Something always got in the way of a solid 102-mile bike ride--bonking, crashes, injury, skating. This year I put in so few bike miles I didn't bother reaching for the perfect ride. 50-mile skate was the logical choice given the circumstances. Casey offered to keep me company.
Logistically, HH is an easy event:
pack Thursday night
Friday:
leave work after lunch
spend $ at expo
visit with Ann and wheel friends
Saturday:
be early to avoid parking problem
start rolling in the dark
80 miles of hope
18 miles of disappointment and introspection
4 miles of rolling drunk
shower
back in Dallas by dinner
In 2006 I communicated poorly with Richard; it led to Richard's abandoning at mile 23. This time I wrote a skate script so Casey and I would be on the same page.
----
50 mi @ 12 mph moving speed = 4 hr 10 min rolling
50 min of rest stops/overhead/extra distance => sub 5 hr finish time
rest stop #/mile mark
1. 10 skip
2. 15; quick refuel; small stop not shared by other event distances
drink enough in next 11 miles to pee
3. 26 nutrition bag; bathroom
hammer a bit if condition calls for
expect to drink 60 oz in next 13 miles
crappy Hwy 44 service road incline leading to rest stop 4
4. 39; water and food could be distant from the road; drink pickle juice
maybe dump a bottle
higher heart rate skate before final stop
5. 43 air force base; busy stop with 3 distances;
skate quickly and safely to finish
----
The skate started comfortably-- fresh feet on rough pavement. We were stopped by the train shortly before the 50-mile / 100k split. Casey and I reminded each other to look for the sign to turn right to avoid the worst 10-mile chip n seal of this event.
I had problem keeping the middle bottles in jersey pockets. That bottle finally got its way and flew into a ditch at a turn. I let it go--40 oz should be enough for the 50-mile route.
We missed the 50-mile turn. By the time we realized it, it was too late to turn around. I needed new way to hold water.
_10 rough miles
This was the third time I skated over this rough section. I wised up and didn't push the pace. The urethane stayed intact enough we didn't have to rotate wheels. I stopped a few times examining bottles dropped by cyclists and finally found a safe-looking one that'd help me through the extended skate.
_glass smooth road
Rec cyclists moved at 14 to 17 mph. Casey and I mostly operated outside this range.
The road surface turned nice for a few miles. We hopped behind a tandem bike and averaged over 20 mph. I missed being part of Texas Flyer pace line.
We were back on familiar 50-mile script and knew what to expect from this point on.
_Highway 44 service road
The surface was marginally easier than the rough 10 miles, but our body parts were fatigue by this time. 50-mile and 100k cyclists were littered under the trees along the road. Casey and I struggled to maintain 10 mph.
I pointed out the big tree and its inviting shade at top of the hill, "that is not the rest stop; don't get your hopes up." Casey tried to remember the concept of humor. I avoided thinking about what the vibration was doing to my plantar fascia.
_Sheppard Air Force Base
Casey and I weren't in enough trouble to use the AC at the airbase. We slowed to admire the airplanes, stopped to check axles, and topped off liquid before leaving the popular rest stop.
I didn't expect the welcome from young soldiers along the road inside the base. I'll take off wrist slider before high fiving people next time.
The finish was anticlimactic. Our feet hurt more than legs.
# from Casey’s GPS:
Time: 4:47:47
Moving: 4:27:22
Avg speed: 12.9 mph
Avg moving: 13.4 mph
Max speed: 26.3
Slowest/fastest mile: 6.8/22.0 mph
Avg/max heart rate: 145/207 bpm (Casey is part hummingbird)
_post event
Casey and I walked the expo and scored a few deals. I sought out RBM owner Jim Hoyt in case he had a RAAM relay spot open or had Lance news.
Visited with Roger who rode 102 miles with a sore neck. It's always fun to see the world through his eyes. He made me want to through hike Appalachian Trail.
Stopped by H Mart after dinner for fruit and vegi shopping. Weight reduction would start the following Monday to hit my annual goal on 12/4/2011.
