Still having fun at +20 hours!Vapor Trail was a bust. I had a chest/head cold leading up the race, but it seemed to get better in the couple days prior to the start. Guess I wasn't quite ready, as I suffered mightily while breathing heavily at high elevation. My pace was way slower than expected and, at about mile 65, I noticed that my throat/chest were wheezing or whistling with every deep breath. Pulled the plug at Monarch Crest, about 75 miles into the race.
Lessons learned...
Vapor Trail is wicked hard. Major sections of hike-a-bike.
Listen to your body, and don't try to push things when sick.
I need to figure out how to better dress for changing temps and conditions.
All that insane hike-a-bike may (just) be worth the massively fun descent from Granite Mountain
After VT, I got off my butt and went to see the doctor. I should have done this earlier, but for some reason, I have an aversion to seeing the doctor. Anyway, I got on some antibiotics and they gave me an inhaler for my breathing issues. 3 days of that, and I was feeling good enough to go out and give the 24 Hours a shot for fun. I brought the giant trailer, some brews, and 3 bikes. I expected to turn a few laps, hang out, go back out with a different bike, and just have fun.
Well, all was going to plan until I ran into some friends spectating on the course after dusk. I was feeling normal (i.e. I could breath) and was just churning out the miles. One of the guys said I was in second place. Well, that was great and all, but what about the beer back in the fridge that needed to be tended too, as well as the 2 hour nap I was planning?
OK, change of plans...keep riding as long as I'm having fun and I'm feeling ok. On the next lap, I stopped by the top-o-the-hill campsite for a chat, a swig of wine, and some trail mix. Thanks guys! I made it another lap and a half before I started feeling really spacey and cold. Warmed up in the trailer (a godsend), had a cup of coffee, made some soup, and rode through the night and all the way to the finish. Hammered the very last 3 miles of the race with my friend Nick, who pulled off 174 miles, on a SINGLESPEED! Go Nick!
I managed about 160 miles and 3rd place. Very happy with that! Even more than podium finish, just the completion of a solo 24 hours is a goal I've had for a long long time.
Back in '96, I rode Canaan as a member of Team Pyeweed. I couldn't believe there was a 4 person team entered with 4 John Stamstads. Back then, I thought riding for 24 hours was insane and unachievable. As the years have gone by and I've gotten more and more experienced, I thought, "I wanna do that." Well, goal accomplished!
Thanks to my wife and kids for putting up with all the necessary time spent training, as well as the support at the race!
Comments
lets go for a ride one of these days