Daylight savings off to a bang....

Here I am writing on Sunday 3/9, it's 7:15 and just becoming dusk outside! This is awesome. The sun has been out all weekend and enjoying the benefits of it. Had another first in my biking world. I did my first "century"--100-mile bike ride. The Santa Rosa Bike Club put out, on it's monthly listing, a "flat century". Of course, I had my doubts, but just said to myself, just go for it--if all I do is 80, or 90 or anything below or between, I would still be happy with that. The day started at 8:00 am at Helen Putnam park in Cotati. The ride for the "B" riders (beginner/intermediate) started first, then the "C" riders (more experienced or "hammer fest" group-as I call it!) would go after us. My husband was in that group. This was his first one too, but I knew that he would come out of this with a big bang, and he did.

Anyways, it was cold at first. I figured it would take about 6-7 hours to complete this ride, with all the stops in between. I tried to remember to just find a groove that would work for me and stay in that. A couple times I tried to keep up with the "big boys", but would soon be dropped. We traveled through back roads on Petaluma Valley Road towards Freestone, to Occidental, and to Duncan Mills, where that was the first stop. I did good. I even managed to keep eyeshot of the "big boys" right until the mild climb up into Occidental. The "B" group stopped at the Wildflour bakery. I didn't, I kept going and I'm glad I did. The ride leader of the "C" group, M. Leach, must of thought I was in the "C" group, because he was bringing up the rear to regroup in Duncan mills. Well, he was surprised when I told him I was in the "B" group. I saw my hubby and some others I knew at Duncan mills at mile 36, so I decided to test my waters and rode with them through the rest of the ride. So we traveled River Road through Guerneville, to Sunset Road where we turned off to climb the back roads to Westside Road, and to West Dry Creek road, to Healdsburg, where the second stop was at Oakville Grocery on the square, that was somewhere around mile 71. Doing farely well at this point, the weather was so beautiful, the sun was out and temp. reached a grateful 75 degrees. Stopped for about 20 minutes, then the group of 6-7 that I was with, were itching to get going again. So we started up and continued thru Windsor to wind around the Skylane Blvd. to NW Santa Rosa on Fulton Road. Where highway 12 and Fulton meet, was about 90 miles. Ten more to GO! Couldn't stop now. Our small pack was thinning out, when I dropped off the back to go 10 more, there were 2 guys left and heading back to Cotati where we started. The winds were picking up at this time around 2:45 pm. I headed to Sebastopol via Radota Trail to Analy HS and pickup High School Road to Occidental Road towards Willowside Road to HOME! Home sweet home, I didn't get out of the saddle until 100 miles appeared on my cyclometer (I know there's another term!). And by golly, miss molly, it came. I had to go up and down the driveway 2 times to find the 100. But did it. Got off the bike, sore in the butt and smiling across my face. Two good things in my book! Wound up with 6 hours, 45 minutes, total ride. I know that's alot for some people, and nearly not enough for others, but for me, it was awesome!!

This morning, didn't feel too bad. A bit sore in the quads. So I proceeded to coach my Human Race girls, then went for a small run up at Annadel Park, where every one else who lived in Santa Rosa, seemed to be! Ran a short run of 40 minutes. Couldn't muster anything else up. After that not feeling too bad, even as I sit down here. The real test will be when I have to stand up, and turn to walk. Maybe have to put a little fire under the tush to get it moving! But right now, I'll take how I feel, after all, it let's you know your alive, right?!!! Right on.....

Good day everyone and good night.....Loni