RAGBRAI Recovery

I’ve been struggling to find the motivation to get back out there on the trails again after RAGBRAI ended.

I’m going to be completely honest with you; I think I’ve been on a bike about 5 times since I dipped my tire in the Mississippi. And two of those were on the stationary at the downtown Y, one was on my dad’s bike in Ames and one was on my other hybrid bike…

I officially “got back on the horse” if you will, Friday when I reattached the pedals and rode down Grand, around Grey’s Lake and over to Mullets for pancakes and eggs with a few of my favorite friends.

The mostly downhill trail to Mullets wasn’t bad, I didn’t have padded shorts, but it was only a 7 mile round-trip. Tackling that last hill up Terrace Hill wasn’t pretty though… I passed a girl running over near Grey’s Lake, and a mile later, I’m huffing and puffing in granny gear up my final (and really only) hill when I collapse on the front lawn of my apartment building and hear someone coming up behind me fast. IT WAS THAT SAME RUNNER GIRL! She damn near passed me.

Safe to say my quads aren’t what they were a few weeks ago, and my rear end sure isn’t happy with my Brooks seat anymore. I almost felt clumsy on my bike again… like it didn’t quite fit me anymore.

I suppose I have a few months till I need to become one with the bike again, but I don’t want to miss out on this great weather. I know Iowa. I know it will be snowing and the sidewalks will be treacherous once again in a few short months.

Considering tackling a new challenge, maybe a run… But I hate running, so that might be out of the question. I told myself after RAGBRAI I would let myself cool it on the cardio and increase my strength training and yoga. I really love yoga, but I just don’t see myself being good at it. With biking I felt like I was better than a good chunk of people who didn’t care to spend 2 ½ hours on a bike.

Now that I think about it, maybe I just need to put in the work and I could be good at anything. Time to stop wasting the summer “recovering” from RAGBRAI and just have fun with activity. Ah, who wants to go for a walk?

Last day of RAGBRAI

I'm on the bus riding home from RAGBRAI 2011. I had a great time and I have so many memories I can't wait to blog about.

Today my team had to meet at 2:30 to ride to the dip site together, so I got an early start and rode fast with a few of my teammates. We stopped for a fantastic lunch in Wilton, but other than that, we booked it to the river.

Davenport is one of those towns in Iowa that everyone should visit once, and it was even more special today because it seemed like everyone was cheering us on to the finish line. I thought at one point, this must be what it feels like to finish a marathon... But then I realized that a marathon lasts a few hours. This lasted seven days.

I have a huge feeling of accomplishment as I ride back home today. It was a hard week for me, and for many of the other riders I talked to. I asked one person if they thought anyone on the whole ride thought it was easy, and they replied, "Biking doesn't get easier, you only get faster.

I want to thank everyone in each town that greeted us like we were kings and queens. Community members that stood in the heat and humidity to serve us water and pie by the side of the road. You all made this, my 9th RAGBRAI, a memorable one.

RAGBRAI Day 6

Sorry the blog is so late tonight. I got into camp pretty late myself and then took a shower and ate at the country club. I'm just packing my bags for the final time and mentally preparing to speed to the finish line.
Today we had a relatively flat morning with cool temps in the morning and some wicked sun in the afternoon. Since it was such a long day, most of the crowd was still out when it got shady again... Just in time for me to tackle some major hills about 20 miles outside of Coralville and on into town.
I rode most of the day with my new friend Barb who is on her first RAGBRAI. She rides with Team Cow and she wore horns and ears on her helmet. We encouraged each other and chatted along the route. At one point, about 40 miles in, I said, wow, you're really pushing me! And she said, I was just thinking the same about you! So we had been riding a little faster than either of us were comfortable with, but we had a good time chatting and lost track of the miles.
Once we got into the Amana Colonies area the landscape changed. Neither Barb nor I could quite put our finger on it, but it became very rustic, a little less corporate and landscaped. The scenery was incredible. It's definitely a place I want to visit again soon.
That's one of the best things about RAGBRAI. It gives Iowans, and out-of-towners a sneak peak at what an Iowa vacation would be like, without some hokey commercial.
Tomorrow is the last day, and I have to meet my team at 2:30 to dip the tires in the Mississippi. I'm worried I won't make it in time! Even on the shortest days I've gotten in around 3, and tomorrow isn't short... or flat. Wish me luck! And if you see me and my bike hitch-hiking from the east... Pick me up!

RAGBRAI Day 5

Day 5 was still hilly but it was short and cloudy. I got into camp pretty early and got to relax before dinner.
The one thing that's been on my mind all week is the camaraderie of RAGBRAI. The teams epitomize the support that everyone on RAGBRAI has for each other.
My team, Team Skunk, gathers each night to chat, and no less that 20 people ask me how my ride went each evening when I get in. When we see each other along the route we yell, SKUUUUUUUNK! The other day I yelled to some teammates along the road and a girl nearby said, "like a live one? ew..."
Another team that's stood out to me this year is the Air Force team. They wear identifying jerseys and are hardly ever riding solo. Whenever anyone is broken down alongside the route, there's always an Air Force guy there helping. One girl I talked to said her sister got three flats on the first day and an Air Force guy helped her every time. I mentioned that to an older Air Force teammate and he just said, "That's what we're here for!"
Another team that I came across is a Pie Bingo team and they have a bingo card that they fill out along the route. You can spot them on the route because they have giant slices of pie attached to the top of their helmets. They say the hardest pies to find are the cream pies.
I've yet to see a rider from Team Gumby... my nemesis. They are so lazy! (Or at least my 4-year-old self thought so...)
I have two more days on the road before I dip my tire in the Mississippi on Saturday!

RAGBRAI Day 4

Today's route left from Boone and arrived in Altoona. It was a short flat route, but it was another hot day and we fought a head wind most of the afternoon.
I met up with my parents between Luther and Slater and they rode into town with me where I met a friend. We rode most of the way together save a few miles.
Once I got into Altoona I rode quite a while in the wrong direction before I found my camp. My dear friend Elizabeth picked me up at camp to have a warm shower and drop off some smelly clothes at my own apartment.
Trying my hardest to stay mentally strong for the next three days. I've reserved the right to ride the Sag Wagon if I have to, with the excuse that I'm desperately sunburnt and I wake up with Angelina Jolie lips.

RAGBRAI Day 3

Today was a turning point in my RAGBRAI journey. I met a lady named Mary and rode almost the whole ride with her. The time flew with someone else to share the misery with.
Second, and possibly the best RAGBRAI miracle is that my mom's friend lives in Boone, and she invited me over for a shower and a steak dinner! And my parents came to visit. I'm sitting here right now and we're all visiting. I'm eyeing the leftover chocolate chip cookies.
The day was pretty flat except for Twister Hill. A guy passed me on the way to the hill after about 6 miles of signs warning us, and he said, "It's a bad sign when they've named the hill..." I agree. Hills with names are bad news. According to the signs it was about 1.5 miles of hill. I think I made it about .5 miles. I walked a mile up a hill.
Last note of the day: I saw Lance Armstrong! I didn't realize it until I was back at camp and the guys were saying that they saw him riding with a double wide pace line and everyone was in white. A pace line is just a line of riders drafting off one another and a double wide one is rare. Especially going about 25 mph down the left side of RAGBRAI! But I remember seeing that pace line... So I saw Lance.
I didn't do the Karras Loop, which makes the 70 mile day a century (100 miles). Just incase you were wondering.

RAGBRAI Day 2

First of all, I would like to give a little shout-out to my photographer, Roger. He has been a trouper dealing with spotty internet service and non-existent cell service. He even offered to bring me a salad today, because I can't handle another pork chop on a stick.
It was another hot hilly day. A few of my teammates took the Sag Wagon, and I'm not going to lie, I might very well be one of those sometime this week.
I've realized that the last 5 miles are the key to my success. Yesterday I was almost done with RAGBRAI all together. I was sitting in the shade without water and I had no clue where the campground was.
I had turned my map around and around. That's when I saw a little unassuming church with a sign that said, "Welcome RAGBRAI". I thought to myself, they at least have a water fountain. They did have a water fountain. They also had ice cold water, free pie and great conversation.
Today, the key to my success was a bomb pop in Willy. It hydrated me and inspired me to keep going. I made it the last 7 miles in record time and I busted it up the hills like Lance Armstrong.
Well, tomorrow is the Karras Loop, the option to do 100 miles. I will not be participating. I'll be luck to make it 70 some.