Race Report by Jonathan Hiott- This is one of my favorite races since I love the multi-sport format and these trails are in my backyard. In fact, I owe a lot to the fine folks at SORBA Woodstock and Blanket's Creek trails for helping me to get in shape in the first place! Running and biking sounds like a fun time on the trail! This is the 3rd year I've done the race solo and pleased to report that my times have gotten faster each year. The 1st year Renee and I tag-teamed it with her running and me biking. Woke up at 5:30 race morning and had some bulletproof coffee (coconut oil mixed with coffee). This really helped keep me sustained for the race. Normally I would race on that and maybe a piece of chocolate but was feeling extra hungry. Probably ate a little too much solid food with eggs, ham and cheese, a few almonds. Felt full up until race start at 9ish. Definitely was NOT well-rested. It's ok because I was feeling pumped. Not really nervous at all, just amped. Feeling focused once arriving at race venue. Love the pre-race buzz. Set up my bike on the rack and laid out transition gear. It turns out that I had the fastest transition time out of all racers which is crazy because I'm usually deliberate in the transition area. Finally started the race and I placed myself about 3 rows back because I'm not a fast starter. Felt good on the run out of the gate not blowing myself up too early. Managed a 7:46 first mile which was mostly flat. Got up into the 8s over the next 4 miles. Pretty smooth run with no missteps. Climbs were good and downhills were skittish as usual. Finished strong with a sub-8 pace and then back into the transition area. The transition is usually a blur and I fumbled with getting my bike shoes on some but managed to get glasses and helmet on smoothly. Then dashed with back to start line and off. Ahhhh, felt so good to be on the bike. Good feelings didn't last long as we then climbed on to Van Michael. Kept climbing up to Hurl Hill where I passed a few guys and cleaned the climb. This was going to be a good ride! FUN downhill to a shortened VMT course. Smooth and breezy through Mosquito to Dwelling. Passed a few more folks on Dwelling and managed to fall in line with a guy that was going at a quick pace. He was a really good biker and had no problems with technical stuff. He helped me push and gave me my fastest speed on Blanket's at 10.5 mph average. On to South Loop where more flow continued and no problems through technical sections. Made up final climb on South then on next downhill clipped a small tree then a bigger pine. Dinged my shoulder pretty hard and caught my helmet on the pine. Didn't lose to much momentum though and kept on rolling. Finished up South and sprinted home. Funny side note: I passed a guy on the home stretch who was clearly languishing. I knew he wasn't in my category so no big deal. Well, this fella took umbrage to my passing and decided to "man-up" and pass me back right at the finish. He was riding gears and I was on an SS. After we both passed the finish line I asked him how he liked his gears. He said that he liked them pretty well. Pleased with effort and result at the duathlon. Our category had 25 people and I placed 4th and made it to the podium. The podium went 8 deep! I don't think I've ever seen a podium that size. Couldn't really have done much better except for a faster run start and overall run pace. Run - 40:53 - 8:14/min Transition - 1:11 Bike - 1:04:01 - 10.5mph Race Report by Jonathan Hiott. Race Report by Rick Nudd-I had sworn I would never do the SCG TT simply because it was during the coldest months of the year. I have ridden the route several times, and find it to be somewhat enjoyable at a brisk, yet relaxed pace. So, why did I do it? I am still not sure. For those of you who have not heard of the race, it is a TT on the Pinhoti trail in Northwest Georgia. It has about 5,000 feet of climb and the most rocks you will ever see in our great state. The words “flow” and “groomed” will never be used to describe the Pinhoti. It is tough on the bike and even more demanding on the rider. So, why did I do it? I don’t know, but I registered online the night before the first race. The trip to the starting point in Dalton, GA was uneventful; with the exception that my car thermometer was claiming it was 16 degrees outside. What a huge mistake I had made. The race course requires that you make five pretty substantial creek crossings. The thought of wet feet was terrifying at that temperature. I started reluctantly and I rode slowly through them all and my feet ended up only getting a bit wet. The cold was nothing I couldn’t bear. I stopped during the race to help a friend with a flat tire and still finished with a respectable time. My total time was 4:18, but my ride time was 4:01. One out of three races down. Before the second race I purchased a pair of Shimano winter riding shoes. It was the best 160 dollars I have ever spent. My feet stayed dry, but I caught a stick and broke my rear derailleur hanger and the derailleur. Luckily, I carry a spare hanger in my pack. Fifteen minutes or so later I was back on the trail. I was slow, but able to finish the race. The weather was somewhat warmer, but it only reached about 40 on top of the mountains. Time was 4:31, but my ride time 4:01….again. Two races down. I had an actual ride time on the first two races of four hours and one minute. It was my goal to break the four hour mark on the last race. After all, I had been working hard during the ridiculous snow and cold and the weather was going to be favorable. Serendipitously, they had a makeshift bridge for the first creek crossing and it was full speed ahead. I was feeling good, but trying to save some for the last hour of the race. In this instance, that comes down to the last 7 miles of single track. I was tired, but well ahead of pace. I was about 5 miles into the last of the brutal singletrack, when I came across a guy with a mess in hand. I asked if he had everything and his answer was less than satisfying. Reluctantly, I pulled over and took a look. He had some serious chain suck and had no idea how his bike actually worked. I broke the chain, pulled out the suck and put a quick link in it for him. We had him back on the trail in between ten and fifteen minutes. I knew I could still make the goal. I hammered the last mile of singletrack and flew down the last 3 miles of gravel and paved road to the finish. Three races down and I was handed the belt buckle at the finish line!! Unfortunately, the reminiscent time of 4:01 was my finish time. Regardless, the race is well run and a ton of fun. There is a piece of swag with every race. The first race we received a t-shirt. The second race we were given a moonshine jug. The third race resulted in a great license plate. It is a grueling test of stamina, luck, and determination, but that makes it worth doing. -Rick Nudd Angry Monkeys head to the 25th ANNUAL TREK 100! The 25th Annual Trek 100 Ride for Hope takes place on Saturday, June 7th, 2014. All routes start and finish at the home of Trek Bicycle Corporation in Waterloo, Wisconsin. Ride for Hope to bring the Gift of Hope to thousands of children battling cancer and blood disorders. To date, the Trek 100 Ride for Hope has raised almost $11.5 million to fight childhood cancer. Our Teams commitment to raise funds will provide critical resources to fund research for cures and treatments of childhood cancer and related blood disorders. Even if you will not be able to join our team for the ride, please donate by visiting out Team Page. http://2014trek100.kintera.org/angrymonkeyracing See our Thermometer below on how we are doing on raising money. For all event related information, please head to www.trek100.org |
Archives
April 2019
|