BULLied ): Success Through Failure on the 2014 CTR

August 9th- Ready to Go in Durango!

It's hard to feel good. It's hard to walk away from this experience. It's really hard to grasp that after a year of training, planning and obsessing, my 2014 CTR is over. By all measures, my rookie run on the bull was a complete success. But that success came about through failure. Life's best lessons are gleaned through failure and should leave us a little sad and unfulfilled. But by falling short and reflecting upon our mistakes, we grow wiser and more weathered for future experiences. Although I was defeated in 2014, I feel victorious. I'm heartbroken and proud, exhausted and hungry. I am so humbled and appreciative for it all. Thank you for letting me share.

2014 NeBo Trip Report

I was up at 0250 without an alarm. Nervous and overjoyed by the promise of the adventure ahead. Shower, pack up and hold Rachel close one more time. "I love you baby.  I'll see you in Denver." Leaving her is always the toughest part and this morning is especially challenging . Out the door. Leaving the warmth and love of my home, into the unknown-
 I'm off....

Carvers, 4am- It's brisk. It's dark. And I'm the only one out on main street this morning. A quick start call to MTBcast and it's official, I'm rolling northeast on a 2014 ITT CTR. Wow- This. Is. Happening! My excitement powers me up 550, onto 25th and quickly out to the end of the pavement prologue. CT Trailhead, 4:30 am. Off we go! Home turf, for now...

My bike is heavy. Too heavy. A mistake I will pay dearly for throughout my entire race. Up, up, up- switchbacks, Gudy's Rest, highpoint. It's dark, real dark with the forest cover obscuring the super moon's glow. Cresting highpoint, my nerves still high, I open up my bike for the first time on course. As the sun rises, I'm speeding down the Wall's Gulch climb, a 4 mile stretch that will test the mettle of my southbound compatriots late in their races. For me, these pitches go fast and I'm enjoying the tight, responsive handling of my rig. Then, a premature push into a tight righthand turn and I struggle for balance as I search for traction on a trail that just isn't there. In an instant I'm falling and I see my kit above me? I'm tumbling. My fall is broken by ferns. I land driving my handlebar deep into my left quad. Everything stops and I assess the damage. Body and bike are no worse for ware but I'll have one hell of a bruise...

Sunlit corridor forming on ITR

I top out on Champion Ventures road and move into the woods above. Onward to the scree, Kennebec Pass and Taylor Lake. I've trained and raced this section of CT many times already this season. The moves are familiar. But cramps stop me in my tracks as I push my pig of a bike up the Kennebec scree. I encounter some DH riders and play off my situation. They ride away....Why? Why do I always have such disheartening first days?

I find my Himalayan salt and take a quick pinch. Slug some electrolytes and work on stretching my legs out while precariously perched on the rocks hundreds of feet above Flagger creek. Eventually, my legs loosen up and I send the pass under a scorching sun. Off to the lake for water and food. A good rest stop gets me turned on once again. I'm feeling good and charging north! The Taylor Ramp and Highline trail is never easy. For some reason, the clouds like to chase me up there. It was bluebird all day but as I made my way up onto the ridge, thunderheads built to both the east and west. It was an amazing spectacle to behold- the clouds got darker, closed in tighter but somehow a corridor of sun centered itself on Indian Trail Ridge. Through the sunlit corridor I pushed and pedaled. It was quite surreal. Lightning on both sides, an eerie path through the center . Not a good spot- exposed. Just keep going Michael and get down by Orphan Butte!

More scree. Pushing forward.  Wait, what's that murmur. What's up with my belly? Oh I gotta shit!  Into the scrub. Exploding in the woods. I started reviewing a mental list of everything that may have brought this intestinal distress on. Nerves? No. Although I'm still not settled into the race, I'm not the "I'm so anxious I puked" guy. Dehydration or altitude? No.  Those were both in check. Definitely food related, I thought.  A sour stomach-WTF Michael? I thought we had figured this nutrition thing out? Could it be yesterday's pizza was finally catching up with me? Was it the PB&J bagel I had put down at Taylor Lake? Regardless.... whatever it was didn't give me much warning. Only a few miles later at Corral Draw, I was off the bike again and into the woods.

Again and again I run into the trees to dig yet another cathole. I continue to shit my way across Indian Trail Ridge. Four days of TP quickly disappear from my pack. Shit! Literally and figuratively. We joke about hygiene disappearing real quick in these races. But Day 1? Intestinal distress with no TP and rapidly disappearing wet wipes? Time to ration. No, this was not good.

No color, looking pretty wiped.

My GI distress was accelerating my loss of fluids. I was getting very dehydrated from these episodes and now needed more water. My goal was to reach Straight Creek for a fill up. From there it would only be another 15 miles or so, up an over Blackhawk and on to the Casacade headwaters bridge. I'd camp there. From that location I'd be poised for the final climb up to Molas in the morning, making it into Silverton for breakfast. Somehow, through a completely unpredictable and ugly looking day one, this thing was still on the rails...or so I continued to kid myself....

I hit Hotel and pass up a full water jug placed right off trail. I couldn't tell if it was someone's camp placeholder? or trail magic? In retrospect, it probably would of been okay to hit the the jug, but I ultimately decided that in keeping with race ethics, I'd  tough it out to the creek.  My color was gone and I needed to rehydrate immediately! Multiple fits of diarrhea had taken so much out of me. I finally hit a finger tributary of Straight Creek and immediately filled up. Drinking right from my Sawyer pouch, I greedily gulped down the cold water. I got light headed. I sat down. I needed to eat something more than shot blocks. It started to rain. Fuck me. Get a plan, dude. Sort this thing out.

a total mess at Straight Creek

I began to give into the reality that I was blasted. I had severely overpacked on food. I was caught off guard at how slow my progress actually was with 4 days of grub weighing me down. The weather was still holding but it had been sprinkling and threatening more all day. As darkness approached, I didn't want to add "cold and wet" into my current line up of troubles. The body felt good overall. The cramping had been limited to that one pitch up the scree leading to Kennebec Pass. My ankle felt great in my new Mueller brace. But the stomach. Oh my finicky stomach. Yet another curve ball to contest with on this shitty day one. I tried to center. I breathed deep.  I calmly refocused my mind on a new plan. I'd pitch my tarp, make some hot dinner and see how I felt after eating and rehydrating. I continued to shit. What was going on here?

I ate dinner. A Mountain House Chicken meal. The warm food felt great! I was keeping it down and my color quickly came back. I was tired from a big day. It was 9pm. A little nap? Sure. I thew out the bivy and planned on being up at 2am.  I knew I was pulling up way short today. But just like the AZT 300, pulling up short on day one to deal with my personal needs was the right call. I was only about 15 miles off my day one camp goal and if I could nip this stomach thing with some aggressive self-care right now, then I could beat feet to Silverton early.  I put my legs in my sleeping bag and began to pass out with the dinner package still in my lap. No more shitting for the moment. Sleep came quickly.

I awoke early and tried to assess how my gut was responding to last night's dinner and five, quality hours of shuteye. Laying there, things seemed okay...I slowly stood up and then gravity took over. Really? Into the trees in the cold, early morning darkness of the Colorado trail. Fuck! Still sick. Nothing solid. Food and sleep had failed to settle things out in the stomach. I needed some intestinal meds but I had none with me. Worse yet, I was out of TP and had moved on to using sticks, rocks and indian polk. Well.....I'm up. I'm in a race. Get moving Michael! We'll sort it out in Silverton!

Segment 28 just north of Celebration Lake

Slowly climbing away from camp. I dreamt of hot coffee and breakfast burritos at the Avalanche Cafe I wondered when I'd reach Silverton and if things in my belly would settle down? Up, up, up. Charging Blackhawk Pass under the Supermoon, complete with a meteor shower! Ailments aside, am I not the luckiest guy in the world right now? I made short work of the familiar trail up Bhawk, crested the pass and screamed a barbaric yelp from the saddle. My voice echoed off the walls and bounced down the valley from whence I'd come. We're doing this! CTR 2014! Whoohoooo!

wicked cold

It was cold, wicked cold. Which was a good incentive to keep moving. I'd stop only to shit. Each time, I'd immediately eat and drink  afterwards. Although I couldn't get things to bind up in me, I could try to neutralize the impact of this bug by staying hydrated and fueled up. It was tough but I kept quaffing down water and choking down calories. My mood was good, attitude was still optimistic. I steadily made my way through Seg 28. Every 40 minutes or so, I'd stop and use the bathroom. Then, things began to pick up in frequency again. Really? C'mon....

Imagine the toll that over wiping  with sticks and rocks can take on a boy's bottom. Needless to say, I began to dread each rest stop. Not because of the movement, but because of the clean up. How was I going to stay saddled up and pedal 500 miles with these tender bits? The bull was hitting below the belt. I soldiered on.

I hit pavement at noon and was in Silverton for lunch. I immediately hit the Conoco bathroom and then went next door to the Grocery mart. I ate 4 Pepto chewables and nursed a gatorade. I wanted to keep this stop quick. I wanted to continue to try  making up on lost time from day one. I had no need to purchase more food but treated myself to some crackers from the market. They felt good going down and after waiting 30 minutes with no run to the restroom, I attempted a sandwich. Success! At least for now. I filled up my bottles, purchased some batteries, sprayed off and lubed my bike at the visitor's center and quickly made a dash up main street. I turned right and headed out towards the Old Hundred Mine and Stony Pass Rd.

As I hit the gravel outside of town, a suburu pulled up head-on. I paused a second, miffed at the driver's carelessness until I realized it was my buddy Ian Altman- 3 time CTR veteran, San Juan bad ass an all around super guy! Hey jumped out of the car- "I was hoping I'd run in to you out here!" Ian had just come out of the field after a personal, 3 day solo trip. He was jazzed and inquired about my race to date. I shared with him that it seemed like I had been served up and endless diet of curve balls since leaving Durango. But I also knew these challenges are to be expected and with the exception of my raw ass and sour stomach, I was coping well and taking on each hardship with resolve. I could tell Ian approved. He knows all too well the suffering involved in these events and I think he would have called me out for a negative mindset. Ian's modeled a lot for me. The guy knows how to perservere and that's what I would now do. He took a second to chastise me for my bike weight. "I told you not to carry four days of food!" I know I said, but I had let others influence my decision here. In retrospect, a rider hitting Silverton early in the AM on Day2 could mail personal food for Silverton to BV to the post office. This strategy could work well for those not wanting to carry the weight for Seg. 28-25

Right before Howardsville, the San Juan sheriff pulled up beside me. "I don't mean to be smart," he said. "But do you know where you're heading?" Really? You've got all of Texas charging out into the mountains on ORVs and you question the guy on the bikepacking rig? I joked back, "yeah, I hear there's a great hot dog stand out here."

I turned toward the Ol' Hundo mine and spun up to the base of Stony Pass Road. Let's Do This HAB! I moved quickly up the steep grade, pushing my bike pretty much the entire way. Half way up, it started to rain but the showers felt good. I crested the pass and I was soaking wet. The wind picked up and I got chilly. Proper hypothermia conditions- nice! I hustled over the pass and got my bearings. Continue down the road and left onto Seg 23. First bike detour complete! There's a new TH for this segment. The GPX track showed entry onto the trail lower down on the road where volunteers had obviously an intentionally piled slash and rocks, blocking entry onto the old single track. I think the new signs at both ends of the segment may have also confused some racers, too- No motorized travel is not the same as no mechanized travel! Be advised.....

I moved forward on the trail. I wanted to climb high to the ridge crest and take a short supper/nap break before sending the meat of Segment 23. It seemed like a good idea at the time.... The forecast called for worsening weather overnight and solid rain by morning. I remembered Joey's comment from last year, advocating that racers attack the high sections of the Juans in the wee hours. In line with that strategy,  I now had put myself in the perfect spot to "make a run" across 23/22 before the next day's storms. Sopping just below the Maggie Gulch saddle, I had to get creative with my tarp set-up. What an amazing bivy location! Not somewhere I would want to be stuck in prolonged bad weather. But rather a beautiful spot for some dinner and a quick, three hour nap. I ate more warm food and fell asleep around 930 pm.

At exactly midnight, a huge gust of wind eviserated my bivy tarp. The wind pulled at every tie down point and threatened to up end all sides of my feeble shelter. I peeked out of my sleeping bag and saw a wall of ominous clouds approaching the Supermoon. This wind was the precursor to darker times and it was now time to move! But I wanted to rest....Three hours of sleep felt so good. So would another three! As I laid there on my back, acknowledging the looming weather and my exposed position, I told myself- Michael, Stefan didn't schedule this race during the full moon so we could sleep out underneath it! Get. Moving. Now! I was charging upwards on the trail by 1:15.

Up to 13k and down again. Repeat. High altitude, sparsely marked, rolling terrain endlessly stretched out under a lunar lamp in front of me. It was easier to follow the single track without lights. The cairns assumed a sort of hunchback, humanlike presence leading off into the night. The weather was still threatening but I had successfully gotten out ahead of it. The moon seemed to follow my lead and kept itself out in front of the system's leading edge. I was moving well. No pooping. Feeling good! Efficient. Hustling. Definitely my races's high point! I was warm and excited to be up high and away from it all. At about 3 am I ran into a thru-hiker, fast-packing the trail. He was from Oregon and was on day seventeen since leaving Denver. We stood in the moonlight, meteors showering down on all sides of us and considered the beauty and unique position we found ourselves in. Riding up high, under that August Supermoon with shooting stars flying all around, was otherworldly! I'm not sure I can adequately articulate the power of this experience. Not sure I have words to describe the grandeur, the beauty, the special feel of that moment.... I am blessed for sure...I am very thankful for this memory.

I bid the moonlit traveler farewell and continued onward across the tundra. The trail was buttery and what I couldn't pedal, I pushed quickly. I do very well at altitude and traversing this alpine section at night brought back many wonderful memories from climbing days gone past. I thought of all the alpine starts, high camps and bursts through the mountains with torrential storms nipping at my heels....and here I was once again. Totally in my element. Always moving forward. I foolishly began thinking about how many segments I could complete that day...

Trying to keep it together on Seg 23 as the sun comes up. 

In addition to the many challenges and conundrums I encountered in the first two+ days, a silent, mechanical monster was beginning to manifest. My hydraulic brakes had given me some issues leading up to the CTR and I had actually lost pressure in my front brake during the CTC. I had taken the time to thoroughly bleed the system, change pads/clean rotors and completely service both front and back brakes before the race. However, heading into Silverton the day before, I had again felt the front brake become "spongy" I could pump the brake lever and eventually get the brake to "stick" but I knew all too well what was happening in those hydraulic lines. There was air in the system and the pumping action was necessary to pressurize the lines. I also knew from past experience, that eventually the brake would "go" and that I would completely lose any ability to pump the brake into stopping the bike. But I had ignored the problem in Silverton and had dismissed Rachel's suggestion that I deal with it in town before heading up Stony Pass. I was so focused on making up time lost to my sour stomach, that I convinced myself that the soft brake was not a red flag. I was not going to get stuck in Silverton! The brakes were just an inconvenience that  I'd have to adapt to until I could make it to the bike shop in BV. In retrospect, Rachel's suggestion was the right way to go. Listen to your wife , Michael!

By the time I had made it 12 miles across the 16 mile segment, my front brake was toast. There was no resistance left, despite my best attempts to pump the lines and get the pads to grab. I was still riding the flats and uphills but had trouble controlling my bike on any significant downhill. I would stand on one pedal, on one side of the bike and kind of skateboard/kick assist the rig forward. Descending the kitty liter covered switch backs above Cataract Lake, my bike started to "run" and quickly got out of my control. I desperately tried to engage the front brake to slow the rig down. Nothing. It was futile. There was nothing there and hitting the back brake only made my rig skid further forward. Oh shit! I bailed off to the side and watched my bike charge headlong off the trail and tumble down to the lake. FUCK! I screamed. Will something please go right for me? The bull was charging hard.

I climbed off the trail and retrieved my bike downslope. I began contemplating the trip to BV with only on one brake. Was it doable? Across Sargents? Down Fooses?  I began to recalibrate my plan. Okay, I will need to deal with this problem before BV. There's nothing I can do in the field to fix these brakes so I need a bike shop. Would Lake City have the resources? I didn't have a bike shop listed in my notes. How to get down to town?  I could ride 22 with one brake and then bail down to Lake City on 149. This would allow me, if a fix could be made in Lake City, to charge back up 149 and onto the next bike detour without losing much ground. (approx a 14 mile off-route detour) I just needed to wrap up Seg 23 and get on with 22. It was doable....I optimistically but cautiously moved forward.

Segment 23 goodness

As if the subject of a cruel joke, only minutes later my rear brakes took on the "spongy" personality. C'mon now....Really? This can't be happening? Now I would be pumping my only remaining brake to get the bike to stop. How long until the back one goes? Could I control the bike with no brakes? I definilty could walk the descents. But realize you need brakes for pushing your bike too! For example, when you push you rig above you as you hike up a steep hill, you apply the brake to hold the bike in place as you step up. Without brakes, climbing this bike up these mountains would be all muscle and grit. A military press to get the bike up into place. A static hold of the bike with the chest/biceps while moving body up. And repeat..... Good times. I continued to rethink my plan.I decided to stop, fill up my bottles and eat some food only about a mile past the lake. My progress had slowed to a crawl due to mechanical distress. I was intent on not letting my body become a problem. Food and drink felt good. Warm oatmeal and hot coco. Onward. Slowly....

Spent and Sad.

As the first rays of sun began breaking the horizon, I was having increasing trouble controlling the bike. I was skidding into corners and banging off of scree that had been moved to line the sides of the trail. How long until I had no stopping power and shot off another switchback? How long until the repeated lifting, pulling, pushing and holding up a bike with no brakes would physically wear me down to inaction? All these thoughts flooded my brain. I kept moving forward towards the end of Segment 23.

At about 7am, I arrived on top of the final pass of Segment 23. A quick traverse into an adjacent bowl would lead me to Carson Saddle and a bailout point between 23 and 22. I was totally cooked. It had been six plus hours of battle with my busted ass bike. This was not going to work. Forward progress was taking way too long! I found a stream in a meadow and laid down to eat and rehydrate. I took a selfie which seemed to capture my pain and exhaustion. I allowed myself a moment of regret. I beat myself up for letting this mechanical happen. I shed a tear or two.... Low point- really low.... I knew that all this self pity was getting me nowhere. I took a deep breath, rose to my feet and continued. Get. This. Done! You're still racing this thing!

I finally made it to Carson Saddle, an ugly crossroads of mining and 4X4 roads, the CT and the CDT. Above me the trail continued rising, making its final trip up to 13k, the high point of the Colorado Trail. I wanted to climb on so bad. I thought about leaving my bike at the saddle and running up to tag Conney Summit. But that definitely would have been declaring defeat. I wasn't done, dammit! I just needed a fix and then I'd be right back up here to tackle Segment 22. Begrudgingly, I turned my back on the highpoint and pointed my rig down Wager Gulch and towards the Carson Mine Townsite. Depite the scarring of the landscape and too much human impact, upper Wager Gulch was still very beautiful. I'd like to come back and geek out at the mine/town located in the upper basin. There's lots of machinery, freestanding structures and cool buildings to explore. It's similar in size and quality to Animas Forks. Neat stuff for sure.

No time to waste. Keep moving! Maybe I'll be in time for breakfast burritos at the Lake City Bakery? (fat chance) Descending, I perfected a technique that allowed me to make fair time down the upper road. I'd keep one foot on the pedal and keep one foot available for dabbing/turning. I would steer my bike back and forth across the steep road to maintain control and keep my speed in check. It was kind of like riding a half pipe without the speed and ariels. As I'd approach the side of the road, I'd pump my rear brake to life, plant my inside foot and kind of skid turn to change directions. This strategy was working okay but when the road got really steep, I had to get off and walk. Other times, I'd roll the dice and run my bike into the chunkier baby heads to slow down. Occasionally, this gamble wouldn't work, the bike would accelerate too quickly and I couldn't keep it in under me. I explored my threshold of control by crashing a few times. Nothing serious but this technique definitely had its limits. As the road tumbled towards the treeline, this travel strategy seemed to be working....

Screen shot from someone's Youtube vid ascending Wager Gulch via 4X4-

Great perspective on the terrain/conditions below treeline. My crash happened a little below this pitch while descending

When Wager Gulch hits the trees, the road suddenly changes its mood. No longer would I be traversing the friendly, rounded, meadowy terrain above tree line. In order to reach the Carson townsite/mine at 11,600 ft., early engineers needed to send Wager Gulch road straight up the mountainside. The meandering thoroughfare I had enjoyed from the saddle up high had now given way to a series of steep, rugged switchbacks that were blasted right out of the mountainside. As I entered the woods, my half pipe descending technique was still working but as the road continued to steepen, I had to walk down more and more pitches. Additionally, I started to encounter the morning Lake City 4X4 traffic. With little warning, all species of motos would come barreling up the road as I'd scramble to the edge and out of the way of the oncoming machines. After spotting this cyclist, the motor heads would look at me with a mix of confusion and pity. Very few stopped to ask but I know all of them were thinking the same thing....What the hell was this guy doing coming down Wager Gulch? Why isn't he riding that mountain bike? The few who did idle and inquire were even more puzzled by my response. "I hear there's a good hot dog stand down here!" or the ever popular "I only ride uphill on weekdays."

I became more caviler with my technique and got so brazen I began taking video of my descent. Partly to document the technique and condition of my bike. Partly for a distraction. I love making art and brief stops to take pictures/videos lightened my fickle mood. I became less concerned by the steeper pitches and began "hanging it out" on the downhills. I was smelling the barn and I wanted to get to town and get my ship righted quickly!

Then, while descending a fairly benign section of road, my bike began to accelerate quickly. I squeezed and pumped the back brake. Nothing. No, this isn't happening....Squeezing, pumping....nothing. It was just as dead as the front brake. I was now speeding downhill and the absurdity of my situation began to crystalize. "Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit," I said aloud.  I approached a corner and barely hung on to the bike. I continued to accelerate towards the next turn. I was now aboard a runaway train and this locomotive was headed down another 100 feet, towards an even  tighter,  left hand switchback.  I knew I couldn't make that next turn without brakes. Making matters more dire, there was a sheer drop off of the left side of the road and there was a waterfall in the corner of the approaching turn. There was nowhere I could spot to bail. I thought about the consequences of launching off the left side of the road out the back of the next corner. I knew that either of these trajectories would hurt me. Would I die? It seemed an absurd thought to ponder as I sped out of control. I'm amazed that time seemed to slow down at this moment and I actually considered the honor of being the CTR's first fatality. I remember thinking this is it....this is how it all goes down. Then, I spotted the flat spot.

I had ridden the runaway rig down two pitches and at the end of the next hill was the dreaded hairpin turn. As I rolled down the third and final convexity preceding the corner, I initiated a final, desperate solution. The forty foot section of flat road gave me one more chance to stop the locomotive. A final bench before Wager plunged steeply towards the cataract in the corner. I acted. I dropped off the seat and felt my man bits hit the steel top tube. I dug both feet into the ground with all my power. Still not stopping. Fuck- C'mon Michael, C'mon Michael....I tried to roll my ankles a bit to get my sneakers to "bite" more, all the while scanning the blast rock to my right. Everything continued to unfold in slow motion. I remember thinking- just give me a runaway truck ramp. Give me a weakness in this blast rock to the right so I can turn the bike, ride uphill and shed all this speed. Frantically scanning. Looking to turn. Nothing.... I had indeed shed some speed but it was not enough. I had a final, "now or never" realization. It was time to crash or expect the worse.... I jerked my bike sharply to the right. I skidded wildly, bounced off the blast rock wall and crashed into a depression on the right side of the road. A hasty assessment of bike and body revealed that somehow, all was good. How did that actually work? I should be dead. Or at least really hurt...

I turned my camera on. Not sure you can sense how scared I am in this clip but there's only two other times in my life where I remember being this scared. (surviving a near miss avalanche in the backcountry and getting repeatedly trundled in a huge, recirculating hole on the river) Adrenaline and fear were coursing through my body in mega doses. I was really freaked out but bravely tried to hold it all together. Assuming my best, "no big deal" attitude,  I dusted myself off and promised myself I'd walk the rest of the way down. No more shortcuts, Michael! Shortcuts get you relegated or dead!

Eventually I made my way to the bottom of the 4X4 terrain and onto the gravel road leading towards the lake and into town. This was familiar terrain for me. Rachel, my buddy Chris and I had toured the Alpine Loop last fall and spent the night at Upper Wuppman campground on Lake San Cristobal. It felt good to be on flatter, more familiar terrain. Brakes still didn't work, but I could now see the run outs before me. I let the bike run, using the gravel uphills to slow me down. Again, I became more bold with my speed and just opened it up on the straightaways- at least it was mostly downhill to town! To add insult to near injury, my ass was still destroyed and raw from all the pooping in Segment 28. I sat off kilter on my seat, trying not to bear down directly on a bum that was doing its best impression of hamburger helper. Gross. Can I catch a break? (or a brake.....?)

Color and positive attitude is back at the Lake City Cafe!

I speed into town on pavement, hoping no one would suddenly pull out in front of me. I pedal straight to the market and buy some butt lotion. Gold Bond medicated cream to the rescue! Then it's off to the hostel to find Lucky who has saved me from past adventures gone awry. When I arrive at the Raven's Rest, I run into Brenda. She's lived in Lake City for forty years and she's cleaning the hostel. I feel bad entering her clean kitchen all crusty and dirty. She could care less as she mops a final section of floor. It's apparent to her that I've done the Lake City hostel scene before so she tells me to grab a shower and then to meet her over at the Lake City Cafe. She'll be starting her shift waiting tables there in 20 minutes and she can get me some food and line me out on bike repair options in this remote hamlet. I waste no time hitting the head, showering and dressing in the only, non-offensive/non-smelly clothing I have- rain pants and my spare polypro. Next, it's off to lunch and to glean some bike repair beta from the locals. I enjoy a grilled chicken/veggie/avocado sandwich with fries. I down 3 cokes and two waters. I learn that a gentlemen who lives in Texas (go figure-in Lake City?) is a summer resident who owns multiple bike shops in the Lone Star state. Recently, he set up a small commercial operation in his summer home's garage called Lake City Bicycles. 

I google his shop and get a number to call him. I get his answering machine and unpack my tale of woe until the beep cuts me off. Finsihing my meal, Brenda lines me out on how to find the guy's house. I head out and in ten minutes I'm in front of his garage-based bike shop. But the store has a sign posted: "Gone to Texas- Sorry for the Inconveince! Back 8/15" Today was 8/13. Just as I was conjuring up another screaming "FUCK!" episode, a woman approaches from the house out back.  She looks at me and says "He's on his way back to town right now." The words take a second to register. I told the woman about my journey. That I was in a race and needed bike maintenance and quick. I asked her if she would please let him know I needed help and was in town awaiting his return. She assured me she would follow up and have the owner call me ASAP. Okay, I guess there's not much to do now but wait. Time for some beer down by the river!

I killed time down by the river, drank a Coors (or three) and enjoyed not moving. I called Rachel and updated her on my situation. I got antsy.  So after a couple of beers, I head back over to the hostel. I find Lucky and catch up with him. Due to the circumstances and my local cred, he offers to let me stay at the Raven for free that evening....what a guy! Around dinner time, the bike dude calls from the road. "I'm about 50 minutes out, I hear you have a hydraulic brake issue?" Yes I do! "What kind of brakes are we dealing with?" I say "Avid Eli...." I can't finish getting the words out before he cuts me off, chuckling. "I'm not touching them" he says with a jovial yet disappointed, been-there-done-that tone. "I won't work on or sell Elixers anymore. SRAM has phased them out and I will not put my customers at risk with those things." Really? Elixers? Why hadn't I uncovered this before? Why was I running theses shitty brakes if the rest of the world wrote them off long ago? I paused, absorbed reality and asked about my options. "Well, he said, I can sell you some BB5s/BB7s for about $180. I wouldn't charge you labor and I can't do it until tomorrow morning." I was silent. I hoped my non-response would prompt a counter offer, something better than what he led with. Silence.....nothing. "So 180 bucks, huh?" "Yup, that's the best I can do. I strongly encourage you not to proceed on the Elixers. If you want me to touch your bike, you're going to have to buy new brakes. And I can do it early- like 9am" I was speechless.....

The gravity of the situation began to sink in. I had coped with intestinal distress, funky weather, a raw ass, a brutally heavy bike and a major mechanical issue that had me walking miles off-route to a solution. I had weathered all of this within the first 50 hours of the race! But now, faced with shelling out another two hundred dollars I didn't have, I was out of ideas. I thanked the bike dude and told him I'd ring him back if I wanted to purchase the new brakes. I hung up an immediately called Rachel. She could hear the disappointment in my voice and tried to console me. After all the planning, prep and perseverance, I'm going to be taken out of this thing by my wallet? Yes, yes I was. I already had busted the bank on race prep. The week prior I had purchased a new set of tires that I had pleaded with my wife to use the credit card on. It was tempting to just keep swiping the plastic, to just add another 200 bones to the tab. But I had to stop. I am currently unemployed and managing my household finances on a tight budget. Yes, I wanted to impusively throw down the Visa and keep going. But how many times had I already done that leading up to this race? Something had to give. No more spending. No more madness. I told Rae my race was over. We both agreed that cutting my loses, not taking on any more debt and bailing at Lake City was the right call. A tough, sad and disappointing decision,  but the correct one none the less. Reality sank in. I drank more beer and made another Mountain House.  Then I called MTBcast to scratch.  (I apologized to Joe Polk when I saw him later that week for calling in while quite buzzed.....he told me that those calls are "always the best!")

I wonder how many folks catch this view?

Some Key Take-Aways/Ah-Has and Areas for Future Refinement:

1. Count calories and weigh out my food! I read too many TRs that implied racers didn't have enough to eat. I ended up taking on the internet's food stress regarding the stretch from Silverton to BV. Add in day one chow from Durango and I was grossly overpacked for 4 days in the field! I've never had a problem with creating field based menus before and I don't know why I chose to go overboard here....I will never make this mistake again. 

2. Continue to refine my nutrion plan: both pre-race and during the experience. I know I don't have an iron gut but I can eat crappy food. Marck C has suggested switching to crappy/gas station food and bike snacks as part of my carbo load/pre-race eating plan. That way, I can get my belly into race food/crap food mode long before I hit the trail. This is a very tricky area for me and I'll continue to experiment here...At least I timed the carbo load correctly for this race....just shouldn't have done it with pizza! I've realized I'm pretty lactarded.

3. More TP and more wet wipes. Need I say more? Also, better GI solutions in the med kit! Pepto/Imodium/antacid tabs/etc...

4. Listen to my wife. (Listen to my partners/those more experienced/CTR veterans/etc....) Whether it was Rachel with the red flag concerning my brakes or Ian with the 4-days of food, I had opportunities to re-think decisions I was making based upon what folks were saying to me. Although I feel I listen well, I need to continue to listen more carefully to the information available to me. The more info I absorb, the more informed and ultimately better decisions I will make!

5. Flats/sneakers rock- I had to HAB so much of the route that the thought of using clipless shoes on the CT just seems inhumane. Especially if you are resigned to walking because of a mechanical. The new 5 10 impacts served me very well here!

6. A stove and hot food are a real game changer! I think this is an ethic imported from many years guiding mountaineering and bc skiing. On the CTR, I brought very little clothing and carried a minimal sleep kit: SOL escape bivy, 45 degree down bag and an ultralight bivy tarp. Had the shit really hit the fan, my MSR Pocket Rocket and a small, 4oz fuel canister was a lightweight insurance policy I could count on. Also, carrying dehydrated meals from Mountain House made dinners quick, easy and nutritious. Whether it was morning or night, I'd fire up the stove, continue with chores and self care and two minutes later, I had hot water to change my world! No time loss. No bulk or weight. Solid choice here....

7. Continue becoming a better bike mechanic. I listened and noted all the things 2014 CT racers had to do to keep their rigs going and I'm in awe of some of these guy's mechanical acumen. (It seemed to be the "year of the brake") With the Elixers now toast, I'm going back to mechanical, cable brakes that I can tinker with in the field. I also really latched on to Toby Gadd's suggestion to become a better bike mechanic. i.e.- take my bike apart and completely rebuild it. I kind of half-assed this assignment and feel like I kind of got away with one here.....that's not to say I didn't wrench on the El Mar leading up to the race. I just know I can learn and do so much more here. Bonecrusher, I'm coming to you for extra help!

8. Three water bottles are better than one bottle and a hydro pack....I still would carry my Osprey pack for rain gear/day chow but it seemed like my container decision necessitated an all or nothing approach to filling up. It didn't make sense to fill up only one bottle at a time when I was stopping to treat H20.....But carrying 100 additional ounces beyond that one bottle was definitely overkill. Add that water weight to the food weight and I was a heavy, pig man. To get to 3 bottles, I could lose the frame bag and re-install two cages on my rig. Not only would I have 75 ozs always available, no bag in the triangle would make my bike easier to lift and hump on HAB pitches. Also, it would get rid of space I would probably still fill with uneccesary food weight. Lots to reflect upon here....

9. The AZT300/DDC/CTC/CTR/etc....are all different races. Each experience needs to be considered as unique and different. Although I've learned a ton from racing these different events, I need to continue to adapt my bike, gear, sleeping and travel strategies to fit the race du jour. There's no such thing as a one size fits all approach to tackling these experiences. An example would be my undying devotion to the Osprey hydropack after AZ....because the 300 travels thru the desert, it necessitates carrying a shit ton of water. Not so much on the CTR- carry the pack yes, but 100 ozs? See # 8 for more on this....Also, racing one day ultras do not translate well in multi-day mileage planning. I need to dial my expectations way back!

10. Batteries suck- get a dynamo hub! (and better lights)

11. Start slower day one- or skip the Grand Depart and start an earlier ITT. I definitely get stronger as I go. It takes me a bit to settle in but I always feel like I've got more to give at the end of the race. By trying to hold myself to a big, respectable day one, I placed unneeded pressure on myself. Compassion for self is some of the best self care available!

12. Better rain gear. The old NOLS jacket and "rainpris" held up for the most part. I shutter to think how I would have fared if conditions were like the start of this year's Tour Divide. Thank christ for pro-deal. A good reason to find a new, well paying job! (also see # 13)

13. Emergency cash. For a free bike race, the CTR is one expensive mutha....I think 200 to 500 dollars, ready to spend is as essential as any tool or med in my kit. It's a bummer that I couldn't throw down the coin to keep my adventure going. Having financial resources to fund guilt-free field decisions would be nice....

14. Bring business cards- so many neat people to connect with. A card would decrease time spent changing info.

15. Bring a large scale, paper map. Base maps are nice but do you no good when the GPS is out of juice. Also, Databook is nice but lacks topographical info-

16. Continue to trim the FAT (fucking around time) Notice the lack of pictures in this TR? Yeah, Rae said stop wasting time taking pics......This one is tough for me. ADD is a wonderfully creative and time sucking force!

(I will continue to add to this list as I digest.....standby and I'll let you know what comes out the other end!)

Nowhere to Hide

Countdown Clocks

I've wanted to give myself adequate time and space to reflect before leaving this Sunday. I did not want to draft this post prematurely. I wanted to make sure I could clearly encapsulate my "ah-has" going into the 2014 Colorado Trail Race. I had typed this entry's title weeks ago, the day after the CTC. I was still jazzed from the rush of Molas to Town and felt like the bridle remained clamped down hard on my summer trail adventures. Life and work telling me "not yet" I was anxious and excited to depart. I was ready to get the job done. But I'd have to wait.....holding back that energy and the motivation to leave then and there was an amazingly raw feeling. I sat with it. It's good for me to sit with my impulses...

This draft sat in my blog's dashboard as I slowly wrote out each section. Then, my buddy Marc shared a video that struck me as a powerful symbol of the task that lies ahead. Finally, a fitting piece of media for this post's title and a terrific visual metaphor for the CTR...

Post by Reno Rosser.

The bull in this video can represent many things on the trail. The racers are the clowns. Riding along, vigilant for the explosive, unpredictable nature of the bull and his movements across the dirt. You're just pedaling along an then, smash, pow to the ground! A rapid succession of head butts and horn pricks amplifies the flurry....and then, like that, it's over. It matters not wether the bull is the the technical single track, the physical challenge, the sleep dep, the weather. It only matters that the riders stay on top of their game. The bull is a fickle beast and its moods and direction of attack changes suddenly and violently.  Always thinking ahead. Always planning. Always adapting. And when that bull does come charging your way, will you do everything you can to mitigate the blow?

Be smart. Be safe. Don't Be a Clown. There's Nowhere to Hide. *

(*Disclaimer-I am fully aware that rodeos and this rodeo company in particular, suck. I'm not a fan but love a good visual analogy)

   

Physical Training 

It's been an incredible trip around the sun this year. I've managed to fully commit to my physical conditioning and training and that investment in "me" has paid off. What might be my greatest return has been an increased resilience to the effects of chronic injury. Approaching 40 in sixteen months, I often wonder about my body's failings and the warnetees that have run out on ankles, knees, shoulders, etc.. College soccer and 25 years of high end climbing, snowboarding and adventuring have definitely taken a toll- no regrets! However, building up a base level of race warranted fitness in 2014 has proved a strong strategy against reoccuring physical problems. And when this old guy does get all tweaked out, it now takes less time and rehab to get back in the saddle. Just this year, I tore a hammy before the AZT and recently re-aggrivated my shitty left ankle. But it seems like my base conditioning has stayed strong and despite a few spells "off" for recovery and pt, I've experienced no problems synching back into my training plan.  It's been cool to stay strong while taking up to "2 weeks off" this year. Although there always seems to be something nagging, overall, I'm feeling good and ready to go.

I'm also prepared to pay for this adventure. Big time suffering is mandatory in these events. Every malady will be amplified and everything about me will be sore for months to come. I'll be cut up, bruised and bloated. Hands, knees, back- they'll all protest every morning when I get moving. As always, the goal is to keep moving forward! If the body holds up, I'm confident I have a great shot at finishing my rookie CTR. Again, it's been a great year for physical training. The 300, the DDC, the CTC- I've stuck to my conditioning goals, training regimen, race schedule and now, with a little luck, I think I just might hold it all together to make it in one piece to Waterton Canyon. Let's Do This!

Mental Training

The morning after the CTC, I penned the following reflection in my journal:

Bring it. Bring it the fuck on! The time is now and I may never  have the opportunity to tackle this beast again. Do it now. Live it now. The highs will be profoundly high-the lows will be unfathomably low. I understand the suffering. I'm ready to do my time. Give it to me. Give me the experience of riding this trail and raw emotion for 500 miles to Denver!

This is the headspace I've lived in for the past two weeks. (really for the last year...)  I'm completly committed to this goal. I'm pushing forward powered by curiosity, fear, ego and love. I'm scared. I'm angry. I'm excited. I find myself overwhelmed by joy one second and sadness the next. I laugh a lot in the woods. I cry a lot in the mountains. I like that. For a deep feeler, shit feels more intense for me than ever! I'm excited to approach this race solo, against the flow with ultimate success dependent on my own self reliance and courage. I am confident in my skills and abilities. A lifetime of learning and experience has allowed me to arrive at this blessed place. I will visualize the most positive outcome while always moving forward. I'll apporach adversity, conflict and mistakes with an indefatigable spirit. I'll confront insurmountable challenges head on. I'll have kindness and compassion for self and others. I'll be mindful of the sacrifices it took to get here.  I'll make every attempt to embrace the "now" and savor the gift of this race.

I'm in a good headspace going into this thing. Embracing and working with the mental complexities of expeditions and adventures is where I excel. Seeing, accepting, adapting, proceeding- and repeat-many times.... Nothing will ever go as planned out there. Embracing my situation and recalibrating my actions while constantly staying positive and motivated is the goal. I know the lows will come but they will pass. PMA (positive mental attitude) all the way baby!

Skills, Logistics and Equipment

I've spent a lifetime in the mountains. More than most. However, the lightning on the CT is like nowhere else. It scares me and rightly so. I've had some really close calls in AZ and AK with electricity, but on the CT in late summer, you're deliberately headed into the tumult. I trust my decision making abilities and risk assessment skills. I've always been confident when juggling objective hazards in the backcountry. But Mother Nature Always Bats Last! Whether guiding or on a personal adventure, the weather and lightning in particular is to be given the utmost respect. Here's a link to NOLS lightning safety. This paper has made the rounds over the years and it still holds up as best practice. Please be kind, Apollo!



I also needed to refine by mechanical skills. I'm a mediocre bike wrench at best. But I'm getting much better. My good friend Bonecrusher is one talented boy. We've spent time together disassembling my bike and building it back up. I've spent way too much money replacing parts, bleeding and changing brakes, cables, tires and even discovering two, inappropriately installed spacers in my bottom bracket.....Yup, that's right- somewhere between Salsa and the local shops, two spacers ended up in my 73 BB. I brought it too the attention of my local mechanics and Salsa dealer. I wanted to make sure some slave child in Taiwan wouldn't be punished for a mis-assembly. At the same time, I was relieved to have solved a long running mystery with my bike. The El Mar had always had problems shifting and despite many attempts and hundreds of dollars on shop suggested solutions, the bike remained finicky and "off" No more spacers, no more problems. All this wrenching has got my confidence up. No, I'm no where close to shop caliber but I think I'm approaching competent. YouTube is a wonderful thing...

I've worked out my logistics (meals/camps) and splits (what time/where). After all, this is a race. I have a good feel for my race pace and I have increased my efficiency both on and off the bike. I have always hiked strong and climbed fast. I've worked on cutting down my FAT. So by comparing and adjusting my race pace to other riders in the CO Endurance Series (people I ride/race with often), I'm somewhat able to calculate splits based upon their past CTR performances. Grizzly Adam's book- Durango to Denver: A Thru-race of the Colorado Trail has proved invaluable for this research. I know this planning is all front country conjecture and the experience is highly susceptible  to the "bull's mood" My ideas regarding splits all come with the disclaimer that everything must go smoothly- no mechanicals/injuries/weather delays/ etc.....yeah right. I'm under no illusion when it comes to touting a finish time for this beast. Again, I have my ideas on what a flawless run for me would look like.....but I'm keeping those thoughts to myself. No finish target articulated on track leaders- nothing good ever happens to a target. I just want to finish this thing.

Gear

I know it's often said, but I'll repeat it again...."for a free bike race, this experience sure is expensive!" Hands down the greatest expense this year has been gear and supplies. I plan on posting up later this season on my 2014 race season budget to actuals. I think that will be a very interesting reflection! It's still surprising how much I've had to shell out for a 6 race season. We all make choices and it's definitely been coin well spent....

So without getting too into the weeds, here are some major gear/equipment changes for me between the CTR and April's AZTR Gear List:

Shoes & Gaitors

My old 5.10 impacts finally shit the bed. Although you could still use them, the right sneak is delaminating and the soles are trashed. The design of the old impacts was definitely sub par. They are heavy as fuck. Much like skate shoes on steroids that suck up and hold moisture like a sponge. 5.10 tweaked the design and re-launched the Impact M6s this year. They are way lighter and are now like skate shoes without the steroids. Great soles, huge upgrade in rand construction and they are now made with hydrophobic fabric. All huge improvements over the old style-WTG 5.10! 

But the fit out of the box was shit and I know that these shoes hurt me during the CTC. Once I got back on my feet again, I immediately began researching insoles and testing products intended to make these shoes fit better. As a flat pedal rider, I really like the idea of the 5.10s and if I could dial them in, I think the new M6s are the right gear for the job. I ended up settling on Superfeet insoles- the low/mid volume blue version. My foot now "takes up more room in the shoe." It's also really hard to roll my foot improperly- no more play/float that was aggravating my ankle. The Superfeet seem to have mitigated the problem and my paws are definitely feeling more snug. 

However, being skate shoes, the cuff/opening of the sneaker attracts every pebble and rock on the trail. It's amazing how much shit collects in these kicks! Enter the OR Sparkplug Gaitor. I knew instantly that I needed these. They work incredibly well and there's no more grit in my kicks! They're not for deep snow or water crossings but for trail running/hiking/mtbing, they have performed marvelously well.


Handlebar bag

I did not carry a handlebar bag on the AZTR. I actually only use my Bedrock Entrada for touring. You know, when you can bring all sorts of extra crap because weight and bulk don't matter....We'll there's no way I can haul up to 4 days of food at a time and not incorporate the bar bag into my luggage system. I've got my sleeping system packed in there. SOL Escape bivy/sleeping bag/down jacket/tarp/bugnet and ground sheet. I'm not taking the extra pocket that mounts on the roll because that will only lead to me bringing more stuff. I know this sounds funny, but the handlebar bag bag has been one of the more anxiety producing decisions of this trip....I know, worrying about handle bar bags may seem trivial to the layperson. However, when every inch of space and weight is contemplated, putting a new bag on the bike keeps some of us awake at night...good times.

Ultra light bivy tarp

Another tough decision I've made regarding gear was my shelter strategy for the trail. You know it's funny when an ultralight tarptent becomes too bulky and heavy for you....it's a huge red flag that you have totally consumed the "minimalist" kook-aid. But, the weight and bulk of my Squall Tarptent was too much to work with-Especially if my shelter was going to be on my bars! I made the switch to a one person, ultralight bivy tarp- The Rab Siltarp 1. I'm very psyched on this shelter and it rigs up beautifully. The difference in packability is clear.

Glacier gloves

I used to be a burly mountain guide. The cold never seemed to phase me. But I've soften up in my old age and now I get really chilly, really quick. Years of working my hands raw in the cold and snow have left them susceptible to temperature fluctuations that where a non-issue in the past. A crushed left ulnar nerve doesn't help either. Specifically, my hands get colder, faster and for longer periods of time....I discovered while training in inclement weather that I had the right gear to keep everything warm except my hands. I went hunting for a solution. I had used Glacier Gloves for years- ice climbing, winter boating, mountaineering, etc....The company now has a special line of cycling products and I studied up on the different models. I settled on the Super G Race gloves.  I know this is most likely overkill for the CTR, but I also know that if needed, I could ride all day in the rain and snow with these puppies on. They are also super light and very packable. Very happy with this choice and I'll be psyched to use them on the fatty this fall/winter.

MSR pocket rocket

Stove or no stove....that is the question! But when you have an MSR Pocket Rocket, is there really much to contemplate here? Weighing nothing, it's an insurance policy against the cold. If I'm going to give up some of the benefits/safety of a tent, my stove seems like a great way to hedge my bets. Also, trying to go from Durango to BV with 4 days of food would not be possible for me if I wasn't doing dehydrated meals. Rocking the Mountain House- good stuff. One 4oz gas canister should get me to BV with some iso-bu left to spare. I'll have hot brew every morning and a hot meal every night. Super motivating and rewarding!  I'm convinced this is the right call...and should conditions get nasty up high, I can always hide away and brew up. Throw some bacon jerky in my cheesy mashers....mmmmmmm, life is good. 

Final Thoughts

Doughworks or Jamesons anyone? Challenging CT racer's commitment to self-support ethics
on top of Blackhawk Pass, Day One CTR- 2013.

Last year, Noah and I hung out on Blackhawk and watched the racers fight their way north on day one of the 2013 CTR. We tried a Doughworks/Jamesons hand up...with little success. As I ate the doughnuts and drank the whiskey that the leaders were passing up, I light heartedly proclaimed that I would tackle the bull in 2014. There were essential steps to take in order for that dream to manifest. But high up on that saddle last July, my proclamation was more than spouting off all buzzed... I was serious and if history is any guide, I have a strong track record of setting robust goals and completing challenging objectives.

And now, here we are..... August 10th, 2014. 4am. is only hours away. The iTunes is loaded up with son volt, johnny cash, tool and pretty lights. The bike is packed and my training is complete. The objectives have been met and now it all comes down to me getting the job done. Here's to a safe and amazing experience. We'll see you on the other side of this thing. 

Resources for the People

Please click on the following:

    2014 Colorado Trail Race Homepage.
Learn about the course, the race's history and look at past results. Be careful, it's very easy to lose hours of your life down this rabbit hole. You might even get inspired to give it a go yourself!

Trackleaders.com 2014 CTR 
 Trackleaders is "how" to watch the race. I'll be carrying a SPOT tracking beacon and Trackleaders will have my position on the course map. Neat features this year allow you to turn on weather conditions/radar/etc....You can watch my dot pedal into the maelstrom.....fun to follow, fairly addictive, always exciting.

Michael's SPOT Shared Page 
Trackleaders.com shows my position on the big board in relation to other riders on the trail. If you click on my dot/name, it takes you to a page that shows only me on the map. This is my public SPOT shared page. You can shortcut to the shared page through this link.

MTBCast.com  Joe Polk has brought ultra endurance mountain bike racing to the masses via his daily podcasts. Racers are encouraged to call in and each day Joe trues up the preceding day's messages. Mixing in colorful commentary and interesting anecdotes, Joe has become the sports defacto announcer and his show is not to be missed! MTBcast will be on course and in the field for this year's CTR so it should make for some great race coverage. I plan on calling in at the start/BV/finish, we'll see what happens.

 Bikepacking.net 2014 CTR Race Discussion
Bikepacking.net is where the tribe gathers. Most of the year, it's racers talking and planning together. But during the big events, a race discussion thread is started by the members. It's neat to log in and read the comments. Friends and family usually join in the race discussion too!




The Colorado Trail Foundation
None of this would be possible without the tireless efforts of the CTF. If you travel the CT (or hope to some day) please consider making a donation to this impactful nonprofit. They do amazing work and facilitate valuable stewardship, education and outreach opportunities related to the Colorado trail. Their trail maps, guidebooks and resources are second to none. (the 5th addition Databook is the racers' bible) And get out there and get some trail work done wherever you're at!

2014 Colorado Trail Classic

6:08 start

On Saturday July 19th, I raced the 7th Annual Colorado Trail Classic (formerly the CT Jamboree) This race, coordinated by my friend Ian, was started in 2008 as a fundraiser for MS. Begining in 2013, the two day CTJ morphed into the one day CTC. Part of the Colorado Endurance Series, the Colorado Trail Classic was scheduled to be the second of two races I would use as "shakeouts" for this year's Colorado Trail Race. I want to thank Ian for sponsoring and leading such a great event.   Also, Lars and Laura who endured the aptly dubbed "Lord of the Flies" Hotel Draw Aid Station- their support for the racers was amazing!

All smiles. 2014 Colorado Trail Classic

I raced a heavy kit as this was another chance for me to simulate CTR conditions. I had a sour stomach for the first two hours of the day that definitely slowed me down as well. I need to not eat so much/so late for dinner the night before these races.  I will definitely enjoy coming back to tackle the Classic without the need to use it as a CTR shake down. In future years, carrying only clothes and day chow, I can move faster and maybe enjoy this race? But that's not what 2014 was about....

I logged 13 hrs. 17 minutes of moving time and 87 minutes stopped to come in at 14:44 for the day. I'm good with that but in retrospect, my FAT (fucking around time) should be down around 1 hr. I'm confident I could/can find the 20 minutes of FAT to trim....Biggest time suck mistake on the day was probably because I pushed my final water resupply coming off Indian Trail Ridge until it was too late. Skipping a sure source up high to try and pass other racers lead to an unplanned recovery stop to address dehydration and cramping. It was so stupid too! I was foolishly trying to close the distance on all the young bucks that were in front of me all day. And I did close and pass when they stopped at Taylor Lake to fill up after the push from Hotel. However, I  charged down Sliderock>Champion Ventures> intent on pushing to the upper Jct. Creek bridge before filling up. But I couldn't make it. Cottonmouth and cramps forced me to take a break only ten minutes after dropping off the Champion Ventures road. Luckily I had a Coke to sate my thirst as I hastily tried to stretch out my tired calves and hammys. Eventually, I made it to the creek for more water- only to be passed by the three gentleman as I treated my bottles. I followed these guys all the way to the finish but couldn't stay with them on the final downhills/final switch backs. All in all, I'm happy that I was able to press with a full kit but I got sucked into some "late- in- the race standings, ego driven mindset" that proved detrimental to personal needs and self care. Race my race! Keep the ego in check buddy....but I know this all, right? 

As I spent the day shadowing the young bucks, Bonecrusher shadowed me on course. Tom took a nasty fall descending the scree off of ITR and ended up finishing about an hour later with a bashed shoulder and broken bike.  Here are the Results for the 2014 Colorado Trail Classic 

Click to learn more about these races:

     

I hope more people come out to race this monster next year. I had always thought the CTC was a far easier ride than the Durango Dirty Century. Reflecting upon the Dirty vs. Classic comparison,  I'll never, ever dismiss the CTC as easier than the DDC. Both of these races are beasts with their own, unique challenges. Yes, there's less elevation gain on the CTC. But the DDC has nothing on the 75 miles of single track and an average course elevation over 10k on the Classic. Conclusion: CTC is definitely as hard as the DDC...but in different ways-(no pavement, up high longer etc!) Overall, I'm happy to report that everything  (bike and gear related) worked flawlessly and my system is all set to go for August 10th...however, we did have a small ankle problem. 

TBT (throw back trauma)-
 Looking good Sept 2012

Everything had felt good on the trail except for the afore mentioned sour stomach and a lingering ankle tweak that happened during a hike with my dogs the week prior to the race. I also had been contemplating purchasing insoles for my new 5 10 Impacts because they felt a little loose. We'll the shoes' poor fit and the previous injury, compounded by 75 miles of charging hard, really pissed my chronicly unstable ankle off. So much so that my body decided to shut me down the following evening. By Monday night, I was on crutches with the ankle back in a walking cast. The ligaments had been abused and now that the race was 24hrs. over, my body was protesting big time. I got the order to spend the next 10 days weight off, doing PT/accupuncture and slowly working the kinks out. Surgery was again recommended. FYI- The first time surgery on this ankle was recommended to me was in the summer of1990, when I suffered the first of many, debilitating soccer injuries. For 24 years, I've intentionally chosen to use PT and strentgh conditioning regimines to avoid going under the knife. I experienced a gnarly injury too the SAME ANKLE on Labor Day Weekend, 2012.

It would appear that my ankle warrantee has expired and I'm running out of options. There's no time before the CTR to do anything but heal it up, protect it for the long haul and go on it. Lots of ice and medicating for the lingering pain.

We'll see how it goes.....I should be back on the bike for real this Saturday (8/2-8/3). I've been single speeding around town since last Sunday but nothing more than 10 miles of river trail. I plan to do a 20 miler/40 miler on Sat/Sun and we'll see how it responds.....the timing is for sure poor but I wasn't looking to add much more to my conditioning. I'm confident that I've got pretty much all the strength and endurance I'm gonna established by the CTR.  Hopefully the weekend rides can give me the confidence I need in my lower leg. Then it'll be time to rest, taper and make sure I can proceed forward while not re-aggrevating this chronic injury. I'll reflect more on this in my final entry before the race. For now, I've got about 10 days to solidify everything. Not sleeping much as you can probably imagine. It's been a big summer and my final exam is right around the corner. I hope I'm ready....

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Always Moving Forward

Inspired, Focused and Always Moving Forward!

Late Spring and Early Summer will be remembered as one of the happiest and hardest times in my life. Focusing on training and a conditioning plan in the midst of personal and professional drama tested my commitment to my dreams of adventure by bike. My AZTR300 experience and solid finish bouyed my spirits and I rode that high into the the realm of conflicting emotions and public theatre that was my end of the year/end of the road reality at AHS. In hindsight regarding the 300, it was nice to have had a goal and re-validate my self confidence when I had lost that opportunity professionally. It gave me a nice mental bump- a purpose- going into the final 60 days of a job I had given 24/7 to for 5+ years. Overall, I finished the job, added another non-profit cert to the resume, managed to keep my cool, take the high road and have the first building named after me....albeit, modular construction that will someday be disassembled and sold off for scrap....

One thing I needed to give up in light of all this change and tumult was the constant, rigid, self-scrutinizing data crunching that had come to define my prep for the AZTR. Recovering from the torn hammy in January would not have been possible if I didn't track every minute of conditioning until the 300. But once the buzz of Picket Post had abated, I needed to settle into another, longer training routine. I had two big races on the horizon which were to be stepping stones to August's big show- the 2014 CTR. With all systems go for a northbound run at this monster, I needed to maintian the focus and effort that helped me find success in Arizona...just without the spreadsheets, data guilt and public accountability aspects.

So to change it up, I went paddling.

June was filled with amazing boating, the likes of which I haven't experienced in Durango for years. It was an unexpected blessing to be part of the history that took place on the Animas the first weeks of June 2014.

 In this day an age of an over-populated and over-exploited American West, one finds few pockets of "real exploration" to test their mettle against. Although I often get lost in Utah's canyons and disconnect into Colorado's mountains, it's always with a map of the terrain, GPS in hand and the interweb tracking my every move. Trip reports, facebook beta, bikepacking, mtbr, summitpost, mountain buzz, etc., etc....There are very few blank spots left on the map and the ones that do exist probably have a geocaching blog in their honor. So, when the city of Durango spent 1.3 million dollars to completely reconfigure the Animas river's path thru the city's historic whitewater park, real exploration was at hand! When the water rose to 5,000 cfs, there was no one with the beta. No one with prior experience. No trip report to google. No guidebook or guidance as to what line should be taken here or what wave to miss there. Just real, true exploration. An opportunity to play Powell through the center of town....at least for a few runs.

And holy shit did the experience deliver. The mental puzzles and anxious emotions were akin to my younger days of establishing new climbing routes...a whole body stimulation that is an addictive high you chase! Easily 3/4's of Durango's river tribe tucked tail that first weekend of June as high water turned the park's new Ponderosa hole into a scary, river wide monster, reminiscent of keepers in the big ditch. The quarter of us who did decide to test the angry waters paid for our exploration with cold, raucous swims as the Animas flipped every other boat that first Saturday. After taking one of the nastiest swims I've had since my guide days, I parked my butt next to the hole, sitting on those beautiful, expensive new rocks, and together with other battered paddle captains, studied the new feature for hours. Sitting, studying, absorbing. Ponderosa gave up her secrets with every minute I spent watching that wave. At high water, there's really only left of center for me. Take on the middle meat and you're going to be trundled like a bitch. Except for that one moment every 27 seconds when a bubble from below burts upwards and parts the hole's re-circulating curtain of water, granting microseconds of safe passage through the scariest wall of the wave. There's also the right sneak, right below the garbage can pour over, but I'd only run it if I ended up off my line on that side of the river. 

Here it was, right in town. Real exploration. Curiosity, fear and little victories brought me back to the river day after day. The bike could wait, this was history in the making and I wanted to be part of the collective brain trust that opened up the new rapid's secrets. 4,800, 4,200, 3,800, 3,500 cfs...we worked the park and figured out the lines. Such a stimulating period of time. No longer would we gear up for a booze cruise from 32nd- we'd mobilize for another adventure with outcome unknown. But each subsequent run increased our collective competence and by the time the annual river parade happened, we not only knew how to successfully row our new river- we could now do it in costumes and with less fear and slighty more intoxicated. Life was good on the river in June.

Paying for our ignorance....

                                                             

                Redemption on the first upright run...

The Durango Dirty Century loomed on the horizon and I managed enough off-river, training time to keep my conditioning and focus strong.Although I scratched,  the race was a success. TR HERE.  Immediatly following the DDC, I flew to Florida to see mom. A little R & R on the beach to recharge my dirty bones- yes please! 

It was neat to fly up to Denver roughly following the CTR. I can add aerial recon to my list of pre-race prep efforts.

Durango from above-great view of the test tracks complex

Animas Mountain

So in lieu of recording pints of juice, hours in the saddle, miles peddled or elevation gained, I'm back to a very simple training plan. Ride my bike and get outside as much as possible! What's the best way to prep for riding the Colorado Trail? Go ride the Colorado trail! I'm a pretty lucky dude to live 4 miles from the Jx Creek TH and with 100s of miles of Durango single track out my front door. So every second I get on the bike is spent on single track that most people plan vacations around.... Every ride is magical and when my feet are on the CT, I feel a current that runs from DRO to Denver. I know that sounds weird but I really can feel an electric pulse that connects the entire distance.  I'm so excited for this adventure. Plugging into the trail current makes it easy to train and work hard.....even when I don't want to!

So what exactly are we doing and not doing? First, as mentioned above, I'm riding in all weather at all hours...I've logged early am rides, night rides and now that the monsoons are here, rain and hail filled rides. I'm trying to eat right and continue to juice 4 to 5 days a week. Moving to our new digs has also expanded my in-town trail running options-I'm getting about 60-90 mins of hiking a day with the dogs, 7 days a week. Finally, living "on the grid," we never drive during the work week and some days find us commuting 20+ miles around town for work, errands, etc...All of this seems to be keeping my fitness base strong. I've managed to take some overnights and participate in two days of trail work to keep training varied and interesting and to continue to shake out my kit. Rachel is completely focused on riding "up high" which bodes well for weekend objectives.

I no longer have my employer-sponsored rec center membership so I'm not lifting like I was all winter/ spring. No spin class or BMI machines...good!  I am about to take apart my bike and rebuild it with Tom's help....a learning exercise I've wanted to complete for sometime that will hopefully make me a better field mechanic....Also, I'm still no where close where I want to be with nutrition planning and logistics so there's work to be done there as well. More gear to procure and test as well.

But all in all, although this approach is different from this winter's spreadsheets and data driven work-outs, I feel on target physically for the big show. We'll keep the effort going. CTR classic is up next weekend and we'll post up after that race. Until then, I'm inspired, focused and always moving forward!

Daily trail adventures with the poodles- so blessed to be able to train on the CT!

internet research, studying maps, memorizing trail waypoints and flipping the milage for a northbound push...

I'll post up about gear as we get closer to launch day- BUT, the new 5 10 Impacts are off the hook!

Training rides up high with Rachel are easy....

....Training rides in the cold rain and hail are not easy.

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