Battle of Burlingame 6 Hour Challenge
Charlestown, Rhode Island
5/3/15
There’s the old saying, “sometimes you’re the hammer, and
sometimes you’re the nail” that phrase often rings in my head during long
mountain bike races. Just yesterday at Burlingame State Park I realized there
can be much more to that saying... I don’t think I’ve ever felt like the
hammer, and I don’t think that’s a bad thing. After all, the hammer has no
purpose without the nail. Unless you’re taking lessons from Mr. Miagi, the nail
hardly ever gets driven into its place on the first blow. Sometimes it bends, and
it’s up to you to straighten it out and drive it home. There I was, minutes
into the first lap of a 6 hour race, feeling like a bent nail. Besides my experiences
with the common pains and overall discomfort that come with riding you bike
for hours on end, I've needed more lessons in overcoming adversity. Needless to
say, I am glad I found a little at this race, and was able to pull myself back
together because I know another day will come when it’s going to be much worse.
Now let me tell you how I got bent to begin with…
After a
2 and half hour drive down to Charlestown, RI I arrived at Burlingame state
park about 45 minutes before the start of the 6 hour race. My FIRST mistake was
drinking too much Gatorade on the ride down. I normally don’t drink it at all
but have found that it’s a good thing to have the DAY BEFORE a race to load up
on water and calories. On the ride down I drank about 20 ounces rather than
just hydrating on water. I was going to pay for that mistake shortly. This was
my first official mountain bike race with State 9, so I felt it was important
that I rode hard, and represented the team well as we are a new name in the
crowd. Other than me, the team was also represented by Doug Reid riding in the
6 hour race. We warmed up together (by warm up I mean we pedaled lightly for a
totally of 5 or so minutes…). We took to
the start line at the bottom half of the top 1/3 of the field (if that makes
sense…). The race started at 8:00 and we were off. As usual in these races my
breathing begins to labor way to quickly, it’s not that I go out to fast, I
just get so damn excited. I quickly realized in a matter of minutes when I
began burping Gatorade that I had made a mistake on my ride down. Welcome to
the world of glycemic overload. I had trained hard, I had hydrated well, I had
eaten the right foods but too much sugar at once was making me feel like sh*t.
I felt a bit nauseas which is never a good thing early in a long race. I knew
it would pass but it wasn’t the best feeling to have at that moment surrounded
by other riders jockeying for position before we hit the single track. The
course hits paved roads for the first 2 miles or so before turning left onto
the single track. I had hoped the course would be similar to last year’s route so
I would have some familiarity. As it turned out, it was exactly the same. After
rolling on some nice single track the course quickly starts to develop into
some technical rock filled trail. As I was still reeling from my sugar overload
I headed into this section with my focus not nearly on par, enter mistake
number two. Coming over a rocky section I chose an awful line and found myself
going straight over the bars in slow motion. I landed somewhat graciously but
was instantly passed by a handful of riders. I picked myself up and hoped back
on the bike. I was only a few miles through lap one and mentally I was
beginning to lose myself. I still felt like crap and I had just taken a stupid
fall. “Keep it together” I told myself knowing I had a looooong way to go. The
course continued through technical rock littered single track that develops
into some short punchy climbs (total elevation gain per lap is less than 800
feet but a lot of it is sprinkled in the section). I rode/jogged through this
section like I was new to the sport, my confidence faltering by the minute.
When I finally crested the top of the rocky section I reached for my water
bottle to find nothing but air. This was my lowest point. Just 1/3 of the way
through lap one and I had lost my water bottle when I crashed over my handle
bars. With over 5 hours to go there was the potential that I might going to
complete lap one behind schedule in my fluid intake and with my history of
cramping that is NEVER a good thing. It was here the hammer and the nail saying
came to my mind, and I was the bent nail. When my mental toughness hit rock
bottom I gathered what was left and vowed to put the awful start of the race
behind me. I told myself I needed this
to happen, as overcoming adversity is always a means to a better end. It was time
to get to business.
Following
the technical section is a bit of swooping enjoyable downhill. There are points
where logs have been laid across the trail and with some speed can really send
you flying, the joy of mountain biking was starting to show again thankfully. I
pushed it hard through the downhill as my nausea left me and I began to feel
like myself again. At the bottom of the downhill the trail flattens and is
littered with roots. I termed this section “shake and bake”. Unless it was a
full suspension fat bike, you were bouncing back and forward like a mogul
skier. In this area, I began to see up ahead the group of guys who had passed
me when I crashed, finally something to race towards. I set my sights and kept
them in my view. It was around this point where my bike began to not feel quite
right. I was hearing a rattling sound in the area of my rear wheel/ derailleur.
I figured I had forgotten to lock my derailleur when I changed over my tire the
day before but it sounded like it was getting worse and worse. I finally
resolved to the fact that I needed to look at it and I hoped off the bike to
find that my rear wheel was very loose. I tightened it up and got back on the
bike to continue chasing the group ahead. I am not sure why but this continued
to happen, ever 5-10 miles throughout the rest of the race I had to dismount
for a few seconds to tighten my wheel. This is something I will have to really
have looked at ASAP. Shortly after the shake and bake section the trail comes
out onto a road that climbs with ease up to the single water station on the
course that I had forgotten about. No mountable water bottles, but thankfully
there were some 16 oz. plastic Poland spring bottles on hand. I quickly downed
one of them and threw the other in my jersey. After losing my bottle miles
before, I was back on track in regards to my hydration. Things were beginning
to look up.
The
course then entered the bridge section. This seems to be a popular area in
Burlingame State Park. Last year a few of the bridges needed some repairs and
expansion. To my satisfaction it appeared that the AMC has been busy working
out there. A few of the bridges had been connected and spanned large swampy
areas. It was around this area that I finally caught the group ahead of me. I
stuck to their rear wheels for a while, trying to enjoy this section of trail.
The forest here was beautiful, as signs of spring were everywhere. The sky was
a perfect blue, with the temperature holding steady in the high 50’s, perfect
bike weather. I was the nail that was straightening itself out for sure, as I
was just short of an hour on course. Following the bridge section the trail
turns to some nice flowing single track that crosses into the campground area
and climbs up onto a ledgy hill side. This particular part of the course is my
favorite as it flows nicely and is a sign that you are nearing the finish of
the 15 mile course. I passed a few of the guys who were ahead of me here and
tried to pick up as much speed as I could on the swooping down hills. The
course eventually crosses through a small field next to the park’s playground
before hitting another section of single track and crossing through another
field, before it opens up into the start/finish area next to the beach on Watchaug
pond. I crossed the line, rounded the sharp turn and quickly drank the remaining
Poland spring bottle in my jersey before grabbing my pre filled water bottle I
had set up next to the course. I had pre filled my 2nd bottle with Skratch
as well as a dissolved salt tablet. I quickly grabbed a granola bar and I was
off for lap number 2. A quick check of my watch and I realized I was about 10
minutes ahead of my 1st lap from last season. This was a large gap
considering the trouble I had during the first lap of the day. My legs felt great,
so it was time to continue the pace.
I was
hoping that the 2nd time through the course I would not only pick a
better line through the technical areas, but I would also be able to pick up
the water bottle I had dropped during lap one. Thankfully, I was able to do
both of those things and I now had a spare bottle full of skratch tucked in my
jersey. I had no excuse for falling behind on hydration now. I spent a lot of
time leapfrogging a NEMBA rider, but otherwise I spent a good deal of time
alone for the duration of the lap. Rather than get frustrated and spin out on
some of the punchy rocky climbs I resolved to dismount and run up them as I had
witnessed other riders doing for lap one. This worked to my advantage
physically, as well as mentally, as I was able to keep my back loose and my
psyche intact. I caught up to a single speed rider, who along with the NEMBA
guy, I spent the rest of the day leapfrogging as well. As the course wound
through the downhill section followed by the bridges I caught a few other
riders and made some passes. Other than a few moments of leapfrogging and
making these passes I was alone, which was a very comfortable feeling. By the
end of lap two I had finished a package of shot blocks and a granola bar as
well as my bottle of skratch and dissolved sodium. By my calculations, I was
slightly behind in nutrition but was feeling good as long as I continued eating
and drinking at the rate I was going. A quick glance at my watch after lap two and
I was well under the 3 hour mark with lap two being comparable with lap one
time wise. I was halfway completed my goal of four laps and still feeling good.
Lap
three was very similar to lap two. With my 3rd time through the
technical section it seemed to get easier and easier. My triceps were beginning
to tighten up a bit but it was manageable, as my legs were feeling good. I
continued to move back and forwards from the NEMBA and single speeder. Each
time id pull ahead and put them out of sight they would slowly reel me in and
pass me, which became a good gauge of my own speed and output. Before the bridge
section on lap three the NEMBA rider was right behind me when my tire jammed on
a rock switchback and I tumbled over in slow motion. I ended up upside down
with my legs over my head laughing as he made a pass. I was no worse for wear
but between me and my bike I ended up looking like a pretzel which tightened my
back up a bit. The NEMBA rider put some distance between me and him as I felt
like I was beginning to crack a little. I ate another salt tablet, along with a
pop tart and a heavy dose of water. I reminded myself to settle back down as I
hit the bridge section and slowly reeled him back in by the time we rolled
through to finish lap number three. It was this point last year where I was
unable to cross the finish line by the five hour mark and I was cut off (I had
no complaints about that). A quick
glance at my watch and I knew if I kept up the pace I could finish the 4th
lap in under 6 hours. I rolled through my feed zone and grabbed one more bottle
of water and one more granola bar. I was without question starting to hurt. My
legs were tingling showing the early signs of cramping, and my ass felt like it
was the first time nearing 5 hours of trail riding.
The
grind on the roads leading to the single track was pretty tough here. Although
it’s some of the flattest and fastest paced riding on the course, it dragged
on. I didn’t want to stand and pedal for fear of inducing a cramp, but sitting
was hurting my back and bottom so it was a bit of a balance between the two. I
took the opportunity to give my legs a pep talk repeating “stay with me, just
another 15 miles…” It’s a little crazy, but anyone who puts their body through
stuff like this gets it, you can call it a placebo effect but it always seems
to work.
I hit
the rocky area one more time and caught the NEMBA rider for the final time. He
was cooked, in a full cramp on the side of the trail. I’ve been there, and I
know there’s not really much coming back from it, at least not to the extent
you’d like. I caught another rider who was in an even worse state, wincing in
pain on the side of the trail. I felt for them because I have been there so
many times (last year at Burlingame was probably my worst experience) but I had
just picked up two spots, I hadn’t cramped yet and the hardest part of the
course was about to be put behind me. I topped off the rocky climbs and
barreled down the swooping downhill. Most of the rest of the lap was a blur, as
I was all alone and was focused on finishing strong. Halfway through the lap I
took one more salt tablet which brings my total to 3 in a 5 hour span. That is
the most I have ever taken during a race but it appeared to work as I didn’t cramp,
although on the final few miles I was close, and I could chalk that up to
possibly needed to eat more during the race. I came through the finish at a
sprint and was clocked at 5 hours and 57 minutes.
In
looking at the results there was some confusion because due to the fact that
there was a much shorter X/C race taking place at the same time I was labeled
as being in 27th place ( my goal was top 25). I did not realize
until later that night that they were labeling the order in which ALL
competitors crossed the line. Although I was the 27th rider to cross
the finish line, I was in fact in 17th place for the 6 hour race. State 9 team mate Doug Reid had a great race
and finished a very respectable 7th overall! I couldn’t be happier
with my own placement as it shows how hard I worked since last season to get
there. In comparing my lap times from last year’s race the evidence that I’ve
built endurance is all there. My first lap was 10 minutes faster. Lap two was
thirteen minutes faster. Lap three was 23 minutes faster. The fact that I did a
fourth lap this year is huge, with my final lap only being one minute slower
than my third lap. What was interesting as well is the fact that they kept
track of your place per lap. It seems that I was crossing the finish line in 17th
place all day with the exception of lap 3 where I was 18th behind
the NEMBA rider, so I was in fact very consistent. This is all very encouraging
information to digest moving forward, as a top 20 finish in a race like this
feels great considering this is only the 8th 6+ hour race I’ve
completed to date (ONLY 8!!??).
The year is still so young and I’m off to a great start with Rasputitsa and Burlingame under my belt. The next definite challenge will have much less technicality as in a month I will be competing in a dual challenge at the Wilmington bike festival. June 6th holds the annual whiteface uphill road bike race in which I will be attempting my first road race, followed the next day by the Wilmington whiteface 100k mountain bike race. This coming month my training will focus more on longer miles on the road with as much climbing sprinkled in as possible in order to continue to build on my endurance. In any case, I’m extremely excited to get back up to Wilmington and spend the weekend doing what I love in an area that’s considered to be an extremely bike friendly community. After all, it was at the WW 100k last year that I realized I actually really enjoy long gravel climbs on a bike, and I can’t wait for the opportunity to better my time on that course (especially after a tough uphill race the day before). This will also be the first time I opt for a hotel rather than a campground before a race, and that will be a nice comfortable experience.
In the meantime, now that I know what it’s
like to be the “bent nail”, I should focus altogether on being the wood,
getting closer to what will never be a final product. After all, what are a
hammer and a nail without anything to work for? What can I say? My fathers a
carpenter, I work in facilities management, and I like metaphors… and bikes, I
like those too!
Cheers!
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