Training Log Archive: YvonneIn the 7 days ending Oct 8, 2017:
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Sunday Oct 8, 2017 #
Note
A couple important points I want to remember re: SH:
1. Wasn't sure the best way to carry my bike w/ a frame bag installed. Got a wonderful tutorial from Kate the day before and it made the hike-a-bike sections efficient and completely bearable. Lifesaver!! Thx K.
2. Did NOT want to repeat tummy troubles I've experienced this summer (debilitating abdominal cramps) from pushing the envelope w/ "real" food, so I subsisted on gel, chews, and Perpetuem solids (like eating crumbly sidewalk chalk, but I actually like them) the entire day. Doled them out sparingly so was on the edge of hunger most of the time but had steady energy & never felt ill. Plain water, a few Salt Stick capsules, a caffeine tab, a couple ibuprofens, and 4 sourdough pretzel nibblers as a treat (during last 15 miles) rounded out the consumables. I think less is more for me.
1. Wasn't sure the best way to carry my bike w/ a frame bag installed. Got a wonderful tutorial from Kate the day before and it made the hike-a-bike sections efficient and completely bearable. Lifesaver!! Thx K.
2. Did NOT want to repeat tummy troubles I've experienced this summer (debilitating abdominal cramps) from pushing the envelope w/ "real" food, so I subsisted on gel, chews, and Perpetuem solids (like eating crumbly sidewalk chalk, but I actually like them) the entire day. Doled them out sparingly so was on the edge of hunger most of the time but had steady energy & never felt ill. Plain water, a few Salt Stick capsules, a caffeine tab, a couple ibuprofens, and 4 sourdough pretzel nibblers as a treat (during last 15 miles) rounded out the consumables. I think less is more for me.
Saturday Oct 7, 2017 #
Event: Spotted Horse Gravel Ultra
6 AM
Bike (gravel) 16:03:00 [4] 151.0 mi (9.4 mph) +9547ft
ahr:127 max:160 shoes: Motobecane Fantom X Team Ti
Spotted Horse Gravel Ultra - short course
I came to this race 1) super excited for the adventure and 2) with very few performance expectations except "finish". Also, since registering, I had come to learn a little more about RD Sarah Cooper and wanted to support the event of an amazingly talented and inspirational cyclist.
Kate (kgeisen) and Mickey invited me to join their road trip and I am really grateful for that - lots of invaluable race advice/intel, delightful plush accommodations with race volunteers Bill and Saraleigh, shared transportation and laughs galore.
The weather in the St. Charles, Iowa area was shaping up to be a potential issue - puh-lenty of rain fell the days before the event causing numerous re-routes and a few day-of detours. Unfortunately, this resulted in almost all of the planned 40 mi. of B roads (highlight of the race) being taken out due to impassible conditions. Bummer...but good move RD! I'd much rather have it that way. The forecast for the day wasn't exactly sunshine and gentle breezes either. Ha-HA! Bring it on.
The race started in light drizzles. I hung with Kate for a little while then ran into the Super Sonas around dawn and visited a little. It was cool, misty and just gorgeous. Not long after, the rain and wind picked up and the temps dropped. Personally, I love these conditions and frequently repeated to myself "it's not unbearably hot, I'm not getting baked in the sun, there's no dust, the landscape is wild and beautiful -- this is AWESOME!!" As the miles clicked by, this phrase became useful. Driving rain and crazy sustained 20-30 mph headwinds? Repeat above phrase. Soft, squishy power-sucking riding surfaces? Repeat above phrase. Sloppy hike-a-bikes? Relentless hills? Herculean efforts where you're sure you just crushed a mile or two but after checking the Garmin, find it was only a paltry quarter-mile? Repeat, repeat, repeat. And smile. And just keep pedaling and enjoying the views. Positive self-talk is where it's at!
Since this was a self-supported event with no drop bags, I brought a fair amount of supplies with with me including all my food. I stopped at 2 convenience stores (Afton @ mi. 68-ish and Orient @ mi. 100-ish) to re-supply water. Each stop was super quick. I kept running into the Sonas - love them! In Orient, they let me borrow some of their lube to quiet my loud, grinding chain. Ahhhh - thank you.
At the end of the last hike-a-bike (mi. 105-110 ish?), the photographer stationed there said she thought I was the first gal through. Huh - really?? She seemed uncertain and because I was moving SO slowly, I really didn't think it was likely. I thought for sure there were 1 or 2 ladies ahead of me. BTW she was so pleasant and nice to talk to (like all the volunteers) and that was a lovely boost after a very tough section. Thank you wonderful volunteers!
From here on out, the roads had firmed up and were much faster. Pedal, pedal, pedal. Fuel up and sip water. Turn on helmet light at dusk. Enjoy the gigantic orange harvest moon! Count glowing deer eyes. I was very tired, my right knee hurt, but overall was doing pretty decent, considering the circumstances. At the finish line, Sarah said I was the first female finisher and since I had totally passed over the earlier comment hours ago, I was genuinely surprised. Icing on the cake!
Finishing this race was a satisfying confirmation of my cycling training efforts the past few months. The weekday early morning computrainer sessions at Power Up, long weekend rides (even earlier in the morning), and a couple Fridays off work for longer yet rides ended up being pretty good prep. I thoroughly enjoyed the course and terrain. I'll admit I'm already thinking about next year -- I want to ride those B roads!
- 80 registered
- 59 @ check-in the day before
- 48 started
- 25 finished (8 in the 200; 18 in the 150)
- 8 ladies started the 150
I came to this race 1) super excited for the adventure and 2) with very few performance expectations except "finish". Also, since registering, I had come to learn a little more about RD Sarah Cooper and wanted to support the event of an amazingly talented and inspirational cyclist.
Kate (kgeisen) and Mickey invited me to join their road trip and I am really grateful for that - lots of invaluable race advice/intel, delightful plush accommodations with race volunteers Bill and Saraleigh, shared transportation and laughs galore.
The weather in the St. Charles, Iowa area was shaping up to be a potential issue - puh-lenty of rain fell the days before the event causing numerous re-routes and a few day-of detours. Unfortunately, this resulted in almost all of the planned 40 mi. of B roads (highlight of the race) being taken out due to impassible conditions. Bummer...but good move RD! I'd much rather have it that way. The forecast for the day wasn't exactly sunshine and gentle breezes either. Ha-HA! Bring it on.
The race started in light drizzles. I hung with Kate for a little while then ran into the Super Sonas around dawn and visited a little. It was cool, misty and just gorgeous. Not long after, the rain and wind picked up and the temps dropped. Personally, I love these conditions and frequently repeated to myself "it's not unbearably hot, I'm not getting baked in the sun, there's no dust, the landscape is wild and beautiful -- this is AWESOME!!" As the miles clicked by, this phrase became useful. Driving rain and crazy sustained 20-30 mph headwinds? Repeat above phrase. Soft, squishy power-sucking riding surfaces? Repeat above phrase. Sloppy hike-a-bikes? Relentless hills? Herculean efforts where you're sure you just crushed a mile or two but after checking the Garmin, find it was only a paltry quarter-mile? Repeat, repeat, repeat. And smile. And just keep pedaling and enjoying the views. Positive self-talk is where it's at!
Since this was a self-supported event with no drop bags, I brought a fair amount of supplies with with me including all my food. I stopped at 2 convenience stores (Afton @ mi. 68-ish and Orient @ mi. 100-ish) to re-supply water. Each stop was super quick. I kept running into the Sonas - love them! In Orient, they let me borrow some of their lube to quiet my loud, grinding chain. Ahhhh - thank you.
At the end of the last hike-a-bike (mi. 105-110 ish?), the photographer stationed there said she thought I was the first gal through. Huh - really?? She seemed uncertain and because I was moving SO slowly, I really didn't think it was likely. I thought for sure there were 1 or 2 ladies ahead of me. BTW she was so pleasant and nice to talk to (like all the volunteers) and that was a lovely boost after a very tough section. Thank you wonderful volunteers!
From here on out, the roads had firmed up and were much faster. Pedal, pedal, pedal. Fuel up and sip water. Turn on helmet light at dusk. Enjoy the gigantic orange harvest moon! Count glowing deer eyes. I was very tired, my right knee hurt, but overall was doing pretty decent, considering the circumstances. At the finish line, Sarah said I was the first female finisher and since I had totally passed over the earlier comment hours ago, I was genuinely surprised. Icing on the cake!
Finishing this race was a satisfying confirmation of my cycling training efforts the past few months. The weekday early morning computrainer sessions at Power Up, long weekend rides (even earlier in the morning), and a couple Fridays off work for longer yet rides ended up being pretty good prep. I thoroughly enjoyed the course and terrain. I'll admit I'm already thinking about next year -- I want to ride those B roads!
- 80 registered
- 59 @ check-in the day before
- 48 started
- 25 finished (8 in the 200; 18 in the 150)
- 8 ladies started the 150
Monday Oct 2, 2017 #
10 PM
Strength/Stretch 15:00 [2]
- Hip strengthening/flexibility
- 12 pushups x4
- 12 pushups x4