I don’t even know where to start. I’m so freaking happy with this ride!

1. I was SO NERVOUS at the start! My hands were shaking while getting ready. I think I have some accumulated trauma from losing my training partner at my first bike race + physically crashing out at MFK (though I felt physically amazing for today.) Arriving Thursday was a brilliant idea: I got my night of shitty sleep out of the way on Thursday, then took it easy Friday and slept great Friday night.

2. Once we were off, I immediately settled. The nerves literally vanished.

3. There’s a big-ish climb right at the start that serves as a very nice warm-up, then the road drops and levels out. It’s slightly undulating for the first 20 miles or so until the first aid station. I rode those first 20 miles conservatively in order to save energy for the big climbs that would be coming up.

4. I discovered pickle juice. They had pickle juice at every aid station, and I ended up having a sleeve of pickle juice at each one. It was so tart it was hard to swallow, but it seriously gave me life. I thought I had my electrolytes pretty dialed in for the current weather (chilly-ish) and efforts, but pickle juice beat my protocol by a landslide. (I ate as usual.)

5. After that aid station, it’s flat for a bit longer, then there is a series of smaller climbs closer together for 4 miles where you need to pace yourself because then you get The Big One: it’s 1000’ gain in 3 miles. Carlos and I ended up with two older riders who have obviously been doing this their entire lives, and let them be our pacers up the mountain (they were wonderful company.) I was dead last with the SAG vehicle right behind me, but I didn’t care: it served as a shield from other cars (which were few thankfully.) I had to pause at one point to adjust the Boa on one shoe (my foot had gone numb) and unlock my back (just straightening my back for a second when my QL gets tight re-sets it), but it took all of 1 minute - I clipped back in and kept on going.

I’m thrilled to report that I was quite comfortable going up that mountain on my lightest gear, spinning at 90 RPM forever. It wasn’t *easy* but I was comfortable in the discomfort.

6. I did not walk a single step of that massive climb…or of ANY of the climbs on this ride, for that matter. In fact, our stopped time was only 30 min more than our moving time because the only stops we made were at the 4 aid stations. I am SO PROUD of this!!! I had wondered if I was capable of just riding without stopping unless absolutely necessary. YES!! YES I CAN!

7. The second aid station was at the top of the mountain. We took a little longer at this one to properly refuel and rehydrate, then roared on down the mountain before our legs decided we were done. We leap frogged with the two gentlemen for the remainder of the ride.

8. We flew through the next section. It was mostly flat, with some small rolling hills. I wouldn’t even call them “punchy” - I stayed on the big ring for them all. We maintained a 17-20 mph average. I was finally NOT dead last! 😂

9. The last climb looks nothing like the graph. It’s a mind fuck: I’d rather take the big climb because you KNOW you’re climbing. This last climb was a 4-mile long insidious 2-5% relentless nonsense. I kept trying to engage more power (as planned) on what appeared to be a flat road (it was SUCH a mindfuck!), but I was wearing myself out. I finally decided to just drop to the little chain ring and maintain higher RPMs at a steady speed, even if it was in the single digits, until this long little stupid hill was over. The two older more experienced guys with us were doing the same thing.

10. After that hill, we were only 10 miles from the finish. I cranked it up: I stayed at around 22-24 mph for the remainder of the distance, even up the very last hill into Clifton Forge, the town where the ride ends. I had NO IDEA I had reserves like that!! I crossed the finish line with the biggest grin! I am still in disbelief at what I pulled off at the end of that ride. Carlos was a little beat (we need to address his electrolyting more) but I felt…amazing. My legs were tired, but I felt SPECTACULAR.

11. There were 100 people total in the ride between the 4 distances. Despite being so small, it was so well-organized. The ride staff were all lovely. They had awesome selections at the aid stations, the roads were smooth, well-maintained and clean (super safe for picking up speed) and the views throughout the entirety of this ride are BEAUTIFUL!!!! Just beautiful! The day was perfect: it started at 50 degrees and warmed up into the low 70s; it was on and off sunny - the clouds helped protect us a bit from the sun in the more open sections through the valleys. At the end, they had salad, lasagna, bananas foster and beer for the riders, as well as a live band and A MASSEUSE! For free! She was amazing (and everyone gave her big tips.)

I feel like so much came together on this ride! I am ELATED with how well I did! And I would 200% do this ride again!

Congrats! I knew you could do it!

And gorgeous pics too!

Thank you!!