340 waves on the head

Cahuita surfing day 3

Little run to the beach before the rain

Cahuita surfing day 2

Caribbean surfing

4hrs and 35 minutes alone with my thoughts...

I had signed up for the 100 mile distance, and was thoroughly disappointed when Matt canceled the 100 mile route, giving folks the option to ride the 50 mile course twice, which seems insane to me, so I transferred to the 50, saving on logistics, but ultimately not on expended effort or pain endured.

I had decided on a "strategy" of taking the hole shot, gapping the group on the downhill and around the lake, and then just riding as fast as my little legs could carry me to then end. That worked for the 100 last year. It is a "strategy" that I had plenty of time to reflect on during the ensuing 4.5 hrs. 

I succeeded in gapping the group down the hill and around the lake, but when the first real climb arrived, I could see someone a long switchback below me. Not sure who yet. 

The issue with "go fast and first" strategy is that there is no information. I don't know if someone is just one minute behind, or 10 minutes. Hence the only solution is to just go as fast as possible. To try hard.

By Hazel creek, 20 miles in, I start to feel a twinge of a cramp in my right calf... hmm.. not good. Heading up the gravel, I get a long look back down the hill, I see that same person, not too far back. But I can't really go faster.  And that's the beauty of trying hard, at some point all the desire to win or podium seems to melt away. Can't go any faster. No reason to care if someone passes me, because it is out of my control a this point.

Leaving Hazel creek, I focus on just going as fast as I can. Take the heart up above 160 bmp on the climbs, carry speed on the flats, and go as fast as possible on the downhills without crashing. I'm successful in the last point all but three times during the race, but none of the crashes are bad. The third one was notable, along council bluff lake, I see a place where many people have gone off the trail on an off camber downhill turn. "I won't do that"... and then I'm in the bushes.

Lots of time to think... and here is the question. Mountain biking is about pushing and recovering, up the hills, coasting down, carrying speed on the flat sections. Is it more efficient to push hard on the climbs or the flats? Bigger percentage gain pushing up the hills, but more distance on the flats...I'm trying to do integrals in my head to determine the best strategy, but really need a pen and paper. (analysis and post to come)

Glasses: So much fogging up. I try to wear them since my last ride down here yielded an eye infection from a bug in the eye, and the glasses saved my eyes from a nasty stick at Indian Camp Creek... but the visibility sucks, and I eventually put them in my pocket.

And... I forgot how to pee while riding my bike. Had to stop. Thinking of my son's advice on average speeds, what matters are the big and small values. zero miles per hour is not good for my time.

And then I get deep into the 4th hour of the race. I realize the true folly of my strategy... because going as hard as I can is ultimately very painful. So painful that what might be type I fun (enjoyable in the moment and afterward) is turning into type II fun (painful in the moment, but good afterward). I'd prefer the type I.

So I'm contemplating my choices and getting really tired and sloppy around Council Bluff Lake, but feeling (foolishly) that I have a big lead. When I come out of the rock garden, there is Ian Hartzel: "so you do exist". He looks strong, and with only 4 miles to go, I'm a little demoralized. No way I can pace him to the end, so I struggle along while he goes around me to finish two minutes ahead of me. Congrats Ian! A well deserved win.

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Kater Murch

Half of the hundred - One Eyed Dog 2021 - 2OA

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340 waves on the head

Cahuita surfing day 3

Little run to the beach before the rain

Cahuita surfing day 2

Caribbean surfing

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