Miracle Hill cycling challenge

10th annual miracle Hill Cycling challenge Saturday June 7, 2014 This is a ride that maybe should not have been done. My mom was visiting from Indiana and wanted to spend time with her and yet also had been training and thinking of doing this ride since last years ride. So obsessed with these "challenges". Must try to finish with or before Doug. Last year Doug beat me. I thought that it would help motivate me to finish as fast as possible with her at the finish.  So with her encouragement we drove over to Furman with no time to spare that morning. Got my stuff from the registration table and headed to the bathroom. Changed into my "kit". Hincapie bib shorts, jersey, socks. Ready to roll after putting on lots of sunscreen.  After brief prayer and instructions from Doug we started at 7:02 am. I pushed ahead to faster groups. Thought I might have caught the fastest group. Had to breakaway from other group to bridge up on Hunts Bridge Road.  Started the Ceasars Head climb with Rob Dempsey. I felt Doug was not too far back, but no idea.  CH climb in under 43 minutes. Not too fast or too slow. Was at the reststop about 9 minutes (too long) trying to wait for a group to leave.  I left with Rob after his very quick stop. Just as I pulled out onto 276,  Doug came by and didn't stop. I offered him a gel.  I chased after Rob on the downhill and we pulled ahead of "Deisel Doug".  We rode together a while thenTrey Ingram went by with Bryan someone and I hooked onto them. A 3 man train. we pushed hard (them mainly) until almost Brevard. We caught two more.  Onto east fork road.  I stop for nature break for 90-120 seconds. Rob and some others ride by. I'm alone now and 90 seconds behind Rob's group. At the infamous Walnut Hollow climb I see Rob ahead. Sad face painted on the road - a very hard steep climb. I ride very hard and caught Rob before the summit. Smiley face.  Onto US 178 and the Church reststop  I dilute my bottles of strong Gatorade. Off again after 2 minutes.  178 solo pretty much the whole way. The day is heating up. Im Worn out. I increase my calories by drinking and eating a gel and starting a Powerbar. Cookies too. Right before SC 11 2 riders pass me. I hang on. A guy in a GE kit is one of them.  Manage to cling to them, but cant help pull but a very short way.  At Pumpkintown they drop me, but I  try to keep them in sight. Miracle Hill Children's Home stop is next. More Watermelon to eat and more water to my Gatorade. A few minutes there as Ms. Chris explains the homes and children there.  I'm Feeling better. I ride with Trey and Bryan and Blake. I tell Blake my back is hurting and I'm tired. He says " You were climbing like an old guy". I say "I am". He says your 30 something right?  No 50. What? Wow!  That felt pretty good  Getting hot now. Glad it isn't up to 90 or more. There is more and more climbs!  I take it easy.  I pull away at some point knowing we are about 10 miles from the finish. I can start to go full steam. Finish strong as they say.  Just before 1 pm cross the finish line. 5 hours 52 minutes or so. I was glad it was not 100 miles and I wasn't going to ride 4 extra miles to make it so.  96 miles and 8,000 plus feet of climbing was enough.  About 5 minutes later Rob comes in and then Doug a few after that. Sat at a table under tent with mom and began to eat a big meal of great sandwiches and soda and chips. We talked. Doug's wife Barb and some friends joined us. a great end to another great day.  Days afterward an email said the event raised $190,000 for the needy.