22 miles later.......
Yes guys! I rode 22 miles at the Seagull Century. Now mind you, the trail is 100 miles but I only trained for 6 miles. So my realistic goal was 10 miles. The 10 miles were the hardest for me. I mean, really hard, as in I wanted to give up already. My legs hurt, my fingers were cold, I was scared of getting a cramp in my leg.... but I just saw how everyone else kept riding and I kept saying to myself, I can do this. I got this... and sure enough, I would get spurts of energy and keep on riding, I tried not to focus on how long it was taking me (total about 2 hours) but the fact that it was such a beautiful day and Cathy (awesome rider!) was really encouraging. She really was helping me with the cause and was always checking up on me.
Again... still nervous about the ride, I wondered if I would get a cramp. That was my biggest fear, next to having a paleton run into me. But I Cathy assured me that it'd be ok. Both Kevin and Cathy are into this bike riding and are fully prepared for whatever comes their way. They even had this energy drink that was described to me as motor oil. Believe me, I was not trying to get even close to that. YUCK!
So the ride started and it was a lot of people and we were all over the street and in my mind I just kept thinking... wow, I'm actually doing this. and I was also saying "are we there yet?" Lots of people were just whirring by me, granted they were much more experienced but still, I felt like I was going to slow. I was going 12 mph. that's a pretty good speed. Everyone else was going 25 mph. It was pretty chilly in the morning but it was better then it being hot and sticky. I had to stop a couple of times because I can't ride and drink. The first time I stopped I turned my bike the opposite direction and I could just see the multitude of people riding towards me so I quickly moved on the grass... it was a little scary. LOL! I kept on riding passing lots of trees and nature...the air was fresh except for certain spots, (cow manure... yuck!) When I finally passed the 10 miles I was feeling a lot better and more optimistic about finishing 22 miles. I was sooooooo happy when we got to the first stop! I was just jumping for joy. In my head of course. We got off the bike and my legs felt weird, almost like I couldn't walk.... but I made it to the bathroom and after we did some stretching exercise and was ready to go! The original plan was to get a ride from the SAG (Seagull Century vans) to the last stop aka the apple pie and ice cream stop, so we hoped on the SAG and they had to go back to the University because they had 2 injured people. One guy had been going 25 mph and fell right on his face! and scraped his knee and needed an x-ray... some other guy just twisted his wrist. 
We got there Friday afternoon about 3ish and Kevin and Cathy set up their trailer nearby. We took a trip to Walmart, naturally, and got a couple of necessities. Later we were going to swing by for dinner at Salisbury University but ended up in the lawn of the University because they were having a free welcome party and we ate all the wings, chips, pretzels and corn that we wanted. PLUS ICE CREAM! I had strawberry shortcake and peanutbutter something.. with vanilla ice cream. yummy! After that Lizet took me to Naomi's house (friend's house that I was staying at) and no one was home. They weren't getting home till about 1am... so I had the unlocked, Victorian style house to myself. Her house is beautiful, very rustic, nicely decorated. I don't like being alone, even at my own house when I would be alone I turn up all the lights and the tv and radio... so that's what I did except only in the room I was staying at. I brought my own radio, and they had the TV and just turned it to whatever random channel while I took a shower. That new show, the ex-list, or something like that, with the girl that was on grey's anatomy and had her face all disconfigured cause of the boat accident? yea, her, it was her show. um... I didn't care for it too much. But I was tired and knew very well that the next morning I had to be up and ready at 5:30am. So I fell asleep listening to Coldplay....
Next morning I'm up and ready, text my people to pick me up. I had stretched and was fully dressed in my outfit. It was pitch black outside, not happy about that. But I was excited about the day that I was ok with it. Beronica was probably the only one that i knew that would be awake at that hour so in between txting, I fell asleep again waiting for my ride. Finally around 6:10 they show up and we are off to breakfast at the university! The b-fast is $8 but Cathy and I got it for free! The lady at the front was just like I'm giving 2 tickets away! So I was sure I got one and Cathy got the other one. I had pancakes, eggs, bacon and OJ. good stuff!
The Seagull Gang
Again... still nervous about the ride, I wondered if I would get a cramp. That was my biggest fear, next to having a paleton run into me. But I Cathy assured me that it'd be ok. Both Kevin and Cathy are into this bike riding and are fully prepared for whatever comes their way. They even had this energy drink that was described to me as motor oil. Believe me, I was not trying to get even close to that. YUCK!
So the ride started and it was a lot of people and we were all over the street and in my mind I just kept thinking... wow, I'm actually doing this. and I was also saying "are we there yet?" Lots of people were just whirring by me, granted they were much more experienced but still, I felt like I was going to slow. I was going 12 mph. that's a pretty good speed. Everyone else was going 25 mph. It was pretty chilly in the morning but it was better then it being hot and sticky. I had to stop a couple of times because I can't ride and drink. The first time I stopped I turned my bike the opposite direction and I could just see the multitude of people riding towards me so I quickly moved on the grass... it was a little scary. LOL! I kept on riding passing lots of trees and nature...the air was fresh except for certain spots, (cow manure... yuck!) When I finally passed the 10 miles I was feeling a lot better and more optimistic about finishing 22 miles. I was sooooooo happy when we got to the first stop! I was just jumping for joy. In my head of course. We got off the bike and my legs felt weird, almost like I couldn't walk.... but I made it to the bathroom and after we did some stretching exercise and was ready to go! The original plan was to get a ride from the SAG (Seagull Century vans) to the last stop aka the apple pie and ice cream stop, so we hoped on the SAG and they had to go back to the University because they had 2 injured people. One guy had been going 25 mph and fell right on his face! and scraped his knee and needed an x-ray... some other guy just twisted his wrist.
one of the roads
the pretty scenery!
My destination...
The pedals on my bike!
So we got to the University at 11:30 am and waited for the SAG to get to the last stop........ waited.......kept waiting................ and fell asleep on the grass while waiting....... 2pm rolled around and Cathy was like I'm done, lets just ride back to the front so we can cross the finish line... so we did, that was fun! we got our pictures taken and all that good stuff.
cloud watching is fun!
After the ride!
After that, the CP gang showed up, yea yeaaaa!!!! So we headed over to Ocean City after that. Fun times!!!!! personalized trucker hats, long walks on the beach, climbing up the lamp post, nothing but a g thang, funnel cakes, chicken tenders and subs, jellyfish, sand graffiti... special shout out to the GEO, made it to OC and back in one piece! and to the boys for being great bodyguards!
Me and J-Booty!!!
At OC
It was a great experience. I really want to train for it properly next year. Oct. 10th, 2009. Lets do this!!!
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