Long Strange Trip, it was.
There was a time and a place when I would get on my bike and race for 6 hours, like it was a 1 hour tempo ride.
Those days are gone. Apparently.
I guess, when you have a year off for multiple jaw surgeries, the chance that you’re going to come back and NOT feel the pain, is highly unlikely.
Saturday was Palo Duro Canyon TMBRA Marathon Mountain Bike Race.
Those of you who know me, know that the 100k bike race is my favorite, and Palo Duro Canyon, one of my favorite venues.
I can’t say favorite, because when you love to ride your bike as much as I do almost all courses are my favorite venue. Especially when there’s climbing, single track, and pretty views.
Palo Duro totally kicks butt and is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been.
The race, I had a lot of hesitation whether or not I was actually prepared. Yes, I did a 5 hour and somethin’ somethin’ ride. It was 40 something miles, there about.
I was simply relying on muscle memory.
I give thanks to muscle memory.
I knew the weather was going to be 75, ouch, painful for a high desert girl. My last key workout was done at 75 degrees on the rollers. That paid off immensely.
Acclimization means more than just altitude: heat, humidity, cold weather, and even time zones.
Getting ready, it’s all the usual suspect: date, coconut rolls, magic potion, muffins, chicken or turkey thigh, juice, pre race dinner, post race potato chips, etc.
Very time consuming, but as always, it totally paid off.
I thought I would be good if I started a little more than 1/3rd back.
I started relaxed, and paced.
Not having a pre ride hurt my first lap time performance immensely: Brake-Power Out, Brake-Power Out…not smooth whatsoever. Sometimes it pays off, in longer races, keeps my pace down. But annoying.
I was religious about turning through the apex. For my last 2 laps, it paid off immensely.
The boys finally they decided they had enough, which was a good thing since I was racing the first lap ‘blind’.
When you’re doing anywhere between 3 and 12 laps, it may or may not be imperative to get that pre ride in.
First lap, other than brake-power out was good. I felt comfortable. And, of 
course, the most important part for me, was to take in all of Gods pure beauty in the scenery of what was around me.
Cat and mouse with some folks but I always know that my nutrition is going to be the winning strategy.
This race: 100% Paleo. Felt great the entire time.
2nd lap stopped, grabbed my water bottles, switched out some food bottles and heard ‘Kim Bears’ name, so I caught her introduced myself, passed her, chatted for a bit. She’s friends with some of my New Mexico training partners, and pretty damn fast. One of the fastest in the state. Then, she decided to pass me and leave my in the dust. That being my last lap, I would have been in hot pursuit, but being I still had 2 more laps…conservative.
I like Marathon events, because after the first lap, I begin to pick up carnage on the trail: hydration problems, nutrition problems, both of those lead to cramping, as well as just plain going out too fast.
Always hoping it’s not real carnage. Although, sometimes that happens too.
So one by one, I just kept my pace. My first lap was over estimated for my time, I put in 1:30, but with the 2 mile start loop and the lack of a pre ride, put in just under 1:40…
Then, there are the dudes who’s egos are too big to let a chick pass.
Yea, that’s always annoying.
I have an important message for all dudes. If a chick comes up on you, catches you, calls for the pass.
Just get over. Or let me pass, safely.
I wasted over 10 minutes behind dudes waiting for the pass, and that never goes over well, it takes me out of my rhythm. I’m not rude, and bump tires, but maybe that’s just what it will have to take next time.
I know I’ve had it done to me.
But I pride myself in being the super duper safety chick, so not likely. Although a few weeks ago, I did decide, if on the trail, the dudes don’t merge to the side, like I do, I am going to throw ‘an accidental’ elbow. Dudes, don’t ride the center of the trail when there’s a chick, it’s polite to take to the side of the trail all the time. Not just when there’s a dude that looks like he’s faster than you.
And for me, it has to be super duper safe, so if I didn’t let you pass because it wasn’t super, duper safe, please forgive me, I ALWAYS get over the first safe spot.
Then, when you get ‘chicked’ you don’t have to hang on, and then, later pass me, and then, go as fast as you can for as long as you can.
It’s got to be embarrassing when eventually you’re hovered over your bike, like you just finished puking and I pass you again, or until you just clearly can’t hang on any more.
Nah, I’m not giving you a tough time, I’m simply sharing how much I appreciate the 2nd and 3rd laps of a 100k race. 🙂
There’s one thing about the tortoise, she may be slow, but she is very consistent, over and over, and over again.
Remember the Hare, he had to pull over and take a nap cause he blew up going out too fast.
2nd lap was uneventful, just meditating, taking in all the beauty.
The 3rd lap will be even painful for me to write about.
I went out from transition strong, of course, I’m going to try to make it my fastest.
I made mistake.
A nutrition mistake. I’ve never done that before.
I took in some juice, and then, decided I didn’t want to screw around so guzzled some more.
Argh, too much in my tummy. It slowed me down. One guzzle too much outweighed my gastric emptying.
Couldn’t take in espresso,
Couldn’t take in more water,
Couldn’t ride faster.
Just had to wait for the belly to empty.
Gotta say, that totally sucked. Especially because of what happened later in the lap.
When I was in so much pain,
I was wondering how stupid I was,
and how old I am,
and why do I do this,
and why the hell do I think I can run a marathon after this, having swam 2.4 miles before.
What the frick frack am I doing out here?!?
It became a mind game.
In these situations, it’s mind over matter.
My foot hurt, like on a 1o point scale, well a 10.
My back was tired, my arms were so tired, I had to unclip and catch some balance on the super loose rocky descent to the parking lot. (Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t walk, but I was uncertain my hand/arm strength would be able to stay on the handle bars.)
Saw some real carnage.
Then, I got to the river bottom, it was pedal to the metal, home stretch, almost there, grateful my gastric emptying caught up to my need for espresso. Off I went. Trying to make up time, the time I lost when my belly was yucky.
Then, it just came time to beat myself.
My time going into it 2 years ago, was 5:06. There had been added a 2 mile start loop, and the wind was WAY worse than it was 2 years ago. I had to fight it the first 2 laps, thank God, it died down on the 3rd, or I don’t know what would have happened to me.
4:56
Good enough for 4th place over all.
Good enough for 1st in my age group by default. One girl, didn’t finish.
See how happy I am that I am a live. That I finished, and now I’m visiting with friends.
I’m very glad it’s over.
I had a very easy day in the pool. I didn’t want to swim at all. I wanted to paint, and paint and paint.
I went.
a 1750 is not a bad swim for someone who didn’t even want to show up.
My honey is here, he brought me my single speed, I want to ride it tomorrow.
The girls are riding down in the Bosque.
I forgot my monkey is out of school
We go skiing on Wednesday. We don’t actually ski til Friday but I can’t wait. My honey, bought me new skis, boots and bindings.
My other ones were from the way back past. I’m so lucky.
Thanks for being my friend.
Have a beautiful healthy day and live life for today,
while planning for tomorrow.