Octoginta 2009

So last Sunday was the 2009 Octoginta Ride here in Lawrence. It was dedicated to Dr. Bob Frederick, who was killed in a bike accident earlier this summer. His wife and a couple of his kids were at the start. It was a nice tribute to Dr. Bob.

It was freezing...well not really but it was super cold. Not very comfortable riding weather...at least for me. On my way to meet Heather downtown, I fell. Just like a NEWBIE. Super embarrassing.

During the first 20 miles or so, we both were debating whether we wanted to do the 80 or make it a bit shorter and just ride 60...I just said 'just 60'...how sick is that?! We decided to buck up and go ahead and ride the 80 miles, or so we thought...

We were ready to be done around 60-65 miles. We were thinking where we could get picked up at! 'Keep at it, we'll be done soon' we kept telling our selves. Let's pick off the miles 10 at a time. So we did. Until we get to what we thought was mile 70...'yes! 10 to go!' Oh, no. The volunteer at the aid station indicated the course was long and we had about 15 to go. This same poor guy said to Heather, 'just think of it this way, you have 6 miles until the next aid station and then another 8 or 9 until the finish, easy!' Poor guy...we now have a priceless quote from a not so happy Heather...'we don't go by 6 at a time! We go by 10 at a time!'...and another one, 'well it would have been nice to know, they should have put that on the map!' (that the course was long)

Needless to say, it was a long 15 miles to the finish. But, totally worth it. Yummy minestrone soup for the soul at the finish. AND we had completed our longest ride EVER! Woo Hoo!