I couldn't have picked a more horrendous day to attempt a record. The rain was torrential, visibility was poor, and the wind was blowing from the southeast at a sustained 30 mph. It felt like I climbed a 104-mile mountain. There were even times that I felt as if my bike and I had become a kite, ready to be launched at any second.

On October 8 we left Sharon, CT close to dawn anticipating a wet and chilly day. I was dressed for the occasion, rain gear, reflector vest, and a well taped, well lit bike. I started pedaling in Sharon at the border of Amenia, NY, heading out Route 343 and in short order reaching Route 4. My day started with an immediate four-mile climb out of Sharon. I knew this climb existed, I knew it was going to be a bear, and I should've warmed up a bit. But it was raining hard and it was just chilly enough that I just could not imagine that extra 10 minutes.

At the end of that climb there was a wet, leaf covered, windy, steep and equally long descent. I was met with strong head and crosswinds. Visibility was limited. It was raining sideways. I quickly accepted this would be one of those conservative rides. I realized just miles into the day that descents were going to be a problem, and this was a very hilly route.

I spent the day looking forward to various parts of the route. I was pleasantly surprised coming into Hartford on Route 44 on the west side of the city. Almost everyone stopped to cheer me on! What struck me as funny was that they had no clue why I was riding, just that it was pouring buckets and there I was in a pair of shorts with messages written all over my legs in indelible ink.

I had dedicated my record attempt to my friend's six-year old son who had died a week earlier of cancer. The evening before the ride she and her family had covered my legs in prayers. I must have looked important, ridiculous, or both. The smells of jerk chicken and rice and peas permeated the air in this neighborhood, warming the soul as much as the encouragement did. It was heavenly, and it made me really hungry!

When I planned the route I neglected to check on the event schedule in Hartford. My planned route was impassable due to a marathon! I was really upset about that, but there was nothing I could do. The Founder's Bridge was closed to all traffic including pedestrians and bicycles. The only way across the Connecticut River was by car on Interstate 84. I was ferried over the bridge and deposited at the end of the first exit ramp.

I dreamed all day long about the frogs I would see in Willimantic, and given the weather I felt like they were preparing me for arrival. In Torrington, I saw my first frog leap across my path, this occurred several more times during the day. In Bolton (pee stop) I was elated to finally start seeing signs with mileage to Willimantic making the town seem like it was just around the corner. < Pee stops, were as much of a challenge as the wind and rain. My shorts felt like they were literally glued on. >

Shortly after this point my crew started giving me the phone messages that were coming in. My friends and family were very concerned about me riding in the unbelievable conditions. My husband was at the Manhattan Invitational Cross Country meet, half expecting the worst, but all along believing in me. My son and daughter were both running and I got news of PR's and medals. About this time I also heard from one of the kids that I coach in speed skating. Andrew and his father Dan proudly dubbed me Rainwoman.

I was riding this attempt as a prayer for Jimmy Arena, and at one point, I found myself not only thinking about him and his family, but talking to him. At the same moment I felt as if I needed to quiet that voice in my head and just listen. I was greeted by thousands of little birds in the trees lining the road for the next four miles, they were singing. How wonderfully beautiful it was. They were so loud, much louder than the rain, or the wind, or even the traffic.

On to Willimantic, three quarters of the way across Connecticut. I had prepared my crew for the trip through this town by giving them an Art History lesson, which was tucked inconspicuously into their route sheets. I also gave them a quiz about the public sculptures and the history of the town's obsession with frogs. Later in the evening at dinner with friends and family, they howled at the thought of me not letting go of teaching art, not even for a minute.

Shortly after turning onto 14A, I started to feel really cold. I stopped to change into warmer clothes, my crew fetched me something hot to eat, and I tried to make the best of the last 20 miles. I was chilled on the climbs and frozen on the descents. The wind picked up and seemed to tug at my bike even more than before. I actually went anaerobic on five of the descents in the last part of the ride, as the wind had turned the down hills into unbelievably tough climbs. This was the longest 20 miles I have ever ridden in my life, though that hot pizza was really good.

I had originally planned a double-crossing of Rhode Island immediately following this attempt. When I reached the CT/RI border, I was showing obvious signs of hypothermia: headache, uncontrollable shivering, gray skin, etc. and the weather prediction was unchanged. The UMCA official and my crew had decided that they would not be part of an unsafe record attempt and would not let me continue. < I was easily convinced to stop. I was so cold > We ended the day at the Rhode Island border on route 14A, only eight inches of rain later.

I found learned a great deal about perseverance that day. It was the most difficult 104 miles I have ever ridden. Looking back I learned what I needed to learn because of the conditions. Had it been a sunny day I may have missed some of those lessons.

Special thanks to Jay Silverstein and Tamar Lax (my crew) and Bud Eichorn (UMCA official) for watching out for me during this waterfall of a day, regardless of the endless frog references. Thanks to my family who have put up with my antics on the bike for what seems like an eternity. Fred Boethling, you deserve special thanks for putting up with the endless questions and e-mails. It would not have been the same without any piece of this puzzle.

Official record: 103.3 miles, 8 hours 49 minutes, 11.72 mph
Start: SH 343 at CT/NY state line west of Sharon, CT
Finish: SH 14A at the CT/RI state line west of Greene, RI