Yeah....just like that.
So leading up to the race my biggest concern was which bike to use. I had entered in the solo male 40+ category (there was no 50+ category, yeah I'm that old...); but wasn't sure if I should use the carbon geared Stumpjumper, or the titanium singlespeed Raijin.
Even after Giant and I went to pre-ride the course a couple of days before the race, I still wasn't sure. Most of the climbing was in the first 5km of the 10km course. The remainder of the course included alot of singletrack, a curvy doubletrack descent, a few relatively easy tech features which were more fun than difficult....and some very bumpy newly carved trails. In the end I chose the faster Stumpjumper over the more comfortably set up Raijin.
Would this be a good decision??
Or a bad one??
Hmmmm....
Anyways, Lois drives me and Giant to the race....as Lois would be providing us assistance for the day. Blaze also appeared as self professed PitBitch, as he still cannot race....not because he is still recovering from a badly fractured wrist....but because he is now a sailor...
Not quite like this....well kind of....
Anyways....after meeting and greeting many familiar faces at the race...we get into the start paddock...
If you look close here you can see a few familiar faces...yours truly (that means me), Fig, Lexa, 14Stone, serious, Unglued....Giant had already weasled too far to the front for this pic...
Giant is sneaky like that....like this guy...
Anyways....the paddock filled up...
It was already starting to get hot out....and it would prove to be a sweltering day....in the 30s without the humidity! The first lap went without incident....other than I went through an hours worth of water in 30 minutes...ish... It wouldn't be a problem, had more than enough water on hand....just had to carry and replenish more often than planned.
First few laps went well...then on lap 4 or 5, about 2.5 hours in...started to hit that wall. Which was somewhat unusual for me...I usually push through that wall at about hour 3 or 4. Did I mention it was hot out??
Blaze virtually forced me to stop, eat, and drink and drink and drink some more. And so glad he did...I felt much better afterwards.
Huh??
Anyways...it was soon after that when my lower back started to cramp. This was my concern about using the Stumpie. It destroyed by back in the 24hour race. And the same was starting here. It made it difficult to put any power down....so I soldiered on rather slowly. And stopped every lap to stretch and pop my back.
Much of the course was newer trail...bumpy and not broken in...which didn't help. Jeremiah may have put it best..."It was like riding a jackhammer for 8 hours"...and I am pretty sure he didn't mean this...
The occassional dose of vitamin I (Ibuprofen) helped. Then, I think it was lap 6 or 7...actually I'm not really sure...between the heat, backpain, and fatigue so much of the event is a blur...but at some point....the skies opened up....and it poured briefly. And the cool drops felt like a bit of heaven....like a refreshing massage....like quenching silkiness of a good, cool blonde......lager....yeah, that's it.....lager.
And while the rain tacked up some of the trail, and helped pack some of the new loose stuff....there were a couple of spots with tricky roots...and a couple of wood features, and rock gardens, that were now slick and for a couple of laps scared the bejezuz out of me. Know what else scared the bejezuz out of me? (What is a bejezuz anyways????.....Maybe this???....)
I don't know.
Anyways...riding delirious in my agony JeffS snuck up behind and screamed..."MIIIIIIIKE!!!! YOU'RE AWEEEESOOOOOME!!" Yup....woke me up some! Then he passed me so fast the wash of air he left behind knocked over a rider in front of me.
I actually passed JeffS once....while he was sitting in the transition zone....does that count?? And yes he yelled again that time too...
John passed me a couple of times. He was riding on a 4 person under age 69 team. Yes under age 69...his three partners were kids....fast kids. And John is fast...as we all know. One time he went by me so fast...all I saw was a blue flash. I don't know if that was his pretty blue bike, or his pretty blue eyes...just a streak. And as he accelerated away the ground tore up under his back wheel. I'm pretty sure I saw some of the bones of my ancestors, and a few arrow heads fly up behind him...
Saw Blaze at various intervals throughout the course....
...he was walking it....cheering me on, or heckling, each time I passed by. Same for ApexTed....he was out there taking pics...you can check them out at www.apexracephotography.com Look for plate 26...
Seth and Dave passed me....who didn't?? I would pass them back at the solo pit as they stopped....then they would pass me back on the trail again. Lois did a great job having water and food ready for me on every lap. She even remembered to close the truck windows when it rained!! Wow, eh!?
Laps 8 and/or 9 were the most eventful for me. Giant lapped me....then Fig lapped me....I was woefully slow on this day. Some days you have it.....some days you don't; I didn't on this day. Then Ian came up behind me and yelled, "RIOT!!! YOU SEXY BEAST!!!" Seriously....then he flatted... I threw him my fancy toolkit (a ziplock bag). It had all he needed to repair a flat. He was grateful. He fixed it....then passed me. I came up on Lexa who was helping someone repair a flat...she looked sour. Second place passed her while she was assisting the other rider. Then we came across a young gent whose rear wheel had locked up. I stopped to help him....a quick reset of his quick release and wheel and he was good to go. I carried on.
My rear derailleur picked up a stick...and my chain jammed in my spokes. A quick off the bike, some careful pulls on the chain to dislodge it....and I was on again. Then at Marshall #5....not Mambo #5, that's different ('A little bit of you makes me your man'....guess you have to be old to get this one....viva Lou Bega!!)
Anyways....off track again. So, at Marshall 5 my buddy 14Stone was sitting chatting with the Marshall. He had destroyed his rear hub....too much powa!! I offered him my backup bike....the singlespeed Raijin. He relented...my bike wouldn't fit him. He is 8foot12, and....14Stone. My bike would be a tad small for him. I continued on....Jeremiah passed me... I came up on another solo rider walking his bike....he had run out of water and was cramping. I offered him my water. I must have been building up some good karma on this day....no?? I was out of running for the podium anyways....so might as well make a good day of it. If only I wasn't in so much discomfort... Then on the last bit of switchback descending singletrack before the transition zone, I lost focus on a root....and over the bars I went...landing hard...my ribs still hurt. Good karma??? WTF????
Hmmm.....maybe I'm doing this wrong....
Anyways....through the transition zone....
...and ride by Ian and Jeremiah's solo pit. They were hurting too....who wasn't though. I said, let's go guys!! Lap 10! They mentioned they were planning on doing 10 laps then packing it in...
I passed by my pit...wanting to get my 10th lap done. My lower back was locked solid...and wasn't going to get any better. Lois was busy helping another racer anyways....
Lois is such a good person. Always willing to help...even a stranger. I am such a lucky man.
Anyways...Lap 10....Ian rode up behind me....we rode together for a while...then he passed me. Jeremiah rode up behind me and we chatted for abit...he was really hurting....the heat and rough trails had worn him to his limit....he was riding for 10 laps. I was chatting away till I realized Jeremiah wasn't behind me any more....he had fallen off on the Sugar Shack Saunter hill. That's when I knew he was really hurting...he is usually much faster than me.
Lap 10 done. To give you an idea how much I had slowed down....my first 5 laps were all around 35 minutes.....lap 10 was 46 minutes long. I stopped at the pit....I had enough time to do another lap. I considered my future....I stretched my back out. Ate. Drank....lots. Said f'ck it....what am I here for? I was all out of bubble gum....so I headed out for lap 11.
Finished lap 11 in 43 minutes. I had 31 minutes left in the race to get a 12th lap in. Well that wasn't going to happen. Handed in my chip. I was done...11 laps....fast enough for 8th place out of 37 in the solo 40+ category. Not great....but not horrible.
How did others do??
serious came in 3rd in solo singlespeed!!! 12 laps....on a singlespeed!!!
Here is some of the R&R crew...
Giant 13 laps. Fig 13 laps. Seth 13 laps. 13 fricken laps!! These guys kicked ass!!! Dave 10 laps....but he coulda done more...he is that good.
Me again...
Martin...nice jersey...finished with 12 laps...finished 7th...yeah he beat me...this time...
Unglued...finished with 11 laps to finish 11th...
Kevin...came in 3rd in Tag Team over age 70...
John...only a Shikaze would be fast enough with a camera to catch John...
Giant...13 laps...13 laps!!???
Giant did his 13 laps fast enough to take second place in solo 40+ catagory. Congratulations!!
John and the Young Guns took second in their category....
Mark and Jenn's team took second...
Here is Oggie standing like a super hero. Why?? Cuz his team took 1st place. Yah...gold!
Who else came in first?? JeffS and KT....father - daughter team. they are Awesome!!
And yet another R&R team took a bronze....
All I took home was this.... not a medal, but it's something....
And pain....I took home pain. Lower back....and nether regions. But it got worse. Sunday I woke up with the worst saddle sore known to man. Seriously. Huge. Bad enough to go to the doctor on Monday. Requires antibiotics. Bad enough that I can't race at the Six in The Hood this coming weekend. I was looking forward to racing my single speed. But not a chance. I need to heal.
Not joking....
Me with a nice blonde lager....
Anyways....apparently using the Stumpie was not a good decision.
I will let you know how it goes.
Stay posted!!
To me that little pin is better than any medal I ever got at a race. Great job on the weekend.
ReplyDeleteCannot argue with that at all!! Thanks jvk!
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