So, you know all those fancy courses out there? Fast flowy? Yeah this isn't that. You know Freetown right? That has a few rocks but they are small and in a few spots, the rest is pretty not technical. And that's considered a technical race. Most of the people showing up at Jim's races know what they are getting into. They are hard, old school, tight, punchy short hills, the most technical rocky trails.
Few people actually ride this kind of stuff all the time.
And here I am the guy who HATED mtbs so much that i avoided them completely from 2009 to 2019. Sure in 2009 i was riding bike tech from 1996 on trails that were about as poorly suited to the bike as could be. Rim brakes, 26" wheels, insane amount of drop from saddle to the bars.
In short it wasn't fun. So I packed it in and went all in on CX, heck that's where I was by 07 or so, dabbled in a few road races, but pretty much all CX. in '12 i started the whole ride all day (to boston) rides. Then eventually set out to join the NECX HOTM club and did. In the process burning me the fuck out of bikes. It has been crazy this path and journey.
And here I am not quite 2 years into riding MTBs as much as I can.
Raced the Freetown 50 right after getting the bike. Did the Wicked Nor'easter when the wheel exploded, then everything paused and I just rode and rode and rode and here I am first race back. Day one i survived but the bike exhibited some annoying problems. Fixed them that evening and went back out in the rain today.
Yesterday's climbing was 3,068 ft, over 36 miles. today was 2,664 over 21.74 miles.
I went out slowly today but also with an easier gear on the bike. Walked some but was encouraged that when I could or needed to or felt like it i could put as much power down as i wanted to and have it move the bike. No protests. No dropped chains.
HR data shows I did a better job of staying the middle to lower zones (the plan) and I didn't get lapped.
And it didn't really rain much. But it wasn't too hot. Second lap i felt better and rode a bit harder, worried I'd get caught I pushed it more, but then third lap, last guy going into the woods for the lap. All alone. Was still good.
Three tough laps. Lots of climbing.
A good bit of walking but i feel like it was a pretty good two day prep.
The last lap the not eating or drinking as much i think played a little havoc and started to cramp a bit in my back. Back def sore, upper shoulder blade muscles were the crampy ones. So i ate a sleeve of those salty cliff blocks, finished one of the bottles, and then finally was able to ride dead people cleanly (ALONE FINALLY).
Ate another sleeve later on while walking up to the overlook/chairs.
Legs and knees feel good tho. Tired but not bad.
time to recover and plan and collect all the shit i need.
def kind of more anxious about doing this truly solo w/o support.
last time my dad came up and while he mostly hung out he was def supportive and helped...
Had a weird dream with him last night. He was directing people around standing up and talking and being a bit happy and way out of character talkative like he was excited about what was pending, the pending was an actual surprise party for my big birthday and he had arranged for someone i never thought would show up to my party and it was just the best, i don't remember the gift because in my dream it was just a gift to have them there and to have my dad actually coordinate it and know. Kind of surreal.
so who knows what next month will bring... torn between doing nothing and downplaying it or something else. But what. Who knows. not me right now.
and i'm okay with that..
amor fati motherfuckers
heddwch
G
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