Wednesday, May 12, 2010

50 mile bike ride

Original title. I know.

I just finished my first 50 mile bike ride.

This is what I figured out

 

Terrain:

  • I think I live in the hilliest city in the world
  • The race course is also hilly, so I just need to embrace this, be thankful, and quit bitching about it
  • I had to dismount twice (within the same few miles) for a monster of a hill that had a few spots to catch my breath on, but ultimately I just couldn't make it up the whole thing.
  • Most hills look worse than they really are
  • I rode two long streches of road twice each because they had nice shoulders, but mentally it was challenging. Next time I just want to do an out and back, or a loop.

Nutrition:

  • I made a major mistake of bringing a ton of protein, but barely any carbs
  • Next time I’m going to try pieces of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in the first half. I don’t think my body will like taking in nothing but perpetuem and gels for five to six hours straight. I need sustenance. Just need to figure out what it should be. Any other suggestions for this? please please pretty please.

Misc:

  • The typical sore spots (vaj-jay-jay, neck) didn’t start getting sore until around mile 40 which means the threshold for uncomfortableness is rising. yay.
  • I really really need people to ride with. That was lonely.
  • The onset of a bonk on the bike is FAR more dangerous than while running
  • Intersections on a hill can suck it
  • Why do some people not give you any room even when there is no oncoming traffic?

Stats:

  • 49.37 miles/4:03
  • average moving pace was only 12.2 but I wasn’t focusing on time.Simply on getting it done. Hopefully this will come down as I get stronger.
  • 2501 ft in elevation gain 
  • This is according to Garmin and sometimes I really wonder about the accuracy. Today, I believe it.
  • 140 av bpm

 

24 comments:

Amy - the gazelle said...

dude! you are awesome! (also congrats on the less sore hooha!) I am not sure if I will get to 50 or not this year (since my longest tri is an Oly), but that is a LOOONG ways & I am so impressed.

I know Alisa does PB&J. I haven't done anything but water & shotblocks, but I'm only up to 30 right now, and was thinking PB&J for my next ride (40! Woo!)

You're going to kick my ass on the Hagg Lake hills.

Running and living said...

I could have written this post. I did my first 50 miler last week, yes, hilly around here, hilly race, too, dismounted on a huge hill, ate pb& jelly (sandwhich cut in 4, eaten in 4 occasions); hills are much easier on the bike! I always bring a treat on the bike, like a peanut butter cup or something like this to motivate me:) I drink water and nuun. I rode slow, too! This week I am going down to 30 miles, and then the week after I'll try 60 miles...
Great job!

Molly said...

seriously, way to go with that bike ride.

Have you ever made your own energy bars? I made some once with oatmeal, rice krispies, peanut butter, honey, and some dried fruit and nuts. That would travel well and give you a boost.

ShutUpandRun said...

Glad to hear the va-jay-jay is toughening up (and the neck too). 50 miles is no joke. Good for you!

RockStarTri said...

50 miles solo is mentally and physically challenging. Good job.

WRT nutrition: My coach advises 250-400 calories and hour including a bottle for hydration. Also, I go solid food first and vary it a lot to prevent palette fatigue. So typically I'll do some PB&J uncrustable, a bar, two types of Gels, and then chase with a sports drink and/or water. Sounds like a lot, but it works! Use the long rides as experiments since the longer races require more of a focus on nutrition.

Just my 2 cents.

Pining for Pinterest said...

You are awesome!! What an inspiration :)

justme said...

awesome job .....

Amy said...

You did great! Congrats on getting in your first 50 mile ride. May-ja accomplishment and milestone.
Ok, nutrition - do you have a bento box? I ate fig newmans (like fig newtons only organic) and wheat thins. Both are bland so they're super easy on your stomach and I was able to run easily (or, rather without any stomach issues) afterward. And the wheat thins have salt so that's good for replacement. I used both on every single ride and in the IM. They work wonders. I can't do just drinks either. Let me know what you end up doing, whatever you decide.

Amy said...

PS- they are also easy to eat while riding. Unlike a sandwich, which I would have to stop to eat, you can just eat one fig newman at a time or handfuls of wheat thins and keep riding. ALSO, for treats I would eat newman-o's (like oreo's). In fact I just had 3 but by bike is in the basement....whoopsie.

Kristen said...

SO JEALOUS OF YOUR HILLS!! I need to come up there and train with you!!

Great stats for what sounds like an incredibly tough ride.

I have to agree with you - "bonking" on the bike is so much more dangerous and takes twice as long to recover. Once you feel it coming on it is too late. Like I mentioned before I have got to figure out the proper nutrition on the bike.

Love your cute new layout too!

Missy said...

Your body will reject gels and drink in a 5-6 hour race after a while. Save gels for the run, easier to manage and no chewing. Bike, try blocks, sharkies, bars cut into small pieces, bike is for chewing.

My body will not take that much protein (that's in perpetuem), just my experience. I have to go with a much lighter, carb based drink and throw in some peanut butter and such. Lots of calories in that stuff too, b/t it and gels, almost too mcuh for bod to process.

Anonymous said...

Nice job! Keep working it. Soon you will make it up the hills no problem. Did you try putting your bike in the lowest gear and just spinning? That might help. If you take PB sandwich, make sure you cut it into easy squares that you can just pop out and eat.

Let us know how you make out.

Alisa said...

Nice! I also like the new layout.

Hagg Lake is going to seem like nothing for you and I will be dying!

My avg for my 51 wasn't very fast either. At this point in training, that's not the point (13.5 avg but with less elevation gain/loss).

My neck gets sore too!

PB and J's are great for the bike. I feel like on the bike I want real food not gu's, though I did my 51 just on Gu and Gatorade. I think I might try granola bars or something too.

Anonymous said...

I've put fig newtons and a snickers in my benot box. Believe ti or not, that snickers REALLY helped me in my last half because I was totally flat.

Good job on the ride too...embrace the hills...they'll pay off big time come race day!

Jamie said...

Great job on the 50 miles! I'm sure the hills will get a bit better the more tome spent on the bike.

joyRuN said...

WOW is all I have to say to that. The mental & perineal toughness that you have to have for a solo 50mi ride - like I said, WOW!

X-Country2 said...

50 miles is a huge milestone. Great job!

Aron said...

NICE job girlie!!!

my husband brings mini clif bars with him (they also make mini lunas) that he likes. they are 100 calories each so he doesnt have to mess with a big one. he also adds this carb powder to his water/cytomax which is pretty much calories and carbs and that's it.

good luck figuring out the nutrition!! i know from watching him its a big deal and makes a big difference on workouts.

Anne said...

You are seriously amazing!! Wow!

Amy said...

I meant to tell you this earlier but forgot and thought about it all weekend. A tip for the hills that KK's hubby taught me. And it works. When you get to a hill, just look down at the front of your tire. Concentrate there and don't look up at how big the hill is or how much further you have to go. Sure, you'll want to check every once in a while but just concentrate on right in front of your front wheel. And tell yourself as long as your legs are turning, you're going forward. Even if it's at a snails pace, you're still moving forward and that's all that matters.

Hope that a) makes sense and b) helps.

Tara said...

Damn, I wish you lived out here. I have NO girls to bike with. Biking with men sucks because they are so competitive.

Unknown said...

You are incredible and really rocking your training. I didn't realize you needed to eat so much while biking. That sounds fun ,maybe I'll try it! The VJJ thing does NOT sound nice, way to tough it out after 40 miles!

Anonymous said...

Holy shit - that's a long ride! I only bike around my neighborhood and never realized how hilly it was until I had to jump off and walk!

Great job!

Ali said...

you rock! I am too scared to get on my bike ... lol