What a weekend. I don't think that I'll ever experience something like this ever again. Don't get me wrong, I'm so glad I did it, considering everything, it was an experience I'll never forget.

Friday night all the TNT participants met in the hotel ballroom for the traditional Pasta Party. Including the National Capitol Area Chapter, there were participants from Nebraska, the three PA chapters, Northern Ohio, Northern New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, Florida... and I think that's it, totalling about 300 people. We all ate really yummy pre-ride food and heard two speakers, the founder of Team in Training (he was participating as part of the in-line skating team) and a young cancer survivor.

After completely stuffing ourselves, the NCA team met in one of the coaches room's to have a helmet decorating party. It's a TNT tradition. We all wore crowns made out of Halloween inspired garland. It was to help identify fellow teammates so if we passed them we could shout words of encouragement. Some of the decorations from the other teams were great, Central PA had big Hershey's kisses on their helmets, Western PA Heinz ketchup bottles, Florida had little suns on theirs. It was all very cool. 

After decorating my helmet, I headed off to bed so I could get as close to eight hours of sleep as possible.

My alarm went off at 5am and the first thing I did was turn on the TV to see what the forecast was, as they were calling for rain.  And were they calling for rain!! The weatherman said to expect 5 to 7 inches. HAHAHAAA.

As I sleepily made my preparations for the day, my hotel room suddenly went black. The power at the hotel and the surrounding two blocks went off. So everyone propped their doors open and we all finished getting ready by the light that came from the hallway. Thank goodness the elevators still worked, because carting my bike down three flights of stairs would not have been fun.

After making my way to the lobby, my team captain informed some of us that our plan to start a half hour early was being shelved due to the weather & that we'd head out with the rest of the team.

So, around 6:45am we all headed out to the starting point. And at 7am began the ride.

The first 40 miles, while rainy, were the best of the ride. I was making really really great time and feeling like I'd be finished sooner than anticipated.

Then the ride became difficult. And I mean really difficult.

At the second rest stop I mistakenly went the wrong way and lost about four miles, which wouldn't have been so bad had the headwinds not killed my speed.

After getting back on the course, the winds began to shift as the center of storm front began its move through the area. The winds were so strong at a few points I thought I was going to get blown off my bike, and I am NOT a small person, I think the winds were gusting upto 50 miles an hour. In addition to the winds was the rain.

I don't think I can say enough how much it rained. I think of the whole 100 miles it didn't rain for about 20 miles of the ride.

There were quite a few points where I wanted to give up, but then a teammate or a coach would come riding along and really help me through it.

Towards the end of the ride it was raining so hard that visablilty was close to zero and while down peddling my feet would be completely submerged in water. It was crazy.

At 5:45pm, I crossed the finish line with one of the coaches who really helped me make it through miles 40-60 and 86-100. I really don't think I would have made it without his encouragement.

I'm so glad that I did the ride. These past few months have been such an amazing experience, but the weather really dampened (no pun intended) the celebratory nature the ride should have been.

Will I do the ride again? Well, during the ride I said I wouldn't; but now I'm not sure. I don't think I'll do it next year, but maybe in two years. And hopefully the weather will be much better then.

Thank you all again for your various forms of support, I could not have done it without you!!

I'm off tomorrow morning for Salibury, MD. The big ride's Saturday.

Please say little prayers that it doesn't rain, because as of now it's call for rain ALL FUCKING DAY. And I really don't want to spend the day in the rain. I much prefer overcast to rain.

I promise that I'll try to take photos during the ride & at the pre and post ride events.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

Thank you for your support, I will think of you all while riding.

See you Sunday evening.

Hugs & Kisses
Me