Oh boy oh boy. I'll spare much of the nitty gritty details but I finished my goal and survived to tell about it! The Tour of the Unknown Coast was Saturday May 10th and the weather gods were not exactly listening. 3 hours of rain to start off the day, crazy wind, freezing temps...plus the known hurdles, 100 miles and a ton of climbing.
It was certainly an up and down day for me. I had thoughts of hatred, thoughts of total self doubt, crazy insane thoughts wondering what the heck my body was doing, and those same thoughts wondering WHY I was doing this to my body.
And then I would catch a glimpse of a fantastic view, an awe inspiring valley, or another rider going through the same hell and Heaven I was, all in the same minute and it became all worth it. And to think of how few people even get the chance to witness some of the beauty I was given, or have the chance to complete what I did, made me ultimately love the day, (when I finished :-)
What a day.
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| Three straight hours of rain, just two hours before this? Really? Plenty of sunshine for the famed "Wall", as well as a stiff 25 mph headwind. Fun fun! But look at that ocean! |
One TIRED lady here, the day after, but made my relaxing Mother's Day all the better though.
Even though biking is not necessarily a team sport, this event WAS. We couldn't really draft off each other through the rain, unless you wanted a mouth or nose full of dirt and water, but there were more voices of encouragement than I've ever seen on a ride, plenty of drafting help for the sunny but crazy windy section, and that comradery that ONLY comes with an adventure that is dishing out the hurdles endlessly.
But I succeeded! We all succeeded! I actually saw grown men, studly road biker racers, do a little happy dance complete with kicks and twirls, at the finish line, just so happy to make it :-)
And, my true team member till the end, my wonderful hubby Alex. He made it all possible. Gave me the time every week to train, and ride, and ride some more, (and I needed every minute of that training on this ride!)
I can't say I'm gunning to complete this one every year, but for now I'll coast a bit on the ultimate high of conquering what Saturday through at me. Heaven and Hell all in one moment.
