I rode 100km!

[fretwes]

This ride has been planned for a couple months. The most I'd ridden before in one day was 42 miles and I started out genuinely not sure that I'd be able to finish - the 42 miles was in pretty flat terrority and the 100k is in Western PA - you CAN'T avoid all hills.

Anyway, there were 6 of us, I was the only woman. I was unfamiliar with the route - when we came out to a road I recognized as being only 5 or so miles from our finish point, I got teary eyed because I knew I could make it! And I did, although some of those last 5 miles were sheer hell, some steep hills to get up on my tired, dead legs.

I still can't believe it. The feeling of accomplishment is hard to describe.

[Bad JuJu]

Woo-hoo!!! High-five yourself! What a milestone.

[Artisan]

Wow, WTG, This must be the day for milestones! I was going to post about the milestones I hit today and then I saw your post. I did my first 50 miler today, also hit 2000 miles on my bike since I purchased it last year. But to top it all off, today is me and my husband's 23rd year anniversary.

Lol, about you mentioning you got all teary eyed, I had a hard time containing myself today too.

[Geonz]

A toast, a toast :-) AWESOME. Keep reaching!

[kerrybelle]

Way to go. I had my longest ride last week. It's such a great feeling, isn't it?! Keep it up.

Kerry

[Bike Goddess]

Ah- you reach my heart! My most favorite ride distance is the "metric" century. It's a distance I can do and still have time during the day for other things.

Congrats! Now you know what's next, right?!!!!! (a century of course!!!!!)

[KnottedYet]

Yay! Hooray! Wooo-hoooo!

(I wanna do it, too!)

[Kalidurga]

Considering I'm hoping to break the 40 mile mark this summer, reading this is great motivation. It's amazing how we can keep pushing ourselves and breaking through those barriers to achieve distances we think are out of reach.

Congratulations to both fretwes and Artisan-- And thank you for the inspiration!!

[jobob]

Congratulations to all of you ! There's nothing like that sense of accomplishment.

I'll bet there was a time not so long ago when you thought "geeze, I could never ride that far". And yet, here you are.

[Kathi]

Good for you! I know western Pa and yes, it is hilly.

I did my first metric century to celebrate my 40th birthday, many years ago. It was on the Elroy-Sparta trail in Wisconsin. It was supposed to be easy, it's flat. It's a hard packed dirt trail and they were having a drought that summer so much of the trail was soft and powdery. There were times I thought I had a flat tire because I couldn't see it. I wasn't riding a mtn bike, didn't have one then, just my Fuji mixte. I made it but it took me 10 years to get the courage to do another one.

[mimitabby]

good work!
I DO know about those last 5 miles...

[hibiscus09]

Congratulations!! Great job!

[Nanci]

Congratulations! That's a huge jump in mileage, almost 30%!! And in hills!! There is just nothing as cool as going the longest distance ever- running or biking! (I wouldn't know about swimming :-)

100k is an important milestone, too. For me, after that, longer distances just seemed a little bit easier than the distances leading up to 100k. It's like your body gives up and says, ok, she's going to ride a _long_ time, I'd better cooperate now since I can't talk her out of it...

Yeah, I know those last five miles, too. They can be difficult no matter _what_ distance you are going! I always tell myself- it's only five miles. That't like riding halfway to the store (or whatever). Works for me!

[Bustertb]

Kudos girl!!!!