In some ways Saturday's 100 mile Mohican Mountain Bike race is like my Super Bowl (maybe it's this race, then I get a second Super Bowl with the final double-points CX race). A month ago I was having mini panic attacks just thinking about it. Memories of last year's muddy epic where I physically and mentally fell apart still haunt me. This will be my third NUE event. But I still feel like pretty new and not like I have everything figured out.
So something snapped a month ago and I realized I just have to chill. Go out and have a fun time and just pedal the bike. I was feeling better. I got my nutrition worked out with Infinit — I was totally dialed in!
But Murphy's Law happened. I pulled a muscle in my right quad at last week's race. And my bike has been chain-sucking like crazy. And I might be running low on Infinit because I forgot to reorder. It will probably all be fine — life is never perfect. That's why we race, because a life without obstacles is not worth living.
If you are reading this there is a good possibility that you are my homie and I will see you up there. I hope everything going great and I can't wait to see you at the finish!
Goal Times:
Grade A+++
9:00, 11.11 mph avg (This would be if Mohican was as "easy" as Cohutta)
Grade A
9:30, 10.53 mph avg
Grade A - (This is my target time)
10:00, 10 mph avg
Grade B
10:30; 9.5 avg
11:00, 9mph avg (just a tad faster than last week's muddy Butler MTB race)
11:40, 8.57 mph avg (same as last year's pace)
12:00 There's a very real possibility that I could be out there that long!
Grade D
DNF: Hopefully the quad heals and my bike stays in one piece!
Aid Station Times for Target Time of 10 Hours:
Aid Station 1 (20mi): 2:00:00
Aid Station 2 (34mi): 3:24:00
Aid Station 3 (46mi): 4:36:00 (better load up here with an extra bottle)
Aid Station 4 (72mi): 7:12:00
Aid Station 3 again (80mi): 8:00:00
Aid Station 5 (92mi): 9:10:00 (hopefully a top off of water if needed)
I'm planning to stretch my legs, maybe lube the chain and mix up 2 bottles Infinit at each aid station (hopefully this won't take too long). Since it will probably be hot I might have an extra water/heed bottle in my back pocket). I'm hoping to have some security Gels, about 1 per hour if needed (12-ish).
The good news is, according to a GPS file the race is only 95 miles with 8,500 feet of climbing. I thought it was 100 miles with 10,000 feet of climbing. That makes it waaaaaay easier!
If it's really hot, go with one regular Infinit mix and one that's about half so you can get more fluid without feeling full. Another option is to take an extra bottle of plain water in the jersey pocket.
ReplyDeleteYes, that plain water in the jersey is where it's at.
ReplyDeleteI did a long ride 2 weeks ago on nothing but Infinit and gels. It was warm, and I noticed that I was guzzling water once I emptied a bottle of Infinit.