I Wander, I Ride, I Race...: January 2017

Sometimes the things we get talked into can be the best things that ever happen to us.

At least, that is what I keep telling myself. A couple of weeks ago, this happened:

DK200 Registration Confirmation

A huge thanks to several of the women's cyclocross group and a few of my incredibly supportive teammates for having the confidence in me that I do not have in myself. Their unwavering faith in my strength and endurance caused me to re-evaluate what I wanted to accomplish this year. After talking myself out of registering for the full Dirty Kanza 200, I was planning to do the 100 mile ride to support those that were actually going to race. I got figuratively smacked in the back of the head by several people who told me that I can ride 100 miles of gravel "tomorrow if you had to" and be fine. I realized they were right. If I was going to travel to Kansas, I might as well set my sights high and race.

Go Big or Go Home... So, while in a race briefing for a winter adventure race, I frantically refreshed the BikeReg website until registration opened at 9:00. With shaking hands (and only half listening to the race briefing), I entered my data, paid my fee, and before I knew it, I was in! Woohoo!

Wait... I was in. Oh shit. On June 3, 2017 (that would be about 18-ish weeks from now, by the way), I am going to race 200 miles on back country gravel roads in the Flint Hills of Kansas. Unsupported. I only rarely ride 200 miles in an entire week, how I am going to do that in less than 21 hours (preferably less than 18)? Did I also mention that I hate training for endurance events? But... I am in. I am going to do this. And I am going to finish.

New planner that I even had personalized!

I bought an actual planner. The first one I have had since I stopped working for Circuit City in 2005. In it, I have outlined a decent training plan that will get me several 150 mile rides before the race. I will have to do hill and sprint intervals (ugh), I will have to do cadence work (even worse), and I will have to do long rides (those should be fun, right?). I will be working on a nutrition plan to combat my chronic problem of never eating or drinking enough on long rides. I will be getting more and more comfortable with my drop bar gravel bike.

Check, Check, and... Check!

So while I am incredibly nervous and even a little terrified, I have a plan. I have two amazingly brave and confident ladies that I raced cyclocross with that have also signed up for DK200 to train and race with. I have lodging and support lined up. Things are coming together quite nicely. Now, I just need to get out and ride my bike. A lot.

RACE DAY!!!! The countdown is on.

Oh yeah... I did an adventure race on the day I signed up for Dirty Kanza. I did it with two of my favourite cycling ladies (Bobbie Joy and Kieran). It was cold (31 degrees) and freezing rain, but we had a blast and I learned a lot about navigation from Bobbie. Here are some photos that tell the tale way better than I could with words!