Date: 2010-09-04
To: Sunrise Century-Clarksville,TN
Miles today: 0.0

Sat.Sept 4Today is the Clarksville,TN "SUNRISE CENTURY" bicycle ride...My last sponsored ride for this cycling season...The alarm goes off @ 5:30am...I get up...start coffee...shower...then grab my cycling gear...& head North to RossView High School in South Clarksville...(only abt 40 minutes from my house)As I arrive...(abt 6:45am)...the "HAMMERS" (the Elite Peloton) are leaving the parking lot...theres a group each year that tries to break the SUB-4 hours for the 100 mile course...the RECORD is just under 4 hours...(can you imagine maintaining a speed of 25+ mph for 4 hours???? WOW!!!)I find a parking spot...go inside & check in...get my FREEBIE T-shirt...grab a 62 mile course map...(yes! 62!)...NO 100 miler for me this year...I think I've done my last 100 mile course...after 66 miles kicked my butt a few weeks back (H.O.T.100).I get back to the car, prep my bike (2005 Trek Madone 5.2SL) ...get the shoes on...ride around the parking lot to get these old legs warmed up...7:30am....The ride folks arent scheduled to let the 62-mile course riders start til 8am...but i leave...(break the rules?...who?...me?)early.I'm riding by myself today...TeePee couldnt make it...Steve Hayslip is prepping for a run on Monday & my new cycling friend ("MO")had a conflict too...so, he is out...just me & the miles today...Pedal...pedal...pedal...Out on RossView Rd...then turn into an Industrial Park...pedaling some FAST strokes here... Its Sunny & abt 60 degrees as I start the ride...By Beech Haven Winery....& then onto Webb Road....pedal...pedal...Out of the Industrial Park then onto Charles Bell Rd for some roller coasters (small up & down hills)...then onto Port Royal Rd & the first REST STOP (mile 10)...outta the stop...take a left onto TN 238 thru the community of TINY TOWN...& then over to US 79...a major roadway...loads of traffic...ride over Hwy 181 then Hwy 294...& then into Trenton,KY....a quaint little town...loads of old houses & churches, etc..& REST STOP #2 (sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!)i stopped here for a few minutes...since i didnt @ the first stop...grabbed some munchies...(Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats..yummy!) & gatorade & water....then back at it!...Pedal...pedal..pedal...out of Trenton,KY on Hwy 238...for awhile...the head-winds are killer today...beating me up!... cross over US 79 again...very busy road...loads of scenic areas during the ride...many farms...big ones...& small...lots of cattle farms...horse farms...tobacco barns & soybean (& the occassional dead corn field)ride into the small community of Hermon (Rest Stop #3was here...but i didnt stop)...then back South down Hwy 848...& into the town of Guthrie,KY...ahhhhhhh...REST STOP #4(mile 50)...i stopped here for a few minutes & actually took my shoes off...I am tired by this time...having some small cramps in the bottom of my foot...makes me thankful I'm not on the 100 mile course right now....after "cameling up" here & grabbing an oatmeal cookie or two...i get back on the pedals & head out...Only 15 miles back to RossView school....out of Guthrie...then South Guthrie..then back thru the Industrial Park...(slight climb here...& Boy!...am I beat!)...then back onto RossView Rd & back to the FINISH LINE...RossView School!YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!...i made it....weeeeeeeeeeeeee ;0)Good Ride...i'm very tired...but it was a good ride.62 miles.I'm taking a few days off & then its...RaceWalking training again...I have a 5K scheduled in a couple weeks in Elkton,KY...Stay Tuned SPORTS FANS!...See U out on the track & UP the TRAIL!