Miles of Discomfort 50 mile MTB Race

I was really looking forward to this mountain bike race. I was finally at full health and getting fitter so I was looking forward to a great long workout where I could really push myself and get in some good training.

I also had my nutrition plan pretty well charted. I was stocked up on all my Hammer goodies and they were planned out to give me everything I needed for a 6-7 hour ride.

Unfortunately things didn't turn out as I had hoped.

It had rained for the past few days and it was also pretty cold. Luckily there was no rain in the forecast for race day but the temps were to start in the high 20s and not get above the mid 40s. I must admit that I have gotten "soft" by living in SoCal. I'm used to riding in sunny & 60-70 degree weather so the cold has been an issue for me in Texas. However, after surviving the 14 degree trail run race I did a few weeks ago, I was able to wrap my brain around the 20-40 degree temps for this bike race and I was ready.

I carpooled with my AR teammate Shayne and his buddy Kyle. When we arrived to the trail head it was 29 degrees. But the feed station was set up and completely dry so all looked good. UNTIL, I realized I forgot to bring my entire food/supplement/water bag!!! I had absolutely no food and water. I was so bummed! I had my nutrition and hydration all planned out and I was ready to go hard on the course because I knew my Hammer supplements would give me all the strength I needed.

So I did what any desperate MTB chick would do, I whined until Shayne and Kyle gave up some of their extra gels, bars and bottles and then I went to the mobile taco stand and bought 2 meat & potato tacos and a gallon of water and then I whined some more until a kind bystander gave me one of his bananas. Well, it wasn't Hammer but it was gonna have to do! It was a minor set back but I knew I could still pull it off.

The Open Men category started 30 minutes early. Rumor has it that the start was moved up so that Lance Armstrong could finish in time to charter a helicopter to pick him up from the race so he could make it to his son's basketball game in Austin. That's cool. I mean, come on, it's Lance Armstong. Yes, he's just a person, but certainly a person unlike the rest of us. He's an incredible bike champion and he's loaded! So why not?

Lance Armstrong's bike at the finish. He said it weighed 22 pounds at the start and 32 pounds at the finish.


The rest of us mere mortals started a 9am. This was my first time to ride these trails and I must say that I was pleasantly surprised. It was super fun single track. A bit rocky, but I like to see the rocks as challenges. After I dodged a few folks who thought they were doing a 12 mile XC race and tried to pass me at inopportune moments, I had a very nice first hour of riding. The trails were a little muddy, but nothing I couldn't handle. I kept thinking that the trail must be absolutely incredible when it's dry. I got into my grove and took a little extra time to be careful through the mud.

I caught up to Shayne and we started riding together. Then the trail started getting really, really muddy! I mean, I hadn't seen this much mud on a trail since we did a 5 day adventure race in Brazil and it rained the entire time! Of course I hadn't ever seen such muddy trails! It hardly rains in SoCal. And if it did, then we would wait a day or two until it dried out so we wouldn't ruin the trails.

The usual mud related problems that I've always heard of arose. I couldn't shift, my wheels wouldn't turn freely, the bike got chain suck and worst of all I couldn't get out of my pedals! I fell off my bike when I rode over a muddy slick rock. I fell when the wheels stopped and I couldn't get out of my pedals. I fell when the chain sucked and my bike was suspended mid muddy rock. And then I fell again. I hadn't fallen off my bike this many times since 2001 when I was learning to ride a 39 pound "mountain bike" with a kickstand that I bought for $300! Seriously, I haven't had this many bruises on my legs since 2002 when I joined a San Diego "senior citizen" mountain bike club so I could learn to ride. It became apparent to me that I really hadn't had much experience riding in mud and I was not doing very well.

According to many of the locals, they had never seen the trail in this poor of conditions. They said the rain usually drains right through. However this situation was unique because the rain they had received the past few days froze with the cold temperatures and wasn't able to drain. Consequently, when 150 riders went through and melted the ice everything turned to mush and as the temperatures warmed up to the 40s, everything turned to "crunchy peanut butter" type mud.

Anyhow, after two hours of playing in the mud I decided I was done for the day. My thought process was this: It was a "training ride" for me. There was no reason for me to potentially hurt myself or hurt my bike. I was out there to ride hard, get in a good workout and have fun. Well, I was not riding and not having fun so I decided two hours of a workout was all I wanted out of this event.

Chris Eatough posing for me



So I cleaned up, packed up and settled for watching Lance Armstong and Chris Eatough finish the race. It was funny to see Lance finish, stop for a quick photo with the RD, ride to the helicopter, hop on and fly away. Then a few minutes later I got to chat with Eatough.

Unfortunately I didn't get the race or the workout I wanted but I just had to remind myself; it's January! It's still Winter! I have plenty of time to get in lots of races and lots of training in the milder temps and conditions yet to come.

I must give kudos to my AR teammate Shayne and his buddy Kyle who finished the 26 miles they set out to do! It was tough but they roughed it and finished with bodies and bikes still in one piece.