Prior to the start all WCS (world championship solo) racers were supposed to check in at the timing tables then line up according to number. Well me trying to be smart get my number backwards because I was thinking of the numbers as seeds not numbers so I miss my call out. The only real thing I missed out on was running from the tent to the start line in front of all the spectators, although there is a little Glory factor that goes along with that.
The race started in Lemons style. We promptly started running up hill and back around to the start for about 400 meters then went into a parade lap up hill again for about a half mile then through the timing tent to start the first lap.
The ground for the start was rocky and loose so I decided to take it easy and just jog the whole thing. With all those people and uneven ground it just seemed like a recipe for disaster and sure enough as soon as I had this thought a guy right next to me turns his ankle and hits the ground and 4 people run him over and hit the ground too. Close call.
I finish the loop but dont look around to see what spot Im in. I have to race my race. I grab my bike and the traffic jam instantly starts and I hear a few people grumble about it because they ran so hard but theyre in the same spot as people who took it easy, HaHa!
Once on the bikes we start heading up hill. The parade lap took a really sharp turn upwards and some people just jumped off and started walking, not really a bad strategy but they could have at least looked around or warned the people around them because they we starting even more traffic jams. At the top of the lap the trail went down sharply then back to the timing tent.
Back through the timing tent the first lap actually started. Out through the parking lot and down a very long steep open field, during the winter Im sure its a ski slope. I clock 33mph without pedaling. It was pretty crazy because lots of people were braking hard going down it but I was just letting it go even though there were some pallet bridge water crossing type things that I would catch a little air off of when going over them. At the bottom the trial took a hard right and the traffic started backing way up again because they made a bridge specifically for this event and only 1 person could cross at a time. Then it went into the riverbed, which was wet, and slick then steeply back up the other side of the bank on another bridge, most everybody was walking backing the whole group up.
Then the trail opened up onto a wide jogging path that was hard packed ground with a pea gravel aggregate over the top a little sketchy but fast. I had changed out my rear tire before the race specifically for sections like these and it worked out well. Entering the single-track portion of the race there was a little outhouse off to the right of the trail, which I stopped at each lap, I was well hydrated during this race
The next section was fun and reminiscent of Comfort, some open rocky double track into nice tight single track. These sections were twisty and rocky with short climbs and nice steep short down hills they were fun to ride. The next section was a loamy twisty section and not too difficult but it opened up into the jogging track climbs. This section was quite long but had some fast flowie fun parts to it but mostly slow going climbing.
The rest of the trail was ok and switched back and forth between single and double track but nothing to technical and with moderate climbs. The final section began with a fun flowing downhill section that spit you out onto a paved road where you could grab some water and down some GU to prepare for the final climb of the race.
The last section was about 2.5 miles long and started with a STEEP climb then a short down hill that ended, for the regular racers back at the timing tent, but broke to the left for the WCS racers that went straight up a ski slope. This climb, after the prior brutal climb, for me was almost unrideable and part of my strategy to was to walk most sections to keep from blowing up. Then it ended in a crazy short section of technical, slick though single track with lots of roots and log drops. Double Black Diamond rated.
I was really excited to be racing on the first lap and was going way faster and harder than I ever expected. I got in a group and just got carried away even though in my mind I kept telling myself to Slow DOWN it just never really happened. The afternoon was mild and it was a perfect day for a race. Some of the people in the little groups I was riding with were all race and not talking but some were a bit chatty and we talk a little bit.
I ended the first lap in 1:35 which was way too fast considering we did the run and the parade lap but oh well Ill just try to focus on slowing down and getting into a groove.
On the second lap I put my headphones on and put some techno music on. No singing but lots of steady beats to pedal too. On this lap I kept a decent pace but going up the hills I could tell there would be no way to maintain the pace I had set even on this lap the trail is just too difficult. This was also a fast lap at 1:34 (end 3:09pm)
Into the pit area for my third lap Im starting to feel a little weak so I down a half a penutbutter and bagel sandwich and some GU. I dont know if it was the fact that Im used to racing in really hot weather but I was really drinking a LOT of water, way more than I should have been and I ended up with a bloated achy stomach. So I down some Tums too and start feeling a little better and out I go. This lap is a little slower and I dont feel all that strong but I do feel if I can get over the stomach thing that this would probably be the pace Id try to keep through out the race. Ends being a decent lap at 1:45 (4:54 pm)
Lap number 4 and 5 are kind of blurry to me and Im pretty sure this is where it happened but I came in and Beth asked me if I was having any bike problems and I said Yea the front derailleur is messing up and asked if she could take it over to a mechanic friend and have him look at it. She said yea and headed off while I took care of fueling up. It seemed like it was taking a long time so I headed out to find out what the problem was. When I get over there Beth says theres a problem and the guy proceeds to explain the problem. And I say Ok thanks while their just staring at me blankly and I grab the bike and head back over to the tent to get ready for my lap. I ask Beth to put out the word that we needed a part while I was out and that if she could find it I would of course pay for any expenses it would take to fix it. It was a decent lap including the TA at 2:05 (6:59)
When I came in for 5 Beth says shes found the part and the Mavic natural support guys could fix it so I say great head over there and get it done. This is where I kind of made a mistake. I was actually feeling ok and should have just jumped on Beths bike and headed out for a lap but I have never ridden her bike and its completely different than what Im used to and figured that if I could just wait and extra 5 minutes for mine Id be better off. But those 5 minutes turned in to 30 minutes and I sent a guy over to find out what the deal was and he came back and said their done that should just have to put a bolt in then shed be back over. 5 minutes later still no bike, I still should have, again, just jumped on Beths bike and went out but the thought of riding her bike was making me nervous so I headed over to the tent. The bike was still up on the rack and the part was not installed so I headed back to the teat to jump on Beths bike and went. More than 45 minutes had passed and including the 15 or so minutes from the prior stop I had about an hour or so off the bike off the trail. Big mistake.
I ride Beths bike timidly along the trail primarily because she has disk brakes that are WAY more sensitive than the ones I use and lock up easily causing some pensive moments throughout the lap. This was also my first night lap on this course for the race or any other time for that fact and it was intense but fun. Decent lap 2:03 (9:02)
The rest of the night laps are pretty much the same in my mind from now on out. I come in and my bike is ready so I get something to eat and switch out. Take a little extra time to warm up and fuel up. Im starting to ware down a little and its getting cold. For some reason at the end of this lap my light starts getting dim and thats a bad sign. My light only runs at full capacity if it starts to dim that means I only have a very short time before its out. It doesnt make sense that Im out because Im sure I havent used it for the full 4 hours yet but there is no arguing that fact with the light. Im walking the CLIMB OF DOOM now and dont need it so I just turn it off and walk hoping to have enough to last through the final section of single track. It doesnt last. The moment I get into the single track and turn it on it goes out. Lucky I have a mini-mag light in my camelbak (as required by the rules) and I walk most of this section because the light isnt bright enough to ride but I can at least see. I limp in considering myself lucky that the light didnt go out earlier in that lap, other wise I would have lost a lot of time.
I come in its now 11:18 and cold. Im tired and I cant eat. At this point my body doesnt want to ingest anything but Beth starts forcing me to eat, which is good but it takes a few minutes to settle down before I can actually do it.
Its a beautiful night clear and the moon is bright. At one of the open spots on top of the mountain I actually stop and try to take in all the scenery. People are starting to get a little worn out and I guess just want to talk a little. One of the first place women and I have a brief conversation about her bungholio and how bad it hurts. Then we talk about Beavis and Butthead for a short time. For the rest of that lap all I could think of was Beaviss Cornhilio character Are you threatening me? Need TP for my bunghole.
Another weird thing is that when the pros come up behind you most of the time they dont even have to say anything because their going so fast that they sound like a freight train plowing through the woods and you just know its someone fast. I usually immediately got off the trail to let those guys go by.
The race started in Lemons style. We promptly started running up hill and back around to the start for about 400 meters then went into a parade lap up hill again for about a half mile then through the timing tent to start the first lap.
The ground for the start was rocky and loose so I decided to take it easy and just jog the whole thing. With all those people and uneven ground it just seemed like a recipe for disaster and sure enough as soon as I had this thought a guy right next to me turns his ankle and hits the ground and 4 people run him over and hit the ground too. Close call.
I finish the loop but dont look around to see what spot Im in. I have to race my race. I grab my bike and the traffic jam instantly starts and I hear a few people grumble about it because they ran so hard but theyre in the same spot as people who took it easy, HaHa!
Once on the bikes we start heading up hill. The parade lap took a really sharp turn upwards and some people just jumped off and started walking, not really a bad strategy but they could have at least looked around or warned the people around them because they we starting even more traffic jams. At the top of the lap the trail went down sharply then back to the timing tent.
Back through the timing tent the first lap actually started. Out through the parking lot and down a very long steep open field, during the winter Im sure its a ski slope. I clock 33mph without pedaling. It was pretty crazy because lots of people were braking hard going down it but I was just letting it go even though there were some pallet bridge water crossing type things that I would catch a little air off of when going over them. At the bottom the trial took a hard right and the traffic started backing way up again because they made a bridge specifically for this event and only 1 person could cross at a time. Then it went into the riverbed, which was wet, and slick then steeply back up the other side of the bank on another bridge, most everybody was walking backing the whole group up.
Then the trail opened up onto a wide jogging path that was hard packed ground with a pea gravel aggregate over the top a little sketchy but fast. I had changed out my rear tire before the race specifically for sections like these and it worked out well. Entering the single-track portion of the race there was a little outhouse off to the right of the trail, which I stopped at each lap, I was well hydrated during this race
The next section was fun and reminiscent of Comfort, some open rocky double track into nice tight single track. These sections were twisty and rocky with short climbs and nice steep short down hills they were fun to ride. The next section was a loamy twisty section and not too difficult but it opened up into the jogging track climbs. This section was quite long but had some fast flowie fun parts to it but mostly slow going climbing.
The rest of the trail was ok and switched back and forth between single and double track but nothing to technical and with moderate climbs. The final section began with a fun flowing downhill section that spit you out onto a paved road where you could grab some water and down some GU to prepare for the final climb of the race.
The last section was about 2.5 miles long and started with a STEEP climb then a short down hill that ended, for the regular racers back at the timing tent, but broke to the left for the WCS racers that went straight up a ski slope. This climb, after the prior brutal climb, for me was almost unrideable and part of my strategy to was to walk most sections to keep from blowing up. Then it ended in a crazy short section of technical, slick though single track with lots of roots and log drops. Double Black Diamond rated.
I was really excited to be racing on the first lap and was going way faster and harder than I ever expected. I got in a group and just got carried away even though in my mind I kept telling myself to Slow DOWN it just never really happened. The afternoon was mild and it was a perfect day for a race. Some of the people in the little groups I was riding with were all race and not talking but some were a bit chatty and we talk a little bit.
I ended the first lap in 1:35 which was way too fast considering we did the run and the parade lap but oh well Ill just try to focus on slowing down and getting into a groove.
On the second lap I put my headphones on and put some techno music on. No singing but lots of steady beats to pedal too. On this lap I kept a decent pace but going up the hills I could tell there would be no way to maintain the pace I had set even on this lap the trail is just too difficult. This was also a fast lap at 1:34 (end 3:09pm)
Into the pit area for my third lap Im starting to feel a little weak so I down a half a penutbutter and bagel sandwich and some GU. I dont know if it was the fact that Im used to racing in really hot weather but I was really drinking a LOT of water, way more than I should have been and I ended up with a bloated achy stomach. So I down some Tums too and start feeling a little better and out I go. This lap is a little slower and I dont feel all that strong but I do feel if I can get over the stomach thing that this would probably be the pace Id try to keep through out the race. Ends being a decent lap at 1:45 (4:54 pm)
Lap number 4 and 5 are kind of blurry to me and Im pretty sure this is where it happened but I came in and Beth asked me if I was having any bike problems and I said Yea the front derailleur is messing up and asked if she could take it over to a mechanic friend and have him look at it. She said yea and headed off while I took care of fueling up. It seemed like it was taking a long time so I headed out to find out what the problem was. When I get over there Beth says theres a problem and the guy proceeds to explain the problem. And I say Ok thanks while their just staring at me blankly and I grab the bike and head back over to the tent to get ready for my lap. I ask Beth to put out the word that we needed a part while I was out and that if she could find it I would of course pay for any expenses it would take to fix it. It was a decent lap including the TA at 2:05 (6:59)
When I came in for 5 Beth says shes found the part and the Mavic natural support guys could fix it so I say great head over there and get it done. This is where I kind of made a mistake. I was actually feeling ok and should have just jumped on Beths bike and headed out for a lap but I have never ridden her bike and its completely different than what Im used to and figured that if I could just wait and extra 5 minutes for mine Id be better off. But those 5 minutes turned in to 30 minutes and I sent a guy over to find out what the deal was and he came back and said their done that should just have to put a bolt in then shed be back over. 5 minutes later still no bike, I still should have, again, just jumped on Beths bike and went out but the thought of riding her bike was making me nervous so I headed over to the tent. The bike was still up on the rack and the part was not installed so I headed back to the teat to jump on Beths bike and went. More than 45 minutes had passed and including the 15 or so minutes from the prior stop I had about an hour or so off the bike off the trail. Big mistake.
I ride Beths bike timidly along the trail primarily because she has disk brakes that are WAY more sensitive than the ones I use and lock up easily causing some pensive moments throughout the lap. This was also my first night lap on this course for the race or any other time for that fact and it was intense but fun. Decent lap 2:03 (9:02)
The rest of the night laps are pretty much the same in my mind from now on out. I come in and my bike is ready so I get something to eat and switch out. Take a little extra time to warm up and fuel up. Im starting to ware down a little and its getting cold. For some reason at the end of this lap my light starts getting dim and thats a bad sign. My light only runs at full capacity if it starts to dim that means I only have a very short time before its out. It doesnt make sense that Im out because Im sure I havent used it for the full 4 hours yet but there is no arguing that fact with the light. Im walking the CLIMB OF DOOM now and dont need it so I just turn it off and walk hoping to have enough to last through the final section of single track. It doesnt last. The moment I get into the single track and turn it on it goes out. Lucky I have a mini-mag light in my camelbak (as required by the rules) and I walk most of this section because the light isnt bright enough to ride but I can at least see. I limp in considering myself lucky that the light didnt go out earlier in that lap, other wise I would have lost a lot of time.
I come in its now 11:18 and cold. Im tired and I cant eat. At this point my body doesnt want to ingest anything but Beth starts forcing me to eat, which is good but it takes a few minutes to settle down before I can actually do it.
Its a beautiful night clear and the moon is bright. At one of the open spots on top of the mountain I actually stop and try to take in all the scenery. People are starting to get a little worn out and I guess just want to talk a little. One of the first place women and I have a brief conversation about her bungholio and how bad it hurts. Then we talk about Beavis and Butthead for a short time. For the rest of that lap all I could think of was Beaviss Cornhilio character Are you threatening me? Need TP for my bunghole.
Another weird thing is that when the pros come up behind you most of the time they dont even have to say anything because their going so fast that they sound like a freight train plowing through the woods and you just know its someone fast. I usually immediately got off the trail to let those guys go by.
