Training & Nutrition - My second wind

So I went on a short 30 miler today with a couple big hill climbs and some flat straights. I felt like my energy was slowly waning... but then around mile 20 my legs got some kind of second wind, all the burning stopped, and I finished off my ride about 5-7 mph faster than the rest of the ride (I was hauling) When i got home I felt like i could do another 30 miles at that pace... what gives?

Am I training my body totally wrong? what's the deal? I know 30 miles isn't far, but it should be enough to tire me out especially with some big hill climbs...

...any suggestions?

(I was only drinking water and diluted gatorade 1:1)

I'm not sure what you think the problem is ... or if you think there is one. Everything you've written sounds normal to me. But just curious ... what happened at the 20 mile point? Did you take a good drink of your gatorade?

I'm not sure what you think the problem is ... or if you think there is one. Everything you've written sounds normal to me. But just curious ... what happened at the 20 mile point? Did you take a good drink of your gatorade?

I had a two mile downhill right around 20 miles. I thought my energy was supposed to just slowly drain... not re-generate itself mid-ride. But if that's normal then that's awesome!

It's called the "smelling the barn" syndrome ... when you near the end of a ride, you become like the coyboy's horse when it nears the barn after a long cattle drive, and suddenly puts on a burst of speed.

The other thing is, simply resting (like you did on your long downhill), or eating, can re-energize you.