BBBB-Race Blues
24 Hours of Old Pueblo.
BBB- irfday Race
Every year I go to race bikes for my BBBirthday. This year should be no different. Traditionally I have traveled to Texas, and raced a DORBA race. I’m able to do a ninja trip: Out and BBBack with one night away from home. This year on account of a BBBrotrip, and other trips to Dallas, we opted for something a little bigger. 24 Hours of Old Pueblo near Oracle, Arizona.
This race has been on my BBBucket list for several years. With one difference, I wanted to do it well, very well, podium style well. This year was not my year. I did not think, it would be, I would try. I was missing my training race, El Paso Puzzler, as that quickly turned into a 16 mile 1 to 1.5 hour ride. I did a couple of BBBlock training weekends, however, it’s difficult to replace a 7.5 hour race.
I was also missing my 2 year plan of training: 1st year support a 24 hour racer, 2nd year, race a Duo Team.
So what let’s see what happens.
The weekend before, M2 came down with a serious contagion, as well as M1. What happened in response to this new stimulus?
A Taper Re-write. I have to say, this is probably one of the smartest tapers I have ever done. I’m pretty sure, most of you, if not all of you understand that feeling, that need, the psychological aspect of missed workouts. Having to make that choice. For some reason, these choices seemed simpler than years past. Similar to when I made the choice to turn in the towel at El Paso Puzzler. That conversation went like this (rest assured there was a lot more drama, and indecisiveness involved):
I have the ability to decide right now:
Would I rather finish this race today, and be out for 2 to 4 weeks,
OR
Throw in the towel right now, and be back to regular training by Wednesday?!?!
I have to say, stopping at 16 miles was an EXCELLENT decision.
So I had a similar conversation going into my last 7 days into OP. I kept close tabs on my TSB score over on WKO4 as I was making these decisions. I knew that my immune system was weakened based on my -29’ish TSB, as much as I love swimming, I missed 2 swims in order to focus on my recovery. As much as I am enjoying get my run back, I missed one run. I got all of my bike rides in, not of my usual variety, but good, Strava style trophy rides.
And guess what…?!?!
I did not get the contagion.
It paid off.
This being my BBBirthday Race and of such magnitude, I was able to call in support. I flew my Mom out to stay with the Monkeys. This will be the 1st of any such races for me. A race where I go for more than one night, a race, that yes, we will be spending 4 nights. Wow. Miracles do happen.
The weather was less than favorable.
We drove a way that I had not been. It was beautiful. We went through Malpais. The most beautiful of black lava fields. Our route went on a more west route through El Malpais than I had been on before.
We literally rounded a corner into snow. New Mexico, so happy to see you snow. How beautiful are you snow.
We could use so much more of you, snow.
Our trip had an interesting aspect to it.
We were driving on the 2017 Tour Divide Route.
My partner had ridden through this area at 3 am, in the final push to get to Antelope Wells, it was fun seeing him like a kid and a candy store; taking in some of the most amazing vistas. There is an area along this road, that looks a lot like areas of Utah. It is an area that this duo will return to for more exploring!
At this intersection is where the Tour Divide Riders turn and head on gravel to Pie Town.
I have to say, my favorite part of the drive was through Salt River Canyon. The road is similar to the old road down to Hoover Dam, and the view is a combination of the Taos River Gorge, and the Grand Canyon. It was a beautiful area. Not too much mountain biking available in these parts, as we headed more west towards Tuscon, there were definitely more trails. This area belongs to the Indians. As it should. Some of the most beautiful country I have ever seen.
“Welcome to Willow Springs” Oh yeah, us. As you can see it is crazy muddy wet.
Pretty sure at this point, we were thinking how lucky, not lucky we are.
The one thing about desert. These conditions, generally mean one thing:
Hero Dirt.
So not to be sidetracked or disappointed by anything we may experience for weather.
We came in on Thursday. The extra time to get settled really paid off. Somehow we managed to get camp set up, dinner cooked, and somehow stay dry. No mistake, for the desert it was cold.
We were actually in a cloud most of the time. Thursday and Friday were both rainy and cold the entire time.
So much so that Pre Ride may have been an actual disadvantage.
Somehow, I pushed for a pre-ride in the only 2 hour window of no rain on Friday. I went from no ride, to urgency within a matter of 20 minutes. Good thing too, as it started to pour the minute I got back to camp.
So much water, came down with this storm, we built a run off and a lake to keep the main area of camp dry.
I really liked the course, it was really fast. I was glad to have the opportunity for a photo op lap. Got some great pictures. Please see me on Facebook to see the album.
The Race:
The start was a slow jog, and a trip to the Porto Johns, which it would take me 3 days to finally figure out why I had to pass so many people on Lap 1.
I was at XC race pace. It was awesome. Was it sustainable… If you are competitive in 24 hour racing, they are won within the 1st 6 hours.
Everyone has the same point of diminishing return.
I was pulling 1:30’ish laps.
I felt good.
The extra rest paid off. (it sucked, and was mentally hard, and it worked)
BBB-itch: Raging Bitch
3rd Lap. I was a complete raging bitch.
And for good reason.
Totally ridiculous.
I am still in XC race pace, I am strong, and I have not come to the 6 hour mark.
I am on SS. And this lap I am being passed by the 3rd person on a Team. Their 1st Lap.
I understand you are fresh. Yeah you.
I understand you want to do well. Yeah, Me too.
But don’t be a dick.
Don’t come up behind me and ring your BBBell, and expect me to pull off to the side of the trail, and roll out the red carpet.
I expect you, to pass me just the way I pass everyone. When it’s safe, I am a stronger rider, so I will pass you, you can yield the trail, if you want. You can stop, if you want. But I do not expect it.
Rule # 2. No Copter Rides. Some close calls on emergency BBBell removal surgery.
Usually, as a woman, on SS there is One Guy. One.
24 Hours of OP, it was a lap. Now, not everyone was this rude.
But 60-75% of every male Team Rider on Lap 3 was.
Yes, I did become a raging BBBitch.
If I was rude to you, there may have been a reason, you may want to spend some time in introspection; if not, I am truly sorry. I was very upset.
When you approach a rider, don’t just ring your bell. Talk to them. Ringing your bell, and NOT communicating assumes:
- That I heard your bell
- That I am psychic.
So please, let me know; “on your right, on your left, passing when safe.”
Don’t expect me to pull off.
And STOP.
This is what made me a raging BBBitch. BBBurning matches every time I had to pull off the trail and power out on SS for 24 hours. WTF. You’re on gears, and what, how many laps are you going to be riding…?!?!
I also had many Teamed Dudes come up to me, and expect me to stop, pull off, track stand, and instead of actually calling out how many of them would be in the train.
Would basically run me into a cactus with:
One more,
One more,
One more.
Well, guess, what NO!
You’re the last dude in a train, call out.
4 back.
WTF.
It’s not rocket science.
2/3rds of the way through that lap, I just said, what the hell.
This is a whole lot of wrong.
These male team geared riders, are expecting me to STOP, when, what OOooo, you gonna ride 3-5 laps at the most in a 24 hour period…. Ooo, I better get over, and roll out that red carpet for you, because I know that 25,000 dollar check at the finish line for winning has your name on it.
I decided that I was still racing, and I was racing to win, and if they were the stronger faster rider, their job was to go around me.
I have never in all of my years, had to be such a raging BBBitch before.
And I am truly sorry, for all the cool nice people out there who may be offended by my harsh words.
Once I decided I was worthy to be passed in a respectful manner, the final climb on the 3rd lap. My world got a lot better. I was able to calm down, and enjoy myself.
I rode hard until Midnight. 24 hours really aren’t my thing. I am more a 6 to 12 hour girl.
12 hours into it, I pull off in 1st place, with 7 laps.
Yeah me, the most I have ever ridden at one time.
I cannot risk Rule #2
I have become tired enough, and what I have learned in retrospection, is I was not eating enough. Not my usual mistake. There may have been something underline going on. Not eating enough, literally, was a 1st for me.
The plan was to get off the bike at Midnight, and rest until 3: get up at 3; be on the bike at 4, and roll until 12:01.
At Midnight I do the 2XU Full Body Compression fight, and manage to get it on.
Tim rolled in, and did not appear in the best of conditions, so I worked with him a little bit. I knew I still needed 3 hours rest, so I pushed it out, down at 1 up at 4, on the bike at 5. Unfortunately, I did not sleep. Not one bit. Usually I can fall asleep for a sleep cycle, get up, and be refreshed, or at least pretend. My body was so rigid from the earlier ride, I couldn’t let go.
Oh, 5 am was so peaceful. I was slow, I was floundering, I was more than happy to pull off the side of the trail for people. I wasn’t racing.
I was waiting for the sun to come up. After 6 hour laps were running about 150.
I did a 5 am lap, and a 7 am lap, and I didn’t feel right, I looked at my watch, and said, I have 3 hours, I can do more.
I began to walk to the car, to get ready, and I almost fell over, I swayed, didn’t know what happened.
The only thing I could figure was I fell asleep while walking.
So I got back in the truck, and did manage to fall asleep.
I was in last place. The girl in 2nd to the last place had the same amount of laps as me, so I was planning to roll down to the finish line, hopefully, in front of her.
So I rolled down the finish line, it was a block long to get logged in my fleece pants, and my spectacles.
And I did manage to get logged in front of her.
I achieved my goal of 120 miles. I rode a total of 150 miles.
I got my distance in for Breck 100, which is actually my A-Race this year.
I had a really good time, outside of Lap 3, and even then, I had a great time.
I went BallZ to the Wall for 12 hours, and covered more distance than I have ever covered at one time before. And it felt really good.
Lotsa BBBase miles.
I had a new experience,
Rode new Trail,
Rode in Arizona for the 1st time,
Got great information for my next attempt.
I learned a lot.
24 Hours of Old Pueblo course suits me very well.
I am excited to come back.
I was off the bike for a total of 8 hours; so keep that in mind, when you’re doing the math.
Congratulations to all the serious bad ass women out there on SS.
Congratulations to all of the racers, for all the laps, and miles you covered.
And just so you know,
The Weather was perfect,
The Sunset amazing,
The Stars were so bright and beautiful,
And the Sunrise was worth every second of gazing.
Thanks for checking in.
Keep the Rubber side down.
And remember,
-Have Fun
-No Copter Rides.
Zoe