Summer Camp

I guess I need to write a race report for this one – need some sort of closure on this huge chunk of my life!

What started out as one of my goals to keep me in shape, healthy and out of trouble turned into an all consuming obsession. It was a fun one though…

I committed back in December, I think, and I knew I had some hard work to do just to finish this race in May. I followed a winter training plan that took me to March, then a 12 week TSE specific training plan that took me up until race day.

I followed the plan to a T – I think a little too well to a T because I felt tired and over trained most of the time, but I thought that’s what I needed to do to make it all work – home, work, social, and training time. I was really worried about completing this race and making all the time cutoffs.

So, I went into the race being tired and a bit sore…I had a fall on the 2 hour training ride that was prescribed the Thursday night before the race started on Saturday. I fell on my left arm (I had been having numbing issues already in my hand as a result of shoulder issues).

Jill and I got to TSE on Saturday; we pre-rode the 12.5 mile time trial course and I felt, well, tired. It was hot and I was just hoping I’d feel better on Sunday. The course wasn’t too difficult and I knew with a good night’s rest, I’d be fine.
Sunday we had some time to kill since our time trials didn’t start until after 4pm.

After a shopping jaunt into State College (to look for sandals other than flip flops because I had blisters between my toes and I didn’t have any other sandals along), we managed to relax and lay down for a bit. Donna and Sammy stopped by to visit, but left before the race started.

Stage 1 – Individual Time Trial

I think most of you heard the story, but as I was sitting on the concrete porch of our cabin, my chair shifted and I fell backwards, chair and all, 2-3 feet to the ground, hitting my head on a rock, splitting it open, and rolling over backwards. I was horrified. All my training! The race was ruined. Our first thought was not to go to the Dr. and just race….until Jill looked at my head and saw blood. So we went to race headquarters and had Dr. Todd look at it. I was pretty upset. I started hyperventilating when he told me about getting staples. After he put one staple in, I started sweating profusely, my hands got numb and my vision was blurry. I cried a lot. Dr. Todd said that I could race if I wanted to, so we walked back to the cabin and by the time I changed the vision and numbing cleared up. So I raced!
My head hurt for the next couple of days, but the worst of it was my shoulders and neck which were so stiff for the remainder of the week resulting in lots of hand numbing issues.

For everything that had just happened 45 minutes before the time trial started, I had a good ride. It was better than the pre-ride and I actually enjoyed it!

Stage 2 – Cooper’s Gap Cross Country

I was looking forward to this stage because we had pre-rode it earlier in May--- I knew what to expect so we thought it would be a piece of cake to make the cut off. It was a lot hotter on Monday than our pre-ride was. Chili and I were having fun until we got to the trail section that climbs a mountain. Parts of it were exposed and it was in the 90’s. Where we had ridden before, we were reduced to walking our bikes. We were a few miles from the checkpoint so we were trying to really push it and I think we both bonked hard a few times between there and the checkpoint. Nearing the checkpoint and thinking we were going to get cut, we were approached be a volunteer on a bike that told us that the cut off was extended due to the heat – YAY – We were so happy! After that checkpoint, we just kept moving but the mental struggle was over.

Stage 3 – Coburn Cross Country

This was the mostly road stage with very few trails and a tunnel, lots of CLIMBS and great vistas. There was confusion at the start of the stage and I got ahead of Jill, but then made a wrong turn. Until I got turned around and got back on course, she was ahead of me. Uh, oh…predicament. I was trying to catch her and she was trying to catch me! We rode like this for about 32 miles and at the checkpoint that was also the cutoff they told her that I was behind her and she waited for me! It was a beautiful stage but a bummer that we got separated like that. I did get a chance to chat with Laura early on in the stage.

Stage 4 – Raystown – Allegrippis Trails

This was my most favorite stage! I love these swoopy, hoop-dee-do, pump track style trails!! Your momentum and downward speed is what carries you up the next hill and I took full advantage of that. Unfortunately Jill did not like it as much. I ended up riding behind 11 year old Tanner for the 1st lap, who was part of one of the two Teams that were racing.

Stage 5 – RB Winter – Mini XCs

This was a format that not many people liked. I may have liked it better if I wasn’t hurting. I was pretty exhausted today and numbing issues were pretty bad. We group rode to the start of each of four time trials sections, so for the pros, it was about 6 hours total time with only 50 minutes of racing.

Stage 6 – Tussey Mountain/Queen Stage

This was supposed to be the best stage, but it wasn’t for me. I was still hurting. We hadn’t preridden the John Wert trail and because of fatigue, numbness and uncertainty, I didn’t ride a lot of it. I was also very worried about the cut off today because I knew how I felt. I tortured myself. It was bad. I was timing us from the “official” start and we had 3.5 or 4 hours to make the check point--I don’t remember. As we were starting the climb up the road to the checkpoint, it was beyond the time and I was just devastated. To come this far and not finish….I got to the checkpoint and Jill was waiting for me and was yelling, “WE MADE IT!” We really didn’t but I guess they decided to let us through since we were close. I bawled. So, we continued on to the Tussey Ridge Trail. I love this trail but I was really having issues by this time, so I told Jill to just go---she was feeling great!
So I carried on alone and my mind played tricks on me. As I was riding down off of the ridge I heard something behind me---it was HO! Aaron Hofelt was sweeping the course and pulling down arrows behind me! So, we rode together for most of the rest of the stage – that was just what I needed! Thank you, Ho!

Stage 7 – Poe Valley

Last stage – road mixed with some pretty sweet trail. Jill, Kerry and I were all near each other for most of the day. No time cut offs so no worries-- we were home free!

Highlights

-Spending the week with my best racing bud, Jill! Thank you for putting up with me---I tried to be as positive as I could!! That girl has LOTS of energy!!

-Being able to complete this race. It was very important to do this so all the training I endured was worth something!

-Brett being the best husband and putting up with me and my sometimes silly goals.

-What happens in camp stays in camp! Chili, you know what I’m talking about!

-Buttercup (Hard is Good!) and Blossom

-Raystown Stage!

-No rain all week!

-The big fan that showed up midway thru the week but sat there because I didn’t have the energy to put it together! Thank you Scot and Jen!

-The naked man that ran out of the woods during Stage 2 and gave me a little “push” from behind!

-Getting to talk to and mingle with the Pros – quite an honor!

-A very well put on event with great promoters! Thank you Mike and Ray – also, Zach, Chris, Dr. Todd, Justin from Freeze Thaw, Becky and John and all the others who helped me get through the week!

-The champagne victory fight at the end…

-The steak dinner that welcomed me home on Saturday - Thank you Jill, Sarah, Diane and Andre - you're the bestest!!

-ALL the well wishes and support from my family and friends before, during and after the event! Thank you!