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| at the start line in Brisbane |
It was a scorcher yesterday. The mercury rose above 30 degrees celsius and the ride got harder as the day wore on. With a six o’clock start we were hoping to get most of the ride done before the temperature rose but it was already 19 degrees at 3:45am when the alarm went off.
While we didn’t ride in under the desired time (heat, hills, wind, traffic lights, extra 1km), I couldn’t be happier with our effort. The first hour we averaged 27km thanks to the numerous downhills where we managed to catch speeds of over 50km/hr. Our fastest was 58.5km. A first for me. I forgot what an exhilarating feeling it was riding down hill at full speed. Though I have to say when the speed dropped to 10km/hr on an uphill it was torture!
With over 10000 participants from about age 8 upwards of 70+ it was a fantastic day to enjoy the ride. The Cycle Challenge is on every year raising money for Diabetes Australia and the Heart Foundation. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, around 5% of Australians suffer from either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes and heart disease continues to be Australia’s number one killer. Both can easily be prevented through diet and exercise and doing the Cycle Challenge is a great way to support the two organisations. It was a great morning, a great ride and fantastic community involvement. Each year the number of participants continues to grow.
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| Rest stop numero uno |
The ride went by very quickly. Before I could start dreaming of the end we were crossing the finish line. The first 40km went by super fast and we stopped for an energy boost snack (apple & muesli bar) at the first rest stop. I ended up having a raspberry flavoured Endura energy gel on the next 40km. Thanks to my bike pants the ride was very comfortable, although my legs would tell you a different story. By 80km and our 2nd rest stop for another energy pick me up (banana, honey shotz, & fruit bun), it was hard to believe that we only had 20km to go.
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| Fuel & sunscreen…& Jarek’s sexy legs |
The final 20km seemed longer than the previous forty. Driving on main roads and through intersection kind of does that. We often had to stop at red traffic lights which made the final section much longer than anticipated. By this stage I was definitely noticing the heat. It was a scorcher and I couldn’t wait to get my legs into the water at the end. The water in our bottles was warm and was doing nothing to quench my thirst.
We finished in 4:18 ride time (4:45 including break stops). As this wasn’t a race we made sure to fuel up at the race stops and take a little breather and bathroom break. Well, Jarek took the bathroom break. I didn’t need to go for the duration of the ride even though I was keeping my fluids up, maybe not enough.
Then there was the ride home. We figured it was a bit silly to get picked up. What’s another 12km after we’ve just done 100? It was a slow ride with a stop at Nando’s for a celebratory and much needed calorie filled lunch. I almost got pecked by a magpie on the way home (October is their season and they can be quite dangerous), and all I could think about was a cold shower and more fluids. I ended up drinking a lot later throughout the afternoon, including water, milk, juice, tea with lemon and honey, coconut water and a green smoothie. I was still thirsty.
After a cool shower and a snack it was time for an afternoon lie down. A power nap is extremely beneficial after such strenuous activity and quickly restores energy levels. Thirty minutes is all you need to feel better later in the day.
Today, while my muscles aren’t sore my head feels foggy and my Achilles is making itself known. It’s recovery day today, plenty of rest, water, fruit and vegetables so I can get back to training and to work tomorrow.
