Well the 12 hour season started in the fog this past weekend, both the weather and me. This past weekend was time for my true race season to really kick off. First race was in eastern wisconsin in the Kettle Moraine State Park. I made the wonderfully long trip there in stages. Took off from work at 7 p.m. Friday to make my first stop at my friend, Karen's house in Madison. Got there about 10 and crashed immediately knowing I was taking off the following morning at 4 a.m. Got up make the long haul, about 2 hours up to the race site with stops at McDonalds for some pre race breakfast. Got to the race and realized I was there way to early but it was good. Got the camp set up and settled in for what was going to be a long race. I was able to get a pre-ride of about 3/4 of the laps that I was going to be doing. Didn't do much good as the fog left me wondering where I was through out the race. Race time! Overview- Laps 7+ miles long, Lemonds Start up a rocky hill, Good to Go!! I started the race after the run in the lead pack of about 4 riders. Didn't care where I was as I knew I had 12 hours to sort out my standings. Felt great the first 6 laps making stops at the pit every 2 laps to replace the water bottle and get some more nutrition. I was cooking the laps up to that point at 38,38,40,40,43,47. The 47 is from me stopping to take my entire back wheel off to get rid of play in the hub. SUCKED!! Luckily I know my bikes like the back of my hand and can tear down a wheel in no time. Nutrition and Hydration seemed to be working as I was taking in 2 clif blocks every lap and 1 water bottle of Clif Shot every 2 laps as well as water from the Camelbak periodically. As the race went on I got a little slower but settled into a pace that I knew I could maintain for the rest of the race. The following laps came in at 46,44,54,50,51,52,55,53 and that was it! I ended the day with a whopping total of 14 laps in 10:59:16. Not a bad days work. I choose not to go out for the final lap as I knew I had already won the 12 Hour Solo Single category but little did I know I ended up in 3rd Overall because of this decision. I was 3 minutes out of 2nd when I stopped and had plenty in the tank at the end that I could have pulled in 2nd overall if I had gone out again.
General Feelings on the Race:
- Happy with results. Know what I can do now!
- Nutrition and Hydration were right on with the effort! Never peeed so many times in one day (11 times during the race and 3 afterwards)
- Never cramped severe enough to stop my effort, 1st race that this has happened. Must have kept myself in check!
- Good showing for 1st race in Team Wisconsin/MC2 kit!
Post race was pretty boring. Drove back to Madison that evening arriving around 10 again and once again feel right to sleep as I had to get up the following morning at 7 and take off for home as I worked at Sears at 11. Fun life I live. Haven't been on the bike since the race and it is killing me because I have been so damn busy!!! Hopfully going out tonight after work! All for now. Pics follow. OUT!
Gunning at the start. Felt good at this point to be getting going
Towards the end of the race. ZONED IN!! Doing what I do!
