Tour of the White Mountains

I got up to Show Low with Becker in the late afternoon. We found Tim, Spiceman, and Jamie. After checking in and picking up our packets I drove Becker back into town cause he was staying with the rest of the Prescott peeps in a condo. I then got back to the Venue to set up my camp before dark. Tom got there right after I got back and we set up camp. We did some relaxing accompanied by stories and goofing off.

I have to say Friday night and Saturday morning I wasn't even really thinking too much about this race. I was thinking that after Payson this would be a breeze. I thought that after my rocky 12 laps at Payson a 67 mile race would be a piece of cake. Well, I was very very very very very very very very wrong!

I made some pretty big mistakes in regards to race prep. I wasn't going to wear a camelback because I heard that there were 5 aid stations. I thought that would be perfect except I didn't look at map or listen at the racers meeting to see where exactly the stops were so I could refill bottles and get food.

So the race started and I felt the best I have yet this year. I was passing a lot of people and didn't feel like I was riding over my head. So we passed the first 2 aid stations and I didn't have any need for food or water yet. So at about 1 hour and 45 minutes into the race I came to the 3rd aid station. I looked at my bottles and saw they were both close to being 1/2 full. Not really thinking that there were only going to be a total of 5 stops and this was the 3rd I kept on going. The thought process in my simple litte brain was that since the first 3 were close together the next one shouldn't be too far. Well it was 18 miles later. Needless to say I was without water for a long time and needed some calories. I had some gels with me but have problems eating them without something to drink. It was about the 4 hour mark that things started going pretty bad. I was getting weak and really sloppy on the bike.

After I finally got some water and food it was hard getting my momemteum going again because from there till the end the course was a big bad bitch. The doubletrack was super rocky, the singletrack was even more rocky, and the parts that weren't rocky had giant pot hole from horses riding it when it is wet. So needless to say the last 15 miles were painful. On one of the most techinique rocky decents I hit a tree with my handlebar and shoulder which then sent me not over the bars but like a helicopter off the bike. I landed on some pretty big boulders on my chest and knees. I just laid there for a long time. After a few minutes I thought I should probably get off the course. I crawled over to my bike and sat there for a while to regroup. The course was so long and people were so spread out that only a couple of people doing the 30 miler passed me. I told them I was just resting and they proceeded on.

Once I finally got going again I realized that the side of my vest was torn open and my jersey sleeve was shredded.

























That last 10 miles were pretty slow going. I just kept thinking about how I felt so great and was flying the first 4 hours and how crappy I felt the last 2 hours. I guess that is mountain bike racing. There was one racer out there who I have to thank. I think his name is Mario Correa. I told him I was hurting for water and he gave me the last of one of his bottles. I took the last couple of drinks and put the bottle in my jersey pocket. I caught him at the 4 aid station to find I lost his bottle out of my pocket. I tried to give him one of mine but he said he was fine. Really cool guy to give one of his competitors (not that I was much of a threat at that point) some of his last water in a long race like that.

All in all I guess I should be happy. I ended up getting 9th place and 5 of the 8 racers in front of me were Pro or Semi.

Results

The temps started to drop and rain started to fall shortly after I got done. Tim packed up and headed back to Tuscon. I decided I didn't want to sleep out in that mess especially cause my pop-up that I use for shelter off the back of the car was destroyed from the wind. Becker and I decided to pack up and headed to the condo where I would either sleep in my car or maybe on a floor in the condo. Anything would be better than the mess out at the venue.

Tons of racers were caught out in the mud. When we got back to the condo we found that Robert and Jeanette were not accounted for and Rob, Susan, and Brady were out looking. Eventually everyone was found and the muddy bodies returned to the condo. By the time they returned Becker and I had already had some hot tub time and were chowing snacks. Thanks to Rob and Suzie for letting me sleep on the couch. It was great relief to be in a warm, dry, and comfy place. Also, had a great night hanging out with everyone.