RR- My first solo endurance race.
I don't even know where to start, other than it was a test of mental strength and brute courage, to slug it out lap after lap, hour after hour. To say it was muddy would be a gross understatement; it was just nasty out there. With a little over 2 inches of rain fall in the two days prior to the race the course was going to be wet, we all knew this as we headed to the start line. What we didn't know, was how bad it really was.
10.00 am: We are all sitting on the start line, I line up near the back with the rest of the solo racers. We are to go off about 2 minutes after the 4-person teams. As they roll off in the it looks like the start of a normal race, wet muddy spray coming of the rear tires, people muscling to lead the pack into the single track.
10.02am: The starting gun goes off, none off us are in a big hurry to to lead the pack in to the woods as we all know we have a long day in front of us. About 100 feet in to race Todd Scott and I run into each other. We both come un-clipped, and have to dab to keep our bike under control and up-right in the wet grass. I glance over to my right and say, "Well its good thing we got that one out of the way so early", he nods and the small talk continues for about a mile or so.
After about 2 miles in to the course we are still packed up tight and it has begun to pour. The course has been reduce to a wet runny, sloppy mess, which in hind sight was the best it was going to be all day. Some where shortly after the rain started up again about 15 riders, me included took a wrong turn, we are humping down a 2 track for about a half a mile before we reach the dead end. FNKA. I mange to get back on track and start picking my way through riders that are unsure of how to handle the 2 inches of mud on the course. I pedal on.
As I enter the pits for the 1st time, I ask my crew for dry gloves, clean glasses and my rain jacket. As they are rounding up my gear, I dry my grips and hands off and get some water in my system. I suit up and I'm off again, it's still raining. I plow past a few riders, pushing there broking bikes and spirits pack to there pits.
For the next five and half hours I don't remember much of what happened on the course. I must have dismounted 25 times to shoulder my bike and sprint through the worst sections, by doing this I am hoping that I can save some energy. I know I stopped 2 times to wash my bike off in the pond that was just before 1st climb. And I stopped at my pit for dry gloves, water and nutrition every hour.
Some where around 1.00pm the rain had subsided, and the mud started to get thick, no lie this stuff is worse than red mud of Snow Shoe, VW. It stuck to every thing in sight. I stated to pass riders left and right, slowing to chat with people that I knew and to offer moral support as we slug through the slop.
With about two hours to go, my legs start to cramp. I am forced to dismount and hoof it. Which is not much easier than riding, I get back to flat section saddle-up and pedal on.
One hour and counting, it is getting grim. My legs are shot, my bike is a wreck, and I have no rear brake. My crew is still cheering me on as I leave for my last lap. I am now to the point where I have to talk myself in to pedaling thought the still thickening mud. " 100 more feet then you can coast, dismount run the next hill, mount up, drink some water, OK time to pedal again, one more down muddy down hill and your done.”
As I roll past my pit one last time, every team is cheering, I toss my water bottle and glasses to my crew to give it every thing I have for the last quarter mile. I stand up and sprint. I am done. I crossed the line with 8 minutes to go. I left everything I had out there on the course. I push my bike back to pit and collapse in the wet grass.
I was happy with my self for finishing the race, I had no clue of where I finished. I took freaking 2nd place. I was on the podium at my first Solo endurance race. Not bad for a downhiller. Stoked.
3rd lap I think.
http://www.mattmccluskey.com/photogr...s/IMG_6255.jpg
Beats Me.
http://luv2mtb.smugmug.com/photos/69476096-M.jpg
