Dar's GEARS Report

[mtbdarby]

I did my 6 hour solo mtb race yesterday at Kettle Moraine for the 12 hours of GEARS race...

The night before my biking buddy decided to go with me and do the mens 6 hour solo so I was very happy for company since it's 3+ hour drive down there. It was hot (Nanci, how do you do it?). It was in the 60's thrusday and Saturday was upper 80's with 100% humidity. Welcome to summer in Wisconsin.

The race started with a short Lemans style start at 1:00 pm. It was a dusty dirt trail for the first part - lots of rolling hills and loose rock descents. The first 2.5 miles were like this, sometimes heading into the woods on pine needle covered trails. That was nice - I think it dropped 10 degrees in there! Then the single track hit. Nice and fast, not very technical but with one STEEP hill coming out of a descent with a sharp right turn. I never did ride to the top of that hill, had to walk it every time. From there it was out into open field on a mowed path. Very bumpy. Actually, most of the trail was very bumpy and that would come into play at the end of the race.

I did the first lap in 30 minutes flat. Not bad for me, slow for the field on a 4.5 mile track. I decided to stop after every lap since it was my first race and I wasn't sure about my nutrition, electrolytes and the heat. Solo riders are allowed to exit the course at any spot as long as they reenter at the same spot. We left all of our stuff at the car so I learned that we need to move it closer to the trail so you don't have too far to travel to get to it. Gotta save every last bit of energy you know. I also discovered I preferred hammer gel and sustained energy to eating the sport jelly beans. Good to know.

I ran my race. Nice and steady, pushed it when I could but wasn't ashamed to walk up the hills I needed to. Everyone was supportive and encouraging which I love about the WEMS series here. I held up good in the heat. It became overcast about half way through but the heat held up. We got some sprinkles as a storm moved in but it waited until the end of the race to let go.

My favorite part of the race was while I was riding in the field portion and I heard someone behind me. I asked "right or left" for which side he was gonna pass me on. He sounded like he was smiling as he said "I don't know, they both look good!". I told him that was the best compliment I had all day and he started laughing as he passed me. God bless him!

As always, my first lap is mental. As in, what the heck was I thinking? I have 5 more hours of this? I PAID to do this to myself?? Once I got past that I did fine and settled into a routine. About 3 hours into it my lower back started hurting from all the jarring. My hands were starting to feel it. So I stopped to stretch and laid down for a bit and waiting 10 minutes for the 3 hour racers to start and get out of the way. I finished my last lap with 50 minutes to go - enough for one more lap. I knew I was 2 laps down from the rider in front of me so I stopped. My back was very sore, my hands felt like hamburger and my wrists were killing me. One hand was starting to go numb. But I had accomplished what I set out to do:

I was shooting for 6 laps. I did 7.
I finished - 5th.
I passed someone - 2 people actually.
I made my average speed of 8 mph.
I didn't bonk and I held up in the heat.
I didn't fall off my bike.
Have a new PR of 33 miles on one mtb ride
Did I mention I finished?!

I thought I would be wicked sore today but it's not so bad. My tris, forearms, hands and glutes are sore but not my legs. So I guess I wasn't in as bad a shape as I thought. I really need to see the chiro for my back and neck - I just need a good realignment.

I now understand why people ride full suspension bikes. My hardtail was a little hard on this older body. And my handlebar grips have to go - way too many knobbies on it that tear your hands up. I need to start lifting again then my arms can take it. I need to work on the hills! And I need to learn to relax and have fun out there.

Overall it was a very satisfying race. I accomplished my goals but I'm not sure if it's something I would do on a consistant basis. I rode 4 hours and 4 minutes of a 6 hour race so I need to shorten my stops and be on the bike more. Of course, that was a new PR as well - I've never ridden road or mtb for over 3 hours prior to this. For 24 hours of nine mile I want to have fun so I'll see if I can get a team together. Just in case I can't, guess I'll keep working on it just in case I end up doing a 12 hour solo ....

I met a nice couple there and she took some digital pictures and said she'd email them. I'll post them when I get them. And my biking buddy took 3rd in his division and won a medal!

Thanks for reading and for all your support!