Training Log Archive: bugsInTeethIn the 7 days ending Jun 1, 2014:
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| « | » |
| » now | ||||||||||
|
| ||||||||||||
| Mo | Tu | We | Th | Fr | Sa | Su | |||||||
Saturday May 31, 2014 #
Event: Mohican 100 (NUE)
7 AM
Mountain Biking race (Scott Scale) 11:40:52 162.0 km (13.9 kph) +2662m
ahr:156 max:181
Headed down to Ohio with Simpy, Osteo and Mrs. Osteo for the Mohican 100 Mile MTB race. Probably one of the races I was most looking forward to this year, being my first pure MTB race. For me this race really ended up being a tale of three races.
The race started on road, with a long climb, which worked out well for separation before funneling into the single-track in the state park. We had read a number of reports talking about how long it would take to get to AS2, as it was almost entirely single-track for 50kms, so our plan was to go easy early and hopefully have stuff left in the tank when the trails opened up. Although I had run the same trails last year, I was surprised at how technical they felt on a bike. When running you tend to just step over roots and rocks, but on the bike, it required almost constant concentration with roots running diagonal across the trail, or sharp rock gardens bouncing us around. Before AS1 I had already lost my water bottle that had electrolytes, and I was already falling behind on food because there was so little time to eat. By the time we got to AS2 I was still feeling good, but the first 50km had started to take their toll on both my body and nutrition. The riding was much tougher than I thought it would be, so much so I felt it most in my upper body. I was also starting to feel a bit of a bonk coming on, so I was looking forward to what I thought would be easier and faster trails in the next section.
That was probably the biggest mistake on my part, because the trails didn't get much easier between AS2 and AS3. There was still a lot of single-track, messy double track, and it was the first major section to have a bunch of steep hike-a-bikes up loose rock climbs. About half way to AS3 I was really mentally struggling, which kicked off the second part of my race...the big low. The riding was much harder than I had anticipated, I was bonking, and even though I never thought it could happen...I started feeling nauseated on the bike. I dug a pretty deep hole mentally, and just kept praying to hit a reprieve in the course that didn't seem to come. By the time I got to AS3 I was completely in a daze, and I doubt there was an ounce of me enjoying the race at that point.
At AS3 Simpy told me he was planning on diverting to the 100km because of his knee, but it barely registered for me. So when I left AS3 I was surprised he was still riding with me, deciding he was going to see if he could continue. Directly outside of AS3 we started climbing...again. He got to the top of some crappy grass hill and decided enough was enough, and that it would be smarter to save his knee for future days, so he turned back and I continued on alone. The climbs and tough riding went on for a while longer, but slowly things started to get a bit easier, and I started to feel better, both mentally and physically. It was hot out by then, and I was constantly dumping water from my bottle over my head and neck to keep cool, which also seemed to be helping shake me out of my funk.
By the time I reached the water station between AS3-AS4 I was starting to worry about making cut-offs. However the fight had definitely kicked back in, so I decided I would really try and make time up on the flats and downhills, and endure the climbs. When I hit the rail trail section, I was so happy I could have f*kin' cried. To be pushing the pedals on relatively flat land and carrying speed felt so good. AS4 came on much faster than I expected, and so even though I had mentally planned on taking a short break off the bike, I decided to keep it reasonably short and just continue on.
There were still some tough climbs going back, and many of them I found were easier to get off and walk rather than spin. Lots of them had loose gravel, and although I was getting passed going up some of them by those riding, I would in turn pass many of those same riders on the flats, so I felt it was still balancing reasonably well. Again, AS5 came out of no where, as I was sure I had at least another hour before reaching. I now knew I only had just over 12km of single-track left, and was two hours before the cut-off, meaning barring any catastrophe, I was safe. I pushed through the remainder of the race, and finally crossed the finish line 11 hours and 40 minutes after starting.
I can say a number of things about this race. It was much harder than I ever would have anticipated, and I didn't give it the respect it deserved. I thought there would be much more fast riding sections, and so 160 kilometers didn't seem as daunting. But it was hard, it was gnarly, it was teeth grinding and white knuckled in so many places. I made a few key poor assumptions about what the race would be like, and mentally dug myself a low that I could have avoided.
But it was also amazing, beautiful and (overused word) epic. The race hit so much awesome single-track (that would have been much more enjoyable consumed on it's own in smaller doses...hehe), and the riding really did reward good technical riders. The scenery throughout was often postcard material.
In the end although it wasn't the result or time I had hoped for, it meant a lot just to get through this one. I was very pleased I was able to dig myself out of the hole I had dug, and bounce back for what I felt like was a strong finish. Seems like 2014 is the year of the HTFU races for me. I hope WT turns that trend around. :)
The race started on road, with a long climb, which worked out well for separation before funneling into the single-track in the state park. We had read a number of reports talking about how long it would take to get to AS2, as it was almost entirely single-track for 50kms, so our plan was to go easy early and hopefully have stuff left in the tank when the trails opened up. Although I had run the same trails last year, I was surprised at how technical they felt on a bike. When running you tend to just step over roots and rocks, but on the bike, it required almost constant concentration with roots running diagonal across the trail, or sharp rock gardens bouncing us around. Before AS1 I had already lost my water bottle that had electrolytes, and I was already falling behind on food because there was so little time to eat. By the time we got to AS2 I was still feeling good, but the first 50km had started to take their toll on both my body and nutrition. The riding was much tougher than I thought it would be, so much so I felt it most in my upper body. I was also starting to feel a bit of a bonk coming on, so I was looking forward to what I thought would be easier and faster trails in the next section.
That was probably the biggest mistake on my part, because the trails didn't get much easier between AS2 and AS3. There was still a lot of single-track, messy double track, and it was the first major section to have a bunch of steep hike-a-bikes up loose rock climbs. About half way to AS3 I was really mentally struggling, which kicked off the second part of my race...the big low. The riding was much harder than I had anticipated, I was bonking, and even though I never thought it could happen...I started feeling nauseated on the bike. I dug a pretty deep hole mentally, and just kept praying to hit a reprieve in the course that didn't seem to come. By the time I got to AS3 I was completely in a daze, and I doubt there was an ounce of me enjoying the race at that point.
At AS3 Simpy told me he was planning on diverting to the 100km because of his knee, but it barely registered for me. So when I left AS3 I was surprised he was still riding with me, deciding he was going to see if he could continue. Directly outside of AS3 we started climbing...again. He got to the top of some crappy grass hill and decided enough was enough, and that it would be smarter to save his knee for future days, so he turned back and I continued on alone. The climbs and tough riding went on for a while longer, but slowly things started to get a bit easier, and I started to feel better, both mentally and physically. It was hot out by then, and I was constantly dumping water from my bottle over my head and neck to keep cool, which also seemed to be helping shake me out of my funk.
By the time I reached the water station between AS3-AS4 I was starting to worry about making cut-offs. However the fight had definitely kicked back in, so I decided I would really try and make time up on the flats and downhills, and endure the climbs. When I hit the rail trail section, I was so happy I could have f*kin' cried. To be pushing the pedals on relatively flat land and carrying speed felt so good. AS4 came on much faster than I expected, and so even though I had mentally planned on taking a short break off the bike, I decided to keep it reasonably short and just continue on.
There were still some tough climbs going back, and many of them I found were easier to get off and walk rather than spin. Lots of them had loose gravel, and although I was getting passed going up some of them by those riding, I would in turn pass many of those same riders on the flats, so I felt it was still balancing reasonably well. Again, AS5 came out of no where, as I was sure I had at least another hour before reaching. I now knew I only had just over 12km of single-track left, and was two hours before the cut-off, meaning barring any catastrophe, I was safe. I pushed through the remainder of the race, and finally crossed the finish line 11 hours and 40 minutes after starting.
I can say a number of things about this race. It was much harder than I ever would have anticipated, and I didn't give it the respect it deserved. I thought there would be much more fast riding sections, and so 160 kilometers didn't seem as daunting. But it was hard, it was gnarly, it was teeth grinding and white knuckled in so many places. I made a few key poor assumptions about what the race would be like, and mentally dug myself a low that I could have avoided.
But it was also amazing, beautiful and (overused word) epic. The race hit so much awesome single-track (that would have been much more enjoyable consumed on it's own in smaller doses...hehe), and the riding really did reward good technical riders. The scenery throughout was often postcard material.
In the end although it wasn't the result or time I had hoped for, it meant a lot just to get through this one. I was very pleased I was able to dig myself out of the hole I had dug, and bounce back for what I felt like was a strong finish. Seems like 2014 is the year of the HTFU races for me. I hope WT turns that trend around. :)
Wednesday May 28, 2014 #
6 PM
Core/Upper 44:02
ahr:130 max:169
You know it is going to be a tough night when Leslie (the nicest person in our class) was taking a peg out of me before the class even started by commenting she didn't realize the class was going to be all girls. W.T.F.
Small class tonight, but it was nice as Jocelyn tailored my workout to be cardio and agility, with some exercises to loosen up my hips for this weekend. Class went by super fast, and I felt great at the end even though I worked up a decent sweat (and was struggling to get off the floor due to the final core set).
Small class tonight, but it was nice as Jocelyn tailored my workout to be cardio and agility, with some exercises to loosen up my hips for this weekend. Class went by super fast, and I felt great at the end even though I worked up a decent sweat (and was struggling to get off the floor due to the final core set).
7 PM
Mountain Biking (Scott Scale) 50:30 12.02 km (14.3 kph) +194m
ahr:158 max:182
Quick little solo spin around Durham north to check out the bike after getting a new rear derailleur installed. Made sure to climb some hills, and push some flats to make sure all was holding together, and mechanically the bike was sound. Had a decent ride technically, which was also a nice confidence booster. Super busy in the forest tonight.