I guess my day started out on the wrong leg. I started out late so I had to ride a little faster than I wanted to to get tot he ride on time. This went smoothly got there o time and didn't feel too bad. I kept the pace within my range and felt good about it. We started out at as usual for the first few miles. That is when things got interesting, the pace went from 20 to 25/26 ok a little fast but still within my current fitness. The it jumped up to 29/30 now this was out of my comfort range, Then I finally broke, my legs shut down but I tried to keep within contact range. They slowed and I caught up but I realized something wasn't right. I couldn't get back up to speed and then I realized I was toast, I bonked and it was not just my legs, my lower back joined in, both of my entire arms and then finally my Lats were all in on this not so fun party. I was dropped and had to do the ride of shame but I was hurting so bad it was a ride of pain. I had trouble holding 12 mph at times. I guess I was averaging around 14 but would get it up to 18/19 for a bit. This was the most painful ride of my life. I was going to attempt the entire ride but at least my brain was still functioning and I decided to take the shortest route back to the start and get someone to ride me home. Because I took a short cut I was able to meet up with all the groups at their rest stop which was a most welcomed stop for me. I wait for the last group but they never showed so I sent on again taking the shortest distance possible. I get in before everyone so I stopped in Wheelies to chat with Larry the owner. Then the groups started to come in so I went out to see who could give me a ride home. Lucy the wife of Chuck one of our racer's gave me a ride. I was never so happy to get a ride, I know it would have been a very ugly 15.5 miles into a head wind all the way back! Now over two hours later I am still a mess. I never like to bonk nor would I ever wish it on anyone. Every pedal was a major effort; nothing was pleasurable about it not even getting to the finish.
Now I need to get back to the drawing board to avoid this situation from happening again. I know it will happen again but I am not looking forward to it. I think I know why it happened too, the only way I could have avoided it would have been not to do a hard ride and to keep it in a HR zone 2.