Miles of Discomfort Marathon 2010
We pulled into the ranch Friday afternoon after a non stress drive, pulled the bikes out and headed out for a ride. I was amazingly tired, breathing heavy, felt really tired, there was some water on the trail in low line areas, but other than that it seemed like it was going to be a perfect day for racing. My main concern was that there was going to be ice on the ledges in the beginning after the first climb. Race day came, I thought I would do without my Rice and Shine and do my morning eats of just 4 eggs and fruit. I thought about some hydration issues in the past and knew I would be fine because eggs and fruit is what I eat everyday. Saturday we headed to the ranch so I could piddle around with all my pre-race stuff. Most importantly setting up my transition table. Getting all of my date and cashews and coconut bars ready, I’ll coin the term Paul used, ‘moldy poops’. Mmm, they’re so good.
Watched the open class go off. Love Lance’s new kit. It says “the shack” on it. And then, I was dreaming of the crack shack, Starbuck’s mmm. Our turn. We were staged by age category which was nice and off up the hill we went. I was feeling OK, felt my performance was going to be good. There was no ice on the first section, so I was pleased. The trail was fast, and I was keeping good pace. I felt like I got into the groove right away and my siting was on.
Then, something crazy happened, everything melted and became mud. Comfort has three types of mud. Sticky mud, non sticky mud, and black mud.
I came in on Lower Loop 1 laughing like a crazy hyena, it was so funny how muddy it had become. I grabbed the stuff I needed and headed out for Upper Loop 2. Man, that was muddy, by the time I got to the new trail, I had already fallen once, pretty bad, like OW, face down in a huge rock garden. I had slid out before a rock drop off and ‘bam’ it was bad enough I thought I may have to medicate. But as always, bite the dog that bit you, so I got back on the bike, and forgot about the pain. It was going to be a long day with no hope I had realized since my first lap I came in 30 minutes behind my estimated time the Upper Loop seemed worse than the lower loop. I’m not happy any more, I wondering about my sanity, I’m trying to figure out if this is such a great idea, especially after falling on the new section, while I was walking, not a just slip fall but a full on crash onto more rocks, face down. This one hurts too. More than the last one. Now I’m really wondering what I have gotten myself into. There was nobody by me so I thought, ‘hey, maybe it’s so dangerous they are making all the marathoners quit after one full lap. I was having dreamy mirages about being finished when I came into transition.
I have passed through transition again, I stopped to clean part of my drive train with degreaser. It was a major problem and I figured being pro active would help a little bit. Christiane had told me that I was 5 minutes off Lisa, she was encouraging me to hurry and get back out there. I wasn’t worried, I knew I had the motor to go and I was very confident that my nutrition would save the day. I felt confident, I felt good, I had nummy chicken going in my belly and a double espresso in my secret pocket. I was good to go. The trail is in good shape. I am pretty happy, feeling confident, got my belly full, got some caffeine, and nummy. Lower Loop Lap 2 was pretty uneventful, I kept it constant and smooth. Any time I was off the bike, I was conveniently picking mud off my drive train so I could ride. I was still jogging any sections I had to and I felt pretty good. I get to a climb and I see one of my girls and I am going back and forth with her, I catch Lisa her bike upside down, and I just keep going. My other girl is chasing me, I won’t let her catch me. She catches me for a minute, we’re playing cat and mouse. I don’t much like that game because I don’t want to get second place. I just keep going. It eventually pays off and you know what, I never looked back. I just kept looking forward, running with it literally. Last time through transition I grab what I need and go. It’s been brutal, my fantasy about having the new section taken out have failed me, the death trap awaits me. It’s pretty bad, I don’t give up home, I pedal onward. I want to cry to my momma, I am pretty lonely out there and every time I hit support they have something to say to me. The first one, was “was wondering where you were”. I was thinking, that can’t be good. I’m last. I get passed them, and now they are off work. Great I am last, but what about the other girls, I can’t look back, I can only go forward. I keep trudging through it. The race that never ends. I thought I could do a 5:40 and possibly a 5:30, and I’ve been out here I can’t even count that high.
I cross the line. As I come across, Lisa says your first. I’m also last, everybody for the most part has gone home. My buddy Charley and his friend waited, with beers in their hand. Justin had been patiently waiting for my tortoise a$$ for almost 2 hours. I wanted to cry to my momma. Tobin told me I won 400 bucks. I thought that was weird but it turns out everybody else quit and I got the whole pot. He asked me what I wanted to do with the money. My response, give it back to this. He thought I would have to give it back to my bike for the damage I had sustained while racing.
I gathered myself, called my old man, got out of my clammy’s, nasty clammy’s, aired out a little bit. Got my cash, rolled up some extension cords, loaded the car and headed home. It was nice to have company on the way back. I’m used to be alone for those things. Spent 5 hours talking about bikes, tires, sponsors, when we started riding, more bike stuff, sizing, etc.
Car still isn’t totally unloaded, I have locked in the State Championship for the Marathon Series, I don’t have to race on the 13th, took the bike to the shop and all I really needed was a chain. I am bruised and cut up from the waste down. I’m still sore all over. I got to swim today and am REALLY looking forward to being done with my ‘OFF’ season. It was fun while it lasted and now I transition into Xterra. It should be an excellent season of triathlons.
This was the hardest Marathon Series I have ever raced, it was the most competitive, thank you ladies for coming out and racing. Thanks TMBRA for the series and support. Thanks to Bikes Plus, Dallas Vein Specialists, Orthopedic Associates, Sumy Designs, Terra Firma Promo, Maxxis, and Rudy Project and most of all thanks to Ken Nance for allowing it all to happen.