I didn't train for 24 hours of solo riding in Old Pueblo. When Chester signed up, I thought about sitting on the sidelines for another race and couldn't fathom going "just" in support. After the first frigid, rainy, three hour ride topped off with the rude spraying of the hose to remove the inch of mud covering our bodies before we made our way into the house...but only AFTER we hosed our bikes and shoes off as well, I knew my heart wasn't into this day in and day out for three months. Chester's heart was. While I played at crossfit, running, riding on weekends (when I felt like it) and walking the dogs...he came home from work, sat on the couch for 30 minutes, then made his way out to the packed garage (we still haven't organized from moving in September.) There was just enough room for my bike trainer and his road bike. In layers of sweatpants, sweatshirt and hat he did interval drills and all out threshold tests for 60-90 minutes a night. On weekends he put in three to four hours saturday and 6-9 hours on Sunday. Although I whined now and then about missing time with him, after we established "date night" things got better. I still struggled now and then feeling like I was doing more than my share of household stuff...but I also knew what it was like to totally commit to a training program and go for it 100%. I was excited for him and watched his fitness continue to rise to a level I'd not seen in him previously. Incidentally he never, not one day, told me he was too tired to talk or walk the girls with me, or make dinner with me. I am still amazed and grateful for his ability to always be there for me, regardless of his fatigue. In my days of triathlon I was not able to give so much...lesson learned. ;)
So, when we arrived, after the initial scuffle for command over the sleeping tent and logistics tent locations we set to riding the course. Chris and I rode what we believed would be a small loop, thinking we would ride the whole course with Chester later. Well our small loop turned out to be 3/4 of the course. Interestingly we felt like we'd been riding forever and had, at the time we checked our odometers, only covered 6 miles of the 17 mile course. Not what you want to experience the day before the race. But we smiled and rode on...we were in it for fun- six laps at least. We picked Chester up and did it again...a little more quickly.
RACE DAY: Brian, Brent, Jenna, Audrey, Isaac, and Andrew...oh and Bella were all there to help support the three of us in this adventure. Throughout the night they cooked soup, heated water to fill camelbacks, delivered requested food, changed batteries for lights and cheered as we rode off to do another lap. They also had an eye on the other competitors and would update Chester and I as we came in about our placement as well as telling us how our other racers were fairing. They were amazing. There would be no race without a support crew. There are so many logistics to think of at every stop. And even I, not having raced the whole night through, was getting tired and less apt to remember batteries or a water switch. I know Chester could not have done what he did without them.
I mentioned previously my goal was to ride 6 laps. Having never ridden more then three hours or about 35 miles on my mountain bike, I thought 100 miles was a great goal...especially with little to ah-hem, no training. I rode for 10:30 hours getting six laps. The last lap was dark, and I was feeling the strain on my back. I also, looking back, was feeling the effects of not enough calories per hour. I just didn't have the practice fueling on my bike. It's more difficult than fueling while I run. In that 10:30 hours I burned about 7500 calories. I was getting about 200/ hour...if lucky. The sixth lap started feeling miserable. It felt like a good time to sit and re-group.
When I came in and announced my plans to sit a spell, Brent announced that I was in fifth place. "Really?!" I looked at my bike. I looked at the campfire and remembered why I came. I came to have fun. I did not train for this. But I could go for it and chase my ego around that 17 mile loop for as long as my body would allow. Hmm...I chose the chair. I now had a front row seat as I watched Chester come in every 1:30-1:45 and helped get him what he needed to continue racing. I listened as Brent told him he was 13th, then top ten, then fifth, then fourth place! I finally tried to get some sleep at 4am. I fell asleep at 6am and at 7am Brent woke me up to get back out on the trail. I loaded my camelback with clif shots and set off for the unknown. Apparently my get up and go had really got up and went. I struggled with each stroke getting nowhere. 10 miles into the lap I realized I was in my granny gear! No wonder I wasn't going anywhere. I finally shifted to the middle ring and made some time. I traveled well until the steady uphill of the His and Hers trail. I was dragging. I happily decided to make this my farewell lap. With 7 laps I would complete 118 miles on my bike. That's more than double the distance I've previously ridden. My smile came back and I started chatting with others on the trail. It was sunny and beautiful and everyone seemed to be ecstatic that the endless darkness had disappeared bringing sun and renewed energy...well some of the riders seemed to have the renewed energy. I was happy for them as I considered shifting back to my granny gear for the flats.
When I came in Brent told me that the other women seemed to be resting as well...I could keep going and possibly regain some ranking. I smiled. The choice was easy this time. It was cool to get the report and felt really good to know definitively I'd done what I'd set out to do, was finished, and most importantly smiling. I packed it up and waited for Chester to come around a few more times before I put my jeans on and "officially" crossed the finish line. When people see the solo plate they go crazy at the finish. I felt a little sheepish knowing I didn't ride all night. But I also felt good about what I'd accomplished over the weekend. I'm excited about this new yearly tradition in my life and look forward to next year.
Chester finished almost 90 minutes ahead of the next solo male finisher. Chester stood on the podium in fourth place in his Carharts, down jacket and Arizona cap in 75 degree weather. He then downed a pulled pork sandwich and a coke. When we made our way back to camp to pack our bikes for the next destination I turned to ask him a question. He was passed out on the desert floor sleeping with a big smile on his face.
Next stop British Virgin Islands for some sailing. We rested, tanned, swam, ran (at least two days) and ate seafood while hanging with three fun couples. It was a perfect end to the race week. Ok, I'll admit I started going a little crazy for activity...but the trip was an adventure of a lifetime and being surrounded by bright blue water and sun for a week was great. But the best part of the two weeks, was spending uninterrupted time with Chester. AFter two weeks we were both pleased to realize that it was date night when we got home and were excited to spend it together. :)
Thanks also to George and Cass for allowing us to send our bikes to QCS so we wouldn't have to lug them onto the sailboat!
