McPickle's ramblings: 2013 Shenandoah 100 part 2

This is part 2 of my race report see part 1 here:
http://dmcpickle.blogspot.com/2013/09/2013-shenandoah-100-part-1.html

Aid 4 to aid 5
      I was greeted at aid four with cheering from my wife who was writing down racer numbers as they came in. I think she was a little surprised to see me so early. At some point someone grabbed my bike to lube the chain and a volunteer handed me my drop bag. I had planned to stay a little longer at the station since all my friends were volunteering but probably less then a minute after I got there someone asked if I needed anything. Hmmm Camelbak and bottle full, plenty of shot bloks, and chain lubed, guess not, better get back to pedaling. My wife gave me a kiss and I was off to face the death climb. I hit the road and before very long another rider pulled up and started drafting off me. Cool, someone that I can work with on the flatter section leading up to the death climb. After pulling for a while I pulled off to the side and slowed to take a drink said drafting rider refused to take over giving me some excuse about being to tired. Guess there goes that team work. He did, of course, have the energy to latch onto a faster pace line when it came by, I guess that is racing. Once the hill turned up I passed by said rider and started making my way up. I started for the first time during the race to not feel great. I tried to eat some more and drink more water but I felt like I was bonking and overheating. I kept pushing forward knowing that it started to flatten back out after the steeper sections. Last year I actually had to walk part of this fire road climb so I was at least happy that I was riding this year.

Aid 5 to aid 6
    I was so glad to get to aid 5 and immediately headed for the pizza and coke. So far I hadn't eaten much from the aid stations but at this point wanted something solid. I downed three cups of coke and a couple slices of pizza before rolling out. In past years the fire road after aid five had huge mud puddles but this year the forest service had done a great job regrading the drainage. After five the road becomes more of a jeep trail with more up and down steep sections. Every hill looks like the top with a pretty meadow but I know better. At this point my legs started to feel the miles and I started to get cramps but I pressed on knowing that the chestnut descent was worth the effort. Finally I got to the top and had no one ahead of me meaning I got to bomb down. I always love the chestnut descent even with my arms tired and 80miles on my legs. It's got the perfect mix of technical, steep and all out fast sections. I caught a couple riders on the way down and passed by them making it down to aid six at the bottom of the mountain.

Aid 6 to Finish!!
   I got to aid six and had them top my bottle off with water. I had planned to make it a quick stop and not get any food but then someone said something about fries. Wait you have french fries! and with that I stood around eating fries and drinking a couple cups of coke. At this point I knew roughly how long it should take to the finish and had started to do the math. I knew I would easily beat my 10 hour goal I had set and a sub 9.5hr time seemed possible. Off I went once on the Hankey climb I got passed by a few of the riders I had passed on the Chestnut descent. My legs were starting to cramp worse and I couldn't make much power going uphill but at least I was riding. I went into the second to last single track section and let the bike fly over the water bars. Once I hit the old fire road I knew I was so close to the finish. I had ridden this the day before and knew it wasn't all downhill but I was ready to be done so I shifted into the big ring and started mashing gears. I passed a few riders and was letting the bike fly on the downhills. For the first time in a race I started getting emotional. I started thinking about my wonderful wife and our child on the way. I actually started to tear up a little for joy and hoping they would be proud of me. After a minute I shook it off and told myself there was no crying in mountain biking and that I better pay attention. Finally I saw it the entrance to the last little section of single track from here it truly was all downhill! Into the campground I went flying past my group of friends cheering me on. I was greeted at the finish line by my wife and a amazing time for me of 9hr 27mins.

I knocked over an hour and fifteen minutes off my time from last year. Next year I may not have the time to train with a newborn the way I did this year. But I realized it doesn't really matter. I do love the race even if I'm not setting new personal records.

All the Blackwater team that race had great days. Congrats to Chad of making it onto the Clydales podium!