GREENVILLE VELO: My first race of 2014

I signed up for the Green Gobbler 6 hour solo Mt. bike race. I can't say I was in any kind of shape to start the season with a 6 hour race but something had to start off the season. It's been a long winter with very few rides. I tried to take what I learned from Tsali, slow and steady will make it possible to finish the race. I started 2/3 of the way back in the pack and worked my way through on the first lap. Everything felt good but its a long day.

I entered the woods to start the second lap. Flying down the first descent. I went to sit down on the saddle and it was gone. Racers coming by said, your saddle is back on the trail. Well that was a short race I thought. I picked up my saddle and started to walk. It didn't take me long to decide I didn't feel like walking that far. I jumped back on the bike and started cranking. People said things like "that sucks!" "Dude that will build some leg power." I kept pedaling and even started passing some people. You don't realize how much you use your saddle descending until it's gone. Lap 2 done.

I pull the seat post out of the bike. I decide that since I'm out here, I might as well make it a training ride and a challenge and go for one more lap. The people in the pits say I'm crazy to keep going but they cheer me on. I enter back into the trails for my 3rd and final lap. To my surprise I keep catching riders and rarely get passed. Now the people who both catch me and the ones I pass, start saying things "you're a f%$*ing animal...dude you rock." This gives me a little boost of energy. Lap 3 goes by and I'm ready to sit down. I cross the finish line and head back to the pits.

People in the pits can't believe I'm back already. My legs are tired so I get out some food and do a little stretching. I know I have more gas in the tank even though my legs and arms are getting tired. It's a nice day so I go for another lap. My arms are fatiguing making the descents harder. I tried to keep my calves against the chain stay to help control the bike. Finally back to the pits -4 laps done. I have now ridden 24 miles without sitting down. Lower back is fried, triceps don't want to hold me up anymore, my palms are starting to bruise.

Now as I enter the pits everyone is looking at me and encouraging me. I do more stretching and go for another. My legs feel better when I'm pedaling uphill vs. coasting downhill. When I stop pedaling my legs want to cramp up. I've been in the big chain ring for the whole race. There is no such thing as spinning your legs when standing. The only thing that feels good now is the steep long climbs. This is when I can get relief for my arms, hands, and shoulders. Finally, I can see the opening to finish the lap. I'm starving, my body is shaking, and the cramping is relentless. 5 laps down and I can't believe I made it back. I cross the finish line and there is 96 minutes left in the race. I have been averaging about 55 minutes a lap. I think about this while heading to the pit.

I have lost my mind. I tell myself that I can do one more lap really slow. I get back on the bike and my body is refusing to pedal. My hands can't get comfortable. What was I thinking? My arms are completely seized and my legs feel like I'm riding through quick sand. I turn to a higher power and the words of all the people cheering me on and just take stroke by stroke. My calves don't want to be on the pedals anymore and my arms don't want to hit one more pump. The legs don't want to burst up over any more piles of roots or logs. Some how I finish the lap with a pretty good time. The race director says I have 45 minutes. I know I can't complete another lap. Race is done. I can't believe I just rode 40 miles of single track without sitting down. My body starts to shut down as soon as I sit on the truck. I eat and drink the food that I have left. I want to check out the standings but it hurts to stand. I finally get enough energy to walk over to the table and see that I finished 2nd in my category. I can't believe it. Today, persistence overcame a great obstacle and proved the old saying. 'Just keep moving.' This race will go down as the hardest race I have done to date. I'm not looking for anymore challenges like this until next time.