Valle vs. Veeder, Round 2

Well, I did it!  Round 2 goes to Valle.  One year later, I successfully climbed and descended Mt. Veeder.  

Today, I was accompanied by my brother, Rob (L), and my friend, Jun (R). (Jun was riding with me last year when I crashed.)  Here they are 8 miles into our ride, at a stop we made at the top of Dry Creek Road, just before turning onto Veeder. The total loop is 21 miles. It was hot today, not unlike July 5, 2007.

I tried, unsuccessfully, to conquer this hill one other time. (Read 'My Namesis').  But I felt confident about today.  In fact, I was excited all week anticipating today's milestone.

The route was definitely as tough as I remember ... though I didn't whine as much this time :-)  I now have several painstaking hills under my belt, so I knew that I would eventually make it to the top, making multiple 'catch-my-breath stops' along the way, of course.  Heck - I made the climb a year ago!  My challenge would be making it back down, especially because I've since lost my fear of descents.  

But upon reaching the crest, Jun sped up to get beside me, "This is it," he said.  And being more cautious this time, I motioned for him to go ride ahead of me.  My brother rode behind me.  

While I knew we'd play it safe today, I couldn't help thinking, "Is he really gonna make me ride my breaks all the way down?  I can go a little bit faster!"  But I understood.  The goal was to get me up and down the mountain unscathed, not to test the limits of my descending technique ... and so I contained myself. 

I glanced at the accident site as we quickly rode past it.  I thought of the events that occurred there a year ago.  I thought of all that God  has brought me through since then.  And I thought, "After today, I don't ever have to ride this route again!"

Mt. Veeder is behind me.

STP FINISHER, PART 2

Day 2 : 92 Miles

I slept well and was cautiously optimistic for the day at hand.  "Only 92 today.  That's less than yesterday," I kept telling myself.  "You're gonna do this."  It was 5:15 am.

We drove to the church where the team camped.  It was cold.  It was quite.  But people were already up and about, getting ready, breaking down their tents, and gearing up for the ride.  There were a few hard core groups who were already out on the course, but Michelle and I didn't roll out till 6:45 am.

Knowing I had a rough ending the day before, Michelle briefed me that we'd be eating every 10 miles, and that I should drink even more frequently with the unusually warm Seattle/Portland weather.  This should help to keep my energy up for the duration of the ride.  She also reminded me to stay mentally strong; not to let down until we were done.

Today's course would be mostly rollers, a terrain I much prefer over yesterday's flats (though there were a couple spots that definitely got the thighs burning).  Flats to me are boring.  With rollers, there's at least some variety in your exertion:  you work your way up a hill, build momentum in the descent, which carries you part of the way up the next incline.  It's lots of fun.

Michelle and I were making good time ~ quickly in and out of only the rest stops that were absolutely necessary.  I did have my gears checked at mile 51, but I think the problem was more my left pinky and ring finger which were becoming increasingly fatigued.  But we made it to the lunch stop (mile 63) just after noon.  Michelle's parents were there with a cooler full of much needed ice-cold water bottles. We drank some and we poured some on us.  It was hot and only getting hotter.

29 miles left.  

Michelle and I agreed that we both felt really good, and that we'd try to finish without stopping, unless we absolutely had to.  And so the count down began ... 28 - 27 - 26 - 25 - 24 ... but the temperature was definitely increasing.

Approaching mile 77, I saw a mini-stop.  I was pulling, so I told Michelle I was turning in for a bathroom break and some water.  Michelle stood in the concession line for our water, while I stood in line for the porto-potties.  I was hot, and I was mad that we had to stop again.  After taking care of my business, we stood in the shade and ate.  I downed my water bottle and forced myself to eat my smashed up PB&J .. not because I was hungry, but because I knew I'd needed to "stoke the energy fire."

I don't think Michelle knew what was going on with me.  She was quietly standing in the shade with me, doing her thing, just waiting for my cue that I was ready to roll.  She didn't know that the heat was getting to me.  She also didn't know that I was getting mad at the heat and refused to let it get me any further.  I bought 3 more cold water bottles:  I guzzled one bottle.  I put the other bottle in my back jersey pocket.  And I carried the last bottle, opened, in my sports bra.  (Sorry if that's too much info for you.)  

I knew I had enough food and power drink to keep me energized for the duration of the ride. What I wanted to do was to make sure I had enough water to cool me off so that we wouldn't have to stop again.  I was determined to finish strong.

So we got back in the saddle and took off.  15 - 14 - 13 - 12 ... and the count down was energizing me. Unlike yesterday when I was thinking, "I still have 10 miles to go.  I still have 9 miles to go,"  today I was thinking, "Only have 10 more, only 9 more, only 8 more."  And we rolled into the finish at 3:05 pm!

STP FINISHER

(L to R: Nader, Deb, Me, Kim, Chani, Michelle, Dave, Coach Coop)

DAY 1 : 112 MILES

The first 25 miles was like cycling on steroids ... ok, maybe that's a bad example since The Tour de France is going on right now. Let's just say it was fast, it was crowded, and the adrenaline was heightened because everyone was so close.  

Maybe this will give you some perspective:  My century ride in Tahoe had around 3,o00 cyclists; this ride - 9,500 cyclists.  It seemed like an endless stream of riders before and behind me.  I prayed I wouldn't have reason to stop early on, as to find a gap to get back in the bunch would have been difficult.

The first day was long ... really long.  Michelle (my ride support) and I started out with Nader, Deb, and the SF team, but we quickly got separated from them with the frenzied pace.  Michelle and I stayed close, helping each other maneuver through many tight situations.  But I felt strong all morning and was even enjoying the terrain.

At mile 53, I rolled into the lunch stop where Andrew and the girls were waiting to greet me. We refueled, I was interviewed for the Tacoma newspaper, and then we headed off for the last 59 miles.  "We're just about half way done with this thing,"  I confidently said to myself.

Then, just 6 miles down the road, I start bouncing.  I thought, "Maybe I need to be in a higher gear." So I shifted accordingly but still felt like something wasn't right.  Then I remembered Jun talking about "bouncing" when his tire pressure was low one time.  So while riding, I asked Michelle to check out my back tire, and sure enough ... I had a flat.

We pulled over, got the wheel off, the tire separated, and the inner tube out in no time. Someone asked if we were alright as they quickly passed.  "Ya!" We replied, determined to fix the flat in a hurry.  (They didn't look like they had any intention of helping us anyway.)  

We got the new inner tube in but had some trouble getting the tire and wheel to cooperate. We'd turned down two offers for help at this point but decided to stop the next person who asked if we're okay.  We got some help from a group of 3 guys who "needed an excuse to stop," and we were back on the course 20 minutes later.

Having to stop so long to fix my flat threw my rhythm off.  Feeling like I had to make up for lost time, I picked up my pace but didn't eat and/or drink as often as I should have which made for a tougher 2nd half ... which was hotter than the first.  We made a couple much needed stops to meet Michelle's old co-worker and parents.  And then finally made it to Centralia (mile 100) at 3:46 pm.

Because it was the finish line for many of the 2-day STP riders, it was a big party atmosphere in Centralia.  Music playing, someone on a megaphone welcoming everyone to mile 100, food and beer booths abound, bikes all parked on the sides, people lying in the grass or standing in line to get their baggage ... oh, and we can't forget the free creamcicles. 

Mile 100 and we were excited!  Though we would not be staying in Centralia, we were excited to have made it this far.  Just another 12 more miles to Chehalis where Team in Training would be camping and we'd be done!  12 miles, that's it!  With all the training we've been doing since February, 12 miles seemed like nothing ... until we left Centralia.

It would take me another hour and fifteen minutes to go the last 12 miles.   In fact I was so hot and so beat that at mile 110.5, on the verge of tears, I told Michelle I had to pull over.  She asked if I wanted her to call for someone to pick me up, and I said, "With just 1.5 miles to go, there is no way I'm not finishing this thing!  Just give me a moment."  So I took more than a few moments to collect myself, got back on the saddle, and finally made it to the finish where Andrew, Coach Coop, and Lisa welcomed me home.

I was exhausted.  I was tearing up (not happy tears.)  But I finished.  I also decided not to camp with the rest of the team as I had originally planned.  Knowing I had another 92 miles the next day, I needed a real bed, a real pillow, a real shower, and a real good night's rest.

Tacoma News

I'm home ... I completed the Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic and have much to write about!   In the meantime, check out this article from Tacoma's paper, The News Tribune: 90-Plus-Degree Heat Tested Bicyclists on 204-mile Ride.

(Me being interviewed by Craig Hill.)

MAY THE FOURTH BE WITH YOU

It's the day before the anniversary of my accident, and I've been thinking about what I would post for sometime. Until I read the following headline ... "May The Fourth Be With You."  

You'd think that phrase is about the 4th of July.  But I had to laugh when I read it, because for me, it sounds exactly how I would say that infamous Star Wars quote (when my teeth are sitting in a little tray, on my desk, next to my bed).  

Say it with me now, "May the fourth be with you."  Hahahaha ....

Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic

It's July 1st!  We leave exactly a week from today for Seattle!  My ride starts on July 12th, and along with some sightseeing, here's what I have to look forward to ...