Training Log Archive: silkychrome

Event: Burnin at the Bluff
 

Burnin aka rematch of OT100MTB between me and SS Kate. not that i made any huge mistakes at OT100MTB, but fear of losing again made me revamp my normal race plan - some small changes to nutrition and pit set-up, and different tires. and a better strategy.

LAP 1, 1:30 (includes Le Mans run start)
Kate got out first on the bike and was GONE. i was really nervous and rode like it - not smooth at all. finally started to get some focus and flow towards the end of it.

LAP 2, 1:28
found out i was less than 5min back so quick pit and out. rode WAY better and just soaked in CBL in all its autumnal glory. made the rock garden!! enjoyed myself immensely. got on Heather's wheel for the last 5mi or so and it was perfect, she was picking great lines and the pace was aggressive but not crazy. she kept me honest. saw Kate leaving the pit when i came in.

LAP 3, 1:31
knew i was closing the gap so stayed steady and caught Kate at the rock garden. but my strategy was not to pass her so early so just rode 30sec back for the rest of the lap. left groin cramped a lot climbing back up to campground so she gained a minute or two while i dealt w that.

LAP 4, 1:31
loaded up on e-caps and nuun from various sources and rode out, the goal being keep riding steady and not let cramps get any worse. made my way around the lake and caught Kate at the rock garden again. kept my usual distance back but she flatted at the bottom of the campground climb. i stopped, asked if i could help, she said no, so i left. still had to baby my legs on the climb. made it to the top in 6hrs flat, v proud of my even pacing so far. turns out i would have won women's 6hr solo.

LAP 5, 1:34
on a MISSION!!!! pushed as hard as i could while trying to keep cramps away and take in more fluid/salt to shut them down for good. felt super motivated and rode well. Dwayne and Peat lapped me and that just added to the fun, happy to hold them off for 50+mi.

LAP 6, 1:37
beginning of uncharted territory for me at CBL - previous "PR" was 5 laps in around 9 hours. no news on a split back to Kate but i just kept doin my thing, riding as clean as possible and stayed motivated. finally got cramps to go away. super stoked to finish 6 laps this year in the time it took me to do 5 in 2012.

LAP 7, 1:43
started at dusk, lights on by Enough boat ramp. took a while to get comfortable w light-dark transition which was weird. crashed hard on the downhill side of the trail and started to panic that Kate would catch me. this was when things started to break down, but i kept reminding myself to dig deep and make up for OT100MTB and, in a way, USARA. every time a light would catch me i would pray for a male voice. made it to the top w 1h40m remaining - barely enough time for me to complete a lap if i had to. i didn't want to do it. so i played the waiting game by the timing tent and after 15min when Kate didn't come in, i figured i was safe and called it.

so, 1st 12hr solo girl, my second buckle, official time 10:53:44, new women's record (previous was 7 laps in 12:36). Kate finished 7 laps as well in 11:15. would have been a completely different race if rocky33 had made it...next year!! Peat and Dwayne took home 1st/2nd place for 12hr solo boy for a Team Noah sweep. loved sharing the trail with just about all of my favorite mtb peeps/jerks. as usual, super fun post-race. we burned things and ate other people's potatoes. and corn.

C • Congrats! 8

EZ and surprisingly "fast"

EZ into work. rainy. saw JZ's van outside The Hub so stopped in for a chat w him and Gino :)

full-body hives attack at 9pm. worried that it's from the pork i ate for dinner at around 6pm.

C • Oh, man 2