24 hours of mountain biking...oh my!

This memorial day weekend I decided to take a break from Ski to Sea and instead drive to the other side of the state (Spokane) and race in the 24 hours around the clock mountain bike race.  I was given the opportunity to race with the Cycle-U/PopCap off road team in the mt bike race and decided it was time to change up my life and opt out of Ski to Sea.  The team consisted of myself, Kristi Berg, Mel Lewis, Kristy Kelsey, and Jodi Connolly.  We basically had a big powerhouse team, and we rocked it.  Since you already know the outcome why I don't I just say WE WON (the 5 female team category).  I feel so grateful to have the oppotunity to spend 24+ hours with such an awesome women's team, and with such awesome, strong, and experienced riders.  It was such a fun weekend and experience I am glad I did such a feat.  I also learned quite a bit about myself and riding! 

Why don't I give you an inside scoop on MY perspective of such an event, I am going to give you details of the good, the bad, and the ugly.  You can choose to read on, or stop now. 
Going into the race I honestly knew it would be challenging, but I didn't think it would be that challenging.  It was hard, everything about the race was hard.  The racing was hard, the eating was hard, the sleeping was hard to time, the hydrating was hard.  It is a race where you honestly need as much help as you can possibly get.  I needed my own personal chef. 

After many many many hours in the car on Friday, we arrived around 7pm to set up camp and get ourselves situated.  We didn't have time to pre-ride so we just chose to go into the course blindly.  Saturday morning my team had a little meeting to get ourselves organized for the next 24 hours, I was the 2nd rider to go.  Jodi took one for the team and went first. 

The start was a lemonds start that consisted of a 600m run and then get onto your bike and go.  Jodi had a great start and an awesome first lap.  She handed off the timing chip to me and I set out on a mission to catch as many women as I possibly could.  I started out the race in cross mode (pedal as hard and as fast you can because you will only be out for 1 hour or less).  I was breathing SOO hard, but my legs didn't really feel much burning, so I pedaled harder.  I passed 4 women on the first lap and finished with a time of 55:59.  The first lap was a total lung burner and my legs felt GREAT!  When I was done, I thought "wow that was soo much fun, why would I ever do Ski to Sea again"??  I immediatly drank some chocolate milk and spun out my legs, I would ride again in 4 hours.

4 hours later I went on for my second lap (around 6pm), and the time went by SO much faster.  Knowing the course was a huge benefit.  This was when I discovered that the last 5 miles of the course took about 25 minutes...not 10.  The last bit of the course had most of the hills, and most of the twisty single track.  Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the whole course, but this part took more concentration and time.  So on my second lap when I was thinking that I blew my first laps time out of the water...I actually didn't.  I finished with an official time of 55:38.  I felt awesome on this lap, and I thought "wow that was great, this isn't bad".  I drank some chocolate milk, spun my legs, and changed into non sweaty clothes.  I then made myself and Chris some pasta and chicken sausage for dinner and rested in the back of the Kelsey's van. 

Here is all the food I bought
thinking I would want to eat it.

My third lap was awful.  I felt awful, the hills turned into mountains, it was pitch black and REALLY cold (around 11pm).  Last Fall I invested in some quality lights (Light and Motion) and did a lot of night rides, so riding in the dark wasn't too terrifying, you just need to get used to the corners and rocks when you might not see them.  I am very pleased with my set up, a 300 lumen light on my helmet and an 800 lumen light on my bars.  I feel quite confident with those lights!  After approximately 3 hours of wondering when the lap was going to be over, I encountered the last hill (who put this hill here??????).  Okay, okay it was actually less than 1 hour.  I fnished my third lap in 59:38.  4 minutes slower than my last lap..how is that possible????  When I finished I wanted to cry, "crap, that was hard" I thought. 

My next lap was in approx. 65 minutes.  I was a sad sight once I finished my 3rd lap, shivering violently, curled up a sleeping bag in the back of a van, eating a plain baked potato out of tin foil.  After about 45 minutes of trying to get warm it was time to go wait for Jodi.  I headed to the timing tent, and waited.  Then it hit me, my stomach started cramping and I had to PEE, but I had no time to go pee.  Then I saw Jodi and she handed me the timing chip for my 4th lap.   The only thing getting me through the 4th lap was having to pee SO bad.  I was SO tired, I could hardly even keep my eyes open!  My left eye was sagging half way down my cheek, but I stayed awake and handed off to Mel after a lap time of 1:02:12.  I could finally go to sleep.  I drank some chocolate milk, grabbed an extra blanket and curled up in the back of the van for the night. 
We switched up the rotations for the night time so we could get some more sleep, so the first 2 riders alternated for 2 rides each, then the next 2 riders alternated while we slept, and then in the AM our 5th rider went out.  After a nice 3 hours of sleep I woke up with the WORST stomach ache ever.  My belly revolted and I wasn't sure I was going to be able to ride my  lap when it was my turn.  After forcing many cups of oatmeal into my belly and a nice chat with my teammies, I was able to take the last lap of the day, which gave me a full 8 hours since my 4th lap.  My teammies saved my life, I seriously wasn't sure I was going to be able to get through any more laps, but with enough recovery I managed!

Us on the podium.  #1

The last lap couldn't have gone any better.  I didn't feel like crap, and I made it to the finish line 18 seconds after they shot the gun concluding the race!  I finished my 5th and final lap with a time of 58:42.  I couldn't be any happier that I didn't have to continue on!  I am SOO proud of myself, and my team for accomplishing such an awesome feat, and winning (by an hour) to boot!

Now the question comes...would I do it again?  Aboslutely!  Now that I know what to expect, I would do it again without a doubt.  I want to try to perfect my eating regimen, and I now know what I will crave and what I will NOT crave!  All I need to find is a personal chef to go with me!

My awesome team and all our hardware!