Fifty Plus (50+) - The best 3 words there are

"I" "DID" "IT"

Another one off of my list.
I've been climbing Sharp Park Road, which starts at 70' and runs for 2 miles until it ends at 660'
It maps out at an average ot 5.5% but, believe me, averages lie.
There's a big down hill dip near the top that skews things.
The first mile averages more like 9 or 10%. And therein lies my tale.

I've struggled with this hill for over a year now and no matter what, I've never made it past the first 8/10s of a mile without having to stop and get my HR down (doctor's orders).
It's actually pretty manageable until the last 1/10 which gets way into the double digits.
Here's what that looks like:
http://www.heywhatsthat.com/bin/profile.cgi?src=profilermapplet&curvature=0&metric=0&axes=1&pt0=37.62653,-122.486860,ff0000&pt1=37.62635,-122.487170&pt2=37.62635,-122.487170&pt3=37.62627,-122.487110&pt4=37.6266,-122.486540&pt5=37.62666,-122.486340&pt6=37.62667,-122.486080&pt7=37.62661,-122.485840&pt8=37.62644,-122.485610&pt9=37.6263,-122.485550&pt10=37.62554,-122.485480&pt11=37.62531,-122.485380&pt12=37.62507,-122.485160&pt13=37.62492,-122.484880&pt14=37.62468,-122.483900&pt15=37.62466,-122.483370&pt16=37.62469,-122.483120&pt17=37.62508,-122.481840&pt18=37.62533,-122.481240&pt19=37.62574,-122.480900&pt20=37.62632,-122.480680&pt21=37.62656,-122.480540&pt22=37.62677,-122.480340&pt23=37.62688,-122.480150&pt24=37.62699,-122.479660&pt25=37.62703,-122.478680&pt26=37.6271,-122.478430&pt27=37.62727,-122.478120&pt28=37.62752,-122.477910&pt29=37.6278,-122.477830&pt30=37.62812,-122.477860&pt31=37.62862,-122.478040&pt32=37.628929,-122.477989

After that, I can do the remaining 1.2 miles in one shot, no problem.
Here's the second "half":
http://www.heywhatsthat.com/bin/profile.cgi?src=profilermapplet&curvature=0&metric=0&axes=1&pt0=37.62908,-122.478060,ff0000&pt1=37.62959,-122.477790&pt2=37.63062,-122.476850&pt3=37.63084,-122.476750&pt4=37.63131,-122.476740&pt5=37.63194,-122.477120&pt6=37.63246,-122.477200&pt7=37.63295,-122.477020&pt8=37.63335,-122.476620&pt9=37.63348,-122.476400&pt10=37.63362,-122.476020&pt11=37.63381,-122.475250&pt12=37.63382,-122.474730&pt13=37.63369,-122.473220&pt14=37.63372,-122.472770&pt15=37.63391,-122.472190&pt16=37.6344,-122.471480&pt17=37.63458,-122.471060&pt18=37.63582,-122.467180&pt19=37.63598,-122.466940&pt20=37.63618,-122.466760&pt21=37.63723,-122.466550&pt22=37.63758,-122.466310&pt23=37.63789,-122.465960&pt24=37.63827,-122.465320&pt25=37.638677,-122.464385

But I've never been able to do it all...
http://www.heywhatsthat.com/bin/profile.cgi?src=profilermapplet&curvature=0&metric=0&axes=1&pt0=37.62633,-122.487150,ff0000&pt1=37.62627,-122.487110&pt2=37.62667,-122.486080&pt3=37.62644,-122.485610&pt4=37.62554,-122.485480&pt5=37.62515,-122.485250&pt6=37.62468,-122.483900&pt7=37.62469,-122.483120&pt8=37.62553,-122.481040&pt9=37.62632,-122.480680&pt10=37.62677,-122.480340&pt11=37.62697,-122.479820&pt12=37.62727,-122.478120&pt13=37.62765,-122.477850&pt14=37.62874,-122.478070&pt15=37.62959,-122.477790&pt16=37.63084,-122.476750&pt17=37.63194,-122.477120&pt18=37.63295,-122.477020&pt19=37.63348,-122.476400&pt20=37.63381,-122.475250&pt21=37.63369,-122.473220&pt22=37.63391,-122.472190&pt23=37.63458,-122.471060&pt24=37.63598,-122.466940&pt25=37.63723,-122.466550&pt26=37.63789,-122.465960&pt27=37.638677,-122.464385

...in one shot.


That's been my goal and the last two times out, I almost felt ready to try but chickened out.
Today I went for it. I was doing fine, going slow and easy -I don't think I ever got over 5.5mph- and my HR was doing fine. As I neared the .8 mile mark -Gypsy Hill Road- I could see it start climbing. 160... 163... 165... 166 (ALARM! ALARM!). Oh I'm so close and if I can just get over the crest, I know it'll come down. 167... ooooooover the top and 168 (what?!?) and then 166... 165... 162... 158... I'm there, Baby. And I continued on to the top. I can NOT tell you how good that felt. Only two miles and 600' of elevation climbed but, for me, this was Ventoux :D

So much of what we do is mental. Keep on pushing.

That's really cool....and yes, keep on pushing!

SaiKaiTai!

You ARE THE MAN!
Well Done!
OutFreakinStanding!

'Bout Time, Don't You Think! (just kidding)

Jeff, still fat

Those three little words I never even share with my wife:

YOU DA MAN.

Great

Way
To
Go!

Thanks
For
Inspiring!

I'd look at that as a two-part hill. Looks like it goes up from 70' to 600' within 1.2 miles. So that's 530' of gain over a 6300' distance (and perhaps a bit shorter than this). That's almost 8.5% over a long'ish distance. After that, it's easy. Gaining only 60' over the next 4200', a bit less than 1.5%.

I would consider it quite an achievement if I could climb that first 1.2 miles.

SaiKaiTai!

'Bout Time, Don't You Think! (just kidding)

Jeff, still fat

Truth to tell, yes, it is about time. I honestly thought I would have done it before now.
But, these things come when they come; when you're ready it's time and not before then.
The last two times up, I felt like I was almost there. I guess I just needed one more try.

Very Good News!

Three more words for you: Good job Ken. And then three more: Keep it up.

Three more words for you: Good job Ken. And then three more: Keep it up.

My thoughts exactly.

Initial thought was you are getting there but now you have gone over the top---






Without stopping.

And Ventoux is a better experience.

Cool!

Congrats!

Now, what is the next goal?

Cool!

Congrats!

Now, what is the next goal?

I still have to nail down a metric by year's end :eek:

Great job.

I'm sympathetic to the "local hill that kills," as I live at the bottom of a (much shorter) hill that kept me trapped and off my bike for the first 5 years I lived in my neighborhood. The first few times I rode my bike up the hill it took so much out of me that I couldn't enjoy the rest of my ride. I finally got into good enough shape that the hill ceased being a ride-spoiler. Now, it's just an invconvenience...

"I" "DID" "IT"


Do It Again!

Good deal. :thumb: Now go and do that metric. You are more than ready. Don't make it a bigger obstacle to your mind than it will be to your legs.

Good deal. :thumb: Now go and do that metric. You are more than ready. Don't make it a bigger obstacle to your mind than it will be to your legs.

You're right, of course, and I do sometimes catch myself understanding that I have reserves I haven't tapped yet - for whatever reason.
I also believe that -after 2.5 years back on the pedals- this is the year.
The next 6 to 10 months are when it all starts to consolidate and I begin to make some strides.
That said, let's not forget the 3 other words: "It's %#^#@^( HARD :lol:
I'll admit that this climb has begun a couple of 40s and a 50 for me but honestly, when I get to the top of this thing, there's a lot less left in the back for a loan.

But, hey, 62 is only 12 more than 50.
Except, toward the end of the one 50 I did, I couldn't even think of 12 more. I was done.

But as you ride, one not only gets stronger, you get smarter.
You learn how to conserve.

Congratulations! Where did you get the profile of the hill?

I still have to nail down a metric by year's end :eek:

Good luck--hope you do it.

I'm going to get down there eventually to ride and we can tackly that sucker together! GIANTS RULE!!!

Congratulations! Impressive!