Me and my friends agreed as long as it wasn't raining at the start it
wouldn't be to bad so we at least got that. This was my first 100miler
with only a couple XC races and one XXC under my belt. Based on my pre
riding I thought 11hrs could be possible but all I really wanted to do
was finish. I lined up with the 10hr group thinking I would probably be
much slower then that but wanting to get to the single track before it
became a hike a bike. The first few miles went well passing a few on
the fire road leading to the single track. Unfortunately by the time I
hit the single track the crowed was already there and any small rock
meant everyone was walking(grumble grumble). Had an uneventful ride down
to the fireroad and fell in with a group on up to Lynn.
I stuck with my Lynn plan riding the bottom half and walking the top to
save energy. Didn't take long to get to the top and fly downhill. I
felt bad for the guy with the broken arm(or maybe leg?) that had
apparently passed out. I heard from some friends that swept that it took
a long time to get him off the mountain. Quick water fill at AS2 and I
was off.
At this point it started to rain a little but nothing bad just enough to
cool you off. I was thinking it wouldn't be bad if the weather stayed
that way. First half of Hankey wasn't bad but after the turn to the camp
it started to get a little muddier. I felt good and did the whole climb
except one of the steepest pitches. I was worried about the rocky
rooty section at the top with it being wet but I rode it without a issue
and on down to AS3 only feeling like I was losing a little time for the
wet trails as it started to rain harder.
Blew thru AS3 without even stopping and hit the road. Unfortunately I
was alone for most of the road ride but managed to catch up with one
person and work a little with them. Started going up Braleys when the
brunt of the storm hit making the climb even harder. By the time I got
to the downhill the trail had become a river and I was having trouble
seeing where I was going. I was taking it super slow and felt like I
was going even slower then when I was riding up hill. I made it down to
the bottom and told one rider that a good time was out the window and
all I was trying to do was survive at this point.
AS4 I had my drop bag and my wonderful wife waiting and took the time to
eat a little more and had my chain lubed. The rain started to let up
and I hit the road over to the death climb feeling good and excited. By
the time I got to the turn to head up the death climb the sun was out
and the temperature started to rise a little. Was cruising up the death
climb and passing people until the turn and the pitch kicked up. Then
the death climb started to live up to its name and was making me feel
like death but I kept moving thinking I just needed to get to AS5.
AS5 stopped and got some pizza and chips and waited in line to get my
chain lubed. I felt like I wasted time on the chain lube after plowing
into the 4ft deep mud puddle a few minutes later. At this point my legs
were feeling tired and the trails were nothing but mud so there was a
fair amount of walking. Finally I hit the single track of chestnut
ridge. Then I realized that my brakes barely worked making for one heck
of any exciting downhill run with one stop to let the brakes cool a
little and give my hands a rest.
Stopped off at AS6 and got my chain lubed and topped off water at around
9hr 45min mark. One of the first times I had really stopped to look at
the time. I realized that I could probably make the campground in an
hour coming in under 11hrs well before what I thought I would do
especially with the weather. This gave me some energy and I was off
making good time to hankey and up to the turn. I had forgotten that once
you got to the turn you weren't done climbing. I didn't have the drive
to pedal up anymore so I tired to get off the bike and walk a little.
That's when the leg cramps hit my right leg like a train. All day I had
slight cramps in my legs but had just worked thru them but this time my
leg wouldn't move at all. Pissed thinking that I had blown coming in
under 11hr I sat down on the trail and dug thru my pack for my emergency
mustard packet and drank some water. I had never tired the mustard
trick but it seemed to work after probably less than a minute I was able
to at least walk at little and get back to pedaling. I started trying
to pedal hard again but refused to look down at my garmin to see what my
time was. The fireroad to the final descent to the campground seemed to
go on forever but finally I saw it and knew it was all downhill from
there. I kicked it into the big gear and flew down into the campground
still not knowing what my time was.
Sprinting across the line I saw my final time 10hr 41min. I couldn't have been happier with my first 100miler.
I did learn some lesson and will be back next year hoping for better weather so I can set an even better time.
Lesson:
-I only drank about 3 bottles worth of water and about 1 can of coke for
the entire race. Next time I need to be sure to drink more as I think
this could have been my cramping problem.
-I carried to much stuff and didn't need anything in my only drop bag at
AS4. I carried a rain jacket all day knowing that I would never put it
on with the temperature. I also picked up my lights at AS4 even though I
didn't need them because at the time the rain was so bad. Next time I
think I won't drop anything some infini mix,shot blocks with food from
the aid stations is plenty.
