2012 Curse at the Crab 6hr Race – Blessed!

I was really looking forward to this event, 6 hrs at Crabtree Park trails, with a 2-8 pm run time, meaning a few laps in the dark…but then I started throwing up Tuesday night into Wednesday morning and suddenly I was dreading it.  Still, I figured it was better to race than to regret.  After all, the race is only 6 hrs, but regret lasts much longer (hey, someone should coin that).  The stomach was still bothering me race day and I felt a bit weak, but whatever.  I think it was Nate who told me, "...just another opportunity to HTFU!"

I stuck to yogurt drink, crackers, a hard boiled egg and banana for breakfast (kinda spread out over the morning), then another banana, chocolate milk and ginger ale a couple hours before the race.  Then right before the race, some more ginger ale and some salt n’ vinegar chips.

I tried to be careful with what I ate the day of the race as my stomach was still feeling crappy (the chips did not help).  Luckily three trips to the port-a-jon helped clean me out and off I went

Just before I crashed...don't I look happy?

Heading out for lap 4, you can see I am feeling good now.

I knew there would be the long trail of riders going into the single track, so better too be to far up, than too far back.  Then whoosh!  Going around a turn, ~1.5 miles in to the race, my tires wash out and I hit the dirt.  Luckily my buddy Jeremy was right behind me and just missed leaving a tire tread tattoo on my torso.  So I stood up, dusted off my pride, and watched and waited for all the bikers to go by until I finally had time to jump in line and get back into the race.  If I already felt crappy, crashing in the 1^st lap did not help.  Funny, I had the same kind of crash in lap three, but nobody saw it, so it did not bother me as much.   Anyway, I continued to feel crappy the first three+ laps.  It did not help that I knew I was likely in last place in SS and could not catch anybody, not even guys I have lapped on past races.  I mean seriously, was I just having a bad day?  Was I suddenly this bad & was everyone else that good?  Orrr, did some guys just go out too fast?  I hoped for the latter.  I also wanted to stick to the #1 rule in endurance racing, which is: Just keep pedaling and good things may happen.  Funny how ‘Niner’ summed it up on my frame with “Pedal Damn It!”, so I did.  I even started to feel better around lap 4 and felt like I could keep my pace without irritating my stomach.  Then it happened.  I passed another SS’er, then another, then another.  This went on for the next few laps until I got to what I knew would be my last lap.  I knew Jeremy, Mark and Ahmet were ahead of me, and maybe someone I did not know??? Regardless, if I went hard, I might catch a couple of them, and finish in the top 5.  I pushed it.  Every rider I came up to, I was just hoping they were on a SS.  The lap was now half way past, no SS’ers.  Then ~3/4 through, I came upon Mark who decided not to attempt to stay with me.  I thought for sure Jeremy would be nearby so I laid down the hammer and went as fast as I could knowing that there was maybe 1 to 1.5 miles left.  By the time I neared the bridge before the last climb I could see no one and accepted that Ahmet and Jeremy were going to finish ahead of me.  I was not surprised with Ahemt as he has really stepped up his riding and has been winning races.  Jeremy on the other hand, while a solid racer and strong competitor, has not finished ahead of me in any event (usually due to crashing or mechanical) and we have been racing these local events together since 2009.  Imagine my shock when I get to the finish line (9 laps, 60.3 miles in 5:42), to find out Jeremy and Ahmet are out for lap 10, then Jeremy comes in first!.  What a race for him!  Clearly all that working out and eating good is helping.  Maybe I should try it, but unfortunately I like to eat too much.  Anyway, I ended the event not feeling "Cursed at the Crab", but blessed to find out I snuck into 3^rd place.  I was also glad that the two guys above me did 10 laps.  No way was I hittin’ that even if I was healthy, so I don’t need to feel bad about how much better I could have done.  Sure, I could have ‘possibly’ raced a bit faster, but not that much.  Now plenty of time to heal up for the final TORC Endurance Series event at Harris Lake in 2 weeks…or plenty of time to get sick again, but then I would be truly cursed.  Always nice to have an excuse though. :)

ORC HTFU 100...

***OFFICIALLY CHANGED TO SUNDAY, APRIL 22nd***

Alright you crazies out there. It is time to get off the couch, lube the chain, and start pedaling.  Sunday, April 22nd brings the ORC HTFU 100.
The proposed route (subject to minor alteration) is:
286: ~12 miles of sweet single-track to start us off. [12]
Umstead: ~14 mile loop that will including an out and back at Cedar Ridge and Old Reedy Creek Lake.  After the out and back by the lake we will return to the Turkey Creek/Reedy Creek intersection and Exit onto Trenton Rd. and head down to the Hubcap trail. [26]
Hubcap: Jump into Hubcap and ride this down to Harrison Ave.. Cross the overpass (Hwy 40), turn right at Harris Oaks and then right into the Sludge trail. [29]
Sludge: Ride straight through Sludge (in order to keep directions simple).  This means staying right at the first two intersections.  The trail ends at Old Reedy Creek Rd. (ORC) and ride into Crabtree. [33]
Crabtree: Thinking all rights for a 5 mile loop. [38]
Black Creek Greenway to Jimmy Johns! [43]
Note:  I am hoping that while there will be many different abilities on this ride, we will regroup at least up to and through Sludge and then again for Jimmy Johns...then after that, people should be familiar with the route etc. and groups may form organically.  I personally will plan on riding a bit slower if it means company than riding alone, but that is just me.
Black Creek Greenway back [48]
286 again.  Choose the same direction or ccw if you are feeling adventurous.  As groups form they can decide. [60]
*Umstead: Straight through Reedy Creek (no turns) to the greenway [65]
Reedy Creek Greenway: to Ben & Jerry's. [70]
Reedy Creek Greenway: back to Crabtree [80]
Crabtree: all lefts for a 5 mile loop. [85]
Finish with an easy loop of Umstead (Reedy Creek Trail, Left at Graylyn, Right at Turkey Creek, Right on Reedy Creek Trail and follow this back to the finish.  ~13.5 miles for ~99 total miles.
Post event gathering at Rally Point where stories will be told and prizes/awards dished out.  I look forward to seeing you there!

Note: I will update this post with more information and details as they become available.  

More Details/Updates:

• The course has been altered to remove Delta Ridge and add Hubcap and Sludge.  The new changes  might make the mileage just shy of 100, but if you wish, you are welcome to ride an extra mile at the end. :)
• Bring a camera (on your phone is fine) to take photo evidence of your arrival at the two mandatory pit-stops, and for other treasured memories.
• Have an odometer on your bike for mileage verification.
• Be prepared to have fun, ride, have less fun, ride, have little-to-no-fun, ride ends, have fun again.

For an idea of the Umstead routes and more information, click here for a link to "Map My Ride".  Zoom in on the map to see the mileage though Umstead and the Greenways.

The link above may be more useful than the pic below, but just in case it helps someone here it is:

right-click & open in new tab, then click again to enlarge

LATEST UPDATE (April 18th): Yes, it might be wet.  Yes, it might be raining.  Yes, we will still be riding.  If you are wondering why, then I suggest you look up what HTFU means. ;)  Obviously the course will change to included more Umstead, greenway etc. and less single-track, but that is to be expected.  Still looking forward to Jimmy Johns for lunch and a beer or two afterward. :)

Final Update: Tough Ride...Read about it here!

Violently Ill? Let's Race!

So, last weekend my oldest daughter comes down with the sick bug. Then Monday night, my wife starts blowing chunks.  So naturally, I begin projectile vomiting Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning.  Guessing there is no chapter in Friel's Mountain BikersTraining Bible about the benefits of racing when sick.  Still, there are benefits.  I lost ~6 lbs in ~12 hours, try doing that with Atkins!  And being dehydrated, one is likely to cramp earlier, providing valuable practice in working through cramps.  Also, there is the benefit of not being able to ride for a week leading up to the race. Clearly, over training will not be an issue.  So, there is my cup-half-full take on why my bedside bucket-half-full of vomit will turn out to be a good thing.

Oh, and just an FYI, New England clam chowder looks a lot like Manhattan clam chowder upon exit.

Your welcome.

An Open Letter To Wives-- Spot On!

Click on this title and open up the article (and enjoy) "An Open Letter To Wives". 

This pretty much sums it up!


Thanks for understanding honey...and, your welcome. 

Lets HTFU & do a Metric Century...

O.k., how about we HTFU and ride a full Century!

So it is that time of year to build up miles and saddle time for the upcoming endurance season.  In the distance is PMBAR as well as the Burn24 and at least one Hundie (to be determined).  I will usually have a few Metric Centuries out of Old Reedy Creek Rd (ORC) that involve at least 18-38 miles single-track and 22 to 42 miles of hilly double-track.  Only once have I had the stupidity mental fortitude to ride nothing but Umstead for 62 miles.  That time may come again next week.  Still I am hoping for some single-track to mix it up...or maybe even a greenway ride out to Ben & Jerry's...god I love their ice-cream.

So, before I even post up the Metric Century, Mark (of Farnsworth Engineering) tells me, "How about an HTFU Century ride.  Well, I took that as a challenge, and I am not one to walk (or ride) away from a challenge so it is on!  Somehow, someway, we are going to come up with a 100 mile route around ORC that will see us riding ~35-40 miles single-track, 35-40 miles double track, and ~25 miles greenway.  The Greenway is necessary to get to Jimmy Johns for a mandatory pit-stop and also to, of course, Ben & Jerry's for Dessert. :)  I am now very interested to see how this ride may unfold (or unravel).  Stay tuned!

WARNING, TMI: My Arse Hurts!

Funny, the picture is spot-on!

Really?  I pride myself on not using Chamois Cream, Bag Balm, Butt Butter Butt Lube...you get the idea.  Butt (couldn't help it) after the most recent HTFU ride of ~52 miles, I find myself with a sore saddle.  I once gave a hard time to my buddies who use Butt Creams as I was proud that my butt could take an all-day pounding, lube free (insert your own joke you sicko!).  Now I may need to join the crowd of riders that lube up before each ride, or at least I will may need to lube up for the long, hard ones (get your mind out of the gutter).  So, what is next?  Shaving my legs, wearing a kit and riding gears?!?  H-E-double hockey sticks, No!.

FWIW I use the Nashbar R2 Saddle.  While the current saddle on my bike is relatively new (6 weeks), I have used this saddle since I started riding in 2008.  I do have a Terry Fly in the parts bin I could try, but I might just chalk this up to my first long ride of the year.  OR I might over-react and purchase a Specialized Phenom (white, of course) that I have had my eye on for a while.  Stay tuned.

Bushwhacked!

The First Ever 2012 Bushwhack Mountain Bike Race...Brrrrr!

Sunday brought the first ever Bushwhack Mtb Race, put on by the Bushwack Adventure Racing. And let me tell you, this ride as a true HTFU ride!  The course was not too daunting:  ~6 miles of Crabtree, ~19 miles of Umstead double-track, finishing with a 2^nd ~6 mile loop through Crabtree.  The kicker is that the race time temperature was ~27° F, brrrrr!   Naturally, there were several no shows…well they missed out.  The course was fun, yet challenging and the riders and volunteers alike were spirited and encouraging.  While there were no categories for this ‘open’ event, the start was staggered by expert, sport and beginner categories starting 1 minute apart.  I planned on running 32:18, much steeper than my usual 32:20, but it was a shorter event than what I am use to, so I was hoping I could pull more speed and yet not cramp up…ended up wrong on both accounts.

Glad to be ahead of the Tandem going into single-track!

My strategy for the beginning was not to get stuck in a Crabtree backlog.  The race started with a long out and back on the road to spread out the group before hitting the single-track, I did my best to spin near the front for two reasons.  First, it sucks being stuck behind a large group that want to go slower than you.  Second, when it is that cold, and you know you still have 30+ miles left, it is easy to talk yourself into accepting a slower, more comfortable pace at the start.  Letting the momentum of faster riders carry me through could be a difference of up to 5 minutes.

After rolling through Crabtree at a pretty good pace we hit Umstead.  To my surprise, who should come up behind me but Mark Farnsworth himself, Mr. Fe bikes, on the twenty-niner he recently built for himself.  I knew he had been doing some major Umstead riding and would likely go through at a fast pace…so my goal, stick with him!  I felt this should not be a problem as he was running 32:20 to my 32:18.  Wrong!

Goal for lap 1: Push it!

We did stay together for much of the ride, which went as follows:  Drop gearies on climbs.  Gearies catch us on flats and down hills.  Repeat!                                                                         

The difference came on the very last climb, the short, but steep Cemetery (or Graveyard) Hill.   Mark and I were pulling away from the rest, but I was having a tough time keeping up with his pace.  We both stand and power up the hill…ouch, the cramps are starting.  My 33:18 did not help me climb any faster as I had to climb gingerly to fight off cramps.  When we reached the top, I was beat.  Mark started to spin along with another single-speeder, and I started dropping back to nurse my legs.  I did not want to lose sight of the two riders in front of me so I started spinning with all my might.  I knew that with all things being equal, if we both spin 110 rpms, my gearing is going to allow me to go faster.  Well, apparently Mark was spinning at 150 rpms because I was spinning as fast as I could and they were pulling away from me.  By the time I entered the gate at Crabtree, they had already take the turn to the single-track.  My goal, just keep the legs going.

I'm to the right, behind Joe (in yellow). Cleared it!

Cruising to the 1st real Umstead climb. Crushed it!

Amazingly, before we arrived at the top near the parking lot, I had caught Mark.  He said something about how he had crashed as I went by.  I thought, that sucks to come this far and wreck.  Found out later he meant his body crashed (bonked), but hey, it happens.  I just kept moving, trying to go as fast as I could where the trail would allow it.  It was pretty muddy and sloppy on one of the last loops before the end (loop 5 maybe?) and I did slide into a tree, but only hooked my bar end and dabbed.  I quickly hopped back on the trail and carefully road through the freshly thawed, slippery mess.  Luckily, at this part of the trail, I could look back and see there was no one in sight.  This information allowed me to pick my spots and fight off cramps that became really bad by loop 2.  The race ended with another out and back on the road.  Luckily there was no one right behind me, as I would not have been able to hold anyone off on a long paved section with my legs cramping.  I rolled across the finish spent, but stoked.  No categories, so I do not know where I came in amongst the other SS'ers, but it looks like I came in ~25th overall (~2:29) which is great considering two weeks ago at the JMM I think I came in 67th (both races wtih ~100 riders).  Regardless, this really was a fun event.  After the usual hanging around and B.S.’n with different riders, a bunch of us headed off to Rally Point Sports Bar for some delicious spaghetti, salad, and $2.50 pints of one of my favorite beers, Natty Greene’s Old Town Brown!  Good ride, good people, good event…good times!

Photo Credits: biketriad.com (on the left) and Rob Ward (on the right).  Thank you so much for capturing these for us...it means a lot!