Hotter "N" Hell Hundred

"It's HHH week-end, short for Hotter "N" Hell Hundred Bike Ride held each year on the last weekend of August in Wichita Falls, Texas. HHH stands for riding a bike (or roller blades) for 100 miles in 100 degree temperatures. August in Wichita Falls is typically in the 100's but there have been times when they have dipped into the 90's. I've heard tell of a past ride (before I started participating) when a Norther blew in and temps got way down to really cold. Hard to imagine that. This year the temps were in the low 90's; the headlines in the local paper was "Milder N Hell." The event includes racing, criteriums, and time trials for the pros. The recreational ride includes anyone else interested in riding 25, 50, 65, or 100 miles. Some of the participants are in great condition, the majority are in so-so shape, and others seem to do it on a while, like I did my first time. There is always a 2-day expo where one can purchase all kinds of bicycle related goods. Outside are various vendors selling food, drinks, goodies plus there are bands playing throughout the day.

I have been participating in HHH for the past 16 consecutive years. Prior to that my first time was (and I'm guessing) in 1989 when I went with my boys and their dad to cheer them on. My eldest son convinced me I could ride 25 miles and since I had my bike and riding shorts, I thought "why not?" I did not consider that I didn't have a way to carry a water bottle or that I had never done a 25 mile ride, my furthest distance probably being less than a mile. Since ES suggested I do the ride, he took it as his responsibility to ride with me in spite of my "snail's" pace, and he shared his water bottle with me.

Let me tell you, it was a miserable ride! Weather was very hot with an equally hot wind blowing in our faces for the entire ride. What with getting a late start and the strong wind on top of my snail's pace, we got to all the rest stops just as they were closing. We were lucky to get something to drink and get our one water bottle filled. I finally reached the point where I pulled off the road, got off the bike, flopped down on the side of the road, and told ES to go on without me, I would wait for the SAG wagon. He tried to encourage me to go on but I believe that he was happy to finally be rid of me so he could ride a faster pace. Sag wagon after sag wagon passed me by, fully loaded. That is when I realized I would have to get to the finish on my own power. As I was preparing to get back on my bike, ES, his dad, and #2 son arrived on their bikes to escort me to the finish line. With effort, I finished. I was beat but pleased that I had finished.

About two or three years later we moved to Austin where I worked with a trainer to get me in shape to ride 50 miles. I went back to HHH with the boys and their dad, rode the 50 miles much easier than I had the 25 mile route plus had energy to spare at the end. At one rest stop I met up with ES and his friend and they were so surprised to see me. Guess I showed them that Mom was not a wimp.

I don't know what it is about the HHH that keeps me coming back year after year. I introduced my friend, Mark, to the ride and this was his 12th year. When Allen and I got married, he started going with me and this was his 8th year to ride. There have been a couple other folks we've taken along on this trip but it didn't take with them.

This ride has become a tradition for us. Not only is the ride a tradition but the things that go along with the ride. We always leave on a Thursday morning after Mark picks up the green chile to take to the Murphy's where we stay. Green chile bagels are my contribution to our hosts. Allen brings the wine. We arrive in Burkburnett about dinner time and always stop for chicken fried steak with the works. Lately we've been going to The Feed Lot for our steak but before that we went to a different place that has since closed down. The last time we were at that one, it was karoke night. We endured the "entertainment" while we ate our meal. Now it's tradition to say, "I sure miss the karoke" even though we really don't. Our fuel stop both for the car and for us is the Love's on the east end of Amarillo. They have everything that one could possibly want as well as a Subway where we get our lunch. Friday always includes a 20 mile warm-up ride to adjust to the heat/wind/road conditions. This one is not always my favorite tradition. Friday is also when Cathy Murphy prepares a big pasta meal for us.

The ride is always held on Saturday with a starting time of 7:05. Someone sings the National Anthem, the Air Force jets do a fly-over, and the cannon blasts it's big boom to start the ride. There are so many participants at this event that it takes almost an hour before everyone crosses the start line. It's a case of pedal half a stroke, then tap the ground with the other foot. It's impossible to start off pedaling until one gets past the start line and over the bridge just a bit down the road.

The city of Wichita Falls does a wonderful job of hosting this event. The entire city seems to be involved including residents who line up along the route to cheer the riders. All road intersections have someone to stop traffic for the cyclists. Every route, whether 25, 50, 65, or 100 miles has a fully stocked rest stop that is sponsored by different organizations or business's from the city. Many of the stops will have a theme such as Margaritaville, or Dog Patch, or some such thing, with lots of friendly staffers to serve the cyclists. Refreshments always include bananas, oranges, water, and power drink. Many also supplement with extras such as cookies, melons, pineapples, hot dogs, pretzels, pickles, and sodas. All the rest stops are also fully staffed with a medical team that watches every rider for signs of heat stroke or other problems. If they even suspect a health issue they will pull the rider into the tent to check them out. They make the determination as to whether a cyclist can continue or not.

And I can't say enough good things about our wonderful hosts, John and Cathy Murphy, whom I have known since I was 14. They open their house to us every year. Not just to us but to anyone that wants to come with us. They also have three grown children that will sometimes do the ride and bring their friends along. Before I realized that they lived so close to Wichita Falls, we would always leave from Dallas at 3 a.m. to get to the ride and then we would snooze in the car or on the ground. Finding the Murphy's again in Burkburnett has been a blessing that makes our week-end so much nicer.

Not only does this event have traditions, it also has many memories. There are so many of them like the night it was raining so hard that we had to find a place in Claude with an overhang to wait out the storm. It was too damp and hot to snooze while waiting and I had to so badly go to the bathroom. Then there was Childresss where we used to stop in the WalMart parking lot to take a short nap before going on and again it was so hot and the semi's with the same idea were so noisy and smelly that I threatened to check into a motel. And another time returning from the ride, the passenger side window imploded. Still don't know what caused it.

Often during the months prior to HHH I will tell myself that I really don't want to go again. But the closer it gets to August, the more I start to look forward to the week-end. Now it's not so much about the ride. In the past, I've done every distance there is to do, but now I just settle for the 25 mile and do it as fast as I can. The fun of the weekend is in the people that go with me, the Murphy's, the events, the traditions, and the memories of times past. We'll be back next year, and hopefully for several years after.