Saturday, 9/18/2010 Moab Century 19th goal hit
The day is here, the reason I came out to Moab. My sister, bless her heart, cheerfully agreed to get up at 6 am with me so we could start out together. She is doing the Rolling 68 route, she could very easily have started an hour or two later and still finished before me, but she is a good sport and great support. We ride down to the start at the Aarchway Inn (not a misspelling by the way, I'll buy a beer for anyone who can tell me why they misspelled the name) for the mass start.
They had an opening ceremony and released the yellow balloons that everyone had written the name of someone they know on the day before. Either those that had lost their battle with cancer or those that had survived, fond memories and good wishes went out to everyone named. I put Melanie Brown's name on one balloon, a co-worker who died a few years back after valiantly fighting breast cancer. I really wish I could have said I didn't know anyone to name.
They sent us off about 7:15, several hundred riders heading out all at the same time, I have never participated in a mass start, it was kind of fun. Highway patrol closed Hwy 191 through town and we had the whole road to head out on. Robin and I go in opposite directions, I wish her a good ride and start out. And, by the way, this was Robin's first ride by herself, she usually has friends at least starting out with her, I hope she enjoys the day.
I am feeling pretty good, I need to keep reminding myself that I have a lot of hard climbing ahead and 105 miles to complete. I keep the pace reasonable, around 14 mph, nice cruise. The route winds through town, pretty much a gradual climb the whole way. The road is one of those that doesn't really look like it is rising, but is, for 20 miles it was rising. I start feeling like I am pushing hard and going nowhere, I even stopped to make sure my brakes weren't rubbing. Could not blame the pace on that, just my weak legs.
Hit the 1st water stop, which did not have water, just port-o-potties. Except Team in Training, their support vehicles were there and they were fully stocked-- for TIT riders. There were about 155 of them on the ride, they had raised $350,000 for the event. Awesome commitment. Riding with them was like riding with a big group of pep squad cheerleaders. I have *never* had so many people so heartily lie about how well I was doing. It was nice to hear, did help keep spirits up.
Keeping my spirits up was going to become more and more critical, I was starting up the serious climbing of the day, the "Little Nasty", the first of the three climbs that would cover 3,000 feet in 7 miles. It was about 2 miles of some pretty steep uphill, I would guess at least a 10% grade over all that pitched up a little steeper on one slope. I got through that one with only having to walk about 100 yards of the steepest part and then hit "Tom's Misery", a short, steep slope. Finally a rest stop, with water, but not really much food. Some pretzels, cookies, and orange slices, I was not really impressed. There were tikko drummers, they were great. I could hear them all the way up the next climb, "The Big Nasty", not quite as steep as the Little, but longer. Just a grind and grind and grind all the way up, maybe 3 to 3.5 miles. The next rest stop, number 2, finally appears around the corner.
As I am catching my breath a SAG wagon appears, fully loaded with riders that just could not quite make it up the climb. I must admit I was a little irritated and envious, they pile out, all smiles and laughing, looking kind of fresh. I am already crusty with dried salt and sagging just a bit. But, I did it, so I shake them off and start out for the rest of the climb.
I have a really sweet downhill to take the edge, and then the next climbing hits, "Stair Way to Heaven" and then something else I can not remember the name of, till finally at 8350 ft up the mountain, I hit Rest Stop 3, and what is now truly a downhill! It is 11:55 am, it took me almost 5 hours to get up the mountain, I spent approximately 10 minutes at each rest stop, so around 4.5 hours of riding time. And, I have to get to Rest Stop 5 before 1:30 pm or I can't go on to the finish the full century, they will turn me at the 65 mile route turnoff. Fortunately, it is downhill, I can't climb for diddley, but I can do a pretty good downhill.
Off I go, settled back in the saddle, down on the drops, cruising around the bends. I slow down to hit the start of some sharp s-turn switchback and discover a rider down. He is on his feet, but in pain, probably a broken collar bone, maybe a head injury, his helmet is cracked. A couple of his friends are with him, checking him over, none of us can get cell reception, so I tell them I will send a SAG from the next RS, and take off. I have two goals now, get down to RS 5 before 1:30 pm and get to RS 4 at the bottom of the hill to send help up. I hit RS 4 and send help up the hill, and get to the bottom of the hill to discover that Robin has waited for me to get down. I feel bad that I don't have time to stop and hear how her ride has been so far, I manage 5 minutes then I have to get on down the road. I hit RS 5 at 1:20, 10 minutes to spare! Get some water and head on...
The "Rolling 68" route option is, well, more than just a little rolling, there are actually real climbs on this part. Some pretty steep uphills, slopes at least 200 yards long. I can feel my energy levels tanking, I put my head down and slog on to the furthermost RS, #6, get some fresh water and turn around to head back. I hit a headwind, at least 15 mph, maybe more, definitely gusting up towards 20-25 mph. I can barely keep my speed up to 12. The heat is also quite a bit higher than it had been up on the mountain, at least 100 degrees. The temps combined with the hot wind sapped every last bit of moisture from me. I actually bonked about 2 miles out from RS 5 on the return. I was nauseous, light headed, getting chills. The water in my bottles was too hot to drink. I am really hating life about now. I had to get off and walk the last 200 yards back to the rest stop, I couldn't keep a straight line on my bike, and traffic has increased.
I sit down for 30 minutes in the shade, sipping fresh water, and trying to get my equilibrium back. I think I fell asleep for about 10 minutes. I finally started to feel a little more clear headed and realised I had to get moving or I was not going to be able to ride at all. I started out, moving slow, head down, trying not to stare at the mileage slooowwwly turning over. The last RS appears, I am 14 miles from Moab. I pour my water bottles over my head, down my back, soak my clothes, get fresh water and continue slogging on.
I dry pretty quickly, but the day is waning, it is after 4, and the shadows are starting to cover the canyon road. The Colorado River is to my right, I really want to get in it, but am afraid if I stop I won't be able to get started again. I dont' see any riders either. I don't pass any, and none are passing me. I know there are a lot of people behind me, everyone is really wearing down in this heat and wind. About 5 miles out I see one, then another, and finally a third sag wagon pass me, all full of worn out riders.
I am starting to think I might start crying if I can't finish soon when I round the bend and see Hwy 191 traffic, Moab is just a couple of hundred yards away. I come into the parking lot, the entrance is lined with TIT riders, offering encouragement to everyone coming in, they are a very welcome sight! I cross the start/finish line 10 hours after I started, I roughly calculated with my RS down time, my riding time was about 9 hours. I'll take it, this had to have been the hardest century I have done.
I hit the dinner line, choked down about two bites of taco, all that is left of dinner, and start back up to where I left my bike. I look up and see the loveliest sight of the day, my sister coming through the door with a cold Dt. Coke and car keys! I don't have to ride the last 5 miles back to the hotel. I absolutely love my sister, she is a goddess!
Back at the hotel, a cold shower to get the salt crust off, across the street to Moab Brewery for dinner and the absolute best burger I have ever had, served by the greatest waiter ever. In bed by 9 am, lights out by 10. I don't think I moved all night...
This week is a big week, the road trip Moab.
Thursday, 9/16/2010
I drove up to Reno after swim class to my sister's house and arrived around 11:30 pm. Thursday morning off we go, headed to Ely for the evening. I drop Joey at Mom and Dad's for the week, and Robin and I hit the Squeeze In for breakfast on our way out of town.
The drive was uneventful until we hit road construction right outside of Austin. I see the signs a couple of hundred yards out and start slowing down. I am approaching where I should be stopping, and I don't see the construction worker with his sign. I slow more, and more, and then, all of a sudden he pops up off of his car, just as we are about to move past. He scurries out in front us, waving his stop sign. After we stop he walks up to the side of the car and explains that he was watching for the wild horses to come down the hillside across the valley and didn't notice the cars approaching. He then shares a lesbian joke with us, and jesus christ/tiger woods joke and makes some comment about getting his head out of his ass and walks on down the line of cars...presumably to offend all the motorists equally. I neglected to ask his name, rude of me I know, so I have decided to call him Bob, Bubba Bob.
I believe the sign above his head says it all.
Friday, 9/17/2010 Ely to Moab
Up bright and early in Ely, the room at the La Quinta was great, comfortable and quiet. All the racers in town for the Silver State Classic Challenge were already out on the road to participate in what Guinness Book of Records bills as the fastest open road race in the world, the whole world. Amazing that it is right there in little Ely, NV.
Robin and I hit a quick breakfast at the La Quinta breakfast bar
and are on our way by 9:15 am. Great time for us!
The drive out to Moab is uneventful, but beautiful. Hwy 50 truly is the loneliest road in the world. We could go miles before we came across another car. Saw some beautiful scenery on the way, really a nice day to be out on a drive. Now off to bed, tomorrow is the Century, and 6 am arrives earlier.
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