Cohutta 100 Recap

This weekend it was time to get back on the mountain bike for the second race in the NUE Series-- Cohutta 100. I took an incredibly mellow week leading up to the race #1 giving my legs/body the chance to recover from Bootlegger 100, and #2 try to work out the back spasm that didn't seem to want to go away. In a stroke of luck, I remembered that my mom had gotten me a professional massage at a local place a couple months back as a 'congrats-for-finishing-ortho-hell-now-please-be-happy-again.' I still hadn't used it. Mom +100000.

 

The weather gods in Roanoke cooperated with my recovery week and sent lots of rain to the area, so after riding only ~30 miles all week my legs were feeling quite rested going into the weekend. Riding the week before I had caught a stick and my shifting on my Top Fuel hadn't been exactly on point and in the pre-race inspection Jeff Cheng informed me that I had in fact bent the derailleur. Insert multiple profanities... Fortunately, in the flurry of 'help' texts Jeff Brown replied back that he had an Eagle derailleur for his new bike in the back that hadn't been put together yet and told me to take that. Saved! Only problem is it's a suuuuper nice one and all I could think was "must not break...must not break..." By Friday my back was improved however not gone. Driving down I discovered I could use one of my dogs' toys as a back massager while driving which actually did help loosen some residual knots.

At check in I met up with Alex Hashem, Roger Masse, and John Petrylak. Alex had brought a couple things for me from Harrisonburg and offered to let me crash at their place. I had spent ~2 hours on Thursday cleaning all the dog hair and grime out of my car and was set on sleeping in the (for once) clean back but having great company and a fully legal place to park I couldn't say no. Then I arrived and their house was freaking awesome and on top of a mountain. Alex chefed up a legit pancake dinner before bedtime.

Alarms went off at 4:30a and after the mandatory coffee/breakfast ritual we drove the 15 min to the the Ocoee Whitewater Center for the start. There was a morning inversion...60 degrees at the house but 40 degrees down low at the start. After the last couple of chilly starts where by 30 minutes in I was cursing my arm/leg warmers, I decided to try sucking up the cold, starting with no extra layers, and hoped the initial hill would warm me up.

Coming through Aid 1

It worked. The Cohutta 100 route has over 11k feet of climbing and it starts immediately with a 1.5 mile climb up the highway towards the singletrack. Although short it does its job remarkably well and separates the group before the trail. Although there were people around when we turned onto the trail not once did I feel cramped or stuck.

The first 18 miles were a blast. The trail was twisty and flowy with minimal technical features. I love some good rocky gnar, but smooth flow is just so much fun too. The sun rising through the valley mist just made it beautiful and I was the perfect level of cool comfortable.

All too soon there were cars above me and after a couple turns I was coming through Aid 1. Cohutta was described to me as "a gravel race with bonus singletrack," and Aid 1 marks the start of the so-called "Death March"-- a 68 mile gravel loop around the Cohutta Wilderness to return to Aid 1/6. Short climb, short descent, repeat....interspersed with flatter sections winding along beautiful creeks and rhododendron thickets. I popped into Aid 2 to refill my bottle with a longer section with lots of climbing coming up before Aid 3 near the top of the biggest climb. With the cooler weather my Camelbak full of Infinit was still in pretty good shape but I wanted a buffer.

Cohutta 100 route in October 2017

Suddenly just before Mile 35 I came down a hill into an intersection where there was a large sign to my right and although I didn't read it as I passed it as I started back to climbing I had a complete sense of deja vu....Wait no. Actually. Oh my gosh, I KNOW WHERE I AM!!! I was right where fellow Moonstompers Jeff, Ray and I had bikepacked in October! However, today was about 45 degrees warmer, there wasn't snow on the ground, and my bike was at least 20 lbs lighter. We had come up from the left at the intersection and continued the way I was now climbing. As I rode along I marveled at how pleasant this was not in 23 degree weather with 30 mph winds. This time I was welcoming the short descents that 6 months before I had been cursing as they chilled me to the bone. I definitely chuckled as I passed Jack's River Fields as memories surged of vehemently talking Ray out of stopping to build a fire in the middle of the road. Then another climb and there was Pinhotti/Mountaintown Creek to the left....brief moment of "man I wanna go that way! I bet that'd be a lot more fun without a loaded bike..." but I kept moving along towards Aid 3 and the unknown.

Pinhotti turn with a MUCH heavier bike

By the time I hit Aid 3 I was ready for a break from climbing but we weren't quite there yet. After a few more pitches though I was finally going down (mostly) and the miles ticked by. The best thing of all though? My back. The first half of the race my back had still not completely spasmed but was tight enough to remind me it was there and had kept me from wanting to push the watts. I had focused on trying something John had suggested the night before and purposefully getting up out of the saddle from time to time and riding standing even when I didn't have to. It definitely helped. But then suddenly, somewhere around Aid 3, my back completely relaxed. Why, after a week of a massage and taking it easy and stretching it picked like 50 miles into Cohutta to quit bothering me I have no clue, but hell, I'll take it!! From that point on I felt stronger and like I was able to push myself a little harder.

Between Aid 4/5 we started seeing Big Frog 65 riders. My second drop bag was at Aid 5, so I stopped got a quick chain lube while I grabbed my gear and headed out again. The final 10 miles of gravel are mostly a haze. I know there was definitely more climbing and a bunch of Jeeps but then I was coming through Aid 6 and all like "Wahoooooo singletrack!!!" I was so excited to be back on trail that my legs seemed to barely feel the fatigue and the small pitchy climbs didn't seem all that bad.

Then, about 4 miles out from the end I caught a stick. Suddenly lost the ability to access my low gears even though it still seemed to be doing OK in the higher ones. I stopped briefly, found a small chunk of stick that was stuck and pulled it out which improved but did not fix the shifting entirely. Cursing endlessly I rode it out in my higher gears glad that nothing was very steep and thinking about how expensive that derailleur is and praying it wasn't that that was damaged. At the final downhill I caught up with another 100-er who warned me that there were "some washed out sketchy spots coming up." Let's just say our idea of "washed out" and "sketchy" is very different. Then it was out into the campground and a little over a mile of pavement hammering to the finish line. Final time 8:04:58....damn just missed sub-8. Guess that just means I'll have to come back and do it again!

After some river soaking/ice bath, food, and rehydration it was awards. Got to share a podium again with Britt Mason as she rocked it for second. The Stokesville Lodge crew crushed it-- Roger 2nd in the 100 Master's, Alex 5th in 100 Men's Open, and me in 1st.  John got 7th in Big Frog 65. After awards it was back to the house for porch sitting, some IPA therapy, and Roger let me borrow his inflatable leg compressors.  Gosh I want a pair of those!

Sunday morning it was early out to grab drop bags and head home. Per usual Google Maps gave me a few route options and I couldn't help but notice that home via Asheville/Pisgah was only ~15 minutes slower. I mean...PISGAH! Now, "Pisgah Recovery" might be a giant oxymoron but I couldn't pass up a ride there. Nick Bragg gave me some great beta and I headed for a mellow ride at Bent Creek which is tamer than the backcountry riding there but still super fun. My shifting continued to have issues with the lowest gears so I just stayed out of them. Then back north to Roanoke where I arrived to exhausted black dogs who had apparently spent the day out biking with Steph, Mary Lou, Tammy and 4 of their best dog friends.

 

Cohutta wraps up the last race for me until July. I work next weekend, Steph and Daniel get married the following, and then I start Pulmonary Critical Care which takes me through the last 6.5 weeks of PGY2. 6 days a week, 30 hour call every Saturday/Sunday = no racing for me. Goals: lots of core work to avoid more back issues and maintain fitness to get back to it in July. Finally, master mechanic Jeff Cheng added a simple full turn of tension to the cable and my shifting appears fixed in the stand at least. Still need to test ride but JB, I may not owe you a new derailleur after all! Fingers crossed...

On a completely separate note, this fun feature on Carla and I came out last week. Thanks so much to Life Outside Magazine for such a cool article!!

Pisgah Gravel Glory...Bootlegger 100

After 11 straight shifts I was ready to head back south for Pisgah Productions' Bootlegger 100 gravel race. Jeff Cheng tried to get me to do the race last year, but I was already signed up for the Blue Ridge Half Marathon. Jeff, Chris, and Ray returned from the race with nothing but rave reviews. This year, the two events once again coincided. I was a little sad to be skipping the Roanoke event for only the second time since I've lived here, but since I've now run all 3 normal distances of the BRM (yeah, that double marathon has absolutely zero appeal, sorry!) I was stoked to mix it up this year.

There was one major indecision-- which distance to do. This race has two options: 100 mile (10k elev) and 60 mile (6k elev). I was (and still am!) worried because Cohutta 100 is in just a week and I have never done that distance that close together. Ultimately, I decided I really wanted to see the 100 course but that I needed to ride smart and not to destroy myself. TBD exactly how bad of a decision this was...

'Top Gun' apparently can't park worth a sh$#. -Cheng

The Bike Party Van was back in session with Jeff Cheng, Jeff Brown, Chris and I all doing Bootlegger 100. We piled into the van Friday evening and rolled on down to Lenoir, NC. We arrived to check in at 9:45pm and definitely disappointed the registration guy who was about to leave for the night (it was open till 10). I felt a little better when two other guys showed up a few minutes after we did. Moral of check in: don't be a roadie and try to make your number plate all aero or you'll f*&# it up and it won't work.
 
After check in it was over to the hotel where the parking lot highlights included: #1 a Florida car with bike rack...oh boy, they're gonna LOVE these hills, and #2 bros who can't park. After some last minute bike adjustments/tuning/prep for the morning we hit the hay. I took the floor with my sleeping bag and pad while Chris and Cheng got their Stomper snuggle on in their wool jerseys.

4 bikes, 1 hotel room

JB had brought some bagels to eat but we supplemented these with the continental breakfast...heck yeah, they had waffles! We arrived at the race site around 7:20a so had a little time to finish getting ready before the racers meeting at 7:45a. In the parking lot we saw fellow Roanokers, Gordon and Ashton, who had rallied down early to race. After a quick racers meeting we were off!

 

The lead out from town was on pavement and fairly rolling. The lead pack was quite large and stayed more or less together for a while. There was a quick break up during the first short gravel stretch before regrouping again until the first major climb. Having started biking in triathlon-world where drafting is illegal and even now rarely riding in a group of more than 5 people, I still get really stressed in a big roadie-type pack. That said it always amazes me the power of a pace line!


The first 'blip' on the map was a quick little up/down but it did its' job and broke up the group some. Then we were passing Aid 1 and on towards the second (first real) climb. As this started someone asked me, "Is this as long as the last?" Outward: "Pretty sure it's quite a bit longer." Inward: 'Ummm...did you look at the map? And the last one wasn't bad!'

The next two climbs were exactly what I'm used to in Roanoke...long and steady. Nothing particularly steep and I could settle in and climb. Both were absolutely gorgeous. They started off paralleling mountain streams with rhododendron lining the road, before climbing higher to the ridgetops. The slow spring here paid off and we were afforded some beautiful views that in a couple weeks will be shrouded by leaves.

During the second climb my low back started to flare up again. Since I got my Crossrip I haven't had any back issues until this past Wednesday when my right lower back started spasming only partway up Bent Mountain early into a ride. No clue why, but here it was again. This time is was at least both sides so a little more even but uncomfortable nonetheless. No matter how I tried to reposition nothing would help. Back to the "don't blow yourself out for Cohutta" mentality, I backed off a touch and keeping a slightly lower power which seemed to help keep it from getting a lot worse. Mental note: focus on stretching and core this week.

In what felt like no time, the second large climb was done and there was Aid 2. I had a brief "Oh sh&#!!!" moment when someone mentioned there had been a turn where the 60 mile branched off. Ummm, what there was a split?! Ohhhh that's why there are so few people now. Also crap, I'm likely to be fully on my own soon! I need to pay WAY better attention to course markings!  I also heard that I was the first woman to come through, which was welcome news especially given back issues.

The smooth couple of miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway were a nice break, and then it was a left (which I nearly missed) onto what I swear was a 20+ minute ripping gravel descent down towards Wilson's Creek Gorge. At the bottom of the steep we rejoined the 60 mile course to Aid 3 where I was overjoyed to see peanut butter M&Ms. I refueled, stuffed several handfuls of M&Ms into my feed bag and headed on down WC Gorge.

Wow. The next 5 miles or so were false-flat down, smooth gravel along the side of Wilson's Creek. I even had to stop and take some pictures. The mellow flow turned slowly into steeper rapids and I enjoyed watching the down canyon progression from fly-fishers to whitewater kayakers. I was definitely sad to hit the end of the road and turn left towards Maple Sally. 

 

Ohhhh Maple Sally....I know a lot of people eye those big early climbs but #1 they're early and #2 you climb and then you're at the top and done. Looking at the elevation profile before the race this was what I targeted was by far going to be the toughest part. #1 It's ~65 miles in, #2 it's 18ish miles of up/down/up/down sawtooth trending upwards. Except that I had forgotten exactly how long it was, and by about an hour in I was cursing the return to climbing after every short descent especially with the back issues continuing. About 2/3 of the way through there was a surprise unofficial aid station with fresh brewed Kombucha on tap! I was out a bottle so I took a cup and filled the bottle to go.

6 miles later Maple Sally finally ended and I was back on the stick of the lollipop and headed home. I made a quick stop at Aid 4 and was stoked to find grilled cheese fresh off the burner. This is my new favorite mid race/ride snack! I stuffed a couple squares in my mouth and kept moving. On the way back there was a stiff headwind, but fortunately I met up with another rider on one of the short climbs and we were able to team up and trade pulls for several miles: Teamwork makes the dream work! Once we hit some climbing though, he told me he was cooked and I pulled ahead.

Soon enough I was cruising through neighborhoods into downtown and the finish line. After arrival I found out my iPhone had failed royally and missed a solid 35-40 miles of the ride. I really need to get a better GPS...my Garmin watch doesn't last long enough for these longer events so I had to use the phone. Chris had finished a bit before me, so after changing I met up with him and we hung out drinking beer and eating burritos to wait for the Jeffs. JB came in first, earning him 3rd place in Men's Singlespeed and a solid bottle of booze to take home.

Chenger rolled in just as JB's podium shoot wrapped up. We all hung out for a bit eating/drinking and cheering on later finishers until it was time to hit the road. Turns out only 3 women did the 100 and the third was reported to be still on the course, unknown where exactly. The 2nd place woman had already left, so I ended up all alone for the podium pics. Picked up some sick swag though with a belt buckle and a pair of Maxxis Tires!

Photo: Icon Media Asheville

The Party Van loaded up and rolled back north to the 'Noke. However, because one burrito is not even close to enough after that much riding we stopped by Pa Paw's Diner for some classic southern fried cuisine. Apparently Cheng et al. had discovered it on the way home last year. It definitely hit the spot.

Thank you, Pisgah Productions, for putting on such a rad event! Although still TBD if/how it will affect me next weekend, I'm stoked I got to see the entire 100 course! I couldn't recommend this event more for the organization, the scenery, and the toughness. Already putting this on the calendar for next year! Which, ironically, the tentative block schedule for PGY3 just got released today...Let the rest of 2018 season planning begin!

But now...a week of recovery, work, and loooots of stretching in preparation for Cohutta next weekend. 6 weeks ago I thought I might be lucky enough to have a partner in crime for the trip, but instead it appears I'll be rolling solo.

Bachelorette, Bikes and 6WC

Next month two of my Roanoke friends, Stephanie and Daniel, are getting hitched and this past weekend was Steph's bachelorette party. Anyone who knows Steph knows that her idea of a great weekend is sure to include two things: mountains and mountain bikes. The initial plan was to head to Brevard, but we ended up opting for a closer location and switched to West Jefferson, NC.

This weekend was completely off my radar for racing for obvious reasons until Steph and I were overlapping on an ED shift a week or so before and she pointed out that 6 Hours of Warrior Creek was right where we were going to be and encouraged me to sign up. I mean when the bachelorette tells you to go race you can't say no, right? The race was full, so I put my name on the waitlist not thinking I'd actually get in. Then Wednesday before the race I got the email that I was in. One little problem-- the weather forecast was looking mighty suspect...as in 90% chance of rain vs snow.

Friday morning the Roanoke ladies loaded the and caravanned south to Warrior Creek. Pretty perfect because I got to pre-ride the course and hang out with a bunch of rad ladies! Warrior Creek was definitely very different than my usual trails around Roanoke-- fast berms, few technical areas. You could really rail on the corners, at least while it was dry...

Post-ride I ran by a local bike shop to grab new brake pads. With the weather forecast I had realized that morning that my pads could take a beating and given they were now a few months old with quite a few miles and long races behind them I should probably take a quick look at them. (Cue Jeff Cheng being proud of me...) Glad I did because that rear one was on its last legs and the front pretty beat as well. Once at the bachelorette pad I quickly switched them out before the rain rolled in. After that it was bachelorette festivities with group taco dinner and a night full of lots of laughs and of course plenty of requisite phallic decorations. The race had been pushed back to 11a so I wasn't facing a super early wake up and didn't have to rush off to bed. The forecast was looking grim for the next day though with a long swath of rain headed right for the region. 

I woke up to cloudy skies and cold drizzle. Fortunately, Warrior Creek was supposed to stay just clear of the band of rain at least until mid afternoon. Fingers crossed. I arrived to cloudy skies and no precipitation. After check in I set up my drop area and managed to find Roanoke friends Jeff and Carla who were also racing. Jeff was doing solo SS and Carla was racing mixed duos. At the start line we were cautioned about the slickness of the course and especially some corners in the first bit of pavement the first lap including that riders had gone down during warmup. Next, a cash award was then offered for the person who finished some section of pavement first. Wait a second...

Lap 1-- 1:24:11.0:

Sure enough it was slick. In the first corner a rider just in front of me slid out and went down. In minutes we were moving into the first singletrack and back through the start zone. I had a good start and although the trail was busy I didn't feel stuck and was moving at a good speed. Although roots were slick, I was pleasantly surprised with how good of shape the trail was in considering the rain the night before. Just before the field I caught a stick in my derailleur but got it out before it caused an issue. Although I was expecting congested trail until at least into the second lap, by the time I got to the last 1/3rd of the lap riders were spacing out and I had plenty of room to ride. 

Lap 2-- 1:14:18.2:

No stop for me as I rolled back through the start for lap 2. I felt great and there was no more trail congestion. About 1/4 of the way around I came into a rooty down a bit fast, hit a bad line and slid out on the wet roots. Whoops. Fortunately no injuries, just some nice mud smears. I should probably ride a touch more cautiously... Otherwise the rest of the lap was pretty uneventful, the trail stayed in good shape and still no precipitation! Towards the end though I could suddenly feel the temperature was starting to drop as forecasted. I had started the race a little warm but suddenly I was very happy with my layering choices.  

Lap 3-- 1:16:31.3:

By this point I had pulled my long sleeves back down as it continued to cool off. Passing by the lake the wind had picked up and the ceiling had dropped. You could feel the moisture coming. The trail was still in decent shape though, a couple berms had softened where a few people had clearly slipped but not bad. I was starting to get a little hungry and knew I'd need to make a quick pit stop after this lap for some food. 

Right about the time I hit the field again a light drizzle started. Not enough to soak me or really add much of a chill, just enough to know it was there. As I neared the end of the lap and checked my time/pace I was pretty stoked. It seemed like I miiiight be able to make 5 laps before the 4:15p time cut off. Approaching the end of the loop, the last 1/4 mile or so of trail suddenly changed to significantly softer, slippery mud leading to a rather squirrelly last descent before the campground. I just figured this was the section that had had more traffic by that point, but I was about to be proved wrong. Riding through transition I gave Jeff Brown some good-natured grief when I spotted him sitting under their tent bundled in a puffy jacket rather than riding his bike, took a quick stop to shovel down some Honey Stinger gels, and headed back out for lap 4. 

Lap 4-- 1:34:46.3:

At this point I was prepared for another lap after this one, but was definitely hoping the drizzle didn't get any harder. The trails had not been that muddy for the most part and my glasses were getting covered with rain drops making it tough to see, so I left them at my drop area. Bad idea. Within minutes of reentering the singletrack it became apparent that everything had changed. Many spots on the formerly slightly slippery but solid trails had turned into a peanut-butter mud mush that bike nightmares are made of. The kind that coats your bike and drivetrain in thick, gloppy awfulness and makes you cringe for your components' suffering. My pace and everyone else's plummeted. A couple of the steeper climbs that were no problem earlier in the day resulted in tires just spinning out forcing many of us to walk and try not to fall on our faces. (Cleats don't do well in mud.) Suddenly the prospect of a 5th lap seemed extremely unlikely. Even more so, riding became significantly less fun  and a not small part of me was thinking "Please let me be slow enough to be after 4:15p..."

By halfway through my bike and I were both covered in mud and the trails were only getting worse and the mud thicker as the precipitation came down. After one steep pitch that everyone I saw was walking (I had to side step and dig my shoe buckles in just to get traction) my chain popped off as I started to ride. I stopped, put it back on and within a few pedal strokes it was off again. I tried scraping some mud off with my hands and got it back on again....and then once again it was off. I spotted a tree that was sideways and hung my bike on it by the seat and went to work scraping handfuls of mud away from my drivetrain. I got the chain back on and went through checking shifting...it seemed to be holding. I hopped back on and it stayed put. Phew. 

So happy to be done.

From that point the race became survival. It's not that I was dying, but I was hoping my bike would hold it together and was just trying to avoid more mechanicals. I thought I was probably in the women's solo lead but
had no clue by how much if I was. I shifted from trying to hammer to just trying to go steady and avoid any extra strain on my bike hoping I had enough of a gap. Also those glasses I had left...yeah that was a mistake...definitely took a couple big glops to both eyes which was not fun. 3/4 of the way around I spotted my watch reading 4:18pm and have never been so relieved to miss a time cut off. Just a few more miles and I get to stop!

As I started the final climb I heard noise above me....the sound of very loud cyclocross quality heckling...right at the top of that last downhill that was squirrelly the last lap. Oh boy, that thing's gonna be fun now! A general bike race rule: The better the heckling the more carnage you should expect. Pretty sure the rear of my bike went sideways on that descent but I managed to stay upright. Around the corner and finally I was back on pavement. Final time: 5:29:46.9. I rode over to Jeff and Dunlap who I'd spotted on the way to the line and was more than a little jealous of their warm, dry, non-mud covered clothes.

         

After a quick chat and part of Jeff's beer I headed to my car for my own warm, dry clothes. My legs were so muddy I had to rinse them off at a pump before I could change. Fortunately there were a few hoses around as well and I got as much of the slime off the bike as I could. Then we hung out and waited for Carla to get in from her lap then headed out to the after party/awards venue once we were all clean-ish (I still had mud all over my neck and upper chest).

Food was eaten, beer was drunk, and we all recounted our various sufferings and hellish mud experiences. Pisgah Productions got some pretty awesome prizes donated for the raffle and Jeff came away with a new dropper post! Then awards time. I won Women's Open, Carla and her partner Chris won Mixed Duo, and Dunlap and Laura got 2nd! We all headed out as soon as awards were finished, everyone else back to Roanoke and I went back to West Jefferson to rejoin the bachlorette festivities. And keeping in tune with this crazy wintery spring we've had, it was snowing by the time I reached the house.

Women's Solo Podium

The next morning we headed back North towards Roanoke and stopped near Wytheville for a short, snowy ride at Round Mountain. One day spring will actually get here, but regardless of the weather it was such a great weekend riding bikes and getting to hang out with a bunch of awesome ladies!!

 

And now, back to the ED (yay!) and a couple weeks of recovery while I work a bunch paying it forward for a couple weekends off for more races at the end of the month. Next up: Bootlegger. I just have to decide between the 60 and 100 mile option since I have Cohutta 100 the following weekend....

And finally... Congrats Steph and Daniel!!! 💜💜💜

Stokesville Stoopid 50

Morning love from Charlie

After a few week hiatus from racing after True Grit Epic, it was time to start off a busy month of racing in one of my favorite places-- Stokesville, VA, for the Shenandoah Mountain Touring Stoopid 50. After being based in PA for several years, it migrated back south to Stokesville. I missed the race last year but heard great things about it. I knew the course, having ridden almost all of it between SM100, TdB, and personal riding time and I knew it was going to be a tough one.

Chris Blankenship and Jeff Brown also did the race, so the three of us carpooled up from Roanoke the morning of the race. After rendezvousing at Jeff and Carla's (she sadly had to work) where I got lots of morning dog cuddles, we hit the road. It's only about 1:45 from Roanoke to Stokesville which is awesome because it makes an easy day trip!

As we drove in we were all looking at the car thermometer like, "36 degrees?! uh oh..." Fortunately once we were standing in the sun it didn't seem too bad, although I'm not going to lie I was pretty excited I was going to have to start off climbing and would warm up quickly! We got checked in and I was surprised to see that the numbering started with the women and that I pulled #1....pressure was on! However, Chris ended up ultimately winning the best number pull. 😉

 

The race started with a neutral roll-out...neutral for about 200 yards at which point we were out the back of the campground and literally straight up the mountain towards Hankey. I've come down this section a couple times now during SM100, but this was my first time climbing it. It's a long climb with faster and flatter 2-track/fireroad segments interspersed with steep, punchy pitches. Very quickly, though I was past the Hankey Road intersection and heading towards Dowell's. That section can feel like a slog, but I kept reminding myself that it's at least faster on the return trip!

Then I was topped out and descending Dowell's which is just such a fun and flowy downhill it puts a smile on my face every single time. In too short a time it was over and I was rolling through Aid 1. We lucked out with cool temps in the upper 50s/low 60s so I was set nutrition-wise since I had brought my full Camelbak with some Infinit mix and my HoneyStinger gels, so no aid stop for me. Heading past Braley's Pond was a pretty mellow climb with a couple of fireroad rollers, then it was a right onto 460 for a short pavement stretch before Georgia Camp. 

I've only ridden Georgia Camp one other time and that was during Tour de Burg last year. March vs. July was night and day difference in one major way. NO NETTLES!!! I definitely had several flashbacks/hallucinations during that climb of my last time on it with wall to wall stinging nettles. Even though the climb was tough it was soooo much better without constantly burning arms/legs. The top even held a little bit of a surprise with a few residual snow patches holding on. Pretty crazy and awesome for Virginia in late March!

Then it was across 460 through Confederate Breastworks and down Road Hollow. At the bottom of Road Hollow there is a creek. Last year at SM100 it was completely dry. Not today. It was more like a small river. Riding it was not an option so wet feet were mandatory. Even walking was interesting with a stout current and slippery rocks in cleats. Fortunately I made it across without a dunking, up the Bridge Hollow hike-a-bike and back to pedaling. I always forget how long the Bridge Hollow climb is, but finally there it was around the corner and down back towards Braley's Pond we went. 

By Aid 2 I needed a quick break for nutrition/refill. After a quick PB&J and chugging an extra bottle of water I headed back up Dowell's in reverse. Coming down earlier in the day I had definitely been thinking 'Aw gee this is fun but man, I'm going to have to come right back up it later!' Fortunately it was a more pleasant climb than I expected. It was a mellower grade than the last 2 climbs which my legs certainly welcomed. Soon enough, the top had arrived and the next few miles of gradual downhill fireroad flew by before a short climb to the top of the Lookout descent. 

Wow. Finishing a race down Lookout is rad. This downhill is absolutely amazing. Technical rock gardens scatter the whole way down and although it's all rideable you've got to be comfortable in rocks and stay sharp mentally (on that note, I can't imagine if SM100 finished on Lookout down...). I admit, I've never fully cleaned Lookout down, but today was my closest which pretty much made my day. I screwed up one move right at the very bottom and had to put a foot down. Damn. Gotta keep working! From the bottom of Lookout it was back to the quick pavement roll down the road to Stokesville Campground, up the quick singletrack to the finish line. Final time 5:27:57, good enough for 1st place for the women's 50 mile, 14th overall. 

Bikes, sunshine, mountains...a few of my favorite things

A little blood and mud...my mtb legs are back!

Chris rolled in just a few minutes behind me and Jeff not far behind him. Then it was finish line hang out time with friends, food, and beer (local Roanoke Parkway Brewing Majestic Mullet on tap!) The only sad thing was it was too cold for the swimming hole! A bunch of Joe's Bike Shop folks came down for the race, and it was great to see True Grit-ers Jen Tillman (crushed it and came in 2nd!) and Jim Miller (whose wrong turn led to an extra 10 miles and earned him an illustrious 1st place finish in the 'Bonehead 60' 😉). I was super impressed with JBSRT member Nick Paul who might have won the Suffer Award and decided to do this as his first ever MTB race and on singlespeed. Damn. Someone summed it up well at the finish line..."I think I was either going up or down at all times."...Chris B. "Yeah, that's why it's Stoopid."

Women's 50 mile podium

Take aways: If you want an epic early season race to push yourself or check your fitness in preparation for longer races later in the season this is an awesome one. It will hurt. A lot. But the course brings the stoke. There are only a few miles of pavement, the rest is dirt and a huge majority of that is singletrack. Not only that but awesome Blue Ridge backcountry singletrack that will keep you engaged and entertained both up and down. 

Roanoke Party Crew

A final shout out to Chris Scott for putting on a great race as well as Chris Merriam who helped in clearing a TON of debris for the race and anyone else who worked on the course prior. We've had quite the winter-in-spring around here (remember that snow on Georgia Camp?) taking down a lot of trees and other debris which is very apparent on the trails right now. It was impressive riding seeing all the fresh cuts and seeing how much work had clearly gone into getting the course ready for Stoopid-ness. Thank you trail crews! Already can't wait to get back up to Stokesville!