost.

But I'll resume your replies on a sheet and work from this "check-list". Thank you.