About 2 months ago I decided I was going to try another 24 hour race solo. At the time it sounded like a great idea. Last Tuesday I couldn't figure out why I thought it was a good idea. Wednesday the reality set in and I was so nervous. I looked at the start list which only made me sick to my stomach and I also started remembering what I felt like after the last one. Ouch. So I made it to Sat morning and was race ready. I had Kris, Noah, and my Dad there to support me. My little bundle of smiles, Adreinne, played with her Grandma's.
The race started with a LeMans start then off and riding. I was really feeling good. Took out on a pace I felt I could hold for some time and had fun. The course was 15 miles and was a mix of 6 short hills, some single track, more rock gardens then my back side wished for, a little techincal climb and decent. The last 24 hour race I did I lost a lot of time in the transition. To much time at the tent between laps. So I wanted to improve on that. The first couple of laps I was in race mode and after about 3 laps I was all business. I did a lot of thinking about what I was going to down for nutrition when I got back. You get to a point where it is hard to take anything down. By the 3rd lap I told Kris and my Dad to just tell me what to do what to eat. That is just what they did. I came into the tent. They would shove food in front of me " here eat this, drink this." As best I could I followed what they said. They were more with it than I was and new what I needed for fuel. I tried not to argue or oppose anything unless I new I would vomit. After 6 laps my mind started doubting myself. I was keeping a pretty fast pace and new I needed to settle in for a few laps. The results were messed up so we didn't know where I was. For all I knew I had someone 20 min back, which isn't much in a 24 hour race. So I fell apart a little. Kris was awsome and got my spirits back up and I was off and riding again. That was the only time I lost it, after that it was business. Ride my lap, get to tent, get food, and get back on the bike. I was pretty excited for night to fall, it would give me somthing else to worry about besides what my body was feeling. I rode throught the night and my lap times were still good. Kris fell asleep with Noah and I was so thankful by Dad was there to have warm soup, chai tea, you name it he was ready for me. We kept my stops at the tent down around 5 to 10 min and I was out riding again. I figured even slow I was better to be riding than sitting. I headed out for my last lap in the dark so excited for morning. About 3:30 am a team riding went to pass me and clipped my handle bars. I went down hard and it hurt. I layed there for a minute more worried I wouldn't be able to finish than if I had broke anything. I finally got up and shook it off. Got on my bike and tried to ride. My knee was bruised pretty badly but I just get pedaling. I think my knee hurt for the next 9 hours of riding. I had a really slow lap that lap. I got back to the tent and Kris had great news for me. They had posted current times/laps and I was 1 1/2 laps ahead. I was excited and in dis-belief. So I washed my face off, took off some clothes from the cold night riding and headed out again. It was getting harder to ride, I felt like I was riding so slow, but my lap times weren't really that bad. So I just kept with it. Pretty soon I was on lap 16 and 2 laps ahead. I came around to the tent about 11:10 and was feeling a little sureal beacuse no matter what happened at this point I had won. I had to check the time board for myself so I walked over, and it was true I didn't have to go out for another lap. So with the knee pain I was having decided to sit and call it good at 16 laps. I think it took a good hour to realize I had won. I had wanted this so bad it wasn't real to me yet.
It only took about an hour before all the damage to my body set it. I was having trouble walking, I realized my hands had been numb since midnight and the bruising from the crash was starting to show up. Even today (Tues) I still can hardly hold a pen or even type for that matter. But it was worth it. I accomplished my goal I raced the 24 hours solo and I won, I rode 240 miles, I had 2 kids and I can still manage good results. I was honestly proud of myself for the first time in a really long time and I couldn't have done any of it without my support team Kris and my Dad ( and Noah). My family is the best!!!! Thanks to Vanderkitten for being a great sponsor and for their great kit that kept my bumm from totally sore. I am truely blessed to have all the support that I have!!!! Thank you!!!!
1st of 16 laps. Looking pretty good at this point.
Just sat down after final lap. In total dis-belief that I won and a little out of it.
Now playing while Mom races.
Walking up for the podium. Yippie!!
I won....so happy!