The Whiskey 50

I am a big time slacker. I do have somewhat of an excuse. I'll get to that later. Hopefully sooner than later.

So we made it to bed by 10:30 or 11 on Friday night. We had a full house. Christina, Mike, Adam, Zach and I. My mind was racing, I could tell before we shut the lights out that I wasn't going to sleep well. Christina fell asleep almost as soon as she hit the pillow, but then woke up to a coughing fit at some point during the night. I was awake without an alarm by like 4 or 4:30. Christina was up early too. Breakfast at home, a little coffee, a few last minute bike checks and we were ready to go. We were downtown before 8. Found some good parking and started getting packs and bottles and food ready. It was a beautiful day.


I saw Jennifer Sica at some point in the morning. She wasn't signed up for the race. She was riding as a friend of hers who couldn't make it at the last minute.

Christina and I headed out for a little warm up. We just cruised around the downtown area. It was great. It was 8:45am (the race was starting at 9) and no one was lined up yet. I think it was about 5 till when people finally started moving into the shoot. Very laid back atmosphere.

9 o'clock rolled around and it was time. Cruise up Goodwin, to Park, to Country Club. Left onto Highland, last downhill we'd see for quite a while. Right on Copper Basin. From there it was, up, up, up for 20 minutes. I was happy with that, estimated time to climb on the website was 30 minutes. Status of everyone else...Zach was up front somewhere, Mike was ahead, in my sights, Adam and Christina, just a little behind. Right into Camp Pearlstein. After the camp I think we hit some singletrack. I was not feeling it. All over the trail. Any little root or rock seemed to knock me out of my rhythm. Strange. Back down to Copper Basin and quickly back into the singletrack. Lots more climbing to go. And water bars to come. I did much better down the water bars this time. Made it down all of them. And made it up more of them than when we prerode.

It was somewhere in this section that the first unofficial aid station was located. A shot of Early Times was the only liquid beverage being offered. I wasn't quite up for it, so I pedaled on.

We were starting the decent down to 260, which is the scariest part of the course in my opinion. Loose rocks, boulders, gravel everywhere, drop offs down the mountain the whole way. I hopped off my bike to walk to the really loose, eroded, rocky switchback section and Adam cruised by. (that was a bad choice, there were so many people it was hard to squeeze back in). Finally got back on and I was feeling out of control again. Quick stop to see if I had a flat. Nope, both tires felt good. Back on the bike and still all over the place. Not a good feeling to have as I approached 260. I stopped again. It occurred to me that I never checked my handlebars after my big crash on the preride. Zach straightened em out and tightened em up for me out on the trail. But I never, after that ride, checked them out to make sure they were nice and tight. So I pulled out my tool and messed with it. It sucked to have to stop and watch tons of people pass me, but what was worse was the mental freakshow I became. Riding 260 with lose handlebars would have been very bad. Why had I never spent a few minutes to tighten the stupid things???? Christina stopped to make sure I was okay. I finally had to shoo her on, she stopped for way too long! She needed to catch some of those other women I knew were ahead of us!

So needless to say, 260 was long and slow. I rode it super cautiously. I was soooo happy to take that last tight switchback that lead down to 53. I was past the worst part safe and sound. Up 53 to the #1 & 3 aid station. I took a pass and started the long, gravel road decent down to Skull Valley. I was in the rolling section when I saw the lead guy heading back up the climb. It was fun to cheer people on that I recognized as they rode by. Tom Ament was pretty far up there, Zach and Steve were riding together, Jennifer was doing great, I saw both Darrins, Robert, Mike, and Adam and Christina were together.

I pushed it hard down to the aid station and half filled my camel back. Grabbed a few hammer gels and filled up my bottle too. Turned around and started the ride up. I felt good for a while. Passed Adam at one point. We exchanged "encouraging words". I still felt great when I reached him and continued on. It was a long grind....in the same seated position. I tried to stand every now and then, but that hurt too. Finally...the #1 and 3 aid station. I was going to stop real quick, but Brady and Jeanette were there..."Sara, Christina isn't too far ahead, you can get her....and by the way, SHE DIDN'T STOP!" They were totally teasing me. Ugghh, I guess I won't stop. It's all downhill from here, right? Yeah, right. The climb from the aid station to the lookout GOES ON FOREVER. I was hurting there bigtime.

Finally at the top, I ducked into the singletrack. A little more climbing. It was all kind of a blur. I do remember the last long rocky climb that I had to get off and walk. The cramps kicked in really bad there. I was able to get back on and ride the last part of that section. Alot of people were walking there. I'm sure they all heard my pain induced groans. Finally I reached the steep, downhill, tight switchback section. I remembered Joanie telling me, "you get to the switchbacks and you think it's all downhill, but there's still one more climb!" So I was prepare but I don't remember that last climb being that long. And after that we hit some great singletrack. Bombing fast and some easy technical stuff. It was a blast. I was flying (at least I felt like I was flying).

It felt great to hit Thumb Butte Rd. Big ring, essentially all downhill. Just a few more minutes. And...Huge cheers as all the riders crossed the finish line. It was great. I finished just under 5 hours.

Everyone's results are here.