It was a bit chilly at the start, but it was bearable with a light sleeveless base layer, team USA Larry Bird jersey from the Dream Team, and cycling jersey paired with arm warmers. Again I threw on baggies over my bibs for extra warmth and carrying capacity/easy access to food, leg warmers, same thin/thick combo of wool socks (since I planned on riding through the water I also started with the toe warmer in to help battle any wet feet that might result from the crossing) and this time I was sporting a brace on my injured knee - likely more for psychological support than anything else.
As I came up to the creek I didn't have any sense of a prime section to cross at so I just went for it. Not sure if I was too fast or if I hit the deepest section, but my feet got soaked. I pedaled up the hill while it felt like ice was forming on my shoes. I didn't want to deal with ice feet so I stopped to change out my socks.
Now with dryer and warmer feet I hopped back on my bike (pushing the same gearing as last time) and got back to climbing. Just like last time, I had no legs. New this time, as soon as I hit the singletrack section I started feeling completely destroyed and dizzy. At mile 3 I had already made up my mind - at mile 17 I would be calling it. I was dizzy, my legs felt hollow, there was no way I could complete the whole thing.
As I struggled forward I downed a bottle. At around mile 6 my head had cleared and my legs showed up. I was back in it. Apparently I have to completely blow up before my legs wake up?? Anyway, I was enjoying the ride again. From there my focus was on hydrating so that I could stay strong.
I was able to finish the first half of the Snake faster than my last go around. At the pit I moved quickly to eat while refilling both bottles. Mixed in my Osmo, and I was off - total stopped time about 4 minutes.
Back to climbing. As I hit the first switchback I stood to power around the corner and they struck - cramps. Stopped, stretched, drank, and continued on. Staying on top of drinking helped keep the cramps at bay for a while at least. After the initial (long) climb out of the pit the trail gets AWESOME! Ridgeline riding - so fun! No crash this time on the descents, and I got to show of my handling skills on the steep downhill switchback to a couple of riders that choose to hike it. "You're owning it man!" they cheered. "Well, I've got to take it where I can get it" I responded with a smile.
Being more familiar with the trail, and what was to come, certainly helped me stay in the game mentally. I knew that there wasn't much out there that I couldn't ride, so anytime I did hike I made sure it was short lived and hopped back on and pedaled forth sooner than last ride. It also helped keep my head in a positive space - I never felt defeated or begged for the end like I did last month. I was, however, a bit fuzzy on where the rock/root drop "staircase" was - and at one point I wondered if I had already ridden it and missed it because I had blown it out of proportion last time?? Nope! It was just later in the trail than I had remembered, but still a beast. But knowing it was coming, and knowing how long it was, it felt easier to handle this time.
Getting in to the last station I filled my bottles and kept moving. I wanted to improve over my last time as much as possible, so standing around wasn't going to get me there. I was attacking the trail with confidence, things felt great until I started passing people. Sounds weird huh? But every time I pushed to pass someone my legs complained. I had to yo-yo with a group because I'd stop to stretch, they would pass, I would catch them - pass them, and inevitably have to stop again to stretch after any section where I stood to power through. I started tapering back to avoid standing if at all possible and was able to get through well. A few hiking sections here and there (the wall of course) but again I was quick to get back on the bike after traversing whatever boulder was deemed impassible by bike.
There were two riders left in front of me that I had been yo-yoing with as we approached the dump out to the road - I pushed and got out in front of them before we hit the road. I figured they would catch me on the downhill anyway, but I wanted that one last moral victory. I let it fly down the dirty/crappy pavement road section. As we were getting to the actual road there was a rider ahead that I caught as we hit the pavement. He put it in granny to get up the last kicker so I stood and went around him - again, figuring he would soon pass me back as things tilted down. He didn't. I tucked in as tight as I could and let gravity do it's thing as my cog in the back wasn't going to allow me to provide any help.
I was done. D-Wayne and Mike were there waiting for me at the finish. I felt great. I mean, my legs were torn apart, but man did that feel good!! As I was making my way back to the pterodactyl I stopped to chat with some guys I had met on the bus over to the start - they were riding ss as well and took as look at my bike and asked what I was running. "20" "Dude, we are running 22 - you'll like the trail a whole lot better with a 22".
Although I was able to ride more of the climbs, and cleared a lot of the last section on the 20, I am definitely thinking about going with something easier for the third and final stage. With a finish next month I get a belt buckle!! This month we got something totally unexpected from the race promoters.
Very cool. Empty, but still very cool! I was able to remedy the situation quite easily.
Back to climbing. As I hit the first switchback I stood to power around the corner and they struck - cramps. Stopped, stretched, drank, and continued on. Staying on top of drinking helped keep the cramps at bay for a while at least. After the initial (long) climb out of the pit the trail gets AWESOME! Ridgeline riding - so fun! No crash this time on the descents, and I got to show of my handling skills on the steep downhill switchback to a couple of riders that choose to hike it. "You're owning it man!" they cheered. "Well, I've got to take it where I can get it" I responded with a smile.
Being more familiar with the trail, and what was to come, certainly helped me stay in the game mentally. I knew that there wasn't much out there that I couldn't ride, so anytime I did hike I made sure it was short lived and hopped back on and pedaled forth sooner than last ride. It also helped keep my head in a positive space - I never felt defeated or begged for the end like I did last month. I was, however, a bit fuzzy on where the rock/root drop "staircase" was - and at one point I wondered if I had already ridden it and missed it because I had blown it out of proportion last time?? Nope! It was just later in the trail than I had remembered, but still a beast. But knowing it was coming, and knowing how long it was, it felt easier to handle this time.
Getting in to the last station I filled my bottles and kept moving. I wanted to improve over my last time as much as possible, so standing around wasn't going to get me there. I was attacking the trail with confidence, things felt great until I started passing people. Sounds weird huh? But every time I pushed to pass someone my legs complained. I had to yo-yo with a group because I'd stop to stretch, they would pass, I would catch them - pass them, and inevitably have to stop again to stretch after any section where I stood to power through. I started tapering back to avoid standing if at all possible and was able to get through well. A few hiking sections here and there (the wall of course) but again I was quick to get back on the bike after traversing whatever boulder was deemed impassible by bike.
There were two riders left in front of me that I had been yo-yoing with as we approached the dump out to the road - I pushed and got out in front of them before we hit the road. I figured they would catch me on the downhill anyway, but I wanted that one last moral victory. I let it fly down the dirty/crappy pavement road section. As we were getting to the actual road there was a rider ahead that I caught as we hit the pavement. He put it in granny to get up the last kicker so I stood and went around him - again, figuring he would soon pass me back as things tilted down. He didn't. I tucked in as tight as I could and let gravity do it's thing as my cog in the back wasn't going to allow me to provide any help.
I was done. D-Wayne and Mike were there waiting for me at the finish. I felt great. I mean, my legs were torn apart, but man did that feel good!! As I was making my way back to the pterodactyl I stopped to chat with some guys I had met on the bus over to the start - they were riding ss as well and took as look at my bike and asked what I was running. "20" "Dude, we are running 22 - you'll like the trail a whole lot better with a 22".
Although I was able to ride more of the climbs, and cleared a lot of the last section on the 20, I am definitely thinking about going with something easier for the third and final stage. With a finish next month I get a belt buckle!! This month we got something totally unexpected from the race promoters.
Very cool. Empty, but still very cool! I was able to remedy the situation quite easily.
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