Well, the Hotter Than Hell 100 in Wichita Falls was an experience I won't soon forget. I completed the 100 miles but it was a struggle due to a flat tire at the 83-mile mark. Since it tied for the hottest HHH in history I feel a special pride not just completing the course but doing so with severe adversity.
The ride was an amazing experience from so many aspects. The organization was awesome. From the start to the finish one had to marvel at the job the HHH staff and volunteers do. Each rest stop was well equipped with water, Powerade, fruit and disposable ice water towelettes. You could not help but be refreshed. Each stop also had a medical portion with cots and medical staff. And did those facilities get used!!!!!
I saw many a rider stretched out on cots waiting for revival or a ride back to Wichita Falls. For me the ride started out well as we took off at 730 exactly--a logistical miracle. I had found Andy Kathan from the club to ride with the first 10 miles or so which helped since Andy is a HHH veteran. We saw remnants of a couple of crashes early in the route. It was easy to see how accidents could happen since we were so tightly packed for the first 20 miles or so. But despite occasional slowdowns, we kept a pretty good pace. I looked for riders who were riding at about my speed but somehow I was either passing riders or being passed. But every chance I got I rode on someone's wheel conserving energy. Oh, I got a few riders on my wheel, too, as they were also hoping for help along the way.
Feeling good, I passed the first rest stop at 10 miles, then the second at 20 and so on all the way to 60 miles! I was pleased with riding at about 19 mph for the first 60 miles. I was absolutely on track for a great ride. I was wise and put on more sunscreen at the rest stop and re-filled my water bottles with Powerade and H2O. Off I went for the next 10 miles and then stopped again repeating the process of sunscreen and refilling water bottles. Then I started feeling REAL good and began passing riders who were beginning to fade in the 90+ temperatures. I stopped at the 80-mile rest stop and was amazed how good I felt. However, the wind was now in our faces making progress much slower.
But at the 83-mile mark, much to my chagrin, I flatted out. No problem, however, since I had TWO spare inner tubes. But the first one I put in had a bad stem leak. So, I took it out and tried my second spare, testing it before I put it in the tire. It had two holes--Lord knows where they came from. I was in trouble now. My 20-minute ordeal in the sun began to take its toll but I decided to put the original tube back on since it had the slowest leak...re-filled it and rode about a mile. It went down by then so I pumped it up again and rode a mile...pumped it up again and rode a mile...until finally, I arrived at the 90-mile rest stop. I bought an inner tube from a gal there...rested a moment under the tent...put the tube in...pumped it up (by now my arms were tired from this action) and rode off. Three miles down the road this tube began to leak so I pulled over and re-filled it. Two more miles down the road I refilled it again and kept going. I was tempted to "sag" back Wichita Falls since I was getting exhausted from riding and pumping but kept saying "just a little farther."
Finally, at the final rest stop four miles from the finish, I took a few minutes to clear my mind and cool down before heading down the final stretch. The last rest stop featured cheerleaders yelling, "Only four more miles..." They will never know how much they helped my tired mind focus.
Three miles from the finish I knew I would make it even if I had to ride on the rims or walk my bike in and that fact recharged me. Despite a half-filled tire and weary arms that were shaking, I rode up the final hill and then into the downtown area where I could see the finish line banner. I was so relieved. Galen and Eric from the club were there to see me finish, applauding the effort. I laid my bike down and headed to the refreshment tent for something to drink and some fruit. Then I joined Eric and Galen waiting for other club members to finish.
It was while I was waiting there I realized that hundreds more riders were coming in. We waited 45 minutes for a final club member to come through noticing the stream of riders continuing to file through to the finish line. Despite my travails I had actually finished before hundreds and hundreds of other riders. Riding back to the motel we passed a Holiday Inn where the temperature read 106! While beginning the drive home a few minutes later, my car thermometer read 103! Take your pick.
Arriving home I went to the Internet and found that the course had been closed at the 60-mile point an hour or so after went through due to the severe heat index which tied the all-time HHH record. I had no idea it had been so hot.
I can't wait for next year. I learned a few things about preparation that should help me do better. But I certainly am pleased to have finished the ride. It was the hardest thing I have ever done.