harper said:A report is in order here.
Right you are, Greg. The MS-150 this weekend was an incredible
experience and great success. We had ideal riding temperatures and a
large turnout of riders…supposedly over 1,000, but I lost track of the
count while they were all passing me. We also had a great cause to
benefit, fantastic ride support, and unbelievable encouragement from
everyone that participated.
The two rides represented "personal bests" for me, although in
different ways. Each day had both a 50 mile and 75 mile route to
choose from. On Saturday, I chose to just ride the 50 mile route. I
learned last year I can't do the 75 miles within the official 8am-5pm
time the course is open, if I want to stop and rest, have lunch, and
talk to the people who come up and ask about the unicycle. I also
didn’t want to miss the big Group Start on Day 1, because the lead
fundraising team (MSFT, which I was on) goes first. On the uni, that
means I get to start at the very front, using the pole that holds the
start banner for balance. The first 100 yards of the ride is the only
time I get to lead, and I didn’t want to miss that. Then the first bike
passes me and I begin my gradual slide to last place… Anyway, the PB
for me on Saturday was around fitness. Same route as last year, same
big hills. But this year, instead of getting wiped out (or falling) on
the climbs, I cleaned them all with energy to spare. I credit this
year’s revised training plan (the Nathan Hoover Plan) which focused
much more on climbing than on distance. When I hit the big ones, I just
reminded myself how many times I climbed Fall City Road without
stopping, and that gave me the mental edge. I finished 50 thinking I
could have done 75.
Which brings me to Sunday’s personal best. Going in, my plan had been
to do back-to-back 50s and just enjoy myself, but after Saturday, I
thought “why can’t I do a 75 and still enjoy myself?”. Bad question to
ask myself at bedtime, as I then tossed and turned the night thinking
about it rather than getting the rest I needed. Mostly I was trying to
talk myself into it. Why do it? The challenge, of course. And for my
sponsors: they demand blood, and two 50s just doesn’t deliver! So,
since I was not sleeping anyway at 5am, I got up, packed my gear, threw
some extra food in my pack, and made it onto the course by 6:30. I
figured with an hour and a half lead, I’d have time to finish the whole
course. I set a goal of getting to Rest Stop 2 at 21 miles before the
first bike, and started spinning. It was surreal being out there by
myself, pedaling out through the tulip farms in the pre-dawn light and
watching the sun come up to backlight the patches of fog and mist. I
also got to see how early in the day farmers are up and at it…every
farm had something going on. At mile 9, the setup van for Rest Stop 1
passed me. Good thing I packed those extra supplies! When I got to
Rest Stop 2, they were setting up too and I was their first customer.
About 15 minutes later the first bike arrived.
From there, I just focused on maintaining a solid spin, minimizing
upper body movement, and remembering to keep fed and hydrated. The 'Day
2 course' (http://tinyurl.com/euehs) is actually quite flat if you
choose the 50 mile option. In the map, the 50 mile route cuts west to
Padilla Bay after the long straightaway, leaving out the whole climb up
and around Chuckanut Mountain, and the narrow, hilly road along Samish
Bay. This section, Miles 30 to 55, has to be the most scenic ride I’ve
ever taken. I want to go back and do just that loop sometime as a 30-35
miler, when I can relax and enjoy the views.
But back on topic. By the time I reached lunch at Mile 50, I knew I had
both time and the energy to finish. The main climbing was done, and I
took a full 1/2 hour to eat, drink, sunscreen. But then—sitting with
some Harley riders that were acting as ride patrol—I heard the course
would close at 4pm instead of 5 as it did on Saturday (and in my timing
calculations). Panic! I suddenly went from “I have all the time in the
world” to “I’m going to have to spin the last 25 at the same pace I
spun the first 25, with no rest stops.” Gulp.
Thanks Harley Guys…gotta fly. Fortunately, it was only 8 more miles of
hilly road before the route hit sea level for good. Once I reached the
flats, it would be pretty binary…if headwind like last year’s Day 2, I
don’t make it. Less headwind than last year, I might. Well, the wind
was there, but less intense, more varied than last year. Often it was a
sidewind instead, which made for faster riding but also more tension in
my lower back from adjusting, like too many miles on a sloped crown. I
was starting to have some serious pain, and was also slipping some time
and wasn’t sure I’d be able to make it in by the cutoff. When I
reached Mile 62, I decided to stop worrying, as I had at least passed
my longest ride and had a new personal best. There we go. Let the SAG
Wagon come sweep me off the course…I don’t care. Wait, yes I do.
They’ll never bring me in…not while there’s a breath of life left in
me. Damn the rules! I’ll fight ‘em all and keep riding! It’s amazing
the kinds of thoughts your brain starts to have when your body is well
past its normal limits. Reality is I was on the organizing committee
for the event, and if the car came for me, the occupants would be
friends, colleagues, people I could never eat alive just to make a
distance goal, and they’d be offering me comfort, sympathy, and a
painless ride across the finish line drugged and gagged in the trunk of
their car. NO…MUST RIDE FASTER!
I have to express my profound admiration for anyone that’s ever had a
100 mile day…Bruce_Dawson, Lars, Ken Looi, those speedy English boys,
and all the others. It’s not just the prep and conditioning; it’s ride
management. I was managing to 75, and when I was at Mile 70, I could
actually “see” doing a 100. A nice flat 25, no wind or time
constraints…sure, I could get there. But that can change quickly. With
2 miles to go, I spotted a bike up ahead, someone who hit the wall and
was slowing their pace. Cool, I thought, I’m catching up. If I just
turn it on a bit, maybe I can reach them and we can cross the finish
line together and wouldn’t that be fun to not finish last. So instead
of sticking to my pace, I turned it on and started making headway on
the biker. With a half mile to go, he was only 300 yards ahead…which
was when I hit my wall. There was no way I could catch him, and it was
actually all I could do to get across the finish line without crashing
in front of the spectators. It went that quickly, and I could no longer
“see the 100”. I could barely see the finish. After 9 hours 38 minutes
on the course, I got across the line at 4:11 pm to roars from the
finished riders and MS folks. Riding up the ramp, someone handed me a
“finisher’s medal” on a ribbon, which amazingly I grabbed without
crashing. Almost as soon as I’d dismounted, a woman ran up with a video
cam making a documentary of the event. She wanted to include the
unicycle, and asked me if I could get on and ride since she missed me
coming in. I hated to disappoint, but had to say No…I actually didn't
think I could successfully get back on the unicycle. My whole body
seemed to be going into rigor mortis. I couldn’t bend over, and could
barely sit down. But all was good…at 75.1 miles, I have a new personal
best. It may also be a lifetime best, since if there’s a reason to ever
ride farther in a day, I’m not seeing it right now.
Let me finish with some high points and stats.
High Points:
· Riding across the 'Deception Pass Bridge'
(http://tinyurl.com/du9zw) twice, both times with a Harley escort
behind to protect me from cars.
· Achieving a Personal Best on Sunday by completing the full 75
mile loop.
· The amazing views of Samish Bay from everywhere on 'Chuckanut
Drive' (http://tinyurl.com/zf5yw). This has to be one of the most
intense stretches of road in the state.
· Crossing the finish line both days in LaConner to shouts,
yells, cowbells and applause from all the riders and volunteers.
· The countless variations of “Hey Unicycle Guy!” and “Go Man
Go!” I received from passing riders.
· STOMPING THE HILLS. I am SO glad I changed my training. Very
few bikers passed me on the climbs, but I passed many of them. It was
great hearing comments like “Man, that guy is just hammering!”, or my
favorite—after I had passed the same pair on three consecutive
hills—“This is starting to get really depressing.” 😄
· And the biggest High Point: Raising $4,000 to support the MS
Society’s work to provide benefits to the many people affected by the
disease, and to one day find a cure. I can’t express my thanks enough.
The support from the unicyclist community was just fantastic.
Ride Stats
· Saturday: 47.51 miles, 286 minutes pedaling time, 10 mph
average, 4,439 vertical feet elevation gain.
· Sunday: 75.1 miles, 425 minutes pedaling time, 10.5 mph
average, 5,147 vertical feet elevation gain.
· Training miles: 680 since May
· Vertical feet climbed in training: more than Everest
So a VERY BIG THANK YOU to all of you that supported my ride, either
through direct financial contributions, or through advice, help, and
encouragement. Your help brings us closer to a cure!
PS: It's not too late to click the link in my sig line and make a
contribution!
TB
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tomblackwood
Tailgate at your own risk...
UNICYCLING to fight Multiple Sclerosis...click 'here'
(http://tinyurl.com/px9q9) to help.
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