Monday, my wonderful, supportive of my LIST husband and I set off to conquer #15!
Which was to ride 100 miles.
I've been riding a bit over the summer but nothing very consistent
Wondering if I can really do this.
I haven't ridden 100 miles since I was 19.
But, here we are, still smiling at around mile 25 (out around Lake Merwin).
1 water bottle down. 1 potty stop. 2 pictures
Mile 70.
I asked a lady grabbing her mail to snap this picture of us.
We've done about 5000 feet of climbing up to this point.
And, been on our bikes for close to 3 hours and 45 minutes.
I'm really starting to get tired.
Around mile 80 is where things went bad for me.
I thought "there is NO WAY i'm going to be able to ride 20 MORE miles"!
I slowed down to like 12 mph and just couldn't go any faster.
I'm thinking that this is a really STUPID idea and I HATE my list!!!
My hubby's cheeriness is NOT helping!
We stopped, got a Coke and I ate the rest of my 550 calorie Baby Ruth.
Things are always better after candy.
100 miles!
actually 101 miles!
5.5 Hours
Averaging 18 mph.
All without tears or "the bicycles in the ditch" and fighting!
(like in our earlier days)
SO glad to be finished with #15 on my list!
thank you my dear husband for putting up with me!
DANG!!! Seriously.... I am not even ever going to attempt that, although I know you have to be feeling extra accomplished at this time!!! Well done!!!
Hubby's big grins are hilarious, love it!!!!
Posted by: McGillicutty | September 18, 2009 at 04:57 AM
Congratulations! I am putting together my own 36 before 37 list (I have 5 more months than you -- 3/16 here!) but a century is on my list -- congratulations - that's a fantastic accomplishment.
Posted by: Amanda Lipnack | September 18, 2009 at 04:57 AM
Congratulations, Michelle!!! Whew! I have no clue how you actually rode 100 miles! We used to ride bikes in Jamestown on the Colonial Parkway...I could barely make it. But I love looking back at the pictures proving I did try!
Posted by: Deb | September 18, 2009 at 05:36 AM
YES! I am SO proud of you! Congratulations! You're seriously my hero.
I have never done more than 30. And my husband hasn't done a century in a couple years. Maybe we'll use you as motivation to do one this next year. Maybe not together. I *do* get cranky and I might do the "bike in the ditch" thing you had talked about in an earlier post. :P
Wanna hear "nuts"? Hubby and his father would sometimes do 5 centuries in a row M-F traveling on their bikes with panniers and such. How do you make yourself get up the next morning and do it again? :D They were several years younger then, tho. LOL
Posted by: francie | September 18, 2009 at 05:42 AM
soooo AWESOME!!
Posted by: lelly | September 18, 2009 at 06:04 AM
Yay, you did it! Never underestimate the power of a Baby Ruth! Great story in pictures.
Posted by: Shari | September 18, 2009 at 06:58 AM
YEEEEEHAAWWWWWWW! Congratulations!
Posted by: Snap | September 18, 2009 at 08:17 AM
wowza!!! you are amazing and inspiring! great job! I love the pics of you and Gary!-you guys are so cute! :)
motivation to keep rollin on my "27 things" list...
Posted by: Katy G | September 18, 2009 at 09:19 AM
Wow... gotta agree... you are amazing! As my birthday approaches you're inspiring me to write my own "57 Things" list... but I don't think it will include riding a bike! Love you!
Posted by: mom | September 19, 2009 at 05:36 AM
My heartfelt congratulations to you and your very supportive husband. Each mile you rode was one I wish I could have done but my biking is confined to the small pedals I sit in a chair and pedal away. Don't know how many miles I have gone yet but it's nowhere near 100!
trisha
Posted by: Miccosukee | September 19, 2009 at 12:26 PM
You are just crazy-cool! That´s all I can say.
Posted by: Spindelmaker | September 21, 2009 at 01:06 PM
YOU ARE A ROCK STAR!!!
Posted by: meg duerksen | September 21, 2009 at 06:15 PM
Congrats Michelle! You guys make a great team...you rock with your list, maybe I'll do one for 2010.
My husband recently bought us a vintage Schwinn Twinn Tandem bike...definitely a learning curve riding literally together...we've only done about 20 miles so far but it's been great fun. No more 'what did you say?' the whole ride and I get to look at the scenery :)
Posted by: Anne Leuck Feldhaus | September 22, 2009 at 05:49 PM
Good job, girlie! I'm thinking I might try a century-you've inspired me! Maybe next year!
Posted by: cindy | September 23, 2009 at 10:54 AM
Was this the "Hotter Hell and 100 miles" that takes place in Texas? my husband did that this year. It took him 5 hours, not me though :S
Posted by: Olivia | October 05, 2009 at 11:38 PM
That is very neat of you guys.
Yeah my husband is fit, and he got the 997 place, apparently there where 14000 people on that race and it goes on every year. He is fit even though he does not think he is and wants to be lighter so he can be faster hahaa. I am like... dude, you're skinny, stop losing weight. Anyways how fun! Nice art.
Posted by: Olivia | October 06, 2009 at 11:20 PM