A century ride (100 miles) is the cycling world’s version of the marathon: You’ll need to train with intention, ensure your nutrition regimen is dialed in, and you’ll probably suffer a little bit. Or a lot. But, like a marathon, if you commit yourself to the work, you will successfully complete a century with a smile (grimace?) on your face.
This year is an all-new route that runs south to Puyallup, then cuts west to Tacoma and follows Puget Sound north to Seattle. It offers a number of decent climbs and a little over 4000 feet of elevation. Hill training will need to be part of your training regimen so you can tackle the hills and have something left for dancing at the finish line party.
Checkout the course details at the Obliteride website, and start thinking about a training plan for the next three months. The Obliteride-recommended plan is below, but it doesn’t have a lot of detail for planning for your first century. Here are some other resources you might find a little more useful:
- Bicycling Magazine’s 8-Week Century Training Plan – Three rides a week for two months! It’s a well-rounded strategy that includes basic nutrition and hydration guidance. (Thanks Peter T for the suggestion!)
- Shape’s Beginner Century Plan – General guidance on planning a training strategy. It’s a little less prescriptive, but includes more details on cross-training, flexibility, and other tangential training aspects.
- Active.com’s Guide to Century Rides – A collection of informative articles including training plans, nutrition information, and tips for century rookies.
