The Best of the Bay Century!

I've been training hard for this one. Thanks to the support for being on a race team, this is the first and only century I've seriously trained for. I put in about 200 miles a week going into this century. It is by far the most difficult but most rewarding century ever. The course was 125-miles long with 15,713 feet of vertical climbing with Sierra Rd at mile 91. It started in Orinda, went up through Pinole, down to San Jose, and then back north to Fremont ending at Sweet Tomatoes Buffet. About 25% of the registered riders did not show up for the event due to the heat advisory that was in place. It was to be over 100 degrees F. In fact, when I was climbing Calaveras Rd. it was 112 degrees F and Sierra Rd was about 95 degrees F with no shade. Salt crystal deposits from my sweat were all over my clothes and arms. Gross!

Anyway, I was smarter this year than the last year I've done it. I was also trying to get home ASAP so I could return to home to see my puppy. I improved by about 2 hours from last year! Finished the entire course in about 8 hours and 45 minutes. I was reported to have finished 2nd overall. Last year I was passed and dropped by many riders and used the whole 12 hours. This year, I was only passed by one rider in the first half and about 6 or so riders in the second half. However, I didn't panic and went at my own pace. In the end, I caught and dropped them all on Sierra Rd where they were suffering like crazy hehe. Most of them all passed me on Calaveras Rd. Somehow at mile 70 I lost all motivation and power in my legs and began to crack. I was straggling along at 7 mph up the windy road. I don't know if it was because of the 112 degree F heat or if it was because I just ate lunch or if I went too hard in the first half but I didn't seem to care about going on anymore. It then became a struggle of the mind so I talked myself into keep going the rest of the way. Calaveras is one long road that curves and go uphill for about 15 miles. It is hot, desolate, and has no cell phone reception. Towards the end I thought I was going crazy because I felt what I thought was rain and then I saw lighting in the distance towards San Jose. This was confirmed by the the event staff so I wasn't crazy.

The most triumphant part of the century was Sierra Rd in which only about 20 people attempted. I wanted to bail and skip it but since I was way ahead of schedule, I decided to do it. Sierra Rd is the second if not the most brutal mountain I've ever done in my life. It makes strong men cry like the professionals in the Tour de France. I rode to the bottom of the hill with Joanne who was training for the Death Ride and would eventually become the first lady to make it to the top of Sierra Rd a couple minutes behind me. When I got to the bottom of Sierra I was encouraged and fired up. Within the first steep section as far as the eye can see, riders were all strung out. Turned out they were all the riders who passed me. They were scattered like crazy resting under trees while others were trying to stand and pedal up. I've done this hill twice earlier in the week and I know I can climb the hill in about 42 minute average and 33 minutes tops. I just made my way with Joanne trying to draft behind me. Very slowly, one by one, I passed each rider and dropped them. Half-way to the top, I was in first place and as I kept glancing back to check my position, I had got the big gap I wanted. Some of the riders stopped, others turned back. The funny part was there was a false summit where pictures were being taken. One of the riders was overjoyed that he thought he reached the top and got off his bike. Turned out he still had another mile uphill to go. Shoulda seen the priceless look on his face when he found out. So I made it to the top and got my trophy pin and picture taken. Then came a Cat 3 rider behind me who came in first place overall only because I had to stop to get water LOL. After him came Joanne who went on ahead and who I chased for about 2-miles so I could form a paceline with her since it was so windy heading to the finish line. Luckily there was a Cal rider who wanted to form a paceline with us too.

All in all, it was a great ride and my training has paid off. I'm getting faster and I'm getting better.