Race Report: XC Mountain Biking

In the first part of this post I told how I was both nervous and excited for my races a few weekends ago (how was this already 2 weeks ago?). Finally able to write my race report, here's how it all ended up going down:

Race Day #1 - Saturday

Up early, we loaded up the truck and were off to race! It was about a 3.5 hour drive and my race start time wasn't until 11am, so we had plenty of time to drive it that morning and save a night in a hotel. It doesn't seem to matter if a race is 15 minutes away or 3 hours, I'm always anxious until we actually arrive at the race location - just confirmation that we will actually get there in time I guess?!

The drive was smooth, until we were about 30 minutes away when we hit some very unexpected traffic delays on the highway. There was no way around, no other route to take. All we could do was sit there - this did not help my anxiety levels. Luckily we left the house early enough that we made it to the race on time - with about 20 minutes to spare before my start time. Nothing like racing on legs that have been in a car for more than 3 hours and anxiety levels maxed out from being nervous that we'd be late! BUT...we parked, I signed on, changed and headed to the start line!
(I even had time to pee - huge bonus!)

Saturday's race was a 3 lap, short course with 160m of climbing per lap and plenty of mud through one section of the trail. Right off the start my legs were on fire, no doubt from sitting in a car and then trying to ride. That and lack of mountains in my neighbourhood.

PC: Jim Uffelmann

Once the first lap was over the legs calmed down a little, but I definitely don't have the legs for tons of climbing. Being injured I haven't done much high intensity training, so this was definitely challenging! Although I suffered, and was about 5 minutes slower per lap than I was hoping/thought I'd be I was very happy to be racing. Happy to be healthy enough to be riding. And happy to be surrounded by the beauty of the trails. Both the beauty and the suffering were very welcomed!

PC: Jim Uffelmann

Just a *little* muddy!

After the race we hopped in the car and it was back to the hotel to do some cleaning - my bike was a muddy mess, as was I!

Once that disaster was all cleaned up I did some stretching and heating on my back, a quick trip to the pool for my littleman and then we were off to dinner to refuel for the next day. BBQ and beer - so, so delicious! Followed by some cool soft serve and it was lights out for me!

Race Day #2 - Sunday

I didn't sleep well the night before. I was really quite nervous about this course - both in it's distance and difficulty. Today's race was the long course; the marathon with over 800m (2600 ft) of climbing each lap.

All leading up to this race in the weeks prior I knew how many laps I wanted, but realized quickly that I may need to adjust my expectations based on my (lack of) technical abilities and the course conditions. While I had ridden the front half of this course before, I didn't know what to expect on the back half. I wanted to complete 2 laps going into the race, however when I learned the really super fast, shredder types would complete three...I realized I may only get in 1 lap before time cut-offs. But I was ok with that - today was a learning experience and believe me, I was about to get schooled.

Loaded with my a few tools, hydration and snacks I set off for the start line. Unlike yesterday, today's marathon race was a mass start. As we started our climb up I could feel my legs from the day before. They weren't on fire, but they had nothing in them. Nothing at all. I figured going in this would be a grinder of a day, and I was right. After just a couple climbing miles that felt very long on rough legs, I realized I would need to focus on knocking off one mile at a time, refocus and knock off the next.

Thankful for my Run Gum and Picky Bars!

When I reached the top of the first climb I was thankful for a little rest on the downhill; but on this course that rest didn't last long. Lifting my head I could see where we were climbing to next. Up, up; way up. Huge climbs, gnarly descents - this was a monster course - but I loved it! The ups and downs continued; through rock gardens and twisting trees; overlooking valleys with switchbacks and swooping trails. Although I was suffering, the race course and this trail truly was in the middle of spectacular wilderness.

Other than knowing I was still actually on the course by tell of the race signs here and there, I had no clue where I was or what part of the trail I was on. I knew how far I had gone, but no clue of the terrain ahead. My legs continued to drag their butt the entire course, but I just focused on the mile I was in until I reached a point in the trail where I knew where I was - and it was mostly downhill; I was almost done.

The very last checkpoint - checkpoint #7, was where Javelin Daddy and Little Cheetah were volunteering. They saw me before I saw them - and the sound of my littleman's voice was awesome!! I stopped for a quick kiss and hug and continued on to the finish.

Race done.

Although disappointed that I didn't get 2 laps in, knowing full well that my original plan of 2 laps for my current state was potentially unrealistic, I know that next year, I'll be stronger and healthier to tackle it how I want and know I can.

After the race I grabbed some much needed and desired food and water, wiped the mud off my legs, changed and started the ~1km climb up to checkpoint #7 to see my boys and watch the final few racers go by. My bean had requested that I climb back up once I was done - so even on tired legs, how could I say no to that!? It was a slow climb!

The final few riders were exciting! For your lap to count you have to make it back to the finish line by the cut off time - if not, your entire lap doesn't count! The last 2 were quite close together, and when they passed us they only had a few minutes to make it back. Once they passed our checkpoint, we packed up and walked back down for awards. When we got back we heard they made it back with less than a minute to spare!

This guy: 70 years young and hauls ass!

Mountain biking is hard; those who excel at it are total badass beasts and I have mad respect for them. It is also so much fun. The combination of exhaustion, thrill and enjoyment is one of the many reasons competition is so rewarding - and with mountain biking, it's no different. (Added bonus of getting to do it in some of the most beautiful locations!)

Post race we had a quick dinner that consisted of a seriously desired and delicious, salty, hand-stretched, multiple-meat pizza and ice cold beer. Then we were on the road again for home. A great weekend, lots learned and can't wait to do it all again next year!

Until then ... #crossiscoming!!

Here we go ...

2016 has been an interesting year for training and racing, with an injury that has thrown me for more loops than I could have imagined.

Looking back I first became "aware" of my injury in the winter, early 2016; but like any typical idiot I decided to train through it, telling and willing myself it was a twinge and will go away, until one day I realized: I am injured. The following months and still to date, I am not yet injury free. I'm doing daily PT exercises, strengthening and nerve flossing (yes, I floss my nerves). I've also done traction, IMS, massage, osteopathy and a host of other stuff to get better. And while these past few months have brought fear (more on this later), freak outs, a whirlwind of emotions and actions they have also brought me opportunity to dive into something different and 'old is new again' though mountain biking.

I have always loved mountain biking for it's purity (credit to my husband for getting me into it). To be out in nature, on a trail and just ride. No expectations or schedules, just being. Rubber to dirt, explore the beauty on the trails, through the woods, around each and every bend and up and over every climb.

When I wasn't able to run, I turned to cycling more and more in both an obsession and a need, to keep training. Road and off-road cycling received a volume boost in training, as it was pretty much the only thing that I could handle. Running was definitely out, and strangely enough so was swimming; both aggravated my body quite a bit.

However, like any typical A-type personality I needed and wanted that feeling you get only from racing. All I could do through this injury was ride, but I worried about racing (XC) mountain biking in case the competition side of it, of me, took over and away from my love of just being on the bike; for nothing more than to ride through trees, over logs, through puddles, dirt, roots and rocks.

But it didn't.

What I found was that I loved, respected and appreciated them both; in their own unique ways. A perfect balance between loving the adrenaline and rush of racing and still "just being" out on the trail.

I loved both sides. I loved the "Oh my god this is exhausting and I can't climb that hill again...Oh I'm done, when's the next race?" as well as the "Wow, look around at how amazing it is here" and that sense of just BEING. I didn't loose any of it, they both just lived in different compartments.

So here I was, months into my injury with improvements happening - but very slowly. I had a few small mountain bike races under my belt ... and it happened.

A while back I was looking for more XC mountain bike races to do when I came across a couple on the same weekend. One, being a mountain bike marathon, something I had never done. The marathon was the day after the "regular" or short course mountain bike race. I had thought about doing them or maybe even just the short course, and then put them out of my head for a few weeks - until they came back.

And I thought to myself "hmm, maybe...?".

Before long *maybe* turned into "perhaps...I think so", and that turned into "holy shit, I'm registered for both".

It all goes down this weekend. I'm both jumping out of my skin excited, and totally nervous. But nervous in a good way. Race reports to follow next week - if you're curious to see if I make it up and down, up and down, and up and down the mountain.