This Saturday: Hotter 'n Hell 100

It's less than a week now until I take my first shot at riding 100 miles in under 5 hours at the Hotter 'n Hell 100 mile ride in Wichita Falls, Texas.

I've pondered this feat ever since I first read about it and it has captured my training focus since I finished my first and only century at the 2005 Ride for the Roses in Austin.

Today, I am as "bike fit" as I have ever been in my life and I've pounded out many miles and suffered the sore muscles in pursuit of this goal for well over a year now.

Yet for whatever reason, my training speeds and heart rate metrics simply do not predict success for me on this trip. Even so, I'm going down with my buddy Doug on Friday. And very early on Saturday we will take our place at the starting line among 8000 other riders.

No matter the temperature, the humidity, the heat index, nor the rainfall nor the wind speed , we will click in our pedals and fling ourselves forward and hope for a safe and fast trip.

Just maybe on a good weather day, blessed by a safe ride, with strong intent, and nearly perfect hydration and fueling, I will reach mile 80, check my average speed so far and think hey, I might be able to pull this off. And if I get to that spot, I'll put my head down and summon up the full balance of power to try to beat the clock.

Several internet bulletin boards reveal an active debate over exactly what constitutes a "real" sub-five century and I've read lots of variations of thought. Solo trip or group-aided? With no drafting or drafting's cool so long as you are taking your turn of pulls? Count time for a re-hydration stop or not?

Fact is, there are a number of ways to define your sub-five century and any one of them could be important achievements depending on who you are and how you ride and why you ride. For me it's going to be 100 miles in under 5 hours; total time will include all stops; and will I draft when I need a break or more speed? Heck yes!

I'm riding in celebration of five years of remission from lymphoma. My anniversary month would be more like March 2008, but it's going to be a rather lengthy celebration so I'm getting an early jump on it.

I'm also riding to encourage my friends Jose M., Steve B., and Jim O.

I'll update this blog with the results of my attempt as soon as I can Saturday night.