Heath, Amy, Duncan, Alta & Leo's Mtn Bike Fun

Not a bad race day considering lacking performance. Let's look at the bright side, a week prior I did Leadville 100. My goal this week was to finish for series points enabling one extra race for dnf surprise. Mission accomplished. My race was nice and hard. Not cause I was Leadville beat but it was just a tough course. I liked it. Off the start I followed Thornquest up. By 3/4 mark up the first hill I started to fade...already!! Tyler then Bart, and Cory and another all passed me. Before the woods I was able to pass all but Thorn, Bart and Tyler. That left me in 4th. Thornquest dropped a chain or something and dnf'ed, Afton deja-vu... Anyway, I chased Bart and Tyler in 3rd with Joel behind me. Joel followed close and eventually was able to go by. Mike caught me by mid-lap as I faded more. Mike passed and the rest was history. I held onto 5th until the end of lap one. Cory caught and passed me on the service road. I was able to pass him before the top of the hill (above start), then we cat and moused all of lap two. Once I went OTB good when my bars caught a tree. An off day for me no doubt. Jeff (LCR) team mate was bridging the gap too. My last hurrah came on the 4 wheeler paths. It was Cory, Myself and Jeff in 5th, 6th and 7th OA. We caught Hollywood and another Hollywood rider. We we're going fast but I could take'em before the tight woodsy downhills. So I hammered on and yelled on your left three times. I passed Cory, Holywood and the other Hollywood guy. Cory and Jeff chased. We dusted Hollywood, later he dnf'ed instead of finishing the expert last lap, pattern?

The last climb up was too much for my lead legs. Cory and Jeff went on to finish at pace, I bid them well. 7th for me. 1st in 40+ age, good enough. Jeff did a good job of taking Cory for 5th overall & 4th in 30-39age. Duncan's race started off ok but by lap two he was pushing his bike up the complete entry hill. He said he overestimated the 1st lap speed. I think summer break and our 2 1/2 week vacation caught up to him. I ran up and asked if he wanted to quit, cause he could, he still said no!! Then he got bit by a huge bumble bee in the woods. I found this out when I got worried and tracked him down in the woods. He was off the bike not happy. I cheered him back on the bike and again he decided to finish.....that's the good news, he kept going. Last place all around for him, oh well. Way to finish D!! I have Video's & photo's below, also check Skinny Ski website other photo's. Powder Mnkey Photo's Citzen Start VIDEO SS start VIDEO 30-39 sport start VIDIEO Women Sport Start VIDEO Horner Crew Water Bottle Hand-Off VIDEO Rich Race Wheelie VIDEO

Here's my road to 2006 Leadville 100 and race day story(2007 story here). It's a personal recollection for future use, if you stumbled on this, it's your fault. Read at your own risk of boredom. Warning, I tend to geek. P.S. if your looking for start video it's in the next post below...here's the video link to make it easy.. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6643894786836444867 January 2006, Train On: Where to start. I started training in January for comp class races and the Leadville 100. The local Chequamegon 40mi race beat me 5 years, then in 2005 I finally broke the 3 hr mark (2hrs 37m) and I'm done. Leadville was/is the new yearly carrot, perhaps Durango 100 next. In 2005 I finally started training on the road with a mtn bike, slick tires. This gave me the base endurance to win the sport divison for my age and meet my Cheq 40 goals. This year I began training earlier, tracking all activity on a speadsheet again. I don't own a gym membership and don't lift. In 2005 also found Joel Friel's training bible and incorpated PE, my mass, and volume periods etc. I track everything in excel via charts, tables and comments. This has worked to my advantage as I'm winning my age in comp class, I've won one comp race overall and placed 3rd overall twice. Data tracking helps me trend right and learn. As mentioned an early base enabled big growth this year. Specifically, I began building up to longer rides with semi intervals included. I say intervals because at times on long rides, if I felt good, at times I'd push it. Mainly I focused on building up to 6 hrs non-stop (8spd) and force training on SS (road and dirt). This year I borrowed my Dad's road bike and did my first century race in April. I can clear lactate. I've done as many local MTB races as possible to incease LT & VO2. I learned alot more this year about F, E, ME and FUEL. I got my Fuel and Hydration needs down before Leadville!! One more point in the category of training. I read every single article and post on topic of Leadville. I printed topo's and course maps then posted in my work cube. The only surprises left were weather of the day, physical performance perceptions and pace. The Week Before Race Day: Family vacation in Sandpoint Idaho. Spent a week chasing kids, beers and rest. Basically drank a six a night, ate lots of food and played at the beach. Oh yeah, did 4 rides all over 2 hours in the foothills around town. Low elevation stuff 2k-4k el. just because that's all that was near by, no acclimation. Last long ride was Tuesday before race day. Last booze day was Wednesday night. Packed and planned my luggage Thursday am. I had my crew, fuel and inventory plan completed weeks prior. The Day Before: Flew to Denver Thursday. Slept in Denver Thursday night then Leadville Friday & Saturday. Ate normal Thursday. Ate normal light Friday. No carb load, that's stupid. My liver and muscles are topped off from the last post ride fuel. No need for extra weight!! Went over crew "to-do's" Friday night with my pops. I created a list of questions he would ask at each station and supplies to hand off. The Morning Of: Alarm at 4:00am. Walked around near start line and hotel until 4:30am. What, nobody's up 2 hrs before gun? What a weird race. Other big races people we're up early. I put my bike down in first row behind preferred starters. Next year the preferred is mine :). I wore a long sleeve light poly under a jersey. A fleece hat, regular gloves and regular race shorts. No jacket or vest for racing, it was 40 degrees at 6:30am. I carried a rain jacket the whole race except when I needed it, ha ha. I did wear a winter hat & jacket until 5 min before start, then handed to pops(crew). The Gun: Bang. I quickly found outside lanes to move up and competent riders were all around me, whew. However, the escort controlled speed sucked(I suppose for the greater good). 15 mph, sometimes faster or slower. I don't carry a speedo but the off and on again lead foot was disturbing. Soooo glad I was near 50-100th instead of 200-300th++. The first 3 miles are paved downhill torward Turquise lake, then dirt road by cows and fields. To Mile 25: Ok, race on!! It's cold, but not bad. The cows are grazing and the pace is brisk. My heart rate was 85% of max but I was breathing like the 40yr old Minnesotian I am. I maintained at 155bpm. Soon the rolling flats turned to up. We we're on our way up torward Haggerman pass. this section went from 9.6k to about 10.8k. It was steep in spots, granny gear was used and nobody was in my way walking. I can see where being 300th would cause traffic issue. The downhill after topping out was a three mile paved road. It was crazy fast, seriously. After the huge downhill, a paved climb, then around the lake torward Sugarloaf. Jason caught me just before the downhill section and said, "let's catch the tandem and draft", we passed them at the bottom of huge hill. By the way Jason flatted twice and and had major chain suck, even so his time was only 10 minutes off mine even with all the issues! Back on track. Sugarloaf. This was a climb that started on pavement at 10k el. then went up to about 11.2k el. on dirt roads. Again, not bad. I paced myself at 155bpm/85% and used what ever gear needed. I was breathing but not heavey. I looked at numbers of racers and saw anything from 25 to 200(and 1/2 new numbers too). I saw number 82 and paced with him. I kept thinking about powerline on the way back at mile 80...Columbine was not really a thought. We topped out and proceeded to motor down a steep loose dirt road with turns, then a minefield of hellisch mounds of jeep road. No really it was like stacking 4ft high pitcher mounds side by side with water run-off gullys betwen. It went like this for a half mile+. I remember missing the line and having to bunny hop to the next mogul hoping to not go OTB....all while going between 15-30mph. Then a flat and up hill, then in seconds more down, it went like this for 20 minuts. I saw one taco wheel and many flats. I was feeling a bit worked, but not too bad. I noticed a few false summits for the way back. It was going to suck at mile 80 as it was steep. Hal la lu ya to disc brakes! No surprises really, I read about all this, I saw the topo. After powerline decent it was some pavement and forest road in the 9k el. range with few rollers. Yeah, pace work. Then the mile 25 aid station. I instructed my Dad to ask if "ate bars, drank and have goo?" I didn't stop to listen, told him I was good and kept rolling. My remaining sustained in camel, "water" bottle with endurolytes, goo container and half a bar was all good. No stop. I later found out I was in 88th of 800 position feeling good & bound for 40 mile check at twin lakes dam. To Mile 40: From mile 25 to mile 40 I concentrated on holding my pace, fueling up and reflecting on the day ahead. I led a group for 5 miles then let up a bit nervious about the rest of the day. This section was relitivily flat, almost all dirt, a memorable paved downhill, and one 400ft down of steep and loose(I think it's called the north face). I actually went off course once, then quickly realized the paint on dirt was on way out too, not just the way back... No big loss, my fault, over focused on day ahead I guess, DORK. One older guy and I chatted as we motored down torward twin lakes on pavement. He was very good at stretching while going 30+mph, I kept distance. At the damn I saw other buddies crews and it seemed like eveyone, not just them were cheering for me, coolest. A few waves, a hand off of fuel, the questions, and off....later found out I was in 118th position of 800 (2hrs 58min). On to the Top: Ok, the dam was cool. It was so crowded, and the energy was on. Riders we're still all about go go going. This section from mile 40 to 50 climbs from 9.2k to 12.4k el. It was a few miles of ups and downs on dirt then 6 miles of forest road up and one mile of sky high above tree line up. I settled in, on the first few miles felt a transition. That is, I had more than 50 miles to go and I was working... I think i checked out for a good two hours. I decided to fall off the 155bpm and go at my long distance trained road rate...146-148bpm HR. Why, I don't know. I think it was a "this race is long, ease up for saftey". I was thinking about powerline return. So I went up Columbine forest road at a slow pace being passed by many. It was work. When I got to the last mile and saw the distance up and over to summit I freaked. It looked like a good 1500ft el. Which ussually was an hour and a half hike. Ok maybe it was 1k up el.. Anyway, leaders we're flying down on the rocky road right next to us bike pushers. I summited at 5hrs instead of 4.5hrs. Oh well, sub-9 next year. I wanted to ensure a finish... I was off the 9 hr mark and questioning what it would take to finish. 165th place at summit. Off the Top to Mile 60: The thought of finish efforts soon left my head, as this downhill was rad. The line of people pushing their bikes up went forever!! The way back off the top (it's an out andf back course) was to fly down, next to tons of hike-a-bikers over granite boulders and top of the world scree. The path down was not a path, pushers had the path, if you call it that. Down was granite boulders, pot holes and bike pushers on the left. Brakes, shakes and wobbles at high speed for a mile, wahoo. It was a blast for a while, then it became work, then it really hurt!! It took 40 minutes to fly down upper scree, 6 miles of forest road and roll back to twin lakes damn. My neck was killing. My disc rotors literally changed color from heat. My wrist and fingers became numb from the vibration & cold. My back and neck hurts thinking about it. Don't get me wrong, it was awesome flying down, but it really hurt too. I must share there we're people pushing bikes multiple hours behind me, I was hoping they got there goal. It was painful to see them. At dam in 165th place. 5:40. To Mile 75: Ok, at this point I listened to my Dad's questions, goo? Water? Sustained? Rain jacket? Butt butter? Feel ok? More lube for chain, yes!! And off I go. This section was fairly isolated. The paved road back up from twin lakes was long. Others we're contemplating there journey too. Even tho my Dad said 9hrs was still do-able, I knew better. Still two major climbs after pipeline and I was feeling new stuff here. I felt ok, but started to go into cruise control. I held my position. Rode up out of twin lakes on pavement, walked most of the north face and pedaled to mile 75 on the dirt roads concentrating on fuel and pace. I wanted to save for powerline, why, because I heard it was hellish. Hit mile 75, still around 165th. Felling ok for what I've been though. Or was I delerious. I swapped out fuel with my Dad. Listened to questions about rain jackets, goo, accelerade etc... I thought I said yes to rain jacket, but I'm told I actually threw off tubes and extra weight. I was carring two tubes the whole way (in camel and in jersey). I'll do this again...but anyway, the point is I left without a rain jacket. Stupid. Mile 80 up Powerline & Torward Haggerman: ok, 25 miles left....just powerline 9.5k to 11k and then Haggerman pass 10k to 11k. I knew it would be long. I wanted lightness yet shoulda kept my rain jacket!! This section starts out fast, flat and team roadie style. I hooked up with three other guys and we pounded trading leads. It was fun but I was pushing it past 155bpm - 160bpm at times. I was revived. I noticed powerline way off in the distance and noted the false summits. Off pavement crossed that creek and headed up powerline. Once into powerline accent the loose ups, and canyons between the moguls if you will started to wear me down. The conversation and commeradre was cool. We all we're on a mission and helped each other in different ways....hard to explain this race in so many ways..dig deep brotha. Walk, ride, push fast, ride, puuussh. Ok, to sum it up powerline was long. It started to rain halfway up. I will say I walked way too much, and when it started raining, I bummed. The false summits didn't phase me cause i saw them coming, but the rain... I had my rain jacket on my camel(not), but when I looked, no go. I was sure it fell off. I pulled my fleece hat out and put it on, this saved me big time!!! Anyway, I didn't see lightning but the rollllling thunnn-der and big booms while the powerlines zipped & zapped was freaky. I got back on and pedaled, then walked, then pedaled, walked then pedaled then finally summited. I made sure to eat and drink per training. I was cold, but kept telling myself the fleece keeps most heat in. Still many miles left in race. On the way down it was muddy, glasses screwed, rain in my shirts, cold and mud everywhere, feet starting to get wet. Muddy rivers starting, squshy starting, gettinmg nervious about finishing. How long would I be out here...hypothemia? On really fast crappy downhills now, can't see, fast!! Passing people. I pounded every small up to enable roll overs. I thought about the next uphill, haggerman. I was way way cold but determined to finish...flying downhill on dirt in the rain. Haggeman to Boulevard to Finish: Once finally down and off that powerline thunderdome Sugarloaf thingy I felt lower elevation warmth. Ok maybe i didn't but talked myself into warth. I was way cold up there (poly long sleeve, fleece hat and jersey was not enough). I was still pissed about no rain jacket but knew I could finish if stuck with it. Still I was numb in many places, I was worried about black spots, deleriousness and hypothermia. But I stayed awake, diagnosing and pressed on. I was hoping for a climb(for warmth) and it came. Haggerman Pass. The paved road turned up hill. It said 3 miles to pass. What seemed like no big deal was huge at this milage. Yet, the climb went well I felt warm with no mud flying in eyes. I was passing, and passing alot. I was revived again. Still a few people caught me including a cute girl. Ok, seriously, every woman who challenges at this point rules in my book. Anyway I motored up and basically gapped everyone. At the top Abba was playing on a boom box (just stitting on the side of the road), civilization? Abba was awesome, not sure why, I stood up and pounded the top of the pass. An aid station. I asked if it was downhill and a volunteer said, "not until you have hot soup", that sounded so good. I stopped and drank a cup. Damn warm and goooood!!! Next I asked if they could clean my glasses. This is what makes the race great. They obliged and did what I couldn't, they cleaned my glasses lickety split. YES!! Best move of the race for me. I was off down St. Kevens with clean glases, this made all the difference. I could see!!! I flew. I passed. I had more cold, numbing fun! Ok, once off St Kevins it was big ring past the cows again. The route back was different and bypassed the direct to town route, it went through backyards to a 700ft climb on dirt road. The big boulder section was short, but the then the soggy dirt road slog seemed long, it was probaly 2 miles false flat. Then pavement back into town, back up a short road climb and the screeming yelling crowd finish. Felt awesome. Yes it was still raining. 9 hrs 44min. 36 seconds. Post Race PE & Data (my base, short race LT172, Max HR 184): I ran the race at sub 9 for 3 hrs, then finished @ 9 hrs 44min Ave HR 146 Max 167 10,417 kcal, standard results against my training ave's per my HR watch anyhow 12,400 vert gain?, all @ 9.2k to 12.4k El. +22% of time was over 155HR or near my Z3 3 hrs of rain Much pain Broken water btl cage Some shifting issues Much numbness from cold/rain/long vibrating downs Serious effort at times....11 of 10 pe :) First effort, got the Silver Buckle....happy!! Results: My results:-FINISHED 133rd of 802 total riders (9hrs, 44minutes, 38 seconds) -86th place at mile 25 -118th at mile 40 (2hrs 56min after near 4,500ft gains) -163rd at mile 50 (5hrs after near 7700ft gains) -165th at mile 60 (5hrs 37min all down, it hurt my neck & hands!!) -165th at mile 76 (6hrs 45min) -133rd finish at mile 103 (after two more summits near 4,500ft gains and more screaming downhills in the rain!!!) 455 made the 12hr prize goal, 509 got an official time of less than 13hours, the remaining 293 dnf'ed, dns or we're pulled off. So anyhow. I scored the Silver Buckle, Sweatshirt with my name and time on it, and a finisher medal for completion within time cut off. Neat stuff and adds to the prize of just plain finishing!!! Reflection: I can break 9 hours. Need to race the tops, that is, when near tops, push it then rest on downhills. At some point up Columbine need to push hard &/or suffer for an hour, forget comfort level. Must remember my training enables lactate burn off, fuel is dialed. I need to ride up powerline & more of Col., this will cut lots o time. More push bike training (reduce LT buildup). Need more F training, stairs, leg presses? Been there knowledge will help, confidence! Same pace on way out to 40 miles if as fit. Again, faster pace on tops and climbs (ME & F training...) I learned alot this year, next year.....

Heath, Amy, Duncan, Alta & Leo's Mtn Bike Fun

Tuesday, August 29

Red Line Again (Finally!!)

Monday, August 28

Road to Gumer's

Tuesday, August 22

MNSCS#8 Powder

Why I don't own a road bike yet..

Monday, August 21

Leadville 100 Mtn Bike Story 2006

Thursday, August 17

Leadville Pics Video

Wednesday, August 16

Leadville 100 Results ( LT100 MTB )

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