I rode in the 2013 Tour de Cure in Birmingham, Alabama yesterday, and had a blast. My day didn’t start out very well. I woke up tired for some reason, then I couldn’t find any coffee before the ride started. Then, to top it all off, I fell down when I first started to get on my bike. Fortunately this happened at my truck. Finally, when the bike fell, my rear derailleur was bumped, which caused it to rub on the rear wheel spokes. Not good. I was relieved to find the Cahaba Cycles SAG vehicle. The mechanic took care of me.

Never listen to people when they tell you that the ride is flat. (Applies to running too) There were plenty of hills, and heavy people and hills do not get along. My goal was to ride the 63 mile course, but because I was extremely under trained, I ended up riding 18.5 miles. I hitched a ride back to the start from one of the support vehicles.

The first stop was 10 miles out, and it seemed to take a really long time to get there. The second stop was 8.5 miles later, and it seemed like I was there in no time. I knew my legs were toast, so instead of continuing on to the 63 mile course turnaround, I planned on riding back in. My legs disagreed, and I couldn’t even climb the first hill back. I looped back to the second stop and requested a ride back to base. Oh the dreaded ride of disgrace, but I knew I wasn’t pedaling back, and I sure wasn’t going to walk back. ha ha.

My stamina was fine, but my legs couldn’t handle another hill. I was hoping for a miracle of completing the course, but it just didn’t happen. I still had a blast at the event and learned the following:

• Hills are tough for everybody, especially heavy people. 
• Lots of on-the-bike training is a must. The stationary bike cannot be substituted for on-the-bike training.
• Stop at Starbucks on the way to the event.
• The odds of falling down are pretty good. Go ahead and get that out of the way before the event begins.

Here’s my to-do list for my upcoming events:

• lose weight. hills will be easier. I will be faster.
• train. train. train. ride. ride. ride.
• gain muscle. Again, hills will be easier.
• ride some more.
• have fun.

I’m so proud of my fellow One Nineteen teammates. Kimra finished 3rd overall in the 103 mile route and was the first female in (for the 103 mile route.) Emily (pictured above with me) and Ed rode the 63 mile event. Mandy, Donna, and Hannah rode in the indoor spinning event.

My dream is to complete 4 centuries this year, but after last Saturday’s event, I retain the same dream, but understand that it is most likely not going to happen. We’ll see how I train and eat from now until The Hot One Hundred in July.

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