Should I do it?

[Wasp]

As I have mentioned in a previous post, I signed up for the Chuckanut Century ride in Bellingham WA. Sept 16/12. This will be my first organized event. My original plan was to do a half century. As the ride date draws closer, I started thinking can I actually ride 50 miles?. Yesterday I set out to find out. I rode 54 miles in 3 hrs and felt pretty good afterwards. So now, I'm thinking I need to rethink my original plan. The ride has a variety of distances that you can pick from which would give me the option of upping the mileage to the next level which would be 62 miles. I know I could do the extra 12 miles, however.........I have a little voice in my head telling me to try to do the century. The more rational side of me is worried that 100 miles is a bit much......BUT! I want the challenge.
Anyone else doing the Chuckanut? Or has done it?
Any advise?

[Tri Girl]

I haven't done that race, nor do I have any advice about it. That's great that you were able to do the 54 and felt so good afterward, tho!

I will tell you, though, if you feel like you want to do the century- DO IT!! I'm always of the athletic mindset that if you want to do something just get out there and do it. I signed up for my first Iron distance triathlon before I had even done a sprint tri. People thought I was nuts and that there was no way I could do it- but I did!
There *IS* a big difference in how the body feels at around 60-70 miles and how the body feels at around 90 miles, that's for sure! And there's definitely a HUGE difference in how you feel after 54 and how you feel after 100.
I would ride long one last time before the event (next weekend?) and see how you feel. If you can ride about 75 miles next weekend and feel good, then go for it! However, if you feel like crap after 75, then I wouldn't do it. Then again... maybe I still would.

[indysteel]

How hilly is the century? For me, I can gut out a relatively flat ride for which I'm undertained, but hills add another dimension of fatigue and pain that can be difficult to overcome with less than adequate training.

But I otherwise agree with Tri girl's suggestion. If you can get a long ride in next weekend and feel okay, go for it. The pace in which you did the 54 miler in suggests to me that you've got it in you. Just go out pretty easy, drink and eat enough, stretch a bit at the stops, and you should be okay. Of course, weather could play a factor, too, so if it's windy, just play it by ear.

[Becky]

For me, it all becomes mental at ~75 miles. If your legs can ride 50 and feel good, they can probably do 100. But can your brain? Only one way to find out (Yeah, I think you should try the century!)

Do you have to decide on distance at the start, or is this one of those rides where you can make that decision partway into the route?

[lauraelmore1033]

My Dh and I are doing the Chuckanut Century also! The South Route looks to be a reverse variation of the Skagit County Classic ride--at least the metric century route, which I've done--and then another loop and an out and back which I'm not familiar with. You can play it by ear and see how you feel after the big loop and see if you want to ad on more. The north route appears to be much flatter, but we know from experience to expect ferocious headwinds. We're going to do the north route, metric century on our tandem. If you see a big blue tandem with a fat lady on the back, that'll be me!

[Wasp]

I haven't done that race, nor do I have any advice about it. That's great that you were able to do the 54 and felt so good afterward, tho!

I will tell you, though, if you feel like you want to do the century- DO IT!! I'm always of the athletic mindset that if you want to do something just get out there and do it. I signed up for my first Iron distance triathlon before I had even done a sprint tri. People thought I was nuts and that there was no way I could do it- but I did!
There *IS* a big difference in how the body feels at around 60-70 miles and how the body feels at around 90 miles, that's for sure! And there's definitely a HUGE difference in how you feel after 54 and how you feel after 100.
I would ride long one last time before the event (next weekend?) and see how you feel. If you can ride about 75 miles next weekend and feel good, then go for it! However, if you feel like crap after 75, then I wouldn't do it. Then again... maybe I still would.

That's great advise, I really never considered how the body would be feeling. It's definatley something to consider. I'm heading out today to give 75 miles a go, and see how my body reacts to that. I definatley do not want to overdo things and end up sore and miserable....or even worse injured.

[Wasp]

My Dh and I are doing the Chuckanut Century also! The South Route looks to be a reverse variation of the Skagit County Classic ride--at least the metric century route, which I've done--and then another loop and an out and back which I'm not familiar with. You can play it by ear and see how you feel after the big loop and see if you want to ad on more. The north route appears to be much flatter, but we know from experience to expect ferocious headwinds. We're going to do the north route, metric century on our tandem. If you see a big blue tandem with a fat lady on the back, that'll be me!

Ive been told the south route was more challenging, so it's the north route for me
I never considered strong headwinds in that area, so thanks for the heads up. I'll definatley keep my eyes open for your tandem.
Thanks for the advise.

[Jiffer]

I think you've gotten good advice so far. I'm surprised, however, that you are attempting to tackle 75 so quickly after your first 54. If you have trouble with it, it could be because you haven't recovered from your recent long ride, so keep that in mind when assessing. Generally doing one long ride a week gives your body time to recover, with shorter rides during the week and a "recovery" ride the day after the long ride or anything particularly taxing on the body. (Recovery ride is just a super easy ride where you spin your legs for 30, maybe 60 minutes. In a book I read it said to ride slow enough so that a little girl with a basket on her bike can keep up!)

If you are good after your 75 today, I'd do a recovery ride tomorrow if you can, or even a good slow walk will help. Then wait until the weekend and do another 75 or maybe 85, and then a recovery ride and maybe another moderate to easy paced ride or two during the week before your century.

Make sure you educate yourself on nutrition and hydration, as that can play a big factor in your success and misery level. Don't forget about post ride nutrition for recovery, not just for the century, but for your training rides.

Just being on the bike in that position for 6 plus hours can be difficult when you are not used to it, even if you have the strength and energy, so be prepared for that factor and hopefully you've had a professional bike fit.

Lastly, when doing a century, I find it helps to think of it in shorter spurts. Think about the 20 miles you have to go to the next SAG, not the 60 you have to go to the finish.

The last 20-ish miles can be a big challenge, but once you've finished 80, while you may be suffering some, you'll know you can get in that last 20 and you'll have finished your first century. You'll be so proud of yourself. I have feeling you'll be just fine.

[Crankin]

I did a century with no ride longer than about 66 miles that year. And I didn't "train." I ride lots of hills and the century was flat, but by the coast, so hence, winds. My DH told me if I didn't pull, he would kill me, that's how bad the wind was.
If you fuel/hydrate correctly and choose a moderate pace, you'll be fine. My last 15 miles were hard, mostly due to plunging temps and torrential rain for about 10 minutes. I finished in 6 hr. 33 minutes riding time, which, while not speedy, was quite acceptable.
You can do it.

[Biciclista]

Don't know how old you are, Wasp, but if you can do 75 miles you can do 100. Just take it easy the first 50 miles so you still have some ooomph for the end. Chuckanut for those who are asking IS hilly, but most of the hills are not cruel hills (one is).

oh, the age reference. If you're under 30, you can do ANYTHING and get away with it. If you are older, you will pay mightily for riding without
the appropriate training.
good luck

[Wasp]

I did go out Riding Monday. The plan was to ride 75 miles, but due to fierce headwinds I called it quits at 62 miles, it was just not much fun being bashed around by the wind.
My body is not complaining, I don't have any soreness so it didn't occur to me that I could be over doing things. As far as post ride nutrition, what exactly should I be doing?, I've just been eating normally. I take a water bottle when I ride and I refill that when needed. I have noticed I am hungrey after I get home, but I just assumed that was normal.

[Wasp]

Don't know how old you are, Wasp, but if you can do 75 miles you can do 100. Just take it easy the first 50 miles so you still have some ooomph for the end. Chuckanut for those who are asking IS hilly, but most of the hills are not cruel hills (one is).

oh, the age reference. If you're under 30, you can do ANYTHING and get away with it. If you are older, you will pay mightily for riding without
the appropriate training.
good luck

I'm 53 going on 29
Yea I hear you on the age reference. Yesterday I went out for a couple hr ride and ended up keeping pace with acouple of young men in there 20's. I lasted 10 miles, before I needed to revert back to my pace...lol And yes, the thighs are sore today!, so today was a non bike day.

[goldfinch]

I did go out Riding Monday. The plan was to ride 75 miles, but due to fierce headwinds I called it quits at 62 miles, it was just not much fun being bashed around by the wind.
My body is not complaining, I don't have any soreness so it didn't occur to me that I could be over doing things. As far as post ride nutrition, what exactly should I be doing?, I've just been eating normally. I take a water bottle when I ride and I refill that when needed. I have noticed I am hungrey after I get home, but I just assumed that was normal.

Are you saying that you didn't eat at all on a 62 mile ride? I could never do that. If you do the hundred I would eat a couple hundred calories every hour. Others with more experience can give you details.

[Wasp]

Are you saying that you didn't eat at all on a 62 mile ride? I could never do that. If you do the hundred I would eat a couple hundred calories every hour. Others with more experience can give you details.

I ate before the ride, and i had water in my water bottle. But, no i didnt eat anything during the ride. I felt ok, but i was hungrey when i got back home. Should i be eating during the ride? where do you put anything to eat on the bike? i have a little under the seat pouch but with a tube and tools in it, there is very little room for anything else.
For sure i plan on stopping and getting something to eat during the century ride, but when i ride for 2-3 hrs i just dont feel the need to eat.

[indysteel]

Yes, you need to eat during rides. The fact that you did a metric with only water amazes me. You either are superhuman or you're ignoring what your body is telling you. For your century, I would suggest eating 200-300 calories every hour from the first hour of the ride. There will be stops along the ride likely every 15-20 miles. Most of us carry some additional food in our jersey pockets, too, or in a seat or top tube bag. You should also be taking in some electrolytes, typically in the form of a sports drink of some kind. This is crucial, especially on warm days.

The fact that you have no experience with what your stomach can handle and with the amount or frequency of your food/drink intake gives me some pause in encouraging you to do a century. Bonking (depleting your energy stores) mid-ride is exceedingly unpleasant.