I figured it was time I got off my butt and gave my LJ100 report.
For a bit of background, this was my 4th attempt at the LJ. I gave it a try the first year, with so little training it was criminal. At the time, the race was 4 25 mile laps, but you came thru the pit area twice on each lap, so it was more like a 8 mile lap followed by a 17 mile lap. I was on my 2nd 17 mile lap, ~42 miles into the race, when I caught my pedal on a stump near the outer aid station, went over the bars and dislocated my shoulder. I took a ride out from the aid station. 2nd year, I wasn’t much more prepared, the heat was horrible, and I was on a new bike that wasn’t quite fitting yet. Bailed before the half way point due to back issues, the heat, and general wimpy-ness.
The next 2 years, I bought entries but bailed prior to the race. Last year, I was more prepared, but not quite as much as I should have been. Between phoning in my nutrition plan (or lack of such a plan) and cramps setting in pretty hard between 50 and 66 miles, I bailed after the 2nd lap. I walked away swearing I was done, and not going to attempt the race again. That didn’t last long.
This year, I picked up a 100 mile finisher coaching plan from
lwcoaching.com, and spent more time trying to figure out my nutrition.
Having not finished a 100 mile race yet (hell, having not done a 100 mile ride yet), I started at the back of the pack, planning on concentrating on saving myself and finishing, and not worrying about my time or placing. I hit the singletrack with Tak and Erik, and we hit the bike train together. A few miles into the course, we hit a hill with people bobbling a bit and climbing slow, and Erik and Tak were able to get around the group and take off. I was able to get around most of the group, but got caught behind the lead person when the trail narrowed back down. (On a side note, this is the exact same place in the race where Erik lose me last year too..) Rather then kill myself to get around her and catch up with Erik and Tak, and stayed where I was and got around her a bit later.
First lap was pretty uneventful, and I felt like I was on a decent pace, but not blowing out my legs too much early in the game. My #1 concern was making sure I had something left in the tank for the last lap.
I was in and out of the pits in ~10 minutes, headed out for lap #2. By the time I hit the aid station, I knew I had plenty of time for the cutoff, and just cruised along, getting it done. I could feel that I had saved enough for lap 3, especially from 50-66 miles, where I fell apart last year. I found the 2nd lap to be the hardest, because you are starting to feel the miles, and at some points, I started to not give a shit if I did a 3rd lap. Knowing that you have to do this again is difficult. But, I told myself to MTFU, put my skirt back into my camelbak, and got it done. When I came into the pits again, I had no doubts that I was heading back out and getting it done.
Spent 10-15 minutes eating some food and drinking, and then headed back out for lap #3. Kristi had offered prior to the race to ride the lap with me, but in the end, it was decided she’d ride the first half with me, then Marty would meet us @ the aid station, and finish the lap with me. On the first half of the lap, we caught up with Nate Phelps, and we rode to the aid station together. I was walking a fair number of the hills at this point, and fighting some threats of cramps around both knees.
Marty and I took off the ride the last half of the lap, and ended up hooking up with Nate again. Honestly, I enjoy the 2nd half of the lap much more then the 1st half, and even having to walk some of the hills, I had a blast. When we got to the top of the Catamount climb, I considered the worse over. You have that fast downhill, a little bit of climbing after that, and then it’s looking for the finish line. I came in at 12:48, wasn’t in last place, and walked away wanting to do it again. I now know that I can do it, so it’s a matter of seeing how much I can improve my time next year with more training.
I have to thank Erik for suggesting the LWCoaching plan (which he credits to helping his finish the first time), Kristi for going out with me on the last lap (knowing that I had someone to chat with, and not being along, made a huge difference on attitude about the last lap) and of course Marty: For riding with my on the last chunk, for the support all of this year with my crazy training and losing my mind. And, of course, for the awesome support during the race.
Im actually thinking SS for next year.
(forgive the formatting. This was pasted from an email, the paragraph spacing seems to be fucked, and I sort of don’t give that much of a crap about it. heh)
Biked on Friday, 01/27