I still can't believe I rode 100 miles on my bike yesterday. I never in a million years thought I would ever ride a bike for 7 hours straight. It was extremely challenging, and something I will never forget. I'm on a mission, and it had to happen. So when I woke up yesterday at 4:30am with the opportunity I've been waiting weeks for, I went for it. And I didn't stop until 100.
A 100 mile ride on Queen Kaahumanu Hwy is daunting on any day. The sun is hot, the winds push you all over the road and the traffic is not only fast, but unpredictable too. Everything is loud. Cars and trucks rushing by are loud, the wind is loud. So loud you can't hear your bike, which is unnerving because you are constantly shifting and trying to avoid debris like nails, glass, and roadkill. The shoulder is uneven, and with the sun just up over the mountain by the time I got on the road at 6:10am, I could see every bubble in the asphalt, with their shadows marking up the shoulder. No wonder it feels like you're riding on rumble strips (which at times you actually are).
My plan was to do 4 Lavaman bike course loops. I didn't have my trusty support crew by my side due to my unreliable and ever-changing Ironmom schedule, so I wanted to keep it safe and familiar. That's 25 miles, 4 times to equal my 100. I stashed water bottles along the drive up to Waikoloa, the sun rising over Mauna Kea with the thinnest sliver of moon hanging above it.
I was so glad to be riding south as the sun came up. I didn't have glare in my eyes and I felt better knowing the motorists had a better chance at seeing me. With less traffic so early on a Sunday morning it was enjoyable for the first hour or so, although the cars were traveling as fast as ever with less competition. I knew there was a Peaman race happening, so I rode from the Queen's Shops to the Pier so I could use the bathroom and say hi to all of my pea-friends. It was busy, even though there is trouble still brewing in regards to the legality of the actual events. It was a relief to see all of the families enjoying their monthly outing together at the wonderful Kailua Bay anyway.
After bidding the Peas a ha-pea race I rode the Ironman circuit (I think) around town. Up Palani from the pier, Kuakini Hwy to Queen Kaahumanu, then south, down Palani and out Kuakini Hwy south to the end then turn around, back north on Kuakini Hwy and back up Palani to the Hwy. Even if that wasn't the course, it was town riding enough for me, battling the traffic, lights, pedestrians, and lack of riding room. From there I went about 40 miles north, out to Kawaihae.
In Kawaihae I decided to tackle the big bad Honu Hill, which is in my opinion the hardest hill on the course. The hill out to Hawi is long and can wear you down. Scenic hill is also long, but it means you're almost done. There are lots of others, but for every up there is a down and it's not so bad once you get through it. But that hill coming out of Kawaihae back to the highway can break you. That is where the tears, blood, and curse words come out. Personally, I pull out my favorite, most precious mantra, "Power up, and Energize!", taken from Rescue Bots, Roll to the Rescue! After a few rounds of that comes..."I've got the pow-a" song, which I sometimes sing out loud. And lots of huffing and puffing.
Proud of myself for climbing that bad boy, I headed back to Scenic. By 70 miles my body started to break down, and the wind started picking up. Back and around, I went, until I was at about 90 miles. I took gels, ate gummies, a clif bar, a banana. Lots of water and Gatorade, which I was very thankful I had stashed strategically along my ride. Finally at 93 miles I tucked into the Hilton grounds at Waikoloa and wound around through vacation rentals and golf courses, thankful for the quiet but well aware there was not 7 miles of road around the little community of shops and condos. The closer I got to 100, the smaller my loops were. First the highway, then Waikoloa grounds, then the parking lot at Queen's shops. At 96 miles I thought...this is ridiculous. It's going to take another 20 minutes at this pace to get to 100. But I kept riding. I tried making a big lap around the whole complex but the speed bumps hurt my arms and threatened to rattle all of my "stuff" off my bike. By the last 2 miles I was doing a figure 8 between two lines of parking stalls in the back of the lot.
When my Garmin buzzed 100 I cried. It may have been the exhaustion, or the fact I been trying, hoping to do it for months. I was so happy I didn't quit, and had such support from Jeff to go out and do it. It took 7 hrs and 7 minutes, 27 minutes longer than I anticipated. I only stopped my watch once, at the Peaman race. I didn't know what 100 would feel like. It feels amazing. I am sure it is going to be the same at the finish line of Ironman. Now that I have done it, 112 doesn't seem impossible.
A 100 mile ride on Queen Kaahumanu Hwy is daunting on any day. The sun is hot, the winds push you all over the road and the traffic is not only fast, but unpredictable too. Everything is loud. Cars and trucks rushing by are loud, the wind is loud. So loud you can't hear your bike, which is unnerving because you are constantly shifting and trying to avoid debris like nails, glass, and roadkill. The shoulder is uneven, and with the sun just up over the mountain by the time I got on the road at 6:10am, I could see every bubble in the asphalt, with their shadows marking up the shoulder. No wonder it feels like you're riding on rumble strips (which at times you actually are).
My plan was to do 4 Lavaman bike course loops. I didn't have my trusty support crew by my side due to my unreliable and ever-changing Ironmom schedule, so I wanted to keep it safe and familiar. That's 25 miles, 4 times to equal my 100. I stashed water bottles along the drive up to Waikoloa, the sun rising over Mauna Kea with the thinnest sliver of moon hanging above it.
I loaded up Baby Blue, checked the tires, oiled the chain, put on more sunscreen, checked my supplies and was feeling really prepared. With everything set I started my watch, and off I went.
After bidding the Peas a ha-pea race I rode the Ironman circuit (I think) around town. Up Palani from the pier, Kuakini Hwy to Queen Kaahumanu, then south, down Palani and out Kuakini Hwy south to the end then turn around, back north on Kuakini Hwy and back up Palani to the Hwy. Even if that wasn't the course, it was town riding enough for me, battling the traffic, lights, pedestrians, and lack of riding room. From there I went about 40 miles north, out to Kawaihae.
In Kawaihae I decided to tackle the big bad Honu Hill, which is in my opinion the hardest hill on the course. The hill out to Hawi is long and can wear you down. Scenic hill is also long, but it means you're almost done. There are lots of others, but for every up there is a down and it's not so bad once you get through it. But that hill coming out of Kawaihae back to the highway can break you. That is where the tears, blood, and curse words come out. Personally, I pull out my favorite, most precious mantra, "Power up, and Energize!", taken from Rescue Bots, Roll to the Rescue! After a few rounds of that comes..."I've got the pow-a" song, which I sometimes sing out loud. And lots of huffing and puffing.
Proud of myself for climbing that bad boy, I headed back to Scenic. By 70 miles my body started to break down, and the wind started picking up. Back and around, I went, until I was at about 90 miles. I took gels, ate gummies, a clif bar, a banana. Lots of water and Gatorade, which I was very thankful I had stashed strategically along my ride. Finally at 93 miles I tucked into the Hilton grounds at Waikoloa and wound around through vacation rentals and golf courses, thankful for the quiet but well aware there was not 7 miles of road around the little community of shops and condos. The closer I got to 100, the smaller my loops were. First the highway, then Waikoloa grounds, then the parking lot at Queen's shops. At 96 miles I thought...this is ridiculous. It's going to take another 20 minutes at this pace to get to 100. But I kept riding. I tried making a big lap around the whole complex but the speed bumps hurt my arms and threatened to rattle all of my "stuff" off my bike. By the last 2 miles I was doing a figure 8 between two lines of parking stalls in the back of the lot.
When my Garmin buzzed 100 I cried. It may have been the exhaustion, or the fact I been trying, hoping to do it for months. I was so happy I didn't quit, and had such support from Jeff to go out and do it. It took 7 hrs and 7 minutes, 27 minutes longer than I anticipated. I only stopped my watch once, at the Peaman race. I didn't know what 100 would feel like. It feels amazing. I am sure it is going to be the same at the finish line of Ironman. Now that I have done it, 112 doesn't seem impossible.
My goal was not only to do 100 miles, but to not miss Jason's swim lesson at 2:20pm. It was 1:45 and I had to get from Waikoloa to town...25 miles I now know. I grabbed my bottles as I headed back to the pool and made it right as the lesson was about to start. But there was nobody in the water. Apparently a clap of thunder in a clear blue sky closed down the pool and everyone had to get out. We ended up going back to Al and Susan's for a swim, but by the time we got there I was exhausted. Jeff came to the rescue once again and got in with the boys, as I sat out and watched. The rest of the afternoon was spent eating and lounging, preparing for the upcoming week of work, Kindergarten and training. The life of an Ironmom is sweet.
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