This was a morning I was dreading. The Livermore ride that would take us 107 miles and have us climbing over 11,000'! I experienced and conquered this ride last year, so I mostly knew what I was in for in the many grueling miles ahead.
Part of my apprehension with this ride, was missing the previous week's ride. It wasn't an easy decision but I needed the extra time to properly set up and pull off my fundraising event in SF. Part of our commitment on this team is to raise funds for blood cancers. So this was one of the week's I had to pull my efforts in another direction.
I was left to rely on my mid week efforts and the 102 GPC miles I have ridden 2 weeks previously. We had a 7:00 roll time and a beautiful morning that was quickly warming up. I was feeling surprisingly good the first 40 miles of the ride. Then came the big game-changer...the heat!
Once we started up the back side of Mt. Hamilton the heat quickly intensified and any bit of breeze had disappeared. Sucking in hot stale air with every agonizing pedal stoke up this unforgiving mountain! Let the self-talking begin to get me through this.
I soon found all the electrolyte tablets, water, and supplements that I had been ingesting were not enough to keep my right foot/calf from beginning to tighten and cramp. I pedaled through it, until I saw the oasis of one shade tree,I took the opportunity to chug water and take some more electrolytes. Then off I went again to tackle more of this mountain!
I continued for awhile and noticed the tightening was now moving up my entire right side. Let the cramping begin! Foot, calf, thigh, hip, side and parts I did not relize that could cramp!!!It was brutal and unrelenting, also creating the joy of nausea. I was one leg pedaling on my left to just keep moving forward. My coach was up around the corner and witnessed my grimace, gasps and struggling stride...she knew I was in trouble. I could barely breathe or speak through the contracting muscles. At this point I was down to almost no water with a couple more miles to go. She made the desicion that I was not willing to...and called for a SAG car. I quietly stood alone in the frustration and embarrassment of failure. Adding to that were the tears wellin up in my eyes. Really!It was ironic that I had enough fluid in me to create tears but not enough for my muscles/body to carry me 2 more miles up the damn hill!!!
Willie and I got loaded in the SAG car, with the plan to head the top and continue. It would give me the opportunity to calm the cramping the fuel my body back up to ride. Giving up was not in me at this point! As we drove, the roads looked like a battle zone of cyclists stopped and struggling with the heat and relentless climb.
On the drive up the hill the worst and most intense cramping began to occur...holy @#%$! It sounded like I was giving birth in the car...haha! So sorry Kurt! Once I could straighten my legs and walk again (and to just to get out of the car),I was determined I would ride again. After ample hydration at the SAG stop, I hopped back on Willie and carefully rode up to Observatory to see if my legs were willing to continue. I made it up...so I was hopeful!
With more hydration and some intense negotiation with my body...I was ready to ride again:-) The next 30 miles would be much kinder and I felt I could get through it...and did:-) Then I rolled up upon hell...aka, Sierra Rd.! This was a 4 mile sustained wall-type climb with no breaks! Did I mention that it was HOT!?! Upper 80's but off the treeless pavement it was registering over 100 (my Garmin has documentation). Holy hill this was going to hurt!
About 2 miles in, I began sensing the breach of contract with my body. It was pissed and was beginning to make it very clear! At this point I'd swallowed handfuls of electrolyte capsules; making me wonder "how many of these could I ingest before it kills me"? Just then, Rocket (one of the awesome guess coaches) had ridden up to check on me and coach me through the climb. Just short of the top my body decided enough was enough! If I wasn't going to stop...it was stopping me and successfully did!
My coach made it VERY clear...that I was done for the day! My legs were done, my body was done and most of my common sense was gone at that point. I thought I could try and walk up it, but the tremors in my legs wouldn't even let me move, balance or stand between the cramping. My vision was blotchy and it began to sink in that this was truly the end of my day...at mile 72:-(
Now my role shifted to be the cheerleader and help the rest of my team make it throught their ride. I was proud of everyone of them! They dug deep and pushed on through their discomfort to finish a very tough day.
The realization of far I violated my body, truly didn't become clear until the days that followed. The exursion and dehydration had my body refusing food, feeling overall fatigue and making my muscles continue to twitch and tremble. I continued to guzzle water and electrolytes but its taken more days than I expected to balance out from the epic discomfort of pushing myself to the wall...literally.
I now look to the next ride with more trepidation than the last. My courage will end if I let fear begin...and I cannot allow that to creep into my training! All I can do is my best each week...and keep moving forward.
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