100 Miles of Nowhere: Pre-Race Encouragement and Recovery Report from Corrine
Before we get started with today’s 100 Miles of Nowhere Race Report, there are a few things I want to make note of.
1. Ride the 100 Miles of Nowhere With TrainerRoad
TrainerRoad is a top sponsor for the 100 Miles of Nowhere, providing a free month to all registered racers (look for the card in your packet!).
But they’ve gone above and beyond their sponsorship responsibilities and have created a 100 Miles of Nowhere workout!
Yep, it’s a five-hour-long trainer workout, designed to replicate riding a tough century, but not so tough that you can’t do it.
The Hammer and I are definitely gonna do this one when I get back, and you should too.
This is an awesome thing for TrainerRoad to have done, and a terrific reason for you racers to open up that free month you get with the program and get started. Check out TrainerRoad’s blog about the workout, and then go do the 100MoN workout!
2. Get Inspired to Ride
If you’re registered for the 100 Miles of Nowhere, you should be getting an email today from Inspired to Ride, with everything you need for you to start watching this incredible documentary — one that I think suits “100 Miles to Nowhere” to a T. Inspired to Ride follows a handful of cyclists from around the world as they race unsupported in the inaugural year of The Trans Am Bike Race. It’s the antithesis to events like Tour de France and Race Across America. There are no teams, no support vehicles, no special jerseys and not a dime in prize money.
Just a thought: It would be pretty awesome to do the 100 Miles of Nowhere workout while watching Inspired to Ride.
3. Team Fatty and Camp Kesem: Meeting in Michigan
First, the twins and I now are in Michigan for the Camp Kesem Leadership summit. I’ll go into the details of the trip in another post. For now, just a couple of pictures:
I fly often enough that I have forgotten how amazing it is. The twins reminded me, laughing at the amazing feeling / sound / visual of taking off, and then staring out the window for about an hour. I am going to start requesting a window seat again.
When we got to Michigan, we went to the lodge where Camp Kesem leaders and counselors will be meeting this weekend, and were treated to this poster:
And this one, on the stage where we’ll actually be riding:
Yep, they’re putting us on a stage to ride the 100 Miles of Nowhere, as hundreds of camp leaders and counselors arrive today to register for the big summit tomorrow.
We kick off the ride at 12:30ET, and it would probably be a good day to follow me on Twitter, since I’ll be posting pictures and stuff as we prepare for and do this thing.
Okay, that’s a lot of pre-story stuff, but all pretty relevant to the topic-at-hand. Now…on to this week’s 100 Miles of Nowhere race report!
OK, it’s not exactly a race report. It’s more of a recovery report. But it’s awesome
Corrine’s Video Race Report
This year marks Corrine’s fourth 100 Miles of Nowhere. Or it should. Her knee, sadly, had other plans for her.
But that didn’t stop her from making an awesome video telling her story and encouraging the rest of you to get out there and get it done:
Pretty fantastic, eh? A little bit more about Corrine, in her own words:
I’m 56 and I love to ride my bike. I met you and Lisa at the 2013 Leadville which I managed to finish in under 13 hours but not 12!
This summer, prior to my bilateral knee surgery, I did the Tour of Fairbanks (a 4 day,5 race series), my best 200 mile time trial race yet in the Fireweed making my stretch goal of under 12 hours, and I finished the Smoke ’N’ Fire, a 440 mile bikepacking mountain bike race in Idaho in 4 days and 8 hours, just 3 weeks before my surgery — and I didn’t come in last!!
I may not be fast but I’m persistent and I wanted to really wear out my knees before I replaced them!
Be sure to wish Corrine speedy continued recovery, so we can hold her to her commitment of winning the “57yo, recently recovered from bilateral knee surgery” division next year.
Comment by Marty B | 11.6.2015 | 8:37 am
Good luck Fatty! Having such a supportive audience should spur you to new heights of trainer glory. There will be neither gravel, nor darkness, nor imaginary wild animals on this years 100MoN. My 100 Miles of Nowhere tomorrow will be “Incredible.” More later. (What? Did I just make you wait to find out the rest of the story? From whom did I learn that?)
You are an inspiration Corrine. I ride for you tomorrow!
Comment by Jim Tolar | 11.6.2015 | 9:07 am
Damn fine job Corrine! Keep up the PT and we’ll see you in the ride reports next year!
jt
Comment by New Zealand Ev | 11.6.2015 | 9:07 am
Good luck to everyone doing 100MON this weekend. Have fun and keep smiling!! I need to put mine off till Dec as I have a lot of things going on right now that I need to take care of.
Comment by The Hammer..Lisa | 11.6.2015 | 9:18 am
Corrine you are amazing! You are an inspiration! I love all the beautiful bike pictures of your adventures! It won’t be long and you will be making new biking memories ….without a life cyle! Good luck with the rehab!
Comment by wharton_crew | 11.6.2015 | 9:29 am
Corrine, here’s to a speedy recovery!! I gotta say that it looks like your bike stable is almost as robust as Fatty’s! Love the fat bike in the snow.
Comment by New Zealand Ev | 11.6.2015 | 9:33 am
Sorry Corrine I forgot to wish you a very speedy recovery. I would go crazy if I was not able to ride and I would drive my partner crazy as well. Good luck that the recovery goes well and you will be back on th.e bike in no time!! Great video!!
Comment by leroy | 11.6.2015 | 9:48 am
Allez Corrine!!!!
Comment by Christina | 11.6.2015 | 11:36 am
Painter’s tape clips! You’re a total badass, Corrine!
Tomorrow, we ride!
Comment by Rose | 11.6.2015 | 11:41 am
I now have ZERO excuses to avoid riding my bike. Corrine, you are simply amazing!
Comment by Jeff Dieffenbach | 11.6.2015 | 12:50 pm
Corrine, LOVE the “surrounded by circling fat bikes” scene. Given your apparently awesome attitude, I’m putting my money on best recovery ever.
Comment by FellowFattyChris | 11.6.2015 | 1:05 pm
Hey Fatty, my triclub is in the process of putting together a “Kickr Lab” in Draper, UT. It has been in the set up and testing phase the last couple of weeks, but it will officially be open next week. We can get up to 10 people on Kickr trainers at the same time. There are big 2 screens on the sides tracking workouts and a larger screen in the middle where we can play inspiring cycling videos. If you want to do a the Trainer Road 100 MON workout with a larger group when you get back, I may be able to arrange to do it there.
Comment by davidh-marin, | 11.6.2015 | 1:55 pm
Corrine, winner of the inagural ‘Noodle’ award for outstanding video story 100MoN (sorry Janeen contest is already closed)
What an inspiring story, and like Christina says ….’Badass Deluxe’!
Come to California next Fall and we’ll field a Badass team (Team Thompson. YannB, ChrissD, and others. I will join you in a separate ‘, but more appropriate ”Bad ass” division.
Comment by leroy | 11.6.2015 | 1:58 pm
Dear Corrine –
I also know how much it sucks to have to stop riding for repairs.
I was set to ride the 100 MoN this weekend, but a medical issue intervened at an annual physical three weeks ago and I got a stern warning to stop everything for further tests and possible repairs.
I’m now repaired, have a couple of upgrades in place, and am cleared to start pedaling lightly next week. Expect to be cleared for regular riding a few weeks after that.
One of the many great things about the MoN is you can do it whenever you like. I intend to crush the Spring 2016 edition for my category.
My dog, however, is heartbroken. He cancelled a book club meeting scheduled for this weekend when I was supposed to be out riding.
Hope he can get the deposit back on the Tiki Bar, chocolate fountain, Star Wars themed bounce castle, disco ball, and foam machine.
I think he used my credit card.
So what are you doing this Spring?
leroy
Comment by Heidi | 11.6.2015 | 2:48 pm
“I wanted to really wear out my knees before I replaced them!”
Tee hee!
Comment by ClydeinKS | 11.6.2015 | 3:07 pm
Corrine – I love seeing the jersey during the daily therapy sessions! I just got inspired for a whole ‘nother level of insanity for the 100MoN – single leg pedaling, 50 miles each leg, on the trainer. Just not this year :)
Comment by PNP | 11.6.2015 | 3:25 pm
Wishing you a speedy recovery, Corrine! I love that you’re still pedaling, even one-sided. And the video is wonderful. Keep up the good work and you won’t be waving good-bye when others ride away.
Comment by PatrickH | 11.6.2015 | 3:34 pm
I have come to the conclusion that Corrine is AWESOME!!!!
Comment by Corrine | 11.6.2015 | 5:04 pm
Thanks for all the nice comments, guys! I’m not sure how much of a Badass I am, my friends usually use the words stubborn and/or stupid! Now that I’m 4 1/2 weeks out, I am starting to go a little stir crazy but not driving my husband too crazy, yet.
@DavidH would love to come down and do a Badass edition next fall
@Leroy, I usually cross country ski in the winter (with just a little fat biking thrown in) but will have to see. First I want to see how long it takes my right leg to recover after I get out of the brace in 3 1/2 more weeks. But maybe a spring edition is in the cards. I always love a goal to shoot for.
GOOD LUCK EVERYBODY TOMORROW. I’ll be with you in spirit. Have fun!
Comment by Miles Archer | 11.7.2015 | 10:47 am
Inspiring.
Comment by Mark in Bremerton | 11.7.2015 | 1:54 pm
The 100Mon hasn’t even happened yet, and already the stories are GREAT!
Good luck to all participating (and recovering) – you have some high bars to reach for.
Comment by Jeremy | 11.8.2015 | 11:10 pm
I did part of the TrainerRoad workout (2 full interval cycles) before I started cramping. It’s not an easy workout, but I might use it later in the season when I build a bit more fitness.
Comment by AKChick | 11.9.2015 | 11:50 pm
LOVED the video Corrine! So much awesome packed in that 4:24 clip. :) One advantage you have over others who have double knee surgery is being in amazing shape! That will help your recovery immensely. I haven’t set a date or a course for my 100 MoN but I have some ideas I’m rolling around. :)
Comment by AKChick | 11.9.2015 | 11:51 pm
@david-H what about some road rides? :) We need a Team Cali-Alaska! :)