Little Red Century

Several months back, my cousin Timalee asked me if I would like to The Little Red Riding Hood Bike Ride. It's a woman's only bike ride so of course I said yes. It's such an awesome ride that everyone wants to do it, so the riders are picked by lottery. And thankfully we got in.

 

As the ride approached closer I was starting to feel nervous if I'd be able to ride the full 100 miles. I hadn't been out on my bike as much as I wanted to. I kept up with my Crossfit workouts, but hadn't been in the saddle as much as I'd hoped.

 

Thanks to TOP GEAR, they got my bike fitted to me really well, a new saddle and put some sweet demo ZIPP wheels on my bike. So my bike was ready. But was I?

 

Timalee and her friend Sarah and I went up Friday night and stayed in a hotel. And we had so much fun. Stayed up alot later than we should have, just eating frozen yogurt while talking and laughing with one another. Being with them calmed my nerves about the ride in the morning. I was actually excited that I would get to ride 100 miles with these two ladies.

 

Finally around 11:30pm we thought we'd better go to bed. I laid there with my mind not turning off. I don't think it was until about midnight that I finally fell asleep. And throughout the night I didn't really sleep. It was that kind of sleep when you still feel awake. But when my alarm went off, thankfully I didn't feel that tired. I must have been on an adrenaline high or something.

 

We all went downstairs to eat some "awesome" hotel breakfast (sarcasm added). and then we got ready and were on our way to the starting line. The ride was low key to the point that you could start anytime you wanted after 7:30am. We got there around 8:30. 

 They had us park in a field adjacent to the starting/finishing line. Because we didn't want to risk getting flat tires right off the bat we had to carry our bikes across the field. What a way to warm up. By the time we made it to flat road our biceps were burning. (In the picture below, from left to right: Timalee, Sarah and me)

 We look pretty sweet in our matching Top Gear attire.

 And we are off... Timalee and Sarah

 and me... What I loved about this ride was it wasn't a competitive ride and how supported it was. There were stops along the way where you could rest, go to the bathroom, fill up your water or eat. Tons of food; pb&j, grapes, cantaloupe, oranges, mini candy bars, oreos, granola bars, fruit snacks, red vines... they had everything. One stop we needed to find some Ibuprofen for Timalee's back. In the container where all the medicine was kept there were even tampons. They thought of everything. While we were riding there'd be cars driving by that would help you out if you had a flat or something wrong on your bike. AWESOME! I was seeing now why it's such a popular ride. Why wouldn't you want to do it? 100 miles of just pure enjoyment. No rush. Just a day to ride and be with the girls.

 At the half way rest point they had a big lunch for us. Subway sandwiches for everyone. We found a shady spot and enjoyed our lunch. We were all feeling so good. The three of us weren't feeling tired. Which was making me so happy. Before this ride, the farthest I had ridden was 50 miles and that was in the fall with Jesse. The Monday before this ride, Jesse and I went out with the boys and rode 30 miles (I pulled the trailer the entire way) and that about killed me (Hence why I was feeling nervous about 100).

But on this day, 50 miles was great! Granted it was pretty flat, but that was preparatory for the next 50 miles that were much hillier.

 I couldn't help but enjoy the beautiful country side. This picture doesn't do it justice, but the green out there in Logan country was a green I hadn't seen before. It was almost neon and bright.

 I have to quickly talk about  "THE" Hill. About Mile 86 we have this long awesome down hill. The whole way down I'm thinking "Thank goodness I don't have to be going up this." Haha I thought too soon. We come to the bottom and turn the corner and there, at mile 88, is this MASSIVE hill. I can see people part of the way up it walking their bikes up it. And I thought..."there is no way I am going to walk my bike up that hill. I'm going to make it to the top of that hill on my bike."

And boy did I surprise myself. I was passing everyone on that hill. And as I'd get to what "I thought was the top" of the hill, it would turn the corner and it would just keep going. So I just kept going. I loved the challenge and it was awesome to rise up to it and crush it.

Then all I had left to ride was about 11 miles. I just had to tell myself... you have just ridden 89 miles and conquered a huge hill. 11 miles is nothing.

The last 10 miles I was thanking my Father in Heaven for blessing me with the strength and opportunity to have done this ride.

At the finish line the three of us were proud to show that we had arrived at 100 miles.

 I never thought that I'd see this number on my GPS watch.

I feel so blessed to have experienced such an amazing weekend. Timalee and Sarah are such amazing woman that have both uplifted me and inspired me. I didn't know Sarah very well before this weekend, and I am happy to have made a new friend. Timalee encouraged me to do the Century length and if it wasn't for her, I probably wouldn't have done it.

I'm also very blessed to be a part of this TOP GEAR Team. It's got me to accomplish things so far that I never thought I could. And it's awesome to have made new friends and become closer with Timalee. The support from everyone is comforting to me.

With Jesse being the busy working/schooling man that he is lately...the Team has given me something to do for myself. And accomplishing my first ever Century Bike Ride was pretty darn cool! It's invigorating to never find my limits!