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| Kona ready to ride it's 4th DK |
My 2014 Dirty Kanza 200 report is incredibly long so I placed Part One here. Thank you for your patience as it's been a busy week of celebrating my hubby's 46th Birthday, our 15th Weddin' Anniversary, and our daughters last week of school. Strap yourself in, I will tell you everything I remember. Caution, it may or may not be very organized.
As I sit here trying to sort through the details of this past DK I am having a very difficult time. A lot happens in 200 miles and it takes a few days to decompress and realize what the hell just happened. My DK eve was quite eventful in itself. I fell in to bed exhausted yet extremely excited for the day ahead. It's finally here! It had been a year since I had seen my Kansas girlfriends and I was forced to focus on this silly ride in the Flint Hills instead of visiting with them. I know they understood. As I thought about the dream of DNF'ing and watching all my friends reach their goals I realized I had to find it within myself to face the fact that I might fail tomorrow. Finishing before doesn't guarantee another.
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| THIS. IS. KANZA! |
I left too quickly out of town. I was just going with the flow, the flow of bike traffic was intense and way faster than what I was used to. Well what do you expect with 727 cyclists? Rolling in a pace line three wide was quite exhiliarating, at times we were a solid pack of fifty or more! It was going to be a long day. All I had to do was concentrate on three things.... Pedal, Eat, Drink. If I could handle that the 'fun' would come. Right? The temp was relatively low and a beautiful fog was rolling in as the sun came up. It was crazy humid. I heard it was 80%, with temps ranging from 85-95 degrees depending on who you spoke to. By afternoon it felt like being in a microwave, cooking from the inside out.
The first leg was a battle of belly issues. I suspected my nerves were getting the best of me. Passing so many with flats, including my hubby, was quite discouraging. I had on my fave set of 40's, it was their third DK appearance. I mentally promised myself a pair of fresh meats after this race. I roll into CP 1 at 9:46am. I am slightly ahead of schedule. My support Emma gets to work filling my bladder, two bottles, and replacing my fuel. I meet Tiara who also helps me to a very quick transition. Emma informs me that the hubby has "no fucks to give" and is dropping out. She mentions he may have done something to his arm, I am not surprised given the shoulder issue he is currently dealing with. I leave with a good feeling since we will not be looking for Jim in a ditch later today.
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| Emma World's MOST awesome support (Jim Davis) |
The next leg is quite painful. I got to experience cramps for the first time ever. Yea, I guess I was due but today of all days. These little bastards started in my right quad. It felt like something out of the movie Alien. I could see my muscles moving, it was crazy. Well, as long as it stays in one leg it will be manageable.
I love seeing old friends, especially friends I have met because of this race. At the start line I saw Jim D who pulled me several miles last year so I could catch my breath and gain a second wind for the next 100 miles. I gave him a huge hug and was thrilled to be able to ride some of the day with him. He talked about skiing and playing in the snow and riding his new bike. I saw Jim finish.
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| Kansas gravel beauty (Jim Davis) |
I see my friend Jay from MO, he informs me that he is trying this because of me. I ask him if he is mad at me. His reply "not yet". Jay said he read my blogs and saw my photos and I made it sound like fun. I see Jay and his teammate many times throughout the day. I hope we are still friends after this race. Jay and his teammate finish.
Picture this... I have been riding solo for quite a while when I hear quite loudly " hey! who are you" I respond " Uh- no, who are you". As the words leave my mouth I realize it's Chad who I finished with in 2012. He is crushing it on a singlespeed geared at " whatever Don Daly says". Chad and I rode together for quite a bit. He and John from the Dirty Dog Pack were evenly paced and looking strong. I saw them finish.
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| Big smiles through cramps (John Powell) |
Bobby Thompson is from Emporia, I rode with him last year for a while. I saw him early this morning to compliment him on his spider jersey, very cool. I see him leaving the first CP looking a little lost. He expalins he beat his wife Kerri there, she had been riding the DK Lite, in doing so he had to use other types of fuel since his was not available. As a wife and mother I noticed his lack of sunscreen and forced a tube of lotion on him. I reminded him to eat/drink often and we parted ways. I watched Bobby finish.
To say that Kate, SuperKate, Geisen has been working her ass off is putting it mildly. Riding next to her I could see the iron determination she had to finally conquer the DK. She has heard "third times a charm" more than she should have had to. We are together in the second fifty miles and we nearly run out of water. A gravel angel by the name of Matt who "has more water than anyone out here" generously gives us each a full bottle. I thought I had plenty of H2O but it turns out that was just my rain jacket padding. Lesson learned I took it out. I watched Kate finish. The look on her face said it all, Redemption.
I know John Powell from MO, we have ridden in several gravel grinders together. He rides a singlespeed and we are pretty evenly paced except on the downhills. I put a lot of this years training on bombing down the hills. I notice John is stopping and taking in the scenery and snapping some photos. I beg him for some for my blog since I am not taking a single shot. He runs out of water at one point and cashes in some karma points as he finds a full bottle. John persevered and I saw him finish.
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| John selfie |
Oops. I digressed. Like I was saying, the second fifty was quite painful. I got to say "shut up legs" numerous times as the spasms seethed uncontrollably in BOTH of my legs. Climbing was difficult at best and I could feel my whole leg seize up. Make it stop was all I could think of. There was no way I could survive another 100 miles in this condition. Speaking of not surviving... I come upon Sheldon to find him waist deep already in the pain cave. He is suffering in a tremendous way and I can't help him. He encourages me to keep riding. I pedal away offering my wheel, he doesn't take it. I thought Sheldon would snap out of it and catch up to me but he never did. I reach the next CP at 2:03. Last year was around 3:30 I believe. Emma goes to work refilling my water and depleted fuel. Jim goes to work on my legs since the aliens are wrestling again. He hops on top of me and proceeds to massage/kill me. I yell out in pain and knock him off me. He hands me a jar of pickles, forces me to ingest one and then orders me to take a couple swigs. Ewwww, I don't wanna but I obey quickly because I want to leave. Emma hands me a perfectly iced down camelback, Lori fills my bra with ice, and I head out to tackle the next fifty.
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| Mile 100. Am I dead yet? (Jim Davis) |
I love meeting new like minded gravel friends. Because of a few flats early in the day I met fellow Chamois Butt'r teammate Ben. Ben had a total of seven flats on the day. His day would have ended in the first fifty if he hadn't come across my hubby with a spare tube. I also got to ride with Chamois Butt'r teammate Kent for quite a while. Thanks for the chats fellas, I really appreciate the encouragement. Ben and Kent both crossed the finish line.
Heading out on this next fifty I feel better than I have felt all day which still isn't very good. The cramps are intermittent and only come if I push the big ring too long or stand too long on the climbs. I try to neither but flub up several times getting anxious. My eating and drinking is starting to become more difficult now. I am so glad I do a liquid fuel in addition to solid food. Otherwise I would have not injested enough calories for this mission. It was on this leg I believe I topped out a 42 mph on a downhill. I made sure to rip every single downhill. I would hammer down in the big ring pedalling like a mad woman. Yes, there were prayers, many prayers. In the shape I was in I had to use the hills to my advantage. I realized this would only work for me if I stayed upright. I already saw to less lucky fellas covered in blood. They looked fine when I passed them as they were being helped off course. Please do not let me end up like that.
It was on this leg that I desperately wanted a beer, a Pabst to be honest. I mentioned my thought to the guy riding next to me and all he said was "Good luck with that" You should have seen his face when not ten minutes later he passed me drinking an ice cold Pabst on the side of the gravel. I happened upon a Pabst and water oasis just sitting there on the side of the gravel. Yay! Someone heard my plea. I drank quickly and motored on. Well timed!
I reach the final CP at 6:34pm. Holy shit! That is two solid hours off last years time. I had no concept of time while riding all day except when I was at a CP. Jim and Emma fill my stuff while I duck off behind a building to relieve myself. Being of the female persuasion wearing bibs makes it hard to stop and pee on the side of the gravel. I squat down to notice "leaves of three" everywhere.OH MY, I am highly allergic to poison ivy amd have to head to the doc for a steroid shot and a hanful of prednisone. It's too late to find another spot so I place my gloved hand on the building to brace myself. Whew, that was a close one. I find Lori for another ice bra bath and get back to my crew.
Returning to hop on my bike we find that the front tire is flat. WTH? I get a flat rolling on cobblestone and escape the sharp Flint Hills rock? Whatever. This is definitely a gift. Jim changes it in a minute and I am out. Before I leave he informs me "your brother is about twenty minutes ahead of you. He said "tell her to come get me". I would love to ride with my brother so I begin to turn myself inside out to catch him. I really start pushing and it hurts really bad. My legs are not happy again and the cramps surface with a vengence. Seriously? I then remember some wise words spoken at the meeting the night before "Ride your own race". I reel it back in. If I see him I see him.
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| Can you see me? (Jim Davis) |
Earlier today I met Jim Belford. He was from Emporia and this was his first DK. We shared some great conversation that made the time pass quicker than riding solo. About halfway through Jim changed jerseys and I had to try and figure out who he was all over again. We rode together most of this last leg. He had a superior Garmin, bright ass lights, good conversation, and the same pace. I wasn't going anywhere. I was relieved to be with him when it got dark. Pitch black darkness and alone in Kansas doesn't sound fun to me. The miles tick off and time passes as we talk. Seeing residents sitting outside hooting and hollering as we pass by feels amazing. There are signs of encouragement and coolers full of water and sodas offerings for the riders.
Almost there. We finally reach pavement and we are about two miles from town. I start to smile. This is happening! My long day of work is almost over. Damn this feels good! We see HUGE spotlights signifying the finish line and race towards it. Coming down the straightaway there are so many people yelling, the music is loud, hands are flying out to be high fived, it's like nothing I have ever seen. Holy cow, this is cool! I see Jim Cummins and give him a smelly sweat filled hug. I don't think he cares.
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| Thansks Gretchen! I am definitely buying this one. |
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Got the RED ticket
Whew! What a day. Some of my friends were still out there though. I waited patiently for them as I chugged my FREE well deserved beer.  Most popular post! My teammates Carrie and Angela both finished and received their well earned glasses.  With 5 minutes to spare. Congrats Angela!  Thanks Rebecca and Dan for sharing your mojo |
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| Bobby Smith and I after his finish |
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| Michelle tracked me down to tell me she tried to catch me. |
With another Dirty Kanza in the books I still can't get this silly smile off my face. Speaking of my face... I noticed a small red rash forming on Monday. It took a moment to piece it together. Poison Ivy! Good thing I kept my gloves on and didn't have to apply an Chamois Butt'r. Thanks for the good time Emporia. See you in 2015!
Congratulations on such a strong funish!
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