RACE REPORT: First 12-Hour Solo Female Race – Bluff Creek Ranch – Warda, Texas

This is race report is posted on the Big Pig Racing team site (http://www.bigpigracing.org/) and last night at the DORBA BOD and General Meeting, Chi asked me to post my experience on the DORBA forum, so here it is! 

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On the Big Pig Racing site I recently stated in a ride rehash (Red River Riot) that I would NOT, I repeat NOOOOOT be racing in mud again. Too miserable (still wicked fun!) and too much damage caused to the bike. How soon I ate those words! In part, because Luke (Scuba Luke) ensured me that it wasn’t, “that bad” when he walked the trail on Friday afternoon. So I came… and I conquered! Yes… I said it! I’m STOKED! I mean really stoked! Especially, when I came so close to not making the trek at all. But then I read Alex’s (Big Daddy) words, which in a nutshell stated, “If I don’t go it will be perfect weather and I’ll wish I had”. And excluding the actual trail, the weather was excellent! Besides, I had committed to Rachel (OneAndOnlyZippo) to ride in support of her, so I felt obligated.

So there I was… driving down and STILL telling myself that if it was that bad, I would not be riding and no one could make me! Humph! I arrived around 8:30pm Friday night to a bunch of hoopin’ and hollerin’! Fortunately for me, Leslie (no grip-shun) got there before nightfall and graciously set-up the tent and air mattress. And since I couldn’t, at that point verify the trail conditions for myself, I just unpacked and followed Brian's (Porkchop) example and got my nutrition lined out for the following day. I ate my spaghetti on the way up… yes while driving… and then polished off a tuna sub sitting by the campfire. I had been eating the last 48 hours like a woman unafraid of where the calories would land (side note: additional reason I knew I needed to ride)! I hadn’t eaten that many carbs in ages, so I enjoyed every bite! YUM! I swung by the GHORBA Girls campsite for some much needed face time and got so much encouragement, I was baffled! Shortly after, I hit the sack a bit before midnight (I think).

We all got up, courtesy of Yater’s yapping, around 6:30am and started getting ready. I ate my steel-cut oatmeal with agave, golden raisins and peanut butter and took my vitamins and Electrolyte Stamina pills. I was a bit anxious, since I hadn’t been on my bike since the RRR and had just got it back from the shop.  I just trusted my RBM mechanics and hoped all was as it should be. I didn't even take my own bike to the line for the LeMans start (HUGE MISTAKE).  Leslie took it over for me.  I lined up with the rest of the riders at the start. We ran. I couldn’t find Leslie who was standing with my bike since I didn’t know where she put it. I ran past her of course and had to turn around and look for her. She was still looking the other direction for me. HOW can you miss the Big Pig gear!?

The first lap wasn’t horrible except the starting and stopping, but because I was late getting into the single track and got stuck behind a mass of riders, I spent much of my first lap just trying to pass and make up time. The trail wasn’t too bad at that point, but you could easily imagine the potentially disastrous conditions that were inevitable. Since these conditions were new to me, I tread carefully at first. I did get more aggressive as the day wore on. I mean unless you wanted to walk the whole thing, you didn’t have much choice!

By mid-afternoon, portions of the trail that had just been wet or tacky were pristine for riding and I was picking up some speed and really enjoying these spots! But just when you found a groove, you were almost immediately shut down when you turned a corner, into what eventually became 6-8+ inches of mud in places. Riders had started making go-arounds that were VERY creative to say the least. I thought… why not! Everybody else is doin’ it! One of the funniest moments for me was at the beginning of my 9th lap. When you come off the road into the open field by the lake, there is a huge wet muddy dip and just after you veer left out of that, there is another smaller, but still muddy, wet and irritating dip. Now, for all you out there that don’t think I’m still new-ish to this sport or assume newbie’s will know the simplest of things, read closely and try not to choke on your own laughter. This second dip has a bridge about two feet to the right of the dirt trail. On each lap I would look longingly at that stupid thing, wishing I could use it. Yeah, you read that right. I kept using the sink hole instead of the dang bridge because I didn’t think it was allowed since it wasn’t ‘on’ the trail! What the hell do I know! But on that particular lap some speedy guy blows by and me low and behold… he uses that damn bridge!!!!!!! I almost stopped and … well… you don’t need to know how much I appreciated that bridge, but needless to say it got all my lovin’ from that lap on!

By my sixth lap, I was a bit frustrated, because I wanted to get 12 laps in total and was certain I wasn’t going to make it. To clarify, I didn’t necessarily come in with a defined goal other than to just keep pedaling for the entire 12-hours. I honestly assumed I would come in last and I really didn’t care as long as I kept going to the 12-hour mark. I kept reminding myself that I hadn’t done something of this magnitude and had in fact only completed one 6-hour solo (Erwin) to-date. I gave up after 4 hours at Boulder because I suck. Other than that, I had a 6-hour 2-man coed race under my belt and a few longish rides in the saddle. But when I heard they had cut the trail down a bit, I thought it might be reasonable for even me to hit that mark. Ummm… yeah… I didn’t.

Leslie told me at about lap 4 that I was in 3rd place… I was shocked. There were names on the list that I didn’t know and I assumed they were Sport or Expert or just insane like me. Initially, I was more than content with 3rd place. But somewhere on the trail I started wondering exactly how far behind 2nd and how far ahead of 4th place I was running. I kept asking but no one could answer me, since they were too busy drinking adult beverages!!! After that, each time I started to slow down or get in my head too much, I kept reminding myself that these other women were not going to stop after having come this far. All I had to do was sustain my current pace and muster enough energy or guts to push just a tiny bit harder to at least keep my position – or so I hoped! So I kept going…. and going… and going...

I remember at hour six I thought, I could have been done by now. UGH! I just kept telling myself to relax my body and spin. Didn’t have to be fast, but it did need to be constant. At one point Chop passed me and walked a hill I had been clearing all day. I was confused till he turned and said, “It’s good to get off the bike every now and then.” Maybe that’s why he turned such fast laps! He conserved his energy wisely, while I just bulled my way through like an idiot! He probably had way more fun than me too! Regardless, I thought to myself, I’ll ride every dang hill, roll every descent and mash through every mud pit if it means I don’t have to walk or slide in anymore mud!!! The HUGE long climb on the backside had me so frustrated! I saw one chic that, while admittedly mean, I couldn’t believe made it up that thing. I was so ashamed for thinking such nasty thoughts! But Yater put it best when he rode a lap with me earlier that day and said, “The mud is so demoralizing, isn’t it.” FACT!

At some point Yater got a hold of the bullhorn and started “encouraging” participants and ‘aggravating’ parents of small children! All throughout when racers would pass me or catch a glimpse of my jersey from another part of the trail, they would yell out, “GO BIG PIG!” or make some very interesting piggy noises! It was funny and helped bring some much needed levity to my day!! But even better was when I could hear my fellow Pig brethren give a Big Pig shout out! It really spurred me on! I did my best to keep my own spirits up, by singing my favorite trail song, "Mini Sirloin Burger", from the Jack in the Box commercials. But no one was around to appreciate my other (choke) talent.

I think I kept my nutrition on point for not knowing what would or wouldn’t work yet. If anything I think I over ate the 48 hours before. I gave Luke a list of what I wanted throughout the day and when. I rotated between water and Cytomax or Nuun each lap and Endurox twice during the day in the pit. I was borrowing Leslie’s bike computer so it wasn’t set like mine is to beep every 15 min to remind me to drink, so I picked two flat spots on the trail and just reminded myself to drink heavily each time I got there and during pit breaks. I stuck to my trusty Uncrustable PB&J’s and banana’s (only got one of these down though) every couple laps and my pills and hammer gel as needed. I will confess I did sprinkle in a couple of Rachel’s Valentine’s Day cookies in the mix. Delicious! As far as nutrition, that was it. I can’t do the Gu’s, energy or candy bars or iced coffees, etc you other crazies do! I was suffering enough from stomach pains that started around lap 5 from what I had already taken into my system over the last 48 hours! Oh, at lap 9 I decided NO MORE FOOD OR PILLS! I made the decision, based on how I felt that I just needed to gut thru any additional laps with only water. I still think it was the right choice for me.

No wrecks amazingly enough, especially given the conditions. I fell once but it was while I was standing still. Foot slipped out from under me when I was on a slimy muddy hill. I never had any major body issues – by which I mean nothing that ultimately prevented me from finishing the race. Minor hip cramping that quickly dissipated and bothersome tummy pains, constant right knee pain and tired legs. I think it was at lap 8 that I took some Sport Legs (thanks Yater!) and it made a world of difference, although I was skeptical. My neck and shoulders REALLY started tightening up mid-day so during my ride I kept trying to stretch and turn my head instead of looking straight on in hopes of loosening up the muscles. But it wasn’t until my pit massage (Thanks Luke!) that I felt any relief, short-lived though it was.

Midway on my second to last lap, I had to finally turn on my lights and man was my helmet heavy! My bar light wasn’t working so I stopped and tried to fix it. Luke had said it would need to warm up first… it wasn’t getting warm dang it! Grrrr… When I pitted for what I hoped to be my last lap, he put a new pack on but only had one strap to secure it with (they call this foreshadowing btw). I headed out. At some point Big Daddy passes me, then Chop passes me. As I’m cruising along and heading into a creek crossing, I suddenly lose visibility. I drove through the creek crossing and stopped on the other side. I looked down and wouldn’t you know it, I was minus one battery pack! I had to walk backwards on the trail to look for it! I was laughing at least but hopeful that no one hit it and wrecked or damaged it! Then all I could think about was it falling off in the roller coaster area – at least that’s what I call it. How scary would that be!  I found it and did the best I could to secure it and continued on.  I could hear Luke cheering me on via bullhorn and using everyone of my nicknames! As I came out of the front half, I didn’t just hear Luke, but I saw him! He’s yelling at me to pick it up because….. dum da dum dum….. I’m in first! WTF!? I screamed back, “How did that happen?!” To which he yells, “doesn’t matter; just get your ass moving Pig!” So I peddle faster! As I crossed the little bridge there a lady yells out, “Go girl with too many nicknames!” Somehow, I smiled. Thereafter I constantly heard Luke (and team) pushing me to go faster! I see Luke at various points on the trail and he’s Big Mr. Excitable at this point – yelling and screaming, err… motivating me to go faster still, to push harder! At one point, I passed him coming out of the back side about to hit those small rolly green hills before going into the mud fest behind the camping area and BAM! SUPER SIZED chain suck! I even used two words I NEVER use! I got off and actually poured Cytomax on the chain to clean if off as much as I could and threw the empty bottle at… ummm… I mean… in Luke’s direction. I got back on and the yelling once again commenced. I kept thinking that 2nd place must be RIGHT BEHIND me or surely they wouldn’t be verbally abusing me like this!

I finally pull into the pit area and everyone is going insane! I mean arms flailing, mouths spewing and I can’t make heads or tails of anything except Luke asking, “You’ve got one more lap in you, right?!” I just stared blankly for a second and responded without emotion, “If I need to in order to keep first, yeah, I guess.” Luke started running, Rachel shoved half a PB&J in my slack mouth, so I chewed and swallowed and let everyone lead me over to the check-in point where they inquire as to the current standings and I silently pray for a miracle… like I fall down and break my neck. THANKFULLY it is determined that I do not NEED to go back out to maintain 1st place. I’m still not clear on how or why considering the lap times of one of the riders I was up against… but I took the win. I handed my bike to the air, hopeful someone would catch it and tried to lie down – but I was trying to lie down in the team transition lane. Whoopsie! Kim Chance kindly steered me over to her tarp and laid me down. She even gave me a pillow and a sip of her beer! I may have professed undying love for her in the moment.

What I learned:

Nutrition – I ate too many carbs in preparation, I think – paid for it with too many UNSCCESSFUL bathroom breaks, which killed my lap times and caused some serious tummy pains. I hydrated PLENTY. When you have to pee every time you pit, you’re good! Think I needed more protein like tuna and other fruit.

Supplements – I need some of those Sport Legs!

Other – I’ll better lay out my nutrition plan to my support team and spend less time in the pit between laps.

Found Out – I do have a competitive streak… who knew! And I do much better when I know others are depending on me to do my best!

Only Gripe – my trophy clock doesn’t state that it was a First Place 12-hour Solo Female Race – just a 1st place 12-hour.  : (

Looking back, I realize that I while I was exhausted, I KNOW I could have given it one more turn around Bluff Creek Ranch had I needed to. I couldn’t have failed with the incredible support I had! And although I may have hated it in the moment, I was determined not to regret driving all that way, getting that stinking dirty, paying the hefty entry fee and jacking up my bike again! Like the competitive streak, somewhere on that trail I had decided, I would leave it all out on the trail…

When I got back into town I went straight to the bike shop and dropped off my bike. When I walked in, Ted, my mechanic told me he hated me. At least until l  told him I got first place! I got a text later that night letting me know that the rear driveside chainstay is cracked, so it looks like Trek is going to send me a new frame by this Thursday, at the insistence of Ted who told them I had a race this weekend and I had to have it! So he is going to work his tail off to have it to me by this weekend. I’m amazed that it frustrates me and that I even WANT to get back on that thing! Sorry this was so long, but I was so excited to share my first 12-hour experience!

UPDATE:  My bike was indeed broke and Trek did warranty it!  I have a new bike... and haven't had a single chance to ride the dang thing!  Hopefully that will change this coming weekend and I can hit Johnson Branch (JB) for the Frozen Endurance Series and some much needed dirt!