Comments on: 100 Miles of Nowhere Race Report: Rookie Mistake Edition, by Sarah Barber

By: Evan

Evan — Thu, 10 Dec 2015 21:05:43 +0000

Great write-up. I can’t imagine the head game that goes on by doing a smaller loop time and time again, as the hours go by.

By: MikeL

MikeL — Sun, 06 Dec 2015 16:29:57 +0000

I respect someone who could do 3.5 hours on a trainer much less 5 or 6 hours. I have problems getting past 1.5 hours as certain parts of the body are screaming for mercy by that point.

By: Doug (way upstate NY)

Doug (way upstate NY) — Sat, 05 Dec 2015 12:02:30 +0000

There is something very mentally challenging about repeatedly going past your place of comfort. Heck, at Leadville if you make it to Columbine you have to bike back anyway. that’s part of what make 100 MoN so “special”.

By: Eric

Eric — Sat, 05 Dec 2015 01:45:46 +0000

When I did my first 100 MoN in October, I definitely found it very mentally taxing. It was a relatively flat out and back that would require 19 laps. And after 7 or 8 laps, I was so so sick of it. Fortunately, I was riding with my friend, Jessica, who taunted me into keeping going, and we did complete the whole 19 laps and 100 miles, but if I had been riding solo, I would have cracked much earlier.

By: Corrine

Corrine — Fri, 04 Dec 2015 21:42:15 +0000

Great writing, Sarah! At least you went out there and did what you could. And I agree, consoling yourself with a protein bar? Bah, I would have chosen a chocolate bar!

Have fun in Florida and I can’t wait to hear how surprised the girls are when they figure out they aren’t going to St. George

By: Tim

Tim — Fri, 04 Dec 2015 19:29:05 +0000

I have done both sides of Harry Potter a couple of times with the kids (Not necessarily for the kids) and I think you will enjoy it! The twins might enjoy it as well…..

By: Liz M.

Liz M. — Fri, 04 Dec 2015 19:09:43 +0000

Excellent race report, Sarah!

Would love to hear other rookie mistakes. My first year it was over 100 degrees by mid-morning, and I’d picked a loop with no water stops but a 7-Eleven. By the third or fourth time I went in, the woman behind the counter was about to call an ambulance. ;-)

By: Kate

Kate — Fri, 04 Dec 2015 18:04:25 +0000

The real rookie mistake was choosing a protein bar as your food consolation. Loved your report!

And we were at Harry Potter world this summer. I don’t love Florida vacations, but that was enough to make it sort of worth going. It’s amazing. Watching Harry Potter with my son this past week I was struck again by how real it was.

By: Brian in VA

Brian in VA — Fri, 04 Dec 2015 17:52:06 +0000

“15mph with climbing is great – although most FoFs never admit to going slower than 17mph” I’m not sure I’ve ever admitted to going faster than 17 mph.

Great post Sarah! I’ve also tasted the protein bar of failure. Actually, it tasted more like a beer.

By: Jim Tolar

Jim Tolar — Fri, 04 Dec 2015 17:24:56 +0000

Who among us hasn’t tasted the protein bar of failure?

Prior to my first RAGBRAI this year, the only centuries I had ever done were 100MoN centuries around our 4.4 mile course. I found out that riding 100 miles on a real road where you don’t pass by home 20+ times is WAY EASIER than doing 100MoN.

So, wash the taste of failure out of your mouth by taking a big drink of “helping the Camp Kesem Kids”. Great write-up, great 100MoN.