First century since Michigan

BIKE 100.6 miles in 6 hours and 3 mins

It wasn't the original plan to ride 100 miles. I'd been saying "I'm riding 90" in the days prior. The 100 Carrot was just too much to resist!

The route was brand new to me, cobbled together from other MMR routes I could find, routes I've done, and familiar MCT sections. I was riding alone, I put out a light feeler but nothing serious. There was no shorter route option, and I think most of my friends are done with long stuff for the year.

The day was gorgeous, a bit cool to start but with promise to warm up to the low 80's! I fueled last night and this morning with a lot of rice (I was devoid of energy last night, needed a fuel intervention) so I went out with hopes that rice works for this. Why wouldn't it?

Started off in Drost and headed to C-ville. From there, new roads! They were rough, evidently chip-sealed this summer and not smoothed out yet. At one point on Rose I was in loose chip! After a mile or two I pulled out the phone to look for an alternative route. None! So I took a gamble and kept going, the gamble paid off -- but not until the bottom of a big down hill -- and soon enough I had smooth(er) road again. I was ticking along and feeling really good, I'm thinking the day off yesterday, the rice, my fitness...

...no it was a tailwind! The first 30 miles were mostly eastbound and I had a strong SW wind pushing me. Oh great, as the way home was a weave-up of north and west, with lots of west bound segments. Oh well, I had some apprehension about this but knew it was good for me.

Stop in Breese, ride to New Baden. Along the way I'm thanking the corn for being so tall as it blunted the headwind :) All summer I was Appreciating! how green and how fresh the corn smelled. As I like to say, you can smell the corn growing. Now it was turning to fall colors, light tan, husky, and now I could smell the corn drying. Lots of semi's hauling harvested grain, a few golden colored corn spills along the roads...fall is just around the corner. (Starts Tuesday, in fact). Normally I'm not out riding this late in the season so this is new for me.

Speaking of racing in Sept, Redman is today! And I'm cheering for JM who's doing the full!

And at the same time I'm praying for JP and P :(

The west bound segments of headwind and rough road started to wear on me around mile 65. I started counting the miles left, watching the garmin, and thinking about pulling over to rest. But I didn't, I think it but never do. By the time I got back to the truck at 73, I was committed to at least 90 miles. So I was cooked but not finished. And I most certainly did NOT want to do a brick run.

I headed out on the MCT westbound with the plan of riding the required mileage then turning around for home with a tailwind. The Blerch kept talking at me -- just ride a few miles then turn around and keep repeating that little segment. He wanted me to ride by the truck again in temptation to quit! That fat little f^ck! No way!

In fact, before I reached my planned turn around mileage, I'd committed to 100! It's only another 5 miles out into the headwind. The math bit struggled in my head...carry the 2...haha...but eventually I came up with 87. If I turn around at 87 I'll get 100. Thankfully 87 came before the Madison parking lot on the bridge over 203. Hehe, I didn't even want to ride the extra yardage to the parking lot. I was DONE.

Then I realize I have 13 miles in 5:27. I hit 10 miles to go around at 5:30. Can I crush it back to get to 100 by 6 hours?! I'm gonna try! I pushed, the push waxed and waned over the miles but I was able to push. My ave speed thus far was 16.5 mph, and now I'm doing 19.7. Weeee!!!!!!!

I came to close, finished the 100 in 6:01 or 6:02. SWEET!! But I'm done. My toes HURT for a few mins, and I still had no desire to run.

Nailed nutrition and hydration, didn't mash too much into the headwind, stayed calm in the headwind. Nice century :)