What I’m Up To: Palo Duro Canyon
Where to start…I never quite know where to begin. Saturday I had the season opener of the Texas Marathon Mountain Bike Series in Palo Duro Canyon, Texas. I love marathon mountain bike races, I love Palo Duro Canyon. Sounds like a perfect day, doing my favorite thing in the whole world!! It was a challenge getting there. I should first thank all my sponsors who made it possible for me to have the experience. Thank you Bikes Plus, Orthopedic Associates, Sumy Designs, Dallas Vein Specialist, and Terra Firma Adventure Racing Company! Without you I would have not been able to have the greatest experience of a life time.
As for the challenge, if you have been keeping up with my blogging, I have had less than perfect health the last couple of months, which also, included having surgery on both my legs 6 weeks ago. The recovery from the surgery, the celiac’s disease, the lack of sunshine, and the lack of exercise for a couple of weeks really put a tax on my immune system.
I wasn’t sure if I would be able to roll the way I wanted, I didn’t know how going from couch bound to 6 hours in the saddle would fair. I wasn’t sure how the permanent loogie in my throat, and the pressure in my sinus’ was going to react during the race, nor was I prepared for last minute gastrointestinal distress that sent me running to the bathroom at 4:45 AM and again at 5:15 was going to hold out for the race. All in all, I was feeling that lady luck would be my only hope.
On Friday I got to the race venue, brought the single speed for my pre ride. My race bike looked far too beautiful to ruin, and I knew that coasting the downhill’s and walking the uphill’s was where it was for me that day. I rode the first 4 miles and the last mile. That was perfect but the compilation of events leading up this first race was leaving me feeling less than confident.
To add to the confidence was the final trip to the restroom for the night to see my biggest competition, and the coolest girl ever, the girl I was praying wouldn’t make the trip. I knew I was going to have to race hard.
My pre race meals were perfect, having switched to the Paleo Diet for Athletes, no pasta and refined carbs for the little lady. I ate a half pound of chicken a cup of yams, 2 cups of zucchini and squash and maybe a ¼ cup of brown rice. Later in the evening, I had apple sauce, and a homemade NO gluten banana muffin. For breakfast, I didn’t need to worry about getting up early enough. I had 4 eggs, ¼ cup of brown rice cereal, Rice and Shine with honey, raisins and cinnamon. And a little later, I had some fruit 3-4 cups worth. I also, had a terrific cup of coffee. Mmm, coffee…
Caveman and the anti-Cupcake were there, that was super cool and so were some other folks I wasn’t really expecting, that made it fun.
Mass start makes for mass confusion, I should have started way up front. Everybody got bottle necked and people weren’t making the climbs, it was near ridiculous, I was riding having a delightful conversation with my arch nemesis and best friend, and then, we were walking, and then we were riding and then we were walking. I was making jokes about how I wish all 50 miles were going to be this pace. Then, something happened, and a couple of guys tried to push their way through, then, it began to get nasty. I was holding a pretty good pace, and then, I was picking up the pace and then, she was gone. I didn’t have the chance to catch her and ride with her because there was this chain reaction of people, and I lost contact with her. My first lap was pretty fast, I felt strong and my field of vision was perfect. I love that kind of riding where my technical skill and my cardiovascular system are in match. First lap perfect, two more to go.
I head into transition, grab what I need and head out for a second. Wow, this hurts, wow, I don’t have any power, wow, I’m walking hills, wow, I’m in the granny gear. I had second thoughts about the pain that would incur during my third lap. If this is so tough right now and I am getting passed by all the old fat guys and the young guys that went out too fast, this is going to be bad. This is going to be really ugly. But I am still having fun!
Why is it, guys always come up right behind me and just sit there, c’mon, I know it’s ladies first, but in everything but mountain biking. I know it’s not because I smell good! I come into transition, grab what I need, my sweet arch nemesis, coolest chick I know, is 10 minutes in front of me. I grab my double espresso, and if everything goes like it did first lap, there’s hope.
I still don’t have any power and my legs don’t match my heart rate. What the heck, even a double shot into it?!? I have finally figured out, it’s not me, so I stop and check my wheels, guess what?!? My front wheel with a spin stops by the 5th revolution. It’s rubbing like you wouldn’t believe. So I adjust it, that’s better, a few minutes into it, it’s catching again. I stop again, re adjust and I’m FLYING, FREE FLYING!! Oh, I feel so strong, oh, I’m picking people off one by one. The guys are hesitant, they are thinking, “oh, there’s that girl I passed last lap.” I have to explain, “I seem to be rolling much faster since my front tire isn’t rubbing on the brake anymore” and then they let me over. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5…then, I see her, second place, I chase her, I’m closer I’m literally one bikes length away from her, the guy isn’t letting me by!! I finally go into explanation and she looks back and takes off! I’m on her, I’m flying. She’s gone. I push harder, I’m on her, I’m literally a bikes length away again, and my arch nemesis husband is the only thing that is standing between us, I hear a cordial exchange of words, what sounds like a ‘you owe me one’ kind of exchange, and by the time I get by she’s no where to be seen. I have tons of power, I feel awesome, I feel strong, I know it’s the last lap, I’m hammering literally. I’m doing everything I can to catch her. I put it in the big ring, I lock out my front shock, I’m like the cheetah on the giselle. I just give more and more and more, it’s easy to give when there is so much in the tank.
I have more power than ever when I cross the line. I throw the zoots on and only tell a couple of people about my mishap. I can’t complain, it makes me stronger, way stronger, it will help for Comfort, it will help with El Paso. It cost me second place. I’m thinking the total time lost is about 10 minutes. I figure that at least 1:40 for each subsequent lap after the first, seems reasonable.
Now is when I really get faster, so take this challenge my cute little friend, who is my arch nemesis,(I’m kidding, of course) And know that over the last year, I have closed the gap 10 minutes. Know that I’m not letting you go out of my site the next time we roll up on the line together. Know, that I will do everything in my power to follow your line, because you are an excellent mountain biker, one of the best I know, I just hope I can get as fast as you when I’m your age, you rock!
And thank you to the Power that feeds all things, for giving me a workout I could not have had without your divine intervention. I know and I trust the 18-20 miles I rode with my front brake locked is part of your divine training plan and for that I am grateful. All in all a great day in the saddle, a podium finish at 3rd place. And a promise to race my next race even faster!