Savannah Century

Okay, I'm in awe! 80 miles with 3 months of training! That's amazing! As a newbie, I like to read all of the good and bad that everyone posts, it's such a reality check for me. Plus, your lessons learned for you will then become lessons for me. And congrats on making it over that bridge. It would have been tough for me as well.

Thanks for your great post!

Congrats on riding longer than you've ridden before! I know my first century was a big deal and I trained for double the amount of time you did! I hope you are giving yourself a big pat on the back and not beating yourself up!

I agree with everyone else, I think this was more about nutrition than your stamina, but also it's about pacing yourself. I think that early on, it's important to stop at rest stops, stretch and eat things that you've eaten before while riding.

Plus, I always bring my own sugar-free salt tabs (Nuun, Camelbak, Hammer Fizz, Gu Brew etc...) so that I don't have to rely on the sugar-filled Gatorade/Powerade. I stay far away from sugar!

So, when's the next big ride?

:Danni

It's looking like the Crusin' in the Country event in Claxton, GA 11/12/2011. I have not decided on the length, but it will either be the full 100 again or the 65 mile option. It will depend on what happens between now and then.

Harder work, and smarter decisions will payoff the next go round.

Thanks for the words fo encouragement.

Jay

Congrats!  You have nothing to be ashamed of. 
When you have to walk, don't think of it as the walk of shame.   Think of it as CROSS TRAINING!

Go for the 100, you know you can do the 65, and I bet you can do the 100 with the new info you accumulated.  Now you know what to expect and how to pace and feed yourself.

I like using the electrolyte tabs too like the NuuN tablets.

1 bottle of fluid per hour is what I shoot for.

I like to start with a bottle that is jus****er and electrolytes and abottle that is nutrition (calories).  I like to trade back and forth on those. 

Some times it's hard to drink when your working, you just don't think about it, or you say I'll get it when I get to the top of the hill or whatever.  I set the timer on my garmin to remind me.  Every 10 minutes take a drink of either a sugar free electrolyte drink or my nutrition.

The other option I use is to fill a couple gel bottles half way, then fill the rest with water and shake it until it's mixed.  This thins it out a bit, reduces the amount of sugar you are putting in with each squeeze and for me it improves the consistency. 

Congrats again

Scott