{"id":230,"date":"2018-11-01T13:39:41","date_gmt":"2018-11-01T13:39:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/chrisdonlon.com\/?p=230"},"modified":"2018-11-02T03:50:44","modified_gmt":"2018-11-02T03:50:44","slug":"giro-di-san-diego","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chrisdonlon.com\/index.php\/2018\/11\/01\/giro-di-san-diego\/","title":{"rendered":"Giro Di San Diego 2018 – ride report"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mesa Grande Century route – 105 miles, 10,000+ elevation gain
\nFinish time: 07:13:22.36
\nPlace: 20th of 111<\/p>\n

This was my first organized ride and it turns out that I picked a good one. Some veteran cyclists I spoke with afterward discussed the number of other \u201cGran Fondo\u201d rides they\u2019ve done and how this was one of, if not the most challenging they had ever completed. Without much to compare it to, I still concur… it was hard.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Giro Di San Diego Mesa Grande Century<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I tried to keep telling myself that it was a \u201cride,\u201d not a race. But I still let my competitive nature and inexperience take me out too fast too soon. I tried to push the pace up the toughest climb of the day, Palomar South Grade road, which came really early in the route. At the top I still had almost 75 miles to go.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Hanging on with the lead pack at sunrise<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Unfortunately, I had climbed Palomar with the Endurance House team the week prior and my lower back was still tight from that ride (my back tends to lock up\/spasm on long climbs). So by mile 20 of 105 I was in enough pain that I had to adjust my position on the bike in search of relief every few minutes for the rest of the day. At the first aid station at Palomar\u2019s summit, I actually considered turning around and completing one of the shorter routes. But instead, I began using the mantra of the day, \u201cI am anti-quit\u201d (a slogan from a triathlon apparel company T-shirt I ordered the day before so it was fresh in my mind), and headed down the East Grade descent.<\/p>\n

The East Grade descent was a road cyclist\u2019s wet dream; 10 miles of smooth, winding down-hill roads full of fun, but not-too-dangerous technical turns and minimal car traffic. With speeds over 45 mph, the joyride was over too soon but it was well worth the pain of the preceding climb to get there.<\/p>\n

Back onto the main highway near Lake Henshaw, I had a nice conversation about power meters with a rider from Ventura. But then he promptly dropped me on the next big hill heading into Mesa Grande, so for the next 20 miles I mostly only heard wind through my helmet and my inner voice telling my legs and back to quit whining and try to enjoy the undulating back country roads and scenery I would likely have never otherwise experienced.<\/p>\n

At about mile 80, heading down the beginning section of the morning\u2019s South Grade climb, I felt good knowing I\u2019d soon be on the final 25 mile homestretch moving toward the finish line. But then, as I followed the directional signs to turn off the highway onto Cole Grade Road, I lift my eyes and realize why \u201cgrade\u201d is in the road\u2019s name. The long, straight section I am on pitches skyward up the side of cliffy mountain I never knew existed. The climb is about 3 miles of 7% grade with an elusive summit that hides behind several long blind curves.<\/p>\n

I soft pedal for a minute to take it in, and muster the required determination, before putting my head down and charging toward the hill. My legs surprise me and, although reluctant, seem to be able to handle the task. I pass several other riders from the shorter distance routes, some of whom are walking their bikes. Several times, especially at the discouraging bits that give the sense you\u2019ve reached the top only to laugh at your pain and serve more hill, I thought these walkers might be onto something. But \u201cAnti-Quit\u201d kept tamping out those thoughts and I kept pedaling.<\/p>\n

I finally get to the water station at the summit and call Melissa to ready the cheer squad because the last 18 miles should take me about 30 minutes, if all goes well. The rest of the ride progressively transitioned from remotely rural to urban and was mostly downhill with a few manageable rolling inclines. The final challenges were to negotiate the pain and embarrassment of paralyzing leg cramps while stopped at intersections, but I managed to power through without blocking traffic and make my way to the finish in about 6 hours and 40 minutes of ride time (official time minus stops to stretch and refill water bottles).<\/p>\n

\"\"
Cheer squad assembled<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Pain always fades in retrospect, so today I can say it was a good ride, even though my back is still very sore. It was also very educational; I learned I need to be more specific in my nutrition and hydration plans for anything longer than 70 miles. But I’m proud of the finish and glad that I could bolster my confidence in my ability to go the long distance.<\/p>\n

\"\"
my face says lets do it again, my body does not agree<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Mesa Grande Century route – 105 miles, 10,000+ elevation gain Finish time: 07:13:22.36 Place: 20th of 111 This was my first organized ride and it turns out that I picked a good one. Some veteran cyclists I spoke with afterward discussed the number of other \u201cGran Fondo\u201d rides they\u2019ve done and how this was one… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":233,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/chrisdonlon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/img_0600.jpg","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9IVlY-3I","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":202,"url":"https:\/\/chrisdonlon.com\/index.php\/2018\/09\/02\/palomar\/","url_meta":{"origin":230,"position":0},"title":"Palomar Century ride - training report","date":"September 2, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"About 20 years ago, when I lived in Fallbrook and drove a Jeep, I used to drive my jeep up to Palomar Mountain and find dirt fire-roads and trails along the way to justify owning a 4x4 in rural Southern California. One time, somewhere amongst the 12 miles of switchbacks\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "life is life"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/chrisdonlon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/img_0437.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":160,"url":"https:\/\/chrisdonlon.com\/index.php\/2018\/05\/29\/memorial-day-ride\/","url_meta":{"origin":230,"position":1},"title":"A Fall for the Fallen; Memorial day ride","date":"May 29, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"I realize I have some catching up to do on this blog so I'll try to do it quickly. After the Spring Sprint, I took it fairly easy for a week and then tried to get back into my training but was still pretty sore and tight. On a lunchtime\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Triathlon"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/chrisdonlon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/CrashDiagram-1017x1024.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":247,"url":"https:\/\/chrisdonlon.com\/index.php\/2018\/12\/13\/newport-dunes-2018\/","url_meta":{"origin":230,"position":2},"title":"Newport Dunes Triathlon 2018 - Race Report","date":"December 13, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"November 4, 2018 Olympic Distance Official Time: 02:16:251500m Swim: 00:23:10T1: 00:01:3640k Bike: 01:04:51T2: 00:01:2410k Run: 00:45:24Overall: 9th of 18335-39 AG: 3rd of 24 I\u2019m 2 races behind on my blog now, so I\u2019ll try to be brief to get through them both. I came into Newport Dunes with very low\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Triathlon"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/chrisdonlon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/img_0641.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":152,"url":"https:\/\/chrisdonlon.com\/index.php\/2018\/05\/07\/spring-sprint-2018\/","url_meta":{"origin":230,"position":3},"title":"Spring Sprint 2018 Race Report","date":"May 7, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Spring Sprint Triathlon 2018 - Sprint Distance South Shores Park, Mission Bay Spring Sprint is one of the few races I have participated in several times and, although the bike course seems to change every year, I know the course well and can gauge my performance goals and expectations pretty\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Triathlon"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/chrisdonlon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/img_0252-1024x1024.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":172,"url":"https:\/\/chrisdonlon.com\/index.php\/2018\/06\/27\/sdit-2018\/","url_meta":{"origin":230,"position":4},"title":"San Diego International Triathlon 2018 race report","date":"June 27, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"After my last sprint race, I pulled a calf muscle as described in previous posts. I stopped running for about 4 weeks to let it heal but then as I eased back into it, I stepped on some uneven terrain and re-injured the day before spending nearly 25 hours in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Triathlon"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/chrisdonlon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/img_0370-1024x1024.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":302,"url":"https:\/\/chrisdonlon.com\/index.php\/2019\/06\/08\/oc-triathlon-2019\/","url_meta":{"origin":230,"position":5},"title":"OC Triathlon 2019 - race report","date":"June 8, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Official Time: 02:36:061.5k Swim: 00:33:03T1: 00:01:5040k Bike: 01:11:02T2: 00:02:1210k Run: 00:48:02Overall: 48th of 41635-39 AG: 2nd of 30 In 2014, after completing my third sprint distance race and getting completely hooked on the sport, I decided it was time to do a longer event. 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