Frances Wade works, studies, and plays in Washington, D.C. She pursues her passion for preserving history at the White House Office of Records Management by day, studies law at The George Washington University Law School by night, and bikes whenever she can find the time. First introduced to road biking a year and a half ago, Frances completed her first century in May 2010 and is currently training for the Back Roads Century on Sept. 19. Biking has helped Frances find perspective in an otherwise hectic and overscheduled life. She hopes her story will encourage other women to make time for exercise/recreational athletics—she thinks they will be happier if they did.

The Challenge
Who: Frances Wade
What: Back Roads Century–100 mike bike ride with 4,500 feet of elevation
Where: Shenandoah Valley, Virginia
When: Sunday, September 19, 2010
Why: To prove that I can handle a full-time job and part-time law school without sacrificing my love for biking and the sanity it provides and encourage other women to make time for exercise
How: One hill at a time!

When my friend Hannah asked if I wanted to ride a century this fall, I enthusiastically yelled yes! I had to yell. She was at least two bike lengths ahead of me as I fell off the end of the paceline we were cruising with, exhausted from pushing to keep up with the 23 mph pace for the last 10 miles. My lungs burned from my turn at the front of the line “pulling” the single file line of riders, each nestled up to the wheel in front to cut wind resistance. Hannah dropped off and slowed her pace until I could catch up. The paceline disappeared around a curve. Gasping between words, I cried “That was awesome!” My legs screamed, muscles I didn’t even know I had cramped, I was loving it.

I finished the 56 Mile Eagleman Ironman Course that day at Cambridge, Maryland’s Six Pillars Ride. I had planned to ride the full 100 mile course, but learned the hard way that pushing too hard early into a ride is not smart cycling. Joining the paceline squashed my goal of finishing my first century, but I shrugged off the disappointment quickly. The next time I attempted a century I would be wiser. I would not be nervous about what to expect. Next time, I would finish. I went home and signed my boyfriend and cyclist, Asher, and myself up for the next century I could find in the D.C. area.

Seven days later, we rode up to the start line of Richmond, Virginia’s Cap2Cap Century. Was I better prepared for riding 100 miles than I was a week ago? I certainly hoped so. The first 50 miles were a breeze. The course led us through gorgeous Virginia countryside. Red barns and budding crops decorated the landscape as we whizzed by. Signs pointed out Civil War landmarks. I was having the time of my life. At the 50 mile rest stop, I fought off the first pangs of panic. The lunch that was supposed to be there had not arrived. We fueled up quickly on what we could scavenge–blue Powerade and bananas–and continued on to the next rest stop where the ride organizers confirmed more food awaited. We rode off heading west, back toward Richmond.

If the first 50 miles were a metaphorical breeze, the second 50 were a literal one. But, it would be an understatement to say that the second 50 miles were breezy. The way I remember it, gale force winds would be an understatement. We rode the 50 miles back to Richmond with the strongest head wind I have ever experienced on a bike. We yelled in order to hear each other over the whipping wind in on ears. We pedaled as hard as we could and moved at a snail’s pace. We laughed at each other’s faces and arms that were so coated with the blowing pollen that we looked jaundiced. At mile 75, I became so frustrated with the wind I thought I might cry. At mile 85, I did.

The last 20 miles of the ride were grueling. The exhilaration I felt riding the first 50 was a distant memory and I just wanted to stop. But surprising even myself, I kept pedaling. I found motivation in passing stronger riders. I silently cheered myself on as I passed accomplished century riders with tree trunk legs on gear that easily cost four times my own. I thanked every god I could think of for Asher’s hand on my back as he pushed me up the final hills toward the ride’s end. The support van passed hauling riders who had given up on the ride, I stared straight ahead.

I finished my first century in just under 7 hours. Certainly not a record-breaking finish, but a triumph nonetheless. I celebrated with a burger and a beer before collapsing into the car for the drive home. I called Hannah to tell her I had done it and when she asked if I was still up for a century in the fall, I have to admit that I hesitated. Riding a century was hard, really hard. And yet…

Here I am, three months later and ready to tackle the Back Roads Century. This ride will be even harder than my first. Back Roads is much hillier than the Cap2Cap course, and I am not a strong climber. Asher will not be joining me on this ride and so I cannot rely on his tree trunk legs to help power up the hills. Training for this ride will also be tougher. Not only do I need to get in good miles around my job, but this time I will also be riding around my class schedule as I start part-time law school in less than two weeks.

The challenge is set, the registration paid. Follow me for the next 38 days as I trade in my high heels for bike wheels and train for the Back Roads Century. I aim to prove that making time for athletics is not only doable, but oh so essential.