Yesterday was STP 2008. This was my fourth year in a row completing the 200-mile ride in one day with friends from the Eastgate Cycling Club.
I didn't bring a camera this year, so there are no photos.
We have been under 10 hours riding time the last two years for an average speed over 20mph, but we have tended to take long breaks and had an elapsed time last year of almost 14 hours. This year I suggested a goal of 12 hours elapsed time; then the rest of the gang upped the ante and decide to aim for 11 hours.
We left Seattle at about 5:40 AM with 10 riders. We didn't start at the official start. It's too chaotic and all of us live toward Portland from the start. Three of us started from our homes in Seattle proper and the rest met on Mercer Island and started from there. We met about 5 miles into the official route (which is 8 miles from my house, so I'd get an extra 3 miles for the day).
We skipped the first rest stop at the 24 miles point and steamed onward. Our first stop was at the second official food stop in Spanaway at 53 miles. We set ourselves a limit of 10 minutes, and I think we were back on the road in 15. We got a little race going with our neighboring Lakemont club on Highway 507 between Spanaway and Roy, but we finally got that sorted out.
Between Rainier and Tenino the course follows a bike path for about 14 miles. In this section I unintentionally got ahead of the group, but hooked up with Ernie, a member who wasn't riding the club group. We in turn hooked up with an anonymous rider from the Habitat for Humanity group. Ernie and the other guy were big and strong and I felt like the weakling of the bunch. Ernie and Mr. Habitat was doing long pulls at 24-25mph, but when I came to the front into a moderate headwind I could barely hold 22, and not for very long. I should have been eating but I knew there was a food stop coming up at Tenino so I didn't. I had forgotten how low that section is. But I survived.
In Tenino at mile 86 I hooked back up with the group and we stayed pretty much together into the halfway point at Centralia. I had ridden 103 miles in 4:51, breaking the record for the fastest century I have ever done. I stuffed down a peanut butter sandwich, a bunch of fruit, a bunch of fluid and we were on our way again. I think we were there about 20 minutes.
I was still feeling pretty good. I had some moments when my legs felt tired, but then before I knew it I'd be pulling strongly. The second biggest hill of the course, at Napavine at 110 miles, felt pretty easy.
At the Winlock mini-stop (an "unofficial" stop presented by local community organizations to to raise money) I held with tradition and ate a hot dog (well, half) and downed a Pepsi. I also soaked my head in the cold water faucet. Temps were getting up there - they would reach 93 by afternoon.
From there it was a mad dash to the Lexington Park food stop at mile 144. We again tried to get in and out quickly. I think we may have been there 15 minutes.
Like the Napavine hill, the Lewis and Clark bridge from Washington into Oregon over the Columbia River didn't feel as difficult as it has in the past. Our group had it's only flat tire of the day a couple of miles before the bridge and I took the opportunity to eat and drink.
The next section is the least favorite of a few of us: from the bridge at mile 150 to the last food stop at mile 174. It's boring highway that follows the Columbia River but with no view, and it has some rollers that start to get painful with 160 miles in your legs. Our fastest five guys rode off into the distance. Four of us switched into survival mode and made a nice little constant-rotation paceline and kept up 21-22mph. When I suggested that we stop at an upcoming convenience store even though it was only 5 miles to the food stop, I found unanimous agreement. It was getting really hot and we were starting to hurt.
At the convenience store I drank an entire liter of Coke and ate a bunch of cashews. I didn't intend to drink the whole thing and was amazed that I did. I also filled a water bottle with ice and Coke and it was heaven on the road. And while were there we collected Brian who had been riding just behind us.
Then we powered on to the last stop. The fast five had already left. We took a brief break and then managed to get back on our bikes for the final push.
At about mile 190 I was mentally done. Toward the end I always start staring at my odometer and it seems to take forever. It's kind of strange, because my body, while tired, still feels fine. No cramps or serious pain or breathing problems, etc. Just mental fatigue.
But before you know it we're doing the last little steep 1-block climb entering Portland proper, the crossing the river and then we're in the cheering gauntlet at the finish. We came in at just about exactly 5:00pm. I did 207 miles in 9:59 for an average riding speed of 20.7mph and elasped time of 11:15 from our meeting place. Very satisfying.
I felt fine coming across the line, but after a few minutes lying on the grass I felt horrible. No specific symptom, just fairly serious overall discomfort. It was probably a touch of heatstroke, although, my pulse was 65 and strong. I didn't even feel good enough to get in some fluids, which is probably what I needed most. But I sat on a bench for 5 minutes and then laid down for 5 more and started to feel better. Carol was there and we finally got up and headed to our hotel across the street. As soon as I walked into the air conditioned lobby I felt much better.
We usually have a group dinner but this year people kind of scattered to the winds. Carol and I went and chilled (literally) for a while and then had our traditional post-ride meal at Red Robin. That Royal burger, with bacon and a fried egg on it, really hit the spot, along with the big chocolate milkshake. Then it was back to the room for a Law & Order marathon until I passed out around 10:00.
My only real post-ride physical problem was sore feet. I think my cycling shoes are about worn out. But I always have foot cramps after really long rides. While watching TV, though, I drank two liters of electrolyte drink plus more plain water. I think that did me a world of good. My feet stopped cramping and I slept well and didn't wake up thirsty in the night. And this morning I felt quite good. I remember last year I felt uncomfortable in the car on the 3-hour drive back to Seattle, but today I felt pretty much normal. The foot pain was all gone by midday and this evening I can't even tell I did STP yesterday. Oh, except for the saddle sores. I've give those a break from bike commuting and take the bus to work for the next few days.
At about mile 155 or so I was talking to a fellow rider and he commented that I looked relaxed. It made me realize that I was much more relaxed this year. I remember the first time I did this ride I was tense the entire ride wondering if I could keep up. But now I know I can keep up, and I know how to manage my energy intake and output for 200 miles. That was a nice development.
Next up: RAMROD in three weeks. Only 154 miles, but 10,000 feet of climbing.
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