Ok Chili, you asked for it...
It's been a while since Brett and I have done a Michaux race---2001 to be exact. I don't know why. But I have been wanting to do one for a while now since they are basically in our back yard!
The Maximus was held on Sunday and with all of the new singletrack that keeps you off the worn in/worn out ATV trails, our interest was piqued. There was plenty of excitement in our club's blog—Mountain Bikers of Michaux--and amongst other people.
We also had some idea where the course was going to go in the planning stages thanks to some tasty cupcake morsels...
I knew I wanted to do the race, but all of the good, new trails where going to be in the 40 mile loop, which was going to be anywhere from 40-50 miles. So I said to my friend, Chili, “what do you think? We could do the 40 and ride it together and have fun!” Before I had an answer, she had signed up for race!
So, whether I could do it or not, we were committed. We did a pre-ride of 27 miles in the heat a couple of weekends ago and 22 miles at Weiser State Forest the weekend before and I knew it was going to be a very, very difficult race for both of us.
Our goal was to have fun and finish the race.
Race day. Rain. I'll tell you what saved the attitude.
The Jedi Master. It's all Jedi Mind Tricks.
A race or hard task is all about what you make it out to be. It's all in your head. When I read that blog entry, I knew right then and there that I was going to have a fun day no matter what.
We packed all of our stuff up and went up to the race venue...tried to get Chili in as good a mood as I was and we got ready for the race.
We chatted with some of the other ladies at the start...Amy McCullough, Andrea Slack and some others.
Started out on Piney double track and warmed up on the climb. There were about 3 of us women that were together going into the first singletrack of the 10 mile loop. I paused here and there for Chili...then she got farther behind me at one point and I heard her yell. It was something I didn't want to hear “I have a flat – keep going”. So I stopped and went back and said I wouldn't leave her and let's change it. She said she wasn't sure she knew how to change it and insisted that I go on.
To tell you the truth—i don't think I could change a tire on the trail either, so I didn't think I would be of much help so I said goodbye and continued on.
I caught the girl that was in front of us and kept her behind me until I realized I was rolling on my rear rim! So I stopped and got out my inflater and put some air in my tire hoping the Stan's would do it's trick and seal up the hole. As I was putting my stuff back together, the girl passed me, but I quickly caught her again and kept her behind me.
My tire still wasn't inflated enough, but I had to keep moving!
Into the ATV crap. Never ending rocks. Oops, front tire didn't like that one. Down hard on my left shoulder and side. Ouch.
Shake it off and keep going. Finally down to 233/snowmobile trails/Woodrow Road/enduro and corkscrew – ahhh my back yard and favorite trails! Through Camp Michaux (I thought that was supposed to be re-routed??)
Out to Michaux Road and a bit of a breather on Ridge Road for 3 miles to Rt 233 and the Aid Staion. Here, thanks to Old Man Withers and Steve, I got air in my rear tire and a refill of my Perpetuem bottle.
Off to newheislers/moss/vista/canyon/weitzel. Boy I did lots of walking. Wow.
Getting really hungry by the time I get to Leaf and the new bit from the Charlie Brown tree. Then I remember there's an aid station at the church and start singing “Going to the Chapel and i'm goh-n-na e-a-t!” You know, instead of married...
I finally get there at 7 hours and 15 minutes into the ride and they are tearing down. I get a banana and some Hammer gel and tell them that I just want to finish. At that same moment, the radio guy says he just got word to hold any racers that are currently there. He looked at me and said you better get going!
So I went over the church trail, left on Old Carlisle, crossed Tom's Run (one of the many creeks i've ridden or walked through so far!), right on creek trail to Old Shippensburg Road to Dynamite Shed to Michaux Road. I turn right to go up the hill a ways and think to my self, i'm just going to climb up then go right back down on one of the muckiest trails again—and it didn't bother me because I was so close to the final climb up Piney Mountain.
I get to the trail on the left and there's another radio vehicle and the guy starts getting out and I think to myself, this isn't gonna be good.
He tells me that I can't go any further.
Frustration with myself
I am so close
Why can't I just go
So close
Just want to ride the whole thing
crap
I don't go since he's not letting me, so I get back on my bike and he asks if I want to wait for a sag back---BWHAHAHA! Bye.
So, I ride Michaux to 233 to Bendersville and take my victory lap of the parking lot for all of 3 cars and my waiting husband who had finished his race way before me. I did get to see a fellow Cap City Adventure Race Teammate, Lynn Rinehart, drive by on my way up the mountain. Also, saw co-worker Brian Fischer, who got 3 vet and I think 9th overall in the 40 miler on his way down the mountain!
8 hours and 30 minutes
The longest i've ever been on a mountain bike at once. On a beautiful day. Not too shabby.
This race was the hardest, muddiest, loamiest, BEST mountain bike race I have ever done. I just wish Chili could have been with me for the whole race!
