Saturday, March 2, 2013
Saturday, March 2, 2013
The first race of 2013 is now over. It was such a fantastic success I sometimes think I am getting younger. The most laps I have ever ridden on the current Old Pueblo course was 11, two years ago on my geared Siren. This year I again rode 11 laps but on the fully rigid singlespeed Renovo. (A wooden bike)
There are several explanations for such success, my coach, Kristen Dieffenbach(Mountains, Marathons and More), Hammer Nutrition products and an excellent pit crew. Yes, I have to do the training but I need Kristen's expert direction. I need Hammer Nutrition products to train hard and recover completely. During the race Hammer products keep me going strong for 24 hours. Without Randy and Sheri's above and beyond support it would have been nearly impossible to meet the challenges of the race.
I also want to say a big thank you to all the racers who gave me such positive reinforcement while I was on the course. Another heart warming experience was coming through the timing tent. After a difficult lap it was so nice to hear such friendly, encouraging words.
The racers were also all very polite and patient when they wanted to pass. The race director, Todd, is responsible for this because he stressed this many times.
These are the reasons I and thousands of others keep returning to the 24 Hours of Old Pueblo. It is just FUN.
The race weekend began Thursday morning when I left southern California to drive to 24 Hour Town. For previous races I always left Friday morning. Being retired gave me a chance to arrive Thursday and not be so rushed. The drive was peaceful as there was little traffic. Jeff had told me about a short cut between 10 and Hwy 79 which saved me about forty five minutes. On arrival it was warm and sunny with a slight breeze. Randy and Sheri, with pups Aspen and Sky, were already there. We were camped in our old campsite, thank you Cutler, and soon had camp set up. After a crimson sunset the wind began to pickup. For the first time Randy brought an above ground fire pit and I brought wood for nice campfires. Unfortunately the wind blew too hard, so no fire Thursday.
Good thing I had a good night sleep Wednesday because I don't think I slept at all Thursday night. The tent whipped and slapped around all night. We were fortunate the EZ UP didn't collapse. Upon wakening I found a layer of dirt on everything. The wind blew all morning and then gradually slowed down in the afternoon.
I took advantage of the calmer wind and went for an hour ride on the course. My legs felt strong and I rode all but the first bitch. This made me feel confident about how the race would go. Last year on the singlespeed I rode only the first half of each bitch and walked the last part.
I tried to take a nap Friday afternoon but the wind picked up again and that slapping tent wasn't conducive to sleep. I was hoping I would be so tired at night, sleep would come easy.
The wind again kept us from having a fire. It was probably stronger Friday night but I was so tired I didn't lay waiting for sleep too long. At 3 am I unfortunately had to go the the bathroom and didn't go back to sleep. I was hoping four hours of sleep would carry me through the race.
The wind died down considerably by race time though you still felt headwinds or tailwinds depending on the direction the course went.
For the start of the run I stood a little ways back from the front and to the side. Last year the run was difficult. This year was much easier since I had done a lot of walking and some running to prepare for it. When I got to my bike I was in with so many other racers it was necessary to walk for a short distance before starting to ride.
During the first lap it was easy to get into a pace line and be blocked from the wind. I had my fastest ever first lap at 1:37. This didn't include all seven of the steep bitches so the following laps would be slower.
On laps 2,3,and 4 I rode all the bitches. I had never ridding the first one at all and to ride all of them made me feel strong. I could tell I was pushing harder than I probably should because my hamstrings began to cramp as I rode into the pit at the end of lap 4. By the end of the forth lap I was one hour under last years time. If I could keep the pace going maybe I could ride 11 laps. I had to put on lights so took the opportunity to dress warmer, knowing when the sun went down the temperature would too.
Todd knows how to put on the perfect race. This year he even got the weather gods to cooperate. Since I always have cold hands and feet I go prepared with Bar Mitts and shoe covers. This year I never even put on the lobster gloves much less Bar Mitts and didn't need shoe covers. It was easy to start out on the next lap because I knew I wasn't going to freeze.
I felt much more comfortable riding at night this time and I kept the hour advantage through lap 6. On lap 7 my arms began to hurt with every bump so I naturally began to slow down a little. At the end of the lap I was :45 minutes faster than last year. I rubbed Hammer Balm all over my arms and knees that were aching slightly. By the time I finished chicken noodle soup and was on the course again my arms were nearly pain free and I was able to keep my time advantage.
The sun came up half way through lap 9 and I felt like I had been reborn. It is so comforting to feel the warmth and be able to really see. The sun was so bright in spots it blinded me since I was still wearing clear glasses.
When I got into the pit at the end of the 9th lap Randy informed me it was time to now start racing. It seems the girl in second place had stopped riding at 3 am and if I could get ahead of her I could get second as we were on the same lap. He quickly removed the lights, I changed clothes and went out to ride as hard as I could. I couldn't make it up the first bitch but rode all the rest, which I hadn't done since the 4th lap. I was pushing as if it was my first lap.
Half way around the lap my pedals began to spin and I wasn't moving forward. I quickly looked down and saw that my chain had come off and was stuck between the chain ring and the frame. My heart immediately sank because this had never happened before and I wasn't sure if I could fix it. With a little fiddling I got the chain back on and was riding again. Now I was scared it would keep falling off and I didn't known for sure why it had happened. I figured my chain had stretched and was so loose at every bump it could fall off. I was most concerned about the last down hill which if very rough. If the chain came off there and got caught I would be thrown over the bars and it could be very serious.
The chain came off again on the last up hill to the High Point so I cautiously rode the last down hill to the lap finish. My pit was after the timing tent and just before reaching it the chain was off again. Randy saw I had a problem and came to see what was happening. At this time he saw the second place girl ride by. I had been ahead of her. Now it would be impossible to catch her unless she had a problem also.
My bike does not have sliding drop outs which makes it impossible to fix a stretched chain without a special tool and considerable time. Things were looking mighty bleak when Sheri said what about the other bike.
At the last minute I had decided to take my original singlespeed which weighs about thirty plus pounds and I hadn't ridden in a year. Randy quickly changed the number and I was off. I hadn't given up. This was my 11th lap and I was assured of third place. Both of which were my best finishes ever. I wasn't able to ride the steep hills but with a front shock the rough sections were more comfortable.
As I was riding up the last hill a rider behind me said "you are listing to the right". Yes, that is my very, very tired riding position.
That last hill was incredibly tough and I only walked over on rocky section. I wanted to walk all of it but kept telling myself I had to ride.
I finished at 12:30 which was 28 minutes behind second place. I don't know if I could have kept second place without the chain problem. She was a much faster rider than I.
This was my best race at Old Pueblo and to do it on a fully rigid singlespeed at age 68 makes it all the more special.
I learned not to put on a new chain a week before a race. This was my fault.
I was honored and humbled by all the support and friendly comments given me as I was riding.
I want to thank the announcer who gave me a big shout out as I came in from my 8th lap. I was very moved by the attention. He had been given the information that I was 70 which I am sorry about.
I also want to say how much I enjoyed riding with Kelly on my third lap. She was racing geared solo and gave me a good pull on much of the course. We have similar aspirations and have stayed in touch. I hope we ride together in the future.
At the awards I was honored again and in tears as I was given an extended standing ovation.
I hope my success will inspire others to ride no matter what their age. I know I don't plan to stop ridding any time soon.
My next goal at Old Pueblo will be 12 laps. I have already thought of ways to achieve this besides putting on a new chain in January.