Is it realistic for me to think 100?

I don\’t expect to be conquering mountains like this rider; but I\’ve not completely let go the thought of doing another 100-mile ride. But preparing for a century ride is not something to be undertaken lightly; and I always wonder whether I\’m really doing things right when it comes to working up to a long ride.

My recent participation in Tour de Cure is an example. At least a year before the day, I started doing on-bike exercises to try to improve my force. I think those exercises helped; but in the long run I don\’t think they were enough. I barely made the cut-off time on the big day.

Should I have done them twice a week, instead of once a week; or pushed myself to make those intervals longer, sooner? Am I too much of a wimp when it comes to long, intense efforts?

TdC was 61.4 miles. So how long should I allow to prepare for a century? And how? So many training plans are out there that it makes my head spin!

Now that the weather is turning cold, I don\’t like to think 100 for a certain day; only to find myself frustrated by strong wind; cold temperatures; and maybe even rain when that day arrives. If I were to follow an 8-week training plan, event day would be mid-January. Weather can be nasty at that time of year!

It\’s easy to think that any ride on two wheels would be easier than my first century, almost seven years ago. In a sense, yes. At least my \”rig\” is much lighter, but headwinds are headwinds.

There\’s no hurry, though. Maybe I can aim for April? Or maybe, just dream on.