I lived and am done with my first Century Ride.  I am never going alone again.  It was quite lonely at times.  Talked to some nice people on the way at mile 60 ish but after 75th mile or so it was me the whole way by myself.   What makes me do this?  I have no clue I love my bike it was my reward to me for all that I have accomplished.  One thing I am thankful for is Toney and Greg for joining me and going with.  They are some awesome Kish Bike and Rec Club members.  They said no problem Jackie you bike the 103 miles and we will bike 28 miles.  I think they were smart because they got to watch the Bears game!  Even though I guess I didn’t miss much the bears lost anyways.  If I told you I could of gone to Solider Field and gone to the Bears game with my family you may call me super crazy!!  Yep I have gone to a lot of bears so it is okay.

How did this day start with a big breakfast!  Fuel baby Fuel all the way!  2 waffles and 2 turkey sausage breakfast sandwiches.  Yes I ate at home no fast food.  I woke up at 5am and then meet Toney and Greg at 6am.  Yep always early to events because the early bird gets the worm.  Not to mention 103 miles is going to take me all day!  🙂

Time to boogie!

Following the blue route 103 miles!

The sign at the rest stop for routes to follow

Lost the bikers all alone now 😦

The day started off really nice and not too much wind.  It was chilly but warmed up around 11am and the sun came out and loop one I was all pumped and having a good time.  Let me tell you the sun didn’t last and it got really cloudy plus the temperature took a noise dive.  Let me tell you the wind on loop 2 picked up and when the wind is whipping it stinks and makes 103 miles even harder to complete.  There were so many hills.  The hills were worse than Michigan yep there are hills in Illinois who knew because it is flat were I live.  All I could think on loop 3 is how crazy am I but this is my  goal.    Yep I couldn’t find any crazy die hard friends to do this goal with me.  As I thought to myself at least my butt doesn’t hurt and I can go to the bathroom fine the last time I visited the rest stop.  By this time I was sick of large hills but their were several more to go.  I missed talking to Laurie as I have with all the other bike rides.  Bike riding long distances should be done with a friend.  That is why I say never again.   It makes the time pass and go faster.  I was out on my bike for about seven hours and fifteen minutes.  That is a lot of time for me to think too much.  The one thing is I am proud of myself and at this point I don’t want to see another hill or ride my bike for a few days.  Then I did the bottom/bathroom test ugh the burn after 103 miles.  The one thing that hurts the most is my shoulders.   I kid you not I tried changing my clothes and I couldn’t button my jeans.  Not that they didn’t fit but my shoulder hurt so bad it wouldn’t move.  This burn though is good and not like the aches I had when I weighed 90 pounds more.  So it may take me two days to recover and that is okay with me.  Some aspirin pm for my shoulder and I am going to sleep like a baby tonight as long as my two little ones let me.

 Oh the hills!!!!!!!!!!!! Woooo

I can’t believe how far I have come who ever thought I would go this far?  Well not me so now what is the next goal?  Rest and an off season.  My next event is easy a 5K run at my work the morning of Thanksgiving day!  If you want to go let me know and I can get you the information.  Pictures from my ride below.

Woot 50 miles completed!  Maybe should of wore my sunglasses for the picture.  The day didn’t start of so bright but ended up to be a beautiful one and it was warmer than last year.

I have to say didn’t know if we were going to ride by the start of the morning it was wet and raining.  So glad we decided to put the bikes in the back of the van so they weren’t wet!  Last year it didn’t rain but the dew made them wet.  I wised up and the day before bought a gel seat the best $9.99 I have ever spent.  My bum didn’t hurt at all the whole 50 miles.  You may not know and warning this maybe a TMI part but my but has been so sore from riding so much starting last year long rides that it would hurt to go to the bathroom around mile 35!  Yikes yes so painful but better than being overweight so I dealt with it.  With the gel seat cover though no burn and no sore butt!!  I could of kept riding another 50 miles.  The view were great and I really like bike rides you get to enjoy the nature and earth.  I am away from the technology as I ride just enjoying the day with my partner Laurie.  Who said don’t ride with Jackie she will up her miles. I talked her into doing 50 miles with me.  She kept saying they changed the route and so finally at the end joking with her I said you no last year we did the 37 mile route and then did the 15 mile route.  So they didn’t change it :)!  The ride took us inland through rolling hills with beautiful fall leaves and then out to Lake Michigan and back inland to corn fields, pumpkin farms, and grape farms.  The scenery is awesome on the ACC also it is a well done SAG ride.  With a bike shop repair man helping fix bikes at every rest stop, you also have a wrist band with the number for SAG if you break down, well stocked with food and liquids at each rest stop, a nice breakfast in the morning, an ice cream social the night before with entertainment, and a spaghetti dinner at the end of the ride (yes I skipped this part this year and went for a glass of local Michigan wine and sausage pasta yum).  I would love to ride the 100 miles here next year because there are so many riders and the paths are well marked.  I don’t even need my map because I just follow my colored apple which are painted on the road.  If anyone is interested in going with me next year let me know.  I would love to go again.  🙂  It is better to ride with a friend.  Love Century Rides they are not a race and it is go at your own pace and enjoy the views and company by liked minded people.

The calorie burn for a 50 mile trip with awesome hills in Michigan – 4 thousand some!  Woot…

Pictures from the trip!

Morning Time – Day break not looking so sunny yet :(!

Fall leaves and big hills – Zoom

Lake Michigan one of the many views of the lake I saw!

Pumpkin Patch no one was getting pumpkins and taking them with their bikes but just enjoying the views.

I would love to do my 100mile ride here at the Apple Cider Century it would be such a great choice, as their sag stops have a fair amount of food, and refreshments  such as water, Gatorade, and don’t forget the “apple cider”. I think the best part is that there is just so many people out riding (around 6 thousand riders) that it would keep me motivated two 100 miles.  IPlus the best thing is checking out every ones bikes and gear(not to much gear at a running event lol).  I  know my partner won’t want to go 100 miles though and I respect that.  So maybe next week at the “Pumpkin Pie Ride” in Starve Rock IL still a question if I do one more before the biking season ends.  Anyone want to go with me?  We will see time comes and checkout the weather. 

I think it is one of the better organized rides in the area, and the volunteers were all fun to talk too. 

I did my first ACC last year, and would say it is one of the best rides to keep confidence in going the distance, as there is always SAG wagons out patrolling to make sure everything is okay, and people with HAM radios in various spots if there is a problem. So I would say there is nothing to worry about, except ride and have fun.  Plus trying 100 miles it would be no problem someone could always take us back to the start if we couldn’t make it. At least we could try.  Okay I will do the 50 miles but am so ready this year to do 100 miles.  Yep, I have hit crazy lady workout athlete mode.  No longer the fat girl yep I am an athlete again. 

The biggest tip I can give anyone doing this ride or any century ride is that you need to keep drinking fluids (you should go though at least 1 bottle between every sag stop (that is every 18 miles) plus you shouldn’t have to go to the bathroom that much if your sweating it all out, and make sure you eat plenty at every stop. The other thing with my training this year this summer I rode a couple times just go out and ride 40-60 mile rides if you can, but the major thing is to keep eating and drinking.  IF you can’t do that spin 3 times a week so your butt gets use to an uncomfortable seat.  Oh feel the burn baby.

The only thing that might be an issue is the weather, as it is later in the year. It could be cold and raining, or nice and warm. Last year it started out at about 40F but was around the mid 60’sF later in the day. So just be ready for a variety of temps.  I was freezing and bundle.  That reminds me my long coat it is water proof.  Maybe some water proof long pants?? Should I spend the money it is suppose to rain.  Long fingered gloves. Bringing my positive attitude it is going to be 66 degree high and possible rain.