M-R-T

The McKenzie River Trail may be overrated for the jaded, but it still deserves some time in the spotlight.

You should go do it before you can't. Breathe deep, expand your field of view and take it all in.

Cliffhanger

Stallone Jr. (aka. J. Schilling), is the man. Welcome back!

8 Hrs of Independence

It was hot. Like 100* hot.

My day started at about 5 am. Unfortunately, sleep was tough to come by on a Friday before the 4th of July. I managed about five hours, though. A little shower, a little breakfast, a little coffee. Out to Flat Mountain to help set up for the race. Worked until about 9 or so, then got ready to ride the bike.

Meeting at 9:45 and we're off up the first climb. Only 8 hours to go. I found myself third going into the one-track at the top, with another singlespeeder just behind. Rocky climbs strewn with ruts and roots were the norm here until the second gravel section. Finally opened up a decent gap, got passed by the rest of the PROs, and settled in for the long haul.

Shredding the descent, suffering through the "Arizona" climb, and then dying on the "woods" climb (due to the effort in the state of Arizona). Coincidentally, or maybe not, my competition on the day came all the way from Phoenix. Rode in about 5th through 8th overall for the first 5 laps or so. Then the heat started to take its toll. I started having to walk a good bit of the "woods" climb. I lost a few spots there.

On lap 7 I flatted smack dab in the middle of Arizona. Front tire, while climbing - WTF?!

"Well, this is the worst possible place for this to happen," I thought.

I stood there, dumbfounded for a minute or two, trying to decide whether to push the whole way to the "woods" climb and fix the flat in the shade, or just get to it right here in the oven that was. I just got to it in the oven. My penance for running 17 psi in the front. While fixing the flat tire, I was passed by a few more peeps on bikes. A singlespeeder came by, stopped and chatted for a bit. Mechanical and cramping problems had been the battles he was fighting that day. I wished him well and he got on his way. Riding peculiarly strong for having cramping issues and dealing with the chain-jump ambush. Hmmm...

Finally got the tube changed (yeah, that's right - old school, baby!). Slapped the wheel in and started suffering again. Lap 7 done. Lap 8 done. Lap point discussion about whether to ride 9 or 10 laps on the day. I decided that I would decide after lap 9. Turns out that I was kinda tired and sweaty and hot and the BBQ smelled really good after lap 9, so I called it a day after 7+ hours in and out of the saddle. Could have done 10. Didn't. I had more fun with 9.

All-in-all it was a good day. A great group of riders. Awesome volunteers. Supportive spectators. I finally won something in the raffle. Can you say "Mountain Feedbag"? Yup, just like a horse's feedback, but not really. I wanted one of these for years, and they are made locally! You should get one, especially if you kinda like horses.

Le Tour

It's coming. Can you feel it?

The Massey Stronghold...

...is gaining more attention near the mountaintops.

It's all about time.

Endurance Tester: Take One and Two

On tap for this past weekend: a wedding, aide for a 25/50k trail run, and a fitty-mile bike race.

Friday was pre-wedding festivities. They were fun, and I met some really great people. Beer and food were consumed. I took it easy. In bed by midnight.

Saturday saw me rising at an all-too-early 5:30 am.

Coffee? Yes. Donuts, bagels, and other baked goods? Yes. Then out to work the second aide station at the trail run. I brought the guitar and played some dueling banjos for the competitors, with mixed reviews. I can't believe folks run that far for "fun". I guess we're all animals. Congratulations to everyone at the event. It was a huge success!

Home by 1 pm in the valley. Planned on a quick nap. Didn't happen. Quick shower and a bagel instead. Then load up tent and stuff for the evening's wedding camp. To the garden to practice a tune with cute 11-year-old violinist and Jeff the banjoman. Apple consumed in there somewhere.

Cue the wedding ceremony. Two of my very dear friends are now officially united! Daisy played beautifully. Amazing salmon and salad dinner with some wine made by a friend ensued. Bluegrass/folk band and dancing under the stars. Jam session around the fire. Possibly the best wedding I've had the pleasure to attend.

Until 1:30 am, that is. That's when I decided to hoof it back to the valley for some shut-eye. 2:30 am: asleep on the couch. Bliss.

Until 6:00 am, that is. Up. Load the gear for a 9 am start time. 50 miles and 8000+ feet of climbing to attend to today. Coffee, OJ, bagel, apple, bottle or two of water in the system.

Neutral roll-out. Climb. Climb. Climb. Trying not to start too fast. This is a longer ride than usual. 20 miles and I'm feeling good. Not tired, legs are a little flat but coming in. Then that lovely feeling in my quads start flaring up. Just ride through it. Wow, this is really hurting. Look down at my thighs and watch my quads spasm.

Hmm. Stand up and try to hammer up the hill. Hmm. Maybe I should try walking a bit. First step puts me on my knees. I fall down, balled up in pain trying to massage the spasm out of my thighs. One minute. Two minutes. Okay, getting better. Walk it out. Okay, now pedal like you know how. Ouch. Finally some downhill singletrack to finish the first lap. That should help, right?

Wrong. Limped up to the first aide. Abandon? Knew it was not going to be my day with the crazy weekend festivities and lack of sleep + nutrition. But abandon? Really? Sat there for a few minutes searching for the answer to my inner debacle. Despite the last 4 miles of cramping, the first lap time was decent at 2:15 or so. Shake these cramps out and still looking at a 4:30-ish ride today. Aide station volunteers (bless their hearts) are more than happy to have me sit and chat, eat some food and stuff. I can always turn around and ride back downhill, right?

Sure. On it again. Up the climb to first trail feeling better. Passing some folks and chatting a bit on the way. The motor is strong, but a test of the legs after the first singletrack section tells me the cramps are back again to stay for the next 20 miles. Sweet.

Ride until the pain is enough to make me think my legs are going to stay bent at the knee for eternity. Hop off. Use the bike as a prop to keep from falling over. Wait. Walk. Ride. Repeat. Over, and over, and over again. Catch up to Pat. Dave catches up at the final aide. We ride/walk together for awhile. The new singletrack sections are totally rideable despite the off/on rain that the day has brought with it. Yet, I only see a handful of racers ride it. That's the only real fun I'm having today, so I'm ear-to-ear with a grin while picking it apart. Eventually, I bid adieu to Dave and watch him ride off. Legs start to feel a little better, so I say goodbye to Pat for awhile. Entering Panama Canal, the last righteous trail of the day, I here a boisterous "on, your, left." I reply, "I, hope, you, plan, on, going, fast." I turn and see that it is Pat. Nice. It's follow-the-leader to the trailhead, and we are flying. Doesn't get much better. I forget about the spasms for those precious minutes.

Until the 2 miles on gravel to the finish. Pat's feeling good, and he is gone. I hang for a few seconds, then set my mark on the carrot a hundred yards ahead. Gears. He's got more than one. Rev it up to 20 mph, tuck, rest the legs for an important 15 seconds, then rev it up again. Got him. Drop it into torque mode and see stars up the final grade to the finish line. Done. Happy. Motor was strong. Nutrition and rest leading up to the start was poor. What can you do but endure?

Nothing.

Another Revision?!

This is getting to be like graduate school...

Echo Red-to-Red Done.
Willamette Stage Race Cancelled.

Kings Valley Road Race Done.

Table Rock Road Race Done.
Peak Sports Mudslinger Done.
Mohican 100 Skipped it! 
Tour of Tucker County Skipped it!
Test of Endurance 50 June 21.
8 Hours of Independence July 4.
Breckenridge 100 July 18.
Wilderness 101 August 1.
Big Bear Ultra August 8.
Fool's Gold 100 August 15.
Shenandoah 100 September 6.
Henry Clak 30K September 20.
Revenge of the Rattlesnake September 26.

And for the fall:

Fayetteville Cross October 17.
Morgantown Cross October 24
Marilla Cross October 31
Bruceton Mills CX V November 21

Still looking for that cyclocross series worth traveling to in the east. Anyone have the answer?  Let me know.