I don’t know how well I’ve managed to keep this secret but…

On Monday 11th July 2011 I was one of 7000 riders to do the first Acte of this year’s Etape. 109km, including the Telegraphe, Galibier and Alpe d’Huez. It was very hot, and very hard, but I did it :).

Should you be feeling bemused, I really didn’t tell anyone I didn’t have to that I was doing it. Hubby, the kids, my folks and bro’. My doctor, my sports physio, the most totally invaluable and essential Andrew (pit crew extraordinaire), my ride partner L2P Kevin (obviously!) and because they guessed (partially because I had to borrow Simon’s amazing bike box), George and Simon at the last minute. It’s not personal, I just didn’t want to have it be a big deal or to make a big fuss about it. The thought of announcing what I’d done only once I’d done it appealed to me so…that’s exactly what I did.

There will be more to follow soon, but my ride time was 7:05 with an avs of 15.9kph and a total length of 114km. My official time is 7:32 (with the 20mins knocked off due to a traffic jam). In my category of 188 old ladies (*grin*) I was 121st. And out of the 6461 finishers I was 5345th. Facts and figures to juggle with. Considering there were only 281 women all told, even turning up is pretty impressive! I will blog all the details when I’m home again. But I set myself a goal, and I achieved it and, not to put too fine a point on it, I ROCK! Hubby says I’m the awesomeist person he knows *grin*.