I'll be using this blog to document my journey to Ironman Wisconsin which will take place 9/11/11. I'll address nutrition, training, and general issues from my perspective as a beginner triathlete. I will also use this site to document the trials and tribulations I will face in these next nine months as I prepare to become an Ironman.

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Ride for Roswell Review

I participated in the Ride for Roswell on June 25th. The ride took place in Buffalo and it benefited The Roswell Cancer Institute, which my Grandmother is currently a patient at. The ride was my first century ride, prior to the ride the most I had rode in one setting was just over 60 miles. I was more excited than I was nervous for the ride because I was looking forward to riding close to the Ironman distance and doing it with a bunch of company on a safe course.
Overall the ride went great and made me feel much more confident about Ironman. To get ready for the race I had a banana and yogurt for breakfast. I had two bottles of Gu Brew that I had with me on the bike along with a packet of Cliff shot blocks, Powerade gel blasts, a three sample size energy bars (one Larabar, and two Raw Revolution bars). I also stopped at the half way aid station and ate a PB&J sandwich, oranges and got some Gatorade.
The weather was low sixties, overcast with a few sprinkles. I knew going into the ride that I was going to take it easy and just see how I felt riding that distance. I found a nice pace biker that I stuck with for most of the ride. Since the weather was cooler and I wasn’t pushing myself I didn’t need more than the two bottles of hydration but I plan on drinking more on the bike for Ironman.  I’m glad that I had packed all the food that I had because I got hungry often and every time I ate my focus and energy levels improved. I started the bike in shorts, a jersey, arm warmers, gloves and a wind breaker. At the half way point I took off my gloves and windbreaker and stuffed them in pockets on my jersey. I left the arm warmers on the whole time.
My body felt pretty good the whole time. My underside was sore but tolerable. My knees started to bother me a little around the 80 mile mark so I got off my bike at the next aid station and stretched out my legs and when I got back on my bike my knee pain was almost gone- good to know for future long rides! When I finished it definitely felt good to get off my bike, but overall my body felt good - like I could run/walk a pretty solid marathon. The next day I had virtually no soreness in my legs which was pretty surprising.
The course was supposed to be 107 miles but I got a little bit off course around the 95 mile mark (luckily I had a course map and my phone programmed with the Ride for Roswell help number). I was able to find my way back on course before too long. I figure I rode right around 110 miles with my little detour and it took me 7 hours. It was a great event- I look forward to doing more century rides like this.