First event (Natchez Trace Bike Ride) since COVID hit in March.... 8 long months of no races!

 8 months of watching races getting postponed then canceled due to COVID and FINALLY a couple of races (smaller ones) start happening.   I've seen a couple of small 5Ks and even some small TRIs starting to take place.  Originally the Natchez Trace bike ride is in May.  They postponed it till October due to COVID.  Then the week of the ride (October 10) a tropical storm turned hurricane decided to roll in so it was postponed again to the follow weekend, October 17.  I was happy it was not canceled, but I had planned to try to do the Hub City Hustle TRI on the 17th.  Luckily I had not registered for the Hub City yet.  Not sure why I had waited on registering.  Normally I'm the early bird.  But I'm glad I had not because then I would have been registered for 2 events on the same day.   

Our shirts.  I love this ride.  You have the option of 25, 50, 62, 67 or 100 miles.  I've done a couple of different ones.  I had debated on the 100, but decided since I hadn't rode anything over 45 lately that would be a tad much. 😅😅  So then I decided I would probably just do the 50.  But on my drive to Jackson that morning I decided I should just do the 62.  I mean what is 12 more miles!  Plus I'd be doing the metric century. 😀

I arrived early and it was still dark! I hate that it's almost 7am before it's good daylight these days.  Everyone was staying at their vehicles because it was like 46 degrees with a breeze coming off the water and they were walking around announcing to please social distance.  They wanted us to line up 6 feet apart to start the bike ride.  They had us all spaced out all over the parking lot.  When I got out to line up I realized there were different start times depending on the mileage option you were riding and I was not sure if the 62 was starting with the 100 milers at 7am or at 7:30 with the 50 milers so I asked the guy that was parked beside me.  He told me I was starting at 7am so I got on my bike and started with the big group.  When we came to our first turn the sign only said ... 100 & 67 miles turn right.   There was no info on the 62 milers.  It was then I realized that I should have waited and the guy did not know what he was talking about.  I kind of laughed and said what's 5 more miles from 62 to do 67!  Well, by mile 52 I was done! 😂😂  

Not only was it cold and my toes were froze solid, but it was WINDY around the water especially!  I had forgot to put my cold weather booties over my bike shoes.   The longer miles go off the trace and ride a good bit before coming back on the trace for like the last 20 miles or so.  There were so many times I was holding on for dear life and praying the wind would not knock me off my bike.  One guy even said as he passed me... it's good to be 230 lbs today!  I just laughed, but he was right at the moment. 😁 And there was one road with ONE hill that I literally thought I was a goner!! The downhill was very steep and before I realized it I was flying down.  My gears on my bike are on my aero bars so if you have your hands back on your regular bars by the brakes, it is hard to let go and get to your gears to shift when you are holding on for dear life and hitting the brakes so you won't die going down a very bumpy steep downhill!  Let me just say I was praying and praying!  When I got to the bottom a guy came riding right up beside me.  He's at many races.  He usually paints his whole body.  This day he just had pumpkins painted on his legs and he had on a shirt and jacket because it was cold. 😁  Anyway, he rides up to me and says, "man they are going to have to pave that road or someone is going to die on that hill.".   I told him I couldn't agree more because my heart was still racing. 😅  I'm sure to those that have been riding non-stop the hill was nothing... but for this scared cat... all hills frighten me since my wreck especially! 🙅

Saw this at one of the aid stations:

By mile 52 or so I was so ready to be done.  I was over the wind.  It was a beautiful day.   The sun was shinning so pretty, but I also missed my friends! I had no riding partners for the day.  When I saw that finish line I wanted to dance. 😀

Not a bad time for someone that hasn't been really riding for time this year.  I actually hadn't been on my bike for months because my 2020 goal was to focus on my running and then COVID hit and canceled all my races.  So I started back riding some around August.  I was pleased I survived the ride with no injuries. 🙏😀

They did not have the normal "social" time after the ride.  They gave us a hamburger in a box and asked that we not gather.  We even had to wear a mask to go get our burger.  😷😷And man that Burger was sooooo good on my drive home! 

Let's just say I was pooped by the time I drove home! 😩  So longest bike ride of 2020 done!  I doubt I ride anything over that b4 year end. 😛

I was super excited to actually be at an EVENT!  You could feel the excitement from everyone also as we rode.  People were smiling and talking about how good it felt to be doing something that felt normal again. 😍  I know we have a long way to go with this COVID, but I'm happy some things are starting to turn around.  I know for the bigger races / events, it's going to take time before they let them return.  I was just thinking about the NYC marathon that I ran a couple years ago.  It had like 50,000 runners.  They aren't going to let that size race happen until they know more about this COVID or have a vaccine in my opinion.   I know God has a plan and we must trust that in the end this will all work out for his good. 🙏🙏🙏💓💓