Well, I did it!

Thanks to everyone for the tips. After thinking about it, I took off Thursday and Friday with riding. I had to teach my indoor cycling classes, but other than that, I did nothing cycling related.

I really didn't know if I could do it, but I set out to do the century anyway this morning.

In the beginning, I did the full bike path, just to get the first 30 miles out of the way. That wasn't any real porblem. I didn't rush it at all, just took my time riding the path.

The end of the path found me at the Hilton downtown- I stopped for a bathroom break and I went to the ATM to pick up some cash. Once I got the cash, I started out again.

I rode north on some pretty busy streets for a while, then I got to another bike trail that took me to my 42nd mile. I stopped for a break again- I ate an apple, drank more water (I drank water all along too!), and sat in the shade.

After half an hour, I took off again. I was still feeling pretty fresh, so I pushed on. I hit Green Bay Road, and I asked another cyclist which way Wisconsin was. He pointed to the left, and off I went! I rode along, not seeing the Green Bay Trail I'd heard about, but after about 10 minutes, I quickly found the trail. I jumped off Green Bay Road, and I jumped on the trail, and I began to ride along the trail. But after about 5 minutes, I lost the trail, so I just jumped back on the street. I rode along the streets for a bit longer, then came across a McDonald's. It was still morning, so I stopped and had a sausage biscuit and a big fresh orange juice and more water. I ate it, enjoying the air conditioning, and sat for another 20 minutes or so. When I came out, I ran into a guy, and he asked how far I was going. I told him I was going 100 miles today, and he started laughing. When he finished laughing, I asked for directions to Wisconsin. He said just take Green Bay Road, and it would take me all the way to North Chicago. I thanked him, and I left.

After McDonald's, I took off again. This time, I took Sheridan Road, after a brief disaster, where I was on Green Bay Road, which dead ended about a mile or so later. I had to turn around and pick through the city, and that's where I found Sheridan Road. I rode on Sheridan Road for about another hour, where I accidentally ran into the Green Bay Trail again. I decided to take the trail, and I really enjoyed running through the towns- I took the trail from Highland Park all the way to North Chicago, where it ended. The fun part of that trail was running into the Great Lakes Naval Base- I'd heard of it, but I never knew what it looked like. There were men and women walking around in uniform, and some were wearing fatigues and walking through town. I'd never been in a town with so many military personnel, and it was interesting to see.

When the trail ended, I heaved a sigh of relief and turned back around. By this time, my butt started to hurt some, but I'd been using some of that chaffing cream, so that helped some. My legs were feeling a little rubbery, but other than that, everything was fine. I rode the path backwards from North Chicago, enjoying the quietness of the path- almost deserted, smooth and paved, and right next to the road, but slightly elevated above Sheridan Road. Coming back, my spirits were lifted because I knew I was getting close, but I knew I had a while to go. Still, I was feeling pretty good.

I rode along for almost an hour, then saw that I was still on the path, and I hadn't seen this part before, so I knew I was in the part of the trail that I couldn't find earlier. I was ok with this, and I rode along, but then the trail ended for a bit, and I decided to stick with the streets from now on. I stopped at a gas station, and I felt like I needed a sugar shock, so I got a mountain dew and a brownie. I talked to the guy there, and he told me how to take Green Bay Road all the way back to Skokie, so when I finished my break, I took off again, and this time, I found Green Bay Road right away. I rode along, starting to look for the path for the Skokie Sculpture Park. All I could think was "Damn, Glencoe is big!". Then I saw a sign for the Chicago Botanic Gardens, and I knew I would be settling in for the long haul- the Botanic Gardens was about 32 miles from home, so I forced myself to stop getting so frantic, and just enjoy the ride. So I did.

I finally got to the point where Green Bay Road met up with Skokie (the city), and everything looked familiar, and I started getting excited all over again. I stopped again, and this time, I finished up my mountain dew and drank more water and sat in the shade. By this time, my shoulders were aching from carrying my messenger bag, and I was starting to feel a bit off. But I knew I was 12 miles from home, although I also knew that I would be a few miles short of the century. Still, I didn't worry about that. I just concentrated on getting home.

Well, I pushed the last 12 miles to get home, and in the last 8 or so miles to home, I started feeling very funky- a bit weak, rubbery in the legs, and my head was beginning to ache a little. And that saddle was killing me! Plus, I was just getting hot. I kept sucking down my water, and I tried to think about other things- I wondered what was going on with the Tour, I thought about a friend of mine, I worked my way through two problems I'd been working on from home, and I thought about my nephews. That all helped.

I finally got home, and I figured out from adding the mileage that I was exactly 9.9 miles short of my century! I groaned- then I wondered if I could just say I did the century even though I was short. Then I figured that it wasn't that many miles, and I should do it- besides, I didn't want to lie to you guys about it! So I decided to drop my messenger bag and just take the barest essentials that I could fit in my jersey back pocket. Before I could change my mind, I stowed my bag in the bike room and took off.

I was feeling pretty bad by then- so close to home and my head was throbbing, my feet were hurting, my legs were feeling sore, my butt was hurting pretty bad, and I really wanted to get in a bath and lay down in some serious bubbles. But I really wanted to say I did a century and mean it. So I decided to ride 3 miles north and 2 miles west, then backtrack over that part to get 10 miles in.

Somewhere in the fifth mile, I could feel the bile rising in my throat, but I just took a swig of water and kept on riding. To be extra sure I wasn't cheating myself, I went an extra 2 blocks north and an extra 2 blocks west beyond the five miles. I just didn't want to cheat myself at all.

Coming back from the five miles out, I was just spinning back home in low gears- I hardly could go fast enough to call myself riding! But I did it, and when I got home, I just stumbled into the bike room and locked my bike real good- I didn't want to be too tired to lock my bike and have it stolen! Then I took the elevators back to my condo and immediately went to the store a few flights down and got fresh fruit and fresh juice- that's about all I have a craving for now, and now I'm gonna jump in a nice bubble bath and soak, and then if anyone is so inclined, they can join me in the chat room tonight at 8:30 p.m. C.S.T. and we can chat for a bit, then I need to be in bed within an hour of getting in the chat, because boy am I beat!

Thanks for all the encouragement and advice from everyone! It really helped me to realize that the only thing keeping me from doing a century was me!

:fun: WHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! I DID IT!!!!! :fun: