Having completed a long ride just last week (albeit a disappointing one), I was originally planning on sticking to my training schedule and just go for a shorter ride today. But with the race only 3 weeks away, I figured it'd best if I try to regain my confidence ASAP by going for another 70-miler...and this time doing better job of food intake. Plus with the temperature expected to rise above 100, I figured it was a perfect opportunity for heat acclimatization.
The ride took place on a familiar route around coastal area -- taking Hwy 84 out to the ocean and then going back up the mountain on Tuntias Creek. At first I was thinking of just turning around at San Gregorio Beach and taking 84 again back to Skyline...but changed my mind when I bumped into Shari Kain by the General Store. Shari is a former world champ triathlete who now coaches a triathlon team with her husband, and she was out there today providing SAG support for her team. As she sent her athletes off toward Tunitas, she explained to me how important it is to train on long hilly road -- even when you're preparing for a fast/flat race -- so I decided to gut it out and ride up Tunitas as well.
With scorching temperature and plenty of climbing, I had hard time keeping my heart rate in check...but I still felt much stronger throughout the ride today compared to last Saturday. I completed the 66-mile loop at 4:23:54 -- over 10 minutes faster than my previous record -- and finished off the ride with 4-mile cool down to make it a nice even 70. It was just what I needed to get my confidence back for the Challenge.
- Time: 4:45:54
- Distance: 70.16 mi
- Avg speed: 14.7 mph
- Avg heart rate: 151 bpm
- Total ascent: 4975 ft
- Calories burned: 4654 cal
From the start the heat made it tough to maintain low heart rate
Frequent water-stop was the theme of the day
Shari and her new team car
Following one of the Kain team member up Stage Rd -- and here I thought triathlete couldn't climb
Stopping briefly to take in the scenery off Hwy 1
Fighting rough road condition up Tunitas Creek
Sweet decent down Kings Mountain following endless climb up Tunitas
Finished the ride at 4:30, and the termperature was still in triple-digit
Hey Keijiro,
I found your website a few months ago after signing up for the livestrong challenge in Austin. I am wondering now if I am completely out of my mind for attempting to do the 100 mile ride. How fast do people ride these things? I have never ridden a road bike, I have ridden mountain bikes for ten or so years. I am expecting my road bike to be in this week so I will be able to see what kind of distance I can do on it withink the next few weeks. I have done thirty miles on my mountain bike on the road, a few months ago. I am begining to wonder now if I will be able to finish this thing or not. Anyway...enough of my rambling, I am motivated by your web site and I will keep in touch once I really begin my training maybe to get some advice from you from time to time if that is ok. Thanks,
Steve
Posted by: Steve | June 24, 2008 at 02:46 PM