Centurion 160 km in September
I'm planning on doing the 100 mile event in Centurion Collingwood, and I thought that others might like to do it, too. The event takes place on September 18. I talked with some other group 4 riders last night, and several people are interested. If you'd like to form a team of a group 4 speed, just post something here.
Brigitte
Hi Brigitte:
I was one of those group 4 riders. Yes - count me in. It would be great if we got a number of other riders at around the group 4 level to help us form a team.
Come on, 4s... join up!
Have done several 100km rides including Muskoka long course and Peterborough riding 27-30km/hr avg speed. Knowing that my speed will drop dramatically, would I be able to get this done in the alloted time? (Have signed up for the 130km Tour de Waterloo).
Anne
Anne, there is also the 50 mile (actually 84 kms) medio fondo option, which involves three fair sized climbs. If you're not sure about the 160km distance (actually closer to 175kms if they keep the same course as last year) then you might consider a shorter/faster ride option.
In any case, last year saw over 500 riders for each of the 100 mile and 50 mile options, so there was always somebody around to share pace duties.
Thank you Brent. I had my heart set on a 100 mile ride, but will look into it more before choosing. We plan on riding some of the harder parts of the route on the July 1st weekend, which will help with the decision. We have ridden the Placid route but I think Collingwood might be tougher.
Hi Anne,
Another triathlete ! Nice.
I've being racing Triathlon for 7 years. Almost 30 races, including IronMan Muskoka 70.3 a couple of times and IronMan Lake Placid Last July. I did the 175km Centurion last year. It was hard. It's closer to Lake Placid with the longer hills, than it is to Muskoka Long course, which just never let's you rest.
The only advice I'd give is make sure you get in a couple of long 160km (6hr) Sunday rides. Like Ironman, it's about endurance. And being steady in your pace. I found many in my group blew up after 4.5 to 5 hours. The last hour is harder than the first 4.5 combined.
Also, as Brent said, there were 1300 people split between C100 and C50. That's a lot of people. And a lot of different skill/fitness levels. So, you can start off fast and you may get dropped. But, there are dozens of "groupetto's" behind you to jump into. And if you think the group you are in is weak, you can jump to the group ahead. This way the entire field normalizes in the first 25km so that everyone is riding in groups of similar pace. It's just like a marathon....racers race at the front...riders ride at the back...and everyone else in between is on their own journey.
But, of course, you know that. That's what Triathlon is all about. :)
Alain
Hmmm... My situation is almost the opposite. I might be a little faster and am quite comfortable riding in a group, but I need to really work on my endurance leading up to the event. The longest ride I've ever done is 82km. You'll find that riding in a group can enhance your performance (since you're benefiting from the aerodynamics of the riders in front of you).
I'm wondering if, when we get a group together, we should train together over the next few months. If you trained with us you'd get a better feel for how we all work together. That group training would help all of us prepare for September, regardless of which decision you ultimately make.
Hi Alain,
Ironman Lake Placid - Congratulations. You sound like an elite racer.
We are volunteering at Placid this year after racing Musselman HIM the week before. However, haven't been running for 3 months so will probably have to do the aqua/bike. :( Thought the WCC would really help my bike fitness and keep me from obsessing about not running plus the idea of doing a beginner road race is kind of appealing.
We will make sure we get in a couple of 6 hours rides - was thinking of doing the Centurion course on the July 1st weekend, depending on how we feel after the 130 distance on June 26th. Will do the Placid route again (x2) in July.
That's really interesting about all the different groups and finding which one I can fit into.
Are you going to be at Guelph on the 19th?
Anne
Hi Mel,
From my one novice group ride and the little bit of drafting I do riding with my husband, I am quickly learning the benefits of riding in a group.
We both would love the opportunity to train with a group for this ride, if there were at least a few riders close to our abilities. Like the idea of training with stronger people and pushing myself harder, but have to be realistic. :)
Anne
Yes, will be at Guelph Lake doing the Olympic Tri on the 19th. And you?
In fact, I was scheduled to do the Welland Half Iron Distance on the 26th, until I realized that it was on the same day as Tour de Waterloo. I'll be doing the TdW 130km with you.
There used to be a "Multisport" group at WCC, organized by Chris Kramer and Mark Byerley (who I saw commuting to work this morning). In fact, I still race in my WCC "one-sie" tri-suit that we all used to wear. This is me at Guelph Lake last year...note the WCC team colours. :)
Most Tri people I know have joined Jeff Beech's group after the demise of WCC's Tri club. I've been a member of WCC for 4-5 years, but only last year did I buy a dedicated road bike, thinking like you, that the Tuesday night "Huff & Puff" would help the TT. And it did ! However, the best part has been the camaraderieship of road riding with the WCC. Met a lot of good people and made some good friends. Brent & Blake and the WCC Board have done an admirable job of building community. It's a lot more fun to ride in a group with your head up, working together, than to ride solo with your head down for hours. That said, Road and Tri are world's apart in terms of technique, muscle groups and race strategy. I'm still trying to make the "transition", no pun intended.
As for "elite racer"...far from it. The closest I'll ever get is Mitch and Janet Fraser put me on the front of the 2010 Subaru Triathlon Series Brochure last year. No royalties. But, notice the WCC shorts !!!
Alain
According the Centurion website, we need 5 members to form an official team (to be recognized as a team for the event) - the more the merrier ;)
So far there's you and me, and possibly Anne (and her husband). We need at least one (and preferably more) people to form an official team.
Come on, guys (and gals). Step up and let us know that you'd like to join up. It will be quite a challenge for most of us, but it would be great to accomplish a stretch goal like this together!
Going to do the Olympic swim/bike since no running in the picture for 6-8 weeks. My first couple of rides with WCC, one novice and one ladie's were pretty pathetic, but had a good ride last night and am more optimistic and less nervous. Have a feeling this group riding is really going to help my tri events.
I was riding this winter at Ironheart on the CT's with a program put together by Chris Kraemer and Zach Weston. It was fun (and hard). :)
Hope to see you at Guelph.
Nic pics!
I’m planning to go for the 100mile Centurion. I haven’t been out for any of the road rides but am a club member, so maybe if the trails are muddy I’ll come out to play one day – which days are You guys out mostly?
As for my own level, I’ve never gone more than about 90km, but I’m more worried about the 2 vertical kilometers than the 160 flat ones It’d be fun to meet with You guys and practice some group riding over the summer.
I also do recognize I’ll need to put in some longer rides to practice the nutrition aspect of this challenge. I’m in the Wour de Waterloo 130km as well for a start.
I'm working on my endurance as well. This Sunday will ride somewhere between 100-160km plus the Waterloo 130km Tour. Hills don't scare me but I do need to work on the longer ones, in particular pacing. I have been shying away from Hawkesville but it's about time I got myself out there. Let me know when you plan to go out. I would like to join you. I think. :)
Alright... after much discussion, I'm posting this signup sheet (click link below). Can everyone interested in entering as a team (approx Group 4 pace) fill out the form? I'd like to organize a training ride for this weekend and I'll need all the contact information. At the conclusion of this weekends ride we can discuss how we want to proceed with our training going forward. I'm thinking of either Saturday or Sunday mornings... depending on how that works for everyones schedule. Some people have already expressed interest. Now's the time to formally sign up!
https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dFAzRG1hX0J...
I'll try to get out details to everyone in the next day or so.
Mel,
Ken and I would like to train with a group but I know I cannot cycle at the Group 4 pace (Ken probably could). I was thinking maybe I could sign up with the hope that there may be others at my level who will also be interested. Just wanted to let you know, so that when you see my name on the list you don't assume I'm at Group 4 level.
We are racing at Guelph this weekend, but otherwise Sat or Sun mornings are great.
Srap that about weekends. Every weekend except two is booked until end of August. Maybe I can find some people who can train during the week, mornings or afternoons. Wasn't able to access the sign up sheet.
Hmmm.. it will be tough to get some long distance rides in if we only ride mornings - that's why I was suggeting a weekend ride.
If you're having trouble accessing the signup sheets, send me your names , email addresses, and phone numbers to mel@melroman.net anyways . We can at least keep you in the loop so that you can take in whatever training activities we organize. That goes for everyone else too!
I'm planning a training ride this Saturday morning. I'm thinking of a 100km ride that includes a couple of passes through Hawkesville ;)
Anyone interested in coming meet at 9:00AM at the Erbsville church. Bring lots of water.
See you there.
Hi Anne,
Saw your results from Guelph Lake yesterday. Very good !
That wind was something else. It created a lot of chop in the water that pushed many of us off course several times. There were about 500 at the 1.5km mass swim start. Bit of a "washing machine" for the first 400M. Couldn't get a clear line until the second loop. By then it was too late...29min :(
But, the 40 km TT was good. From Guelph to Fergus and back in 1hr:11min (33.5 kph). Had to save the legs for the run ! Which was fun....10km in 47min. Total time...2hr:32min.
BTW, I saw someone wearing a blue Tour de Waterloo jersey and yelled out, "Hey are you Anne?" Which, of course, she was not.
Good luck this weekend.
Alain
Hi Alain,
You are TOO kind. My swim is what it is. Slow but fun, although usually faster than yesterday. ;) Because of some hip/TFL issues had to walk the beach and the hill which makes the sportstats numbers pretty pathetic. It would normally take me 37 minutes to do that swim.
I had REALLY sharp pains in SI joint on the first 20km of the bike; couldn't do more than 10 revolutions without standing to stretch/coast which worsened in aero but seemed to work itself out at the turn around point when we got to turn into the headwind. :) Then approaching the dismount line with my feet on the shoes, the right one came off the pedal so I kicked it away and at the dismount line the official said I had to go back an get it! On a good day I should have had 27.5 on that course. I really liked the old course but I did like this one too.
I feel bad for my husband Ken because he finished with over 28km/hr avg and came back out on the course to see if I was OK. He still had his race number on and when he got back it seems an official thought he was finishing the race w/o going into transition and wrote his 'finish' time down and gave to timekeep who overrode his chip time.
It was our first race since last September so we are going to Welland to do the TAT for some more race environment practice before Musselman. Looking forward to Sunday but I'm afraid I won't see much of you other than at the start line. :)
Well done on YOUR race!
Anne
Brent,
Taking your advice and doing the 50 mile Centurion ride. Rode it on the weekend and there is NO way I would be ready for 100 miles this year. Took it slow and paced ourselves to try and come up with a plan on how to tackle it in September. Found the hardest part the last 3 hills leaving Ravena to the finish. We were riding with 20km NW winds and felt quite strong on finishing because of the slow pace, so with a bit of effort, at least know I can finish it and hopefully not be last. :)
It is the MOST beautiful ride!
Anne
Thanks guys for this thread. Got me thinking of doing the C50 maybe the C100 depending on how much progress I make this riding season. Did a road ride with a group averaging 37kmh and it was punishing but I hang in the for most of the ride. Would like to join training rides for the weekends as it would help me getting ready for the event.
Sam
PreRiding Centurion c50
It's great that you had the chance to do a preride. I agree, the last uphill section was the hardest...stretched out over 10+ kms, and steepest at the top, but the scenery makes up for it when you reach the top. I didn't have much of a plan last year, but what little I had seemed to work: ride steadily on the three climbs, join fast groups on the flats (and work hard to stay with them), and have fun on the downhills. This year I know I have to work on my hill climbing...
Doing the preride was a great idea. I wish I could have come out with you guys. I've never done either of the Centurion rides before, so your comments are a little sobering ;) I'm thinking I should head out there sometime soon to really understand the challenge better.
I just got back from a vacation in Newfoundland, so I've been out of the loop for a couple of weeks. I won't be able to do any training this weekend, but I'm aiming to get back into it the following weekend (July 16 or July 17). I hope to be doing training rides every week from then till September. I'll post a "heads up" regarding that as we get closer to that week.
Mel
Training Ride Sunday July 24th
After getting back from my Newfoundland trip and then getting over a bad cold, I'd like to get "back in the saddle" with a training ride tomorrow (Sunday, July 24th). I was thinking of a 100km ride. I'm inviting anyone who wants to join in on the ride to meet up at 9AM near the entrance to Food Basics at the corner of Erbsville and Laurelwood Drive. There's plenty of parking there for anyone bringing their cars to the meeting place.
Hope to see you there.
Mel
Going to do a pre-ride for the C50 next weekend. Hopefully the legs will make it to the end of the course. Enjoy your ride :-)
Hi Brigitte,
Several from the WCC did it last year. It was excellent. See race reports and pics at http://waterloocyclingclub.ca/node/1273
It seems there is a large WCC contingent who are planning to sign up for this year. The question of club teams is an excellent one. http://centurioncycling.com/teams/
Alain