Humble Pie (Attila the Hun XC Race)

Heading into this weekend I started to get a little big headed in my ability to ride the bike fast. I had a few really good ride in on the new bike, and had to rethink how long MTB rides would take to complete.  I started to think that I had a chance to, finial, win my first MTB race.  Instead I had one of my worst races to date.

I spent the day Saturday cleaning the apartment and getting things ready for racing on Sunday. Got to bed kind of late at 2230 and had troubles getting to sleep. After a short 5.5 hrs of light sleeping it was time to get up, eat, and hit the road. I knew I had a long cold drive down to Hot Springs. I did not know the conditions of the roads, so I gave myself 4.5 hr to complete the 3.75 hr drive. During the drive I watched as the temperature dropped from 23F down to 19F. Man, I might just pull the plug on this one.

0448 and 21F

Finally, after only 4 hr, I arrived at Cedar Glades park and started getting ready to race. Registration was fast and well ran, and with my SWAG and plate in had I started to prep the bike, and myself, for a very cold 30F start. I set out on the last 2 miles of trail to get in a warm up, and scope out the trail. I was afraid that the course would be a frozen slop-fess but was surprised to see it nice and dry! I was even shocked at how much grip the trails had.  I felt good and bike felt good. Maybe today really is going to be my day!

The starting official called the Cat 2 19-29 starting list and did not call my name. After taking down my info, he stepped back, gave the 15 sec count down  and blew the starting horn.

Crap, cant clip in!!! Between the shoe covers and the new pedals, I was having a very hard time clipping in.  Once I was finally clipped in I started to move up the field trying to get in position to hit the single track 2nd. 

Well I was not the only one with that ideal, and not really wanting  push it too hard at the start,  yielded to some guys.  I hit the single track 4th, right behind a guy that seemed to be having trouble keeping a line. (Found out later on that he was use to a fat bike, and was riding a loner bike). This proved to hurt me quit-a-bit during the first 2 miles of the race. There were several times that he would lose traction, taking both of us off the bike.

We quickly left the dry starting loop and headed into some very wet climbs. At this point (less than 5 min into the race) my legs decided they did not want to go fast. I was quickly caught by the guy behind me (a 15 year old form LA), and I told him to let me know when he wanted around. As soon as I lost sight of Fat Bike Guy, the kid asked to go around. The rest of the first lap was a big blur to me. What I do remember is the muddy double track climbs, lots of pain, and fighting my bike for the first Hr.

1 hr to travel 1 lap is not good news. Not on the same course as the Spa City 6 hr. And defiantly not good when I felt like I was riding at my max. Disappointed, and tired, I decided to slow it down and just ride at my endurance pace. Wow, what a difference SLOWING DOWN can make. I started to feel good, I was no longer fighting the bike, and I started to pass people. After another 55 min of racing I crossed the finish line in 5th. 

The double track really was a muddy! 

I was extremely tired, cold and upset. What had happened? How did I put in a faster lap going slower? 55 min for an endurance pace laps is right on the money! But why was I so slow on the first lap? What just happened?

I had plenty of time to think about it on the way home, and I have discussed it with a few people today. One thing I learned from this weekend is that the old Auto X saying "Slow is smooth, Smooth is fast" also applies (at least for me) to XC MTB racing. I also realized that at one point of time (Before I discovered Endurance Racing) I had the legs, lungs, and desire to be a fast XC racer (for a Cat 2 in Mississippi that is). But now I just don't enjoy that type of pain as much, I would much rather enjoy the slow burn of a 5 hr ride.

Well my thoughts are all scrambled up now, so its time for me to sign off. One thing is for sure, I'm still training to be the best ENDURANCE MTB racer I can be, and I'm extremely excited for my first race next year!

As always I just need to Ride More, Ride Harder, and Get Faster.

Lots to update, little time.

So the fast and quick of the past few weeks.

I spend the second weekend of October driving across the state of Arkansas to pick up my new bike. Yep, I got a new bike! I'm one of the first people to throw a leg over a new 2014 Epic Comp. I'll be posting up an impression of it once I get the SWAT gear for it and put in 500ish miles on it. (probably around the first of the year)

First New bike in 3 years!

The fourth weekend of October was spent doing the Bentonville epic. I was promised 34ish miles of the best  trails that NWA has to offer. What I received was 10ish miles of great single track and 25 miles of rouge trails that are not developed but have great potential.  I really like the rouge trails for the first 5 miles, then I grew tired of it and just wanted the ride to end.  After 2 hours of riding with the group I went into endurance mode and finish as quickly as I could.

Great group of fast riders. That's exposed bed rock in a creek bed, not snow. 

During this ride I had a slow over the bar (OTB) crash. On my way down I tried to catch myself, bad idea. I heard my bad (left) shoulder pop, which was followed by  pain flooding in. The caller bone defiantly moved, but it looks like it's in a position that will cause less long term pain.  I was able to finish the ride and took a week off to let it heal up. It does not bother me when I ride, but bothers me anytime I allow it to sit still too long.  I looked up rotator cuff tear and my symptoms are consistent with that type of injury. I'm going to continue to ride until it start to bother me on bike. May it heal up quickly and be a thing of the past.  

The second weekend of November I decided to try out the Saturday Morning group ride. Man, I lose fitness quickly when I only do 2 rides a week for 1.5 months. I hung with the group for the first Hr then quickly fell off the back of the pack, and finish up the ride with Gustavo. 4Hr, 63.1 miles and 3307 ft of climbing will sap the legs of all energy. I got home and supper rehydrated to prep my body for my long ride on the MTB Sunday.

Gustavo getting it done up 4 Corners Road!

I don't know how, but I woke up Sunday tired, started the ride tired, but as soon as the tires found dirt I came back from the dead. Everything felt right, everything felt fast, I was one with the bike. For the first time I felt 100% comfortable on my new 29er FS rig! Sadly this ride would end, only 2 hrs in, with a broken chain. I don't blame the chain or the bike, but me. I shifted a few gears and needed to do a quick pedal kick to get over some stuff. The bike leap over the obstacle, but I had no more chain. I guess it was not finished shifting when I need to clear the obstacle.

Saying good buy to Mt. Sequoyah on my way over to Mt. Kessler.

Top of the first step on Mt. Kessler Road. Already climbed 200 ft, ready for 300 ft more? All in one mile?

The tunnel of color that is riding in the Ozarks in Nov. 

This past weekend was full of trail building and a much needed long MTB ride. We had 15-20 people out bench cutting 2 miles of trail on Saturday, and man did they ride fast on Sunday. If you did not know any better, you would think these trails have been there for months.

Awesome rock feature. Be sure to check your speed, or be prepared to go flying!

I ran into several familiar faces on my long MTB ride, as you would expect on a 70F Sunday in November! It was nice to ride for a while, run into someone, chat on the trial side for a while, then continue riding.

Over Look on Mt Kessler, 2 weeks into "No Shave November" 

I am now back to training, and for the first time in years I'm doing specific workouts. Not just go ride for X amount of time, but real intervals and hill repeats. After only 2 weeks I'm already seeing big improvements!

Why did I start back training so early? Simple, the Arkansas Mountain Bike Championship Series has announced the dates of 4 of the, now, 5 endurance races for next year. The first race is in just over 3 months which leads me with little time to regain fitness.  I'll be putting my goals out publicly once the dates for all 5 races are announced. But as one thing changes, so another stays the same. My first race next year will be Iron Mountain MTB Endurance Race on 23 Feb, but Ouachita Challenge remains my big A race for next year.

As always I just need to Ride More, Ride Harder, and Get Faster.