Wilderness 101 Report

Man, was it really only five days ago that I was racing in PA. I've gone back to work this week, getting ready for the school year, and the summer road trip seems like a long time ago. It was rad for sure, and the riding was awesome. I wish it could have ended on a better race note, but there are still more races to come I suppose. Anyway, the Wilderness 101. This race actually is 101 miles by the way, not like those other namby-pamby 100 milers that end on an even number. But I lined up not being too worried. I knew I hadn't been recovering that well in the week leading up to the race, but I didn't think my body was too worse for wear after three weeks of hard races. I figured I'd go for, after all, it was my first race as a pro. So we hit the first climb, which wasn't that hard, and I more or less hung in. I dropped off right at the top; the lead group was still really big at that point. But I settled in, rode with some groups, and worked my way up.

First thoughts in the race: this is fast roady riding. I swear there is no single track in the first 30 miles. I was stoked to finally get to some. Then I realized how many rocks there are in PA. We're supposed to have rocky soil up in VT, but I guess compared to these trails that's not really true. Rock gardens. More rock gardens. I also had a valve stem fail the day before the race which meant racing with a tube at 40 psi. Man, I was feeling some serious vibrations coming through that aluminum to the body. Death grips central. But anyway I was doing okay out of aid stations #1 and #2. Then I started to feel really, really, tired. I cracked on the single track climb out of aid station #3, and thought, well, I'll just back off a bit. No good. Kept cracking. Coming unglued really. I was riding the rocks so terribly and death gripping myself out of the race. And then it just got worse and worse.When the faster weekend warriors started going by I knew I was in big trouble. My body didn't want to eat, and I was having a hard time forcing it to. I did get some fluids in, but they only go so far (not that far at all really) in getting you through a nine hour effort.

I finally made it to aid station #5 and still couldn't eat more than a banana. I kept thinking I could make it, but it wasn't happening. I finally stopped at a stream, got some cold water on my face, and managed to eat half a Pay Day bar. That got me up the last climb. From there it was a rail trail stretch and some technical single track I was too tired to even think about riding.

So it was a sub nine-hour finish. Actually my fastest ever. But it was not a fast day. I think I was in the 80's somewhere (overall). At the finish I threw up (nothing in the stomach though), and had blurry vision (really bad) for a while until I could find a way to get some food into. That began a long multi-hour process of eating enough food to be able to handle a beer from the "hospitality" tent. After a couple of hours I was mostly conscience again and able to sample some brew. Pretty alright. Seriously, the 101 has one of the most festive atmospheres out there. It was rad. The people were awesome. It was a good time - except maybe that racing part.

Eight or nine hours of driving and I was exhausted but home in Vermont. Haven't been on a bike since PA, but I'll get there soon. Right now the focus is on some pretty solid recovery. But I've regained normal human status enough to start thinking about racing again. Maybe a six hour in a few weeks. Then the Race to the Top of Vermont at the end of the month. Should be rolling again by Shenandoah. Stay tuned.