It all started back at the end of July, it was my brother’s fault. He egged me on, taunted me, told me “everybody” would be there and generally tried to make me feel ashamed until finally I finally succumbed to peer pressure. What the hell, I thought, just consider it and extended training ride. It can’t be that bad, if it is, just quit (yeah right). So I psyched up, fought those inner devils, gathered up a small bag of large bills and paid the man. No turning back now, I’m going for it, 24 hours solo.
So what do I know about this type of racing? Not too much. Starting at the beginning of the year, I’ve done a couple of 12 hour races and a couple of shorter one too – 60 to 80 miles- mere sprints in the light of a 24 hours suffer fest. I started reading about nutrition, training, transcending pain…what have I got myself into.
Well, I thought, I’ll step up the weekly mileage, push the tempo a little more and pay attention to nutrition during training rides to see what works. All these were good intentions, but poorly executed. Sure, I did try a couple of different thing with the nutrition, I tried to bag more miles and well, I’m continually getting faster (at least in my opinion). 3 weeks to race day and our beloved local mountains burn down, stay off the bike, don’t breathe hard. Oh no, this sent me into a tail spin, I’m not ready. How do I get that last minute training in to make/keep me competitive? Don’t sweat it, remember, it’s just a long training ride.
Ray had made a post requesting support for me on the PMBC site, and BrotherDave (we had never met, turns out he is a great guy) had generously offered to help. I graciously accepted. One week to race day, logistics ironed out, new light, pit support in place. I’m ready. Looking over the rooster for the race, there are a couple of real ringers signed up. Well, I’ll just do my best. Personal goal set - 20 laps and to finish in the top 25 %.
Race Day.
I drove out and met Dave, unloaded my car and packed his up. We chatted and became acquainted and talked about what to expect during the drive out. Arriving in 2 ½ hours before the official start, we set up pit in a great camp site on the course with my brothers 4 man team, The Stinking Weasels. Registration, packet pick up, and rider’s meeting out of the way, time to do a quick warm up before the 12:00 noon Lemans style start
I’m not much of a runner, especially in riding gear, but I did well enough finishing near the front, getting me on the bike near the front for the first climb up to Keen Camp. Perfect. The first lap went well enough. I made a fast pit to grab more fluid and air up my rear tire. The second lap, still up towards the front and the riders were starting to spread out. I met another solo rider and started talking to him about nutrition, and how he expected to perform. Turns out that this was Taylor Lideen, the winner of the spring event, and Pop Tarts were among his favorite (damn, I didn’t bring any of those, who’d have thought Pop Tarts while racing were a good idea). He though that my 20 laps was pretty ambitious and just might win event. He also mentioned another rider, Dezmin Wilder, was one to watch out for.
Second lap down, just starting up the Keen climb for the third time and Dezmin passes us like we were standing still. I was starting to have stomach distress, and I had stopped sweating. It was too hot and I couldn’t process fluid fast enough. Then a mechanical, I had G’d out in a large dip and put my seat out of adjustment. Well, I thought, this race was over too fast. I finished the lap, pulled into the pits and laid down. I’d had enough; I was dizzy, nauseous and had blurry vision. 20 minutes, a quick rub down and a half a Red Bull later and I was charged again.
6 laps down now and time to mount up the light. It got dark quickly, but the new Seca 700 Ultra rocked all night. A slight disappointment at midnight, no corn roast, only popcorn. I had been looking forward to having a piece of corn on the cob. No worries, a little more Red Bull, something to eat and back out on the course.
4:00 am and I was wrecked, that dizzy, nauseous, blurry vision thing again. Nothing like stretching out on the couch on top of a mountain and watching an western movie on the tube while having a coke and eating chocolate chip cookies during a mountain bike race. This was check point 2, at the top of the meadow climb. A few minutes latter and I was charged up again, thanks guys.
During the night, one of the guys in the 4 man team I was pitting with had crashed. These guys were starting to feel the effects of being up all night and the additional laps too. But they were still going strong.
What an amazing sensation watching the horizon start to lighten up, only a few hours to go. Pulling into the pits,
The light came off and I tried to choke down some more food. Mmm, Poptarts, damn, I didn’t have any. Get back on the course, time is running out. Hours ago, I had realized that 20 laps would happen and I should be happy with even just 17 or 18. But now, after doing the math… time to push, I’m gonna do it.
Watching the clock during the last few laps, I knew what I had to do. It hurt, no time for that though. Push hard, but don’t allow the muscles to cramp and lock. Pedal, drink, ride smooth, push the pace, and don’t make any mistakes. The course had become quite rough, my body was tired. Exfoliater, Hell Hill, Demoralizer, cross the stream bed and I would be done.
The finish line now visible, dismount, thru the chicane and run, no walk, this last time across the line. The emotions felt during this last lap, though considerable, were capped by seeing my family cheering for me at the finish. It was over, I had obtained my goal, 20 laps and 2nd place in 24:40:12, completing about 200 miles and 26,500’ of climbing.
http://michaelkelly.smugmug.com/2009-24hrs-of-Adrenalin-1/Hurkey-Creek-September-2009/2009-HC-Fall-3/9721510_btpNG#658930183_SRZKk
http://michaelkelly.smugmug.com/2009-24hrs-of-Adrenalin-1/Hurkey-Creek-September-2009/PR-Gallery/9721841_jdmRT#659049969_xXZLa