When I Get Off of This Mountain

 

Fool's Gold is over.  Unfortunately the pain is not.  I really thought I had a good chance at being close to BJS at the end.  Deep down I knew it was a long shot but hey, I can dream right?

 

Our Friday evening pre ride was a blast.  The machine built trail they call Jake was amazing.  I didn't notice all the climbing on Friday, but it seemed like it was all up hill by the time I got there on Saturday.

 

 

The forecast was for rain on race day.  I had metal brake pads.  Of course they were on the bench in my shop in beautiful downtown Havana and not on my bike in Dahlongea Ga.  So I worried about that all night.  Then I worried about slick trails along the side of the mountains.  Then I worried about losing BJS in the crowd at the neutral roll out.  The only thing I didn't worry about was cramping.  I seriously thought my awesome cross country fitness would get me through 6 hours of racing.  I had my Camel Back filled with 2 bottles worth of water, plus ice, and was running a water bottle with Heed mixed in it.  I had planned to stop at all the sags to make sure I stayed hydrated.  After all it's not like we hadn't been riding in humid weather for the past 3 months right?

 

 

I felt the first twinges of an inner thigh cramp at the top of the 18 mile climb, right before the first sag.  My heart jumped, "you've got to be kidding me" I thought.  I stopped at the sag, I hadn't polished off the Camel Back yet but it was low, and my water bottle was about half gone.  which should have been enough.  The kind lady at the sag filled my bottle while I filled my Camel Back, she put the bottle back in the cage for me, and off I went.  When I got to the bottom of the 2 mile descent my water bottle was gone, not empty but gone.  I should have checked it.  As soon as I put pressure on the pedals the cramps hit.  They were to be my constant companion for the next 4 hours.

I made the second sag with a bone dry Camel Back.  I ate Endura Lite pills like they were Chicklets and filled the bladder with Heed, hoping to get the pain to let off.  As I started the second biggest climb of the day I knew I was in trouble.  As soon as I got off the bike to walk a steep section both legs locked up.  Sticking straight out, from my hip to my feet, I fell over backwards, unable to bend my knees, I fell head first down the hill, on my back.  I crawled back up to my bike and drug it off the trail.  Riders would go by and ask if I was ok, to which I responded "DO I LOOK LIKE I'M OK?".  They just kept on walking.  Imagine that.

I finished the race, only because there was no other way off the mountain.  On the last section of rollers it hurt so bad.  I don't remember having that much pain for that long in my life.

So what's the answer?  Is it age related?  Did I just not drink enough?  Did I go out too hard?  Only 27 riders over 50 rode the 50 mile event.  I talked to a couple as they passed me and they had cramped also.  I hope this isn't a sign of things to come.

BJS thought it was funny when after the race I was jumping around the hotel room still cramping.  He finished 40 minuets ahead of me.  He cramped a little also which makes me feel better.

 

In spite of all the pain (or maybe because of it) I want to do this race again next year.  By then I'll be 57.  Then again maybe I should just stick to shorter distances.  Maybe I should just be happy I can still ride a bike, much less race one.  Maybe I should just play ride and drink beer.  Maybe I should just be glad I'm not still up on that mountain.