Jackson County Brevet Event - 100 Mile Route

RidewithGPS Data
Garmin Connect Data
Garmin Ride Summary (totals):
Distance: 102.32 mi
Moving Time: 06:07:05 (Many of us slowed down significantly as group members were cramping. Me included later in the ride.)
Avg Moving Speed: 16.7 mph
Max Speed: 39.7 mph

Group: Gary, Mike, Keith, Diane, Jamie, Nancy, Joe, Elizabeth, other club friends and probably over a thousand more were out on the roads with us today.

Goal: Rack up some decent time in L3

The Event: This is the 2nd year for the Jackson County Brevet fund raising ride for Aplastic Anemia and for the awareness of this life-threatening disease. The event was held at a large church with plenty of parking, indoor restrooms, a cafeteria room for the post ride meal. There were a few tents setup outside and I believe a live band playing post ride. They were putting up the equipment by the time many of the century riders were rolling in.

They had plenty of volunteers, workers at the sag stops, a number of policeman at key road crossings in the first 15 miles for the start of the event, painted markings, enough portable potty's to support the amount of riders and decently stocked sag stops. They had sag vehicles out on the course and mechanics at the sag stops.

Thanks to all the volunteers for this event on such a hot day. You did a great job!!

Thanks to Gary for being the driver for me and Mike. He drove super early in the morning and after a very exhausting ride.

The Ride: This was an event that I was not really entertaining, but there were a few lures. My friends going and I always enjoy riding with my cycling buddies. My club, NARC, was paying for our entry. The cause, Aplastic Anemia, which I never heard of, but it turns out that one of my coworker's wife was diagnosed with the disease.

Rolling out from the church there was some confusion. A number of cyclists were going right and some were going left and many of us were at the entrance just wondering what was going on. Fortunately I had the route in my GPS so I knew the direction. From there it was a slow process of heading out around the many slower riders and Diane did a great job leading us forward, warning the slower riders and keeping our pace steady.

The first sag stop thinned out the crowd pretty good, but that is where we lost a number of our group as Gary, Mike, Keith and me headed out. We did great holding a solid pace with Keith sitting pulling for long stretches and the rest of us also taking turns. I remember at mile 45 hitting a substantial hill that dropped me down to a 10 mph pace and from that point forward it seemed like one hill after another and some long sections of mild uphill road gradient. We found Nancy around mile 53 tending to some cramps and added her to our group of 4 guys. Later met up with Diane, Jamie and others at one of the sag stops. I was with Diane, Jamie and Courtney for a number of miles. At another sag stop we seemed to regroup again, but from this point forward it all kind of went blank for me as I just hoped to finish.

Here and there we enjoyed our time cycling together and watching out for each that had times of cramping or nausea.  I wish I could tell more of my time with each group member, but after a while I went mentally numb and was just hoping to get to the end. I suppose there were a number of thinking the same.

The positive is like Keith said, "at least I get to ride with my friends." We made it through and another century for 2011 is in the books. My first time for the Jackson County Brevet completed. Most importantly, I hope the event raised a good bit of funds for the cause. Those who have this illness need hope that improved treatment will come from greater awareness.I hope and pray it will.
 
Sorry for the poor grammar and writing style, but I am worn out.......

Nutrition Intake During and after the Course: ~52 oz.of water with Hammer Heed, BCAA and Glutamine, 104+ oz. Gatorade from refills (2) Hammer gel (1) Cliff Bars, also bananas and orange slices at the sag stop, post ride meal a couple slices of pizza, but did not feel like eating.

The Weather: Cloudy Start @ 7 degrees, Sunny End @ 88 degrees but it felt way hotter than that, steady headwind later in the day

Bike: LOOK 585, Garmin 705, Powertap wired, Contour GPS camera

Power Summary: (Based on Coggan's Levels)
Summary Table of Minutes of Duration in Each Training Zone
  Level   Minutes       TSS
      1      9.43      1.92
      2    137.93     84.94
      3    124.05    140.77
      4     81.04     92.02
      5      1.81      2.99
      6      3.72     11.41
      7      8.80     33.21

Overall Power Data:
Entire workout (113 watts):
    Duration:      6:11:12 (7:03:34)
    Work:          2488 kJ
    TSS:           349.2 (intensity factor 0.761)
    Norm Power:    156
    VI:            1.38
    Distance:      102.706 mi
        Min    Max    Avg
    Power:           0    850    113     watts
    Speed:           0    40.7    16.6     mph
    Pace             1:28    0:00    3:37     min/mi
    Hub Torque:      0    43    5     lb-in
    Crank Torque:    0    717    122     lb-in