Fort Bend Education Experience and Cancelled Gran Fondo

Saturday was the Fort Bend Education Experience ride. Although this was my longest ride yet, it was all flat and felt a lot easier than a ride with hills - I rode 75 miles this week faster than I rode 60 miles last weekend. It also didn't hurt that the last 30 or so miles had a nice tailwind. 

I had to get to mile 24 by 9:30 or they were going to push me onto the 50-mile course. Although that would have still been a nice long ride, I really wanted to do 75 before the MS150. I got started in one of the later waves of riders since I was standing in a very long line for the port-a-potty. I blew past the first rest stop and only stopped at the second rest stop long enough to refill my water bottle and grab some orange slices. But, I made it to the cutoff on time and got to do the long course. I heard later that several riders got stuck behind a train and ended up missing the cutoff and were mad.

My bib number. It's my birthday! Several people found this humorous for other reasons and one guy wanted to take a photo of it in the rest stop. 

JoAnna and I in the rest stop.

Nice. (I feel like I should caption this photo "A rose by any other name" but the Bonnie Plant company doesn't grow roses)

Around rest stop 4 (45 miles in) everything was starting to hurt. I was sitting on the ground doing some stretches and thinking "I still have 30 miles to go" and getting kind-of discouraged. I really did not want to get back on my bike and keep pedaling, but I did. 

Mack, me, Dina, JoAnna, Mark, and Elizabeth in the last rest stop. Unlike the last rest stop, we knew we were getting close to the end and we had a nice tail wind. 

I got back to my car and felt really great about that ride. Also, I'm so glad I gave my bike some TLC. It was a much smoother ride this week. I went home, showered, and stretched and recovered in the leg compression sleeves. 

Next day:

It's a good thing my ride got cancelled. It was ugly out there.  I was really hoping to do the Gran Fondo. I was registered for 45 miles and it was up in Montgomery and I would have had some good hills to ride on. I was also hoping to get that experience of riding two days in a row. But, it wasn't meant to be. I was sad when it got cancelled, but a little happy that I was going to get to sleep in. 

I took it inside and did a double class at the CycleBar. I started tired and sore and was losing steam by the end of the second class. I messaged Mackenzie when the Gran Fondo got cancelled and told her to give me some hills, and she delivered! Also, her class as 100% Lady Gaga songs, which was really fun. I got in another 26 miles of saddle time and overall I rode 100 miles this weekend. 

I went and got a pedicure after class. Mostly, I just wanted to sit in the massing chair. That felt great. But, I painted my toes blue to match my cycling jersey.