Dirty Kanza 2013 War of the Wind

It's true! "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger".  The Dk200 2011 should have killed me when it had the chance.  Oh, Dirty Kanza... because of you I will never be the same.  Because of you I can never look at my life the same.  Because of you DK, I can not look at myself the same.  Because of you, NOTHING is the same.

Three Konas headed to Kansas

Myself (Sasha), my teammate and hubby (Jim), and teammate (Zoll) loaded the Subie with three Konas and gear, drove five hours to Emporia Kansas for The Premiere Gravel Road Race, otherwise known as the DK200.  This was not my first shakedown with the Kansas gravel.  I was robbed by Mother Nature in 2011, made it 110 miles, you can read 2012 here.

Yay we made it!

I know what it takes to complete this monster gravel grinder, physically and mentally, it will suck everything out of you.   Every piece of the puzzle has to come together  in order to accomplish the task. Your weapon of choice, nutrition and attitude all play into whether you finish or not.  This was Zoll's first DK and would be his longest ride to date.  He chose a fixed gear single speed Major One for the task.  Yea, he has huge balls like that, crazy. I have zero worries about him, he will finish.

PRE-RACE

The prerace meeting was held twice  because there were so many riders, nearly a 1000, signed up. The downtown area was buzzing with excitement when we arrived. The incredible positive energy of Emporia makes this the perfect place to host the event. Every hotel was booked months in advance.  The people of Emporia are so friendly and helpful it's like entering another dimension.  The first question asked is "where are you from"?  Pretty exciting stuff considering over 40 states were represented plus Canada.  Puts a little perspective on my short commute to Kansas.

THE Kristi Mohn

While checking into our hotel we noticed that several other kool kids were staying there.  Team Virtus and Emily to name a couple. I finally got to meet a FaceBook friend, Dave, damn the internet is so cool. My friend Angela, who lived a couple blocks from the hotel, stopped by briefly for hugs and to give me some gifts. She is sooo sweet! After placing our bikes in the room, we hightailed it to the first meeting at 4pm, it was packed!

This guy broke his wrist last week, he finished the DK100

The hubby with Garth Prosser

Barbie Miller and me

 Looking around the room I saw more of my like-minded friends from MO.  We visited a bit and the slideshow started.  I wish they sold copies of the slideshow.  Seeing yourself on the BIG screen never goes out of style.  SLIDESHOW LINK Enjoy!


 I found Jim Cummins to thank him for putting his heart and soul into such a spectacular event, super dude.  Minutes later, Mr C. introduced me to Patrick from the NY Times.... more on that later.

THE Jim Cummins ( sorry he's blurry)

The regristraion process was quick and very efficient. Many volunteers were stationed to make sure you received a reusable Go Green bag, awesome t-shirt, DK Magazine, area business flyers and coupons, sweet water bottle, a couple of Gu's, trading cards, and a FULL size tube of Chamois Buttr for HER!
Next stop was Wheat State Pizza where a Veggie Dream pizza was procured  ( Aaaaahhhhh, I have waited a year)  and scarfed down.  Question.... Is five hours too far to drive to have great pizza with my Kansas girlfriends?

Back at the hotel, we quickly stage our busy day tomorrow and gathered our supplies for a quick drop off to our support crew.  Emma is a one woman army which will come in handy keeping an eye on myself and four fellas.  She knows my goal and expectations and will do anything to help me achieve DK greatness.  Pre-race jitters and chatting with the magnificent EMILY had my head hitting the pillow at midnight.  I was shooting for ten, fug.   At 4:20 am the alarm went off and shit got real, quick.

Before I closed my eyes I said a prayer for those, just ten miles from my house, who lost their homes that evening to the tornados in MO.  I am thankful my kiddos were safe in the basement with their Nana and all it did was rain hard in my neighborhood. It seems OK got hit again too. I will ride with a heavy heart tomorrow but pedal nonetheless.

THE RACE

Ready to roll out ( photo credit Stacey Quintanilla)

The start/finish line was an electric place.  Lining up with a bagillion people is cool and crazy at the same time. I took a spot on the outside around the 16hr mark.

Game face

 I thanked the universe for allowing me to be here and asked God to keep myself and other riders safe while we chased our dreams.  I went over my cut off times silently for my 17hr goal and hoped four hours of nervous sleep was enough.  Promptly at six am we rolled out.  The DK Half pint would be rolling out behind us.

Chatting with Patrick before the start ( photo credit Stacey Q)

Leg One Emporia to Madison 51 miles

I felt good this entire leg, a nice tail wind helped.  I was able to hang with a good group of people and the entertainment from Kyle of Team Orange Lederhosen made this 51 miles go by fast.  I chose to ride zen because my Garmin would not have enough battery life to record my whole day.  I would need it for the last half of the ride to help monitor my goal. Everyone was still smiling and making small talk as we rode the winding gravel. While riding, I received several props on my tat. Thanks!

If you saw this I was in front of you

I felt like we were rolling at a good clip yet a highly manageable pace for such a long ride.  The gravel was fast and the mountain biker in me rode most of the muddy sections. I did see three wild mustangs and desperately wanted to stop for a photo but my mission kept me from doing so.  There was an insane water crossing about 30 miles in. The water passed my knees.  Trying to save my bottom bracket from further destruction,  I hoisted my steed over my shoulder and walked it.

Thanks for the shot Brent Windsor

 I later learned my nutty hubby rode it, so did several others.  Bike shops love people like that!  I reached Emma by 9:45am, yea 15 minutes before my cutoff.  Things are looking good.

Emma handed me sunscreen and directed me behind a building where I could relieve myself. I had held it for nearly 30 miles, NOT recommended, but I was too stubborn to stop. Emma filled my bottles and handed me my fuel nuggets for this leg.  Within five minutes I was back on my bike attacking the next 49 miles of gravel.

Leg Two: Madison to Cassoday     49 miles

Leaving the check point I am elated, I so got this! Just need to keep the pace. All smiles AND then I found the wind! a shitload of it. I hit a wall of wind.  Steady, unrelenting 20-30mph headwinds, side winds, stronger wind gusts, and pedaling downhill to keep moving wind.  I will spare you anymore about the wind, suffice it to say.... that wind was a muthafucka for the duration.  The fact I am a singlespeed mountain biker helped me in the wind I believe. The endless spinning and pedal turnover, over and over, not feeling like you are getting anywhere but having the mindset to know you are.  Just keep your head down and don't stop pedaling. I didn't even stop pedaling when I threw up.  Did anyone get a shot of that?

Truth

Around mile 80 something VERY bad happened. My mind suggested I quit! WTF?  That has never happened. My steel trap knows better than to play games with me.  At the top of my lungs I screamed Shut Up! Shut up mind, you don't get a say here.  Shit,  I know that once the negativity rears its ugly head you are screwed.  It's hard to pull yourself out of that.  I had passed many people throwing in the towel. Awww geez, why did I have to be Irish/German and stubborn/proud?  I could not quit, it was not in my DNA.  I asked for help from above, a divine intervention of sorts.  Within ten minutes I was served.  Enter Jim D, masters men (50 plus), on a mountain bike. He looked over his shoulder and said,  "awww sweetheat you look tired... hop on my wheel, rest, relax. Stay as long as you need".  I knew I needed help, his help, and he was offering.  I accepted and thanked him profusely.  While he pulled me we chatted. I told him I was out here riding thinking about my 7yr, Sydney, who got up in front of several hundred of her classmates and parents and belted out "Stronger" by Kelly Clarkson. I figured if she could do that I could do this.  Jim kept telling me I was doing a great job, that I was an awesome woman.... just what I needed to hear.  He pulled me for several miles and kept stroking my bent ego until I felt better.  He stopped to fuel himself and I rolled on with renewed energy and optimism.  Jim, you saved my race, seriously. You gave me my 'eye of the tiger ' back, thank you. I rolled into town about 3:15pm, way off my 2:30pm projected time.  Freakin' wind!  I felt destroyed for a moment, I would probably NOT meet my 11pm goal.  Do I quit here? Who would blame me?  That wind was hell! Could I possibly endure more of it? Possibly another 100 miles of it?

 Hell YES! I could.  I regrouped, refocused, changed my bibs out and put on my best finisher's smile.  Wind or no wind, goal or no goal, I was gonna finish what I started. Dirty Kanza would not beat me.

My hubby looked comfy in a chair, half dressed, deciding his race was over and drinking a Pabst.  I gave him "the look" and tried to convince him he should come back out with me. "Ya know you wanna".  It was easier than I thought or the beers were talking for him.  Either way, he was getting ready to roll out with me.  As luck would have it, Sheldon from Team Orange Lederhosen was ready to fly the checkpoint also.  Party of three, two dudes and one chica, would be facing the wind, together.

Leg 3 Cassoday  to Cottonwood Falls   50 miles


The three of us worked together and managed to reach 12.5mph in the headwind.  Along the way I tried to build our man train by inviting others to hop on, but no one hung on for very long.  This leg was the hardest for me.  I nearly choked to death while swallowing a June bug, the cleat under my right foot shifted, and to top it off I was having a helluva time getting into my big ring.  Jim, Sheldon, and myself had our own "beat the sun" race to this check point.  We didn't grab our lights at the last stop, bad move?


At mile 138, Den Creek,  there was NO marker.  Jim said "remember you are in Kansas, stop and check the map".  Good thing we did.  We would have gone the wrong way.  Three fellas we were riding with had gone that way. They didn't hear us yelling. Shit!  With no legs to go after them, Jim was able to convince a farmer to catch them in his truck and inform them of their error. Those fellas were super grateful they got turned around.   The wind was still whipping us but we made good time and rolled into the last checkpoint at 8:20pm.  We beat the darkness!  All three of us where high on adrenaline and excited to get back out there.  Lights were placed, Emma refueled us, and potty breaks were taken.  This was my longest pit stop at 15 minutes.  Just fifty miles to go! Finish line here we come!

Leg Four Cottonwood Falls back to Emporia  50 miles

I lost use of my big ring entirely on this last leg.  No dice.  I would need to spin my itty bitty 26 ring to the finish.  Insert superior state of mind and motor on, I still got this!  On this final leg we met Bryan from CO.  The headlamp he had chosen for the Kansas darkness was not doing him any favors.  He couldn't see.  The hubby and I had our Serfas TSL-1500 headlights on so we had lots of light to share.  Bryan asked if he could hang with us to the end, of course he could, there was never a question. The more the merrier.

Pedal, spin, and pedal, spin some more.

Just a little excited! ( Eric Benjamin)

 The four of were together until our finish at 1:35am.  Kristi gave me the hug I had been waiting for all day and rode 201 miles for, it was awesome.  Eric Benjamin, the Adventure Monkey, took my picture and some of my friends were there to see my finish.  What more can a girl ask for?  Nothing, absolutely nothing.

Glasses and stickers in hand!

In retrospect, my ride went exactly as it should have gone.  I needed to meet Jim D and be present when Bryan needed help to see.  Karma baby!



AWARDS

At the 7am awards ceremony - which comes quickly when you get to bed at 3:30am-  I met Selene Yeager, she nabbed 3rd Open Women.  ( stay tuned for a review on her book "Get Fast" in a training post to follow)

Bryan stopped by to shake my hand and thank me once again for letting him tagalong. No problem.  I found out that Emily rode to a 7th place finish and my teammate Zoll finished around 11:30pm.  He completed the first hundo fixed and flipped to ss for the following 100.  Team Noah's Peat Henry took 1st in the ss category, So proud of you Peat!

Congrats to everyone who finished, that ride was no joke!  Kudos to everyone who tuffed it out.  High fives to those of you who overcame obstacles, whatever they were.  If you did not finish.... give it a go next year.  If you are on the fence about doing this race, put it on your bucket list, you owe it to yourself.

THANK YOU'S

A HUGE thank you to Kristi and Tim Mohn and Jim Cummings for growing the gravel and making this one of the best experiences of my life.  Thank you to the town of Emporia for hosting this craziness and embracing us as your own for a few days.  Thank you to the photog's who spent countless hours shooting photos of cyclists.  Thanks for recording my memories. Thank you to my support crew Emma, I love you and couldn't have done it without you.  Thanks you to whomever will be picking up all those wrappers, tubes, and bottles that rocketed.  Kansas is a beautiful place and should remain that way.

You can eat anything the day after you ride 200 miles

RESULTS HERE
Out of 631 riders only 331 finished.  I was #295, I'll take it!

Check back in a few days for my next few posts about bike set-up, nutrition, gear, plus anything else I may have forgotten.

Thanks for reading,
Sasha

Dirty Kanza Quickie

As I prepared for the Dirty Kanza, I did nearly everything right. Hell, I am not perfect.  I followed a plan written by a pro, I ran, lifted at the gym, took a sledgehammer and destroyed a tire, ate a vegeatrian diet, foam rolled religiously, AND rode my bike.  I wanted to complete this race and even had a goal of 17 hours in mind, two hours better than 2012.

With the race behind me, I can't help but be a little miffed.  I worked my ass off, so much so my bibs were too big and i had to change them out after 100 miles.  I grunted, sweated, was sore and pushed more.  I endured the cold, the snow, the rain, the fuggin' wind everyday.  With one goal in mind.  Kick the DK200 in the ass.

Tour of Hermann

I am miffed because I know my hubby didn't really do shit and finished right along side of me.  Sorry honey, you did do some paddles, and rode your bike a total of 200 miles as training for this race.  Don't get me wrong, I am so proud of you for ballin' it out with me.  So proud of you for finishing such a brutal race.  I am completely miffed as to how this happens though....... ANYONE????





**** I am finding myself very long winded about this race so my posts will come in parts.  You should go buy a 12 pack of Pabst and settle in when one pops out.  That race was an experience and not just because of the wind.  I reunited with some Kansas girlfriends and made many new friends along the way. The cool thing is, I saw a bunch of them the day after.  We got to give handshakes and hugs.  You NEVER forget the people you meet at the DK.  I missed Chad, Clyde, and Dan this year. Let's do a reunion tour in 2014!

Dirty Kanza Ramblings

Tomorrow morning we depart for Emporia, Kansas.  Why Kansas?  The Dirty Kanza is there, the Premiere Gravel Road Race!  Over 200 mile of graveliciousness.  I am thrilled and throwing up in my mouth at the same time.  It's time to "nut up and shut up".  It's time to find out if all this crazy training is going to pay off.  The official "can she do it" moment.  Place your bets ladies and gents....

If you have no idea what the hell I am talking about, educate yourself by reading the official 2013 DK magazine.  They were kind enough to let me write an article for them, it's on page 17.

Last year the DK was all about finishing under my own power, accepting no wheels to draft in and not helping anyone else.  This year I figure to hell with that. I want to ride with my friends, my husband, and find Dan (from last years DK and this years Cedar Cross).  I hope to settle into a group of like-minded 17 hr or so riders and enjoy the day.  I understand the importance of pacelining and working together to go faster.  I get it!  I will be more than happy to drag your ass if you will return the favor.  Let me help you help me. See how that works?

 If I don't find anyone to ride with I will channel this attitude.

I feel prepared mind-wise.  I know I am capable of this, I can see it, I can smell it, I can taste it. I got this!

My Kona is ready and willing to conquer the Kansas gravel again.  With the upgraded brakes and new crankset we expect to be awesome. Pure awesome.

My nutrition is as good as it has ever been.  I think I have finally found what works for me, hurray!

My support crew couldn't get any better.  Emma is ProAsFuck! If anyone can help me achieve this goal it's her.  She gets me and understands what I need usually before I need it.  She will have her hands full with myself and five fellas, I have zero worries.  Emma is not afraid to give me an extra push or slap on the ass to get me going.  She has permission to post updates on my FB PAGE too.  If you haven't liked my APabstSmear page yet get on it, please.

Mantra

I have started to take my HTFU pills so I can make my dream a reality.
I have practiced yellin' "SHUT UP LEGS" like a pro, Jens would be proud.
I have made peace with whatever crazy weather Mother Nature would like to bestow upon me.
I have made peace with whatever the road/gravel/unmaintained farm roads will be like.

Where there is a will, there is a way

No matter what happens I am excited to see my girlfriends from Kansas, make new friends, and ride my bike ALL day and part of the evening.  I also would like to check out the new pub they have about a block from the finish line.  I heard that Mulready's Pub will be open until the very last DK rider crosses the finish line.  That is awesome!

If you are riding BEST OF LEGS to you!  If you see me out there please say hello.  If I am not pedaling fast enough yell at me.  Thanks.

 Sasha

Dirty Kanza Plan

Borrowed from DK website

With less than two weeks to go..... Dirty Kanza is upon us.  Like it or not... you are where you are.  The bike riding for hours is all but over.  It's time to get your mind right, your nutrion plan nailed down, and your bike in tip top shape. There is nothing you can do, training on the bike wise, to make yourself stronger or faster.  This time before the big day can make or break you. Use it wisely!


TRAINING
This year I paid a pro to write a specific plan for me.  The plan was broken down into three phases.  I followed each phase as close as my life would allow and tweaked it when there was 14 inches of snow to shovel or massive amounts of yard work. (everything counts) Mother Nature did not make training easy this year.  Winter ran straight into Spring and then came Summer.  One morning it was 37 degrees and then 91 degrees the next afternoon.  Don't get me started on the wind.... AND rain!  I am sure she is getting all this out before June 1st so it can be a beautiful day to suffer.

BIKE
My bike is almost ready to roll, by almost I mean all I need is a new chain put on and switch to some meatier tires. I have had the bottom bracket replaced, hopefully Cedar Cross didn't fug it up.  I really like my new crank set up, I hope it makes me faster and keeps my legs fresher in order to go faster.  My butt really enjoys the new lady specific saddle, riding the saddle that came with my Kona JTS last year was a really stupid idea.

Magnificent KONA

NUTRITION
My nutrition is nailed down and I am confident that it will get me to the finish line.  I have also figured out how I am going to carry my fuel, water, and other supplies.  I have a mountain feed bag on my bike which holds a good amount of stuff, I also have a Backcountry Strap that will hold two tubes and a tire  lever.  I do NOT plan on having to use any of this stuff, last year I had zero flats and expect the same this year.  I will be using a 70 oz bladder in a camelbak and will have two 24oz bottles on the bike.  I will keep misc. fuel items in my jersey pockets and carry a couple extra emergency fuel options in the camelbak. ( I learned last year that I did not really care for the Tangle bag system. I was constantly rubbing the bag with my legs and had to change my pedal stroke to prevent it, not good. Plus, it made my bike heavy ) I will be breaking my ride into FOUR segments.  Carrying enough water and fuel for 50 miles at a time.  When I reach my wonderful support crew EMMA, I will have everything pre-packed and labeled so I can just grab and go.

MIND
My mind is in a very positive state of superior attitude. It usually is.  Having finished this long haul last year I know what it takes to make it to the end. I know I have what it takes. Hell, I have been working on it for 350 days!  I finished just after 1am, 19 hours of pedaling. If you have never been on a bike that long let me tell you.... its a LONG fuckin' time.  I have my mind made up that I will finish before 19 hours, I am shooting for 17 hours, around 11pm.  Honestly, I will be thrilled with just finishing but would like to knock some time off, a considerable amount!  Even 1 hour would be great.

So.... ARE YOU READY TO GRAVEL?

CEDAR CROSS 2013

Cedar Cross is a 114 mile monster cross ride that takes place on Jefferson County gravel, pavement, and single-track.  This ride is the creation of a very twisted individual, the one, the only, THE BOB JENKINS.  After completing this race last year I knew I would be back, even if there are dogs and/or crazy weather should show up.  The night before CC, my stomach was in knots.  Riders were bailing left and right because of the ridiculous state of the atmosphere.  Here in the Midwest we have had to deal with 85 degree days followed by 30 degree mornings. Mother Nature has been playing games with us.   The day before this ride it rained, ALL day. The creek crossings would be deep, the gravel wet, and the trail muddy.

Instead of being a pansy, I started packing.  I made a deal with the devil that if there was NO rain... I would H.T.F.U. , pedal as fast as I could and finish during the daylight. Please, no rain. I checked the weather, it was going to be about 35 at the start and possibly warm into the 50's.  Are you fucking kidding me??? It's May.  I was packing wool socks and looking for my arm warmers.  I can't believe I will be donning winter gear instead of working on my suntan.

Before going to bed I recieve this text... "looks like tomorrow will be reserved only for the hardest of the hard. wet.cold.straight up shitty. You're ready"  Zach knows me pretty well and if he thinks I've got this, then I've got this.  I couldn't/wouldn't let him down.  My mind races as I set a 430am alarm.

Jim and I pack the car quickly and we are off. On the drive I mentally checked things off my list.

Bike- check- My Kona JTS is ready to roll.  I have been dialing it in for DK.  I got a bike fit, a new saddle, along with a new crank set and bottom bracket.  Yeah, with the course conditions I was going to tear my shit up.  Not excited about that but what can I do?

Clothing-check- I have plenty of clothing choices and was prepared for any type of weather.  Bring it Mother Nature.

Fuel- check- I broke the ride into three separate races.  I estimated how many calories I would need to get to the half-way point, 50 miles, to my drop bag. The next leg was to the gas station, approx. 85 miles.  The last was how many calories to finish the last 40 miles.

Water- check- Normally I use my bottle cages however, the first section was filled with horse/cow manure, a Camelbak was a better choice.  As a test I attached one of those double bottle holders onto my saddle. I figured this was as good a time as any to see how it would hold up as a possible DK200 option.

Testing

Goal- check- I chose a finish time of 7pm which was totally doable. AND it would still be daylight.
 


Jim and I arrived at 7am to a full parking lot buzzing with crazy, happy, like-minded peeps.  Exiting the car I am approached by someone with their hand out saying, " Hi Wendy, remember me?  We finished Dirty Kanza together last year".  Well, of course I remembered Dan, you don't forget something like that. What's funny is Dan is from MO, we met in Kansas during the last leg of the DK.  We knew a lot of the same people but had never met.

Before

While Jim socialized I concentrated on getting myself organized and dressed.  Long pants, tri shorts, long sleeve underarmour, arm warmers, wool socks, and my bright ass vest. My teammate Zoll gifted me a beautiful Kona jersey that day so I layed it on.  I added a Buff to keep my hair out of my face and cover my ears, and gloves. I usually don't wear gloves but was going to make an exception so my fingers did not fall off.  Brr.

Half of the group

Just before the start a teenage boy hopped onto a picnic table with a guitar and amp.  He kicked out a few "oldies but goodies" before jamming out the Star Spangled Banner.  Wow, that was a helluva way to start a race.  By 8am we were pedaling.

After a few miles I ended up settling in with Dan, Dave Beattie of TOG, Loreen of Off the Front, and Chuck from Rock Racing.  Riding with people is fun.  I do nearly all of my riding solo, not because I want to.  Time passes quick while we chit chat and catch up. I realize that my brake cables must have stretched because I have no brakes to speak of.  Instead of stopping to fix it I tell Dan I will fix it at the half way point. (STUPID)

The miles tick off and we make it to the infamous cow poo field. Dan told me to pick a good line since he was right behind me.  I bob and weave through the cow shit like a boss. I don't want any of that on my beautiful Kona. Just when I thought I made it through unscathed... I rolled through a huge group effort pile of cow shit.  I felt something wet hit my right cheek and nose, yuck.  There was a small spray of little dots across my glasses, ewwww.  Nice, I've been baptized but I do not stand alone.  If you were there, you got poo on you too.  Good thing I kept my mouth closed. Did you?

By the time we hit the bridge heading to the singletack, Dan and I were still together with Chuck and Lo in sight.  Dave decided not come with us to save his knee for another day. The singletrack was some of the nastiest stuff I have ever rode/walked.  The mud was ankle deep, deeper in some sections.  I rode what I could, cried for my bottom bracket and kissed a couple trees, not on purpose.  Finally we made it to the steep muddy uphill, the Jeff Yielding staircase. While pushing my bike up it,  I had the pleasure of watching a guy from Ethos ride down the small rock hill into the waist deep water.  He got wet, very wet.  The water was freezing and I had zero intentions of getting that wet.  I had witnessed another racer fall into a creek after picking a bad line. His whole left side was soaked.

There was small moments of sun and a little wind to deal with, luckily no rain.  The miles ticked off slowly through the singletrack.  We made it to a mile long, incredibly muddy ascent, the last of the mud.  Wahoo!  Bring on the gravel, we have some time to make up.  Dan fixed my back brake and we motored to the drop bags. In the distance we see a figure walking a bike.  It's my friend Don Daly, he has sheared off his derreullair and was out of the race.  As luck would have it, my husband is driving toward us and offers Don a ride.  We reach the bag drop where Dan eats a sandwhich.  I refuel and pee.  I see Chuck and Lo hop on their bikes, I will be about five minutes behind them.  Jim fixes my front brake and Don lubes my chain.  I feel pro as fuck.

I look at my Garmin to see I am about an hour off my projected time.  Staying positive, I tell myself I will make it up.  I will pedal faster.  I can still finish in the daylight. I have to!  I left my lights on purpose.  I told Jim I wouldn't need them.

I like uphills and downhills, uphills probably a bit more.  I made peace with downhills, I had to so I would not be afraid of them.  Fear gets me hurt.  I pedal down them, just straight bomb down them, no fear, no worries.  I was not scared once, I did not flinch, I did not close my eyes.  Yay for progress.

Dan and I can see Lo and Chuck just ahead of us. We are on our way to the Hams gas station which apparently has great Ham sandwhiches, this vegetarian wouldn't know.  We burn out of there relatively quick hot on the heels of Chuck and Lo.   We pass the Nuclear Reactor but decide not to stop for photos, I have one from last year.  We climb the bitch of a hill, that really wasn't so bad and soon we are rewarded with a magnificent downhill that made all that climbing worth it.  As we hit the Katy Trail it's me and three dudes with roughly 30 miles left to the finish.

Last year I had several encounters with dogs, the most painful was here on the Katy.  I hit a dog pedalling about 15 mph.  I bounced off him and landed hard while still clipped in.  I haven't had any issues with dogs today and pitied any dog who gets in my way.  I am a freight train and I cannot be stopped.  

As we pulled into Mokane I see Chuck and Lo mounting their steeds and leaving with the Ethos group.  Would you believe the three boys have to pee?? Really!?  I watch the group ride away.  By now the first female has already finished.  Congrats Emily, you are a gravel beast.

I pedal and pedal, and fight through the next 20 miles.  My legs feel good, my nutrition has been solid, and my bike has been excellent. My head is right!  I have zero complaints, not true, I have one... I would like to catch Chuck and Lo.  Try as I might, I do not succeed.   Dan and I cross the finish around 710pm.  Low and behold there are still racers milling about, there is food, and there is beer.  Hell, it's still daylight!!  Mission accomplished. I am a happy girl.

Needing some TLC

I see Lo, she still has her helmet on, it was close.  She thanked me for pushing her all day and told me that whenever she and Chuck would see my glo vest they would pedal harder.  That is the last flippin' time I wear that damn thing in a race.  Shortly after finishing, one of the fellas I rode with gave me props and shook my hand saying "thanks for dragging me through most of that".

What I learned...

1. Never wear the glo vest in a race
2. Finishing in the daylight kicks ass.  I should shoot for that more often.
3. The two bottles hanging off the saddle ejected only once.  I was advised to tie them together so when I found a white headband along the trail that is just what I did.  Not sure if I will use this at DK though, the Camelbak was perfect.
4. Don't be a pansy because of the weather



Thanks to my hubby for taking this shot.  The course was about 10 miles longer than last year and I beat last years time.  Take that!

After

Don't worry!  He cleaned up just fine.