Centurion 100 by Shanta Oudit

Sep 23, 2010

I was really stressed about the distance, the hills and riding in pack
before the race..

Once I got rolling, I was a bit better, then that first hill, I dropped into
my small ring and spin my way up.
At 20 km, my watch said 57 minutes.. I figure this will be a long day, then
I saw a girl with a green dot and I hang on to her wheels for a while only
to loose her at the 50 Km split.. she turned right. I then caught up with
another girl, lost her at the 1st water station, she stopped for a nap or
something..
About 40 km, I got into a rhythm and started to enjoy the ride.

I caught up and followed a young couple; joined into a mini peleton for a
while, lost then at the next water station!

By then I realized these are not serious cyclist, I need to ride on my own;
I did for sometime, looked back and there was a line if 10 guys following
me.. "what the hell"!

I said to the guy behind me.. "go ahead, he said "no I 'm fine" lost the
entire line up the next hill.

Then about 60km I found one single guy, we rode together until the top of
the KOH, dropped him at the last water station.

The remaining of the ride was difficult, I rode alone and there were lots of
hills, not to mention the last sign that said 10 km to go. I wanted to
walk.. I was pissy ..the spectators keep saying this is the last hill.. "and
what the F... do you call this". I wasn't tired, just mad that they said
168km and I clocked 175km..

Rick and I stayed over one more night in Collingwood and drove back this
morning.


My new goal is to ride with the FMCT boys next year:)

Shanta