100 milestone

Saturday morning I set off to complete my first century. Left downtown at daybreak which came at 7am on the dot and headed for chain of rocks bridge. Rolled over to g.c. to pay my respects to the good people at stop-n-go and stocked up for my trek to Edwardsville. A beautiful day riding along the levee road but the early morning warmth hinted I would suffer in the hours to come. Stopped in E-ville at a little gas station to stock up on supplies for my trek to Pochahontas via Fruit road. This road was long and straight providing miles of peddling towards more road ahead in the horizon. At this point I was also starting to realize there would be few trees in the land of corn and beans to sheild me from the southeast wind that would try and break my spirit the entire trip home. Hit pochahontas road and rode it for what seemed like an eternity until I finally saw signs proclaiming "HOME OF GRETCHEN WILSON" and I knew I had finally made it. It was afternoon now and a good fifty miles of the trip were over but I was really starting to cook and stopped at the magic funderbunks gas station/restaurant to pound fluids and gaze at the locals. I was really surprised, although I shouldn't have been, at the sheer gerth of majority. People were huge, asses like I had never seen, chins reaching the five and six count all the while huffing discount cigarettes like they were Bruce Willis in Die Hard. I even thought of buying a funderbunks t-shirt to commemerate my experience but the sign read XXL and up. WTF. You start at XXL. However, everyone was polite and courteous as endorpins were running high post feed time. I stocked up again as I was about to embark on the unkown part of my journey. The heat had really spiked and I knew the next 40 miles would decide my fate. The google map directions proved to be quite accurate and I was happy to see local teenagers had not ripped down most of the street signs and I was able to navigate my way easily. Saw many beautiful things I am keeping to myself and really enjoyed most of the ride. I finally reached shobonier blacktop and was relieved to be on familiar territory, even if I was still 20 miles out. I was getting so hot I had to remove my helmet and partially undress just to keep from suffocating. I was running extremely low on water as well and had to stop at house along the way and request a refill. This bottle carried me long enough to reach a small amish store and I went inside to find cold drink. Litte amish kids were running the store and the were all poking there heads around the aisles to take a look at the strange bicycle guy. I think the elders respected my mode of transportation and therefore refrained from punishing me for exposing their children to a fully grown man in skin tight clothing. A mountain dew tasted good but left a strange sensation in my stomach and I knew the heat was making me quesy. I headed on and finally spotted the St. Peter grain elevators and it gave me a boost of energy. I foolishly smashed on the pedals for the last couple of miles and whizzed into town and to the St. Peter market. I picked up a gatorade and a bananna. I ate the fruit in 3 bites, which was not smart. I hooked up onto the last road of the day to my final destination and then came the wall. Smash!! I was done. 98 miles in and I had cracked. I shifted into the small ring and pedaled when my body allowed, head screaming, stomach aching, muscles misfiring, I was a mess. Finally came into town and coasted most of the way home. I hit the entrance to the driveway and the loose rock gave out from under me and my bike started to slide. I hastily unclipped and managed to get a foot onto the ground just in time to save myself from a finish line crash. I had ridden 104miles with no problems and almost lost it in the last 10 feet. Went inside and mumbled something to the family as I was unable to make sentences and sat in the cold shower for about 20 minutes. I got out and was still sweating and had to sit in front of a fan for about a half of an hour. It took at least two hours before I even felt like I was going to be ok. I was really close to overdoing it, really close. I felt like shit most of the night but was able to get in some food and fluids. Slept like a rock and got up to do 20miles of recovery in the am. Man I love riding at home.