Post Script / Update
Well, we did it. We didn't do the 100 miles- unfortunately, we didn't have nearly enough time to train (we had to sell our house twice). However, we did complete the 40 miles in about 3 hours or so. Then we rushed back down to San Antonio so that we could get ready for the movers who were coming the next day. Even with all the confusion and the stress, we were very, very glad we went.
In the end, my husband and I raised about $900 between the two of us. It was great to feel that we had made such a large contribution (in our eyes)- but there were people at the ride for the roses that had raised thousands and thousands of dollars. But given our circumstances, I feel we didn't do too poorly.
The ride itself was great: calm, and not very competitive. Everyone was very friendly and supportive. The most touching thing, in my opinion, was the people who had pinned pictures of the people they were riding in the memory of to their jerseys- friends or loved ones who had either died from or survived cancer. It was very touching and very real.
There were entire families riding together. I saw what looked like an eight year old coasting up a hill with his father riding beside him, hand on his sons back, pedaling them both up the hill. I saw one couple on a tandem bicycle pulling a trailer behind them with their child in it.
On the 40-mile route that Ken and I did, I struggled up the hill the only large hill (around the 30-mile mark) next to an older gentleman who I would place in his 70s. At the time, it appeared that he and I were the only ones not walking, and the only reason I didn't give up was that he was between me and the side of the road (which is why I didn't see Ken on the side of the road getting water, and became separated from him). If that man hadn't been in my way- I would have fallen off or gotten off to breathe. But as he was in between me and the side of the road, and there was no way I could pass him, and there was no way I could slow down without loosing all momentum and falling over, I kept going. If I had quit, someone behind me would have potentially hit me, or at least would have to waste precious energy trying to go around me- so I kept going. I gagged, I threw up a little bit, but I kept going. The old man & I made it to the top, and beyond. I'm sure he finished ahead of me.
I wish we had had time to train a little more. By the time the ride came, we hadn't been on our bikes for almost 3 months. I hadn't even run in about 2 months. If we do this again, I am going to be sure to make the time to train a little bit. But i think 40 miles is pretty good, considering how long it had been since we'd last ridden.
So now we are on our way out of Texas (almost). We are in temporary lodging on Lackland AFB- soon we'll be staying with friends for our final night in town (finally reunited with our two dogs, who are staying with our same friends). Our furniture is already up in Massachusetts and has gone into storage, just waiting to be delivered once we close on our new house. The holidays are fast approaching, and we are still hoping to be unpacked enough by thanksgiving to have it in our new house (we don't close until Nov 17).
The time changed last weekend, but we have made the decision not to reset our clocks- we'd just have to change them back in a few days anyway, and why be constantly readjusting your personal time zone? The weather has suddenly turned colder, so I will wash all of our warm weather clothes, and pack those away until next May, which will be the next time we can expect to see 70 degrees. We'll be up in Massachusetts in time for Veterans Day. Its cold up there now- frequently in the 30s at night, and I've heard that our cats (which are already up there, at my folks' house) are eager for us to get up there and snuggle them. Will be bicycle when we get up there? We might. We'll have to get a new headset for Ken's mountain bike, but if there is still no snow, we might get a chance to go mountaing biking one sunny day. If we we can handle the 40 degrees.
Funny- on our first honeymoon, we were mountain biking in Acadia Nat'l park in Maine in late October. Cold- on the 40s, and rainy. It didn't bother us too much then, but now that w've aclimated (somewhat) to Texas, I don't know whether we could handle it
Looking at the weather, we might hit some snow in western pennsylvania on our way up- the first time our texan dogs will get to see snow.
At any rate, Good luck to all you Wild Texas people. Thanks for your friendship!
-kai
PS- we haven't made up our minds yet, but we may be coming back down next year to do the ride for the roses again. If we do, I'll be sure to let Wild Texas know!