Sneed Family Fun: August 2011

6:15am Start 100 miles to go...

Lets go....

Okay, so lets talk about the Pierre's Hole 100 mountain bike race. First, I've never done a true 100 bike race...I've done endurance races that are considered as hard "Point2Point" and completed 12 hour events where I have ridden 100 miles...But it is a big day when you ride off the start line knowing you have 100 miles to complete not to mention the 16,400 feet of climbing.
The area of the race, Grand Targhee is just the garden of Eden, so, so pretty. We got a place to stay right by the start and finish area which is nice for me but even nicer for Lolly so she can be close to the room...The night before I didn't sleep a whole lot, nothing uncommon the night before a race and it started at 6:15 am...which was really 5:15 my time so it seemed really early, but at that point I just wanted to get going and ride my bike...it was about 45 degrees when we took off and you warmed up quickly, considering you climb right off the start line.
I didn't really have any expectations except to finish and not to go to hard the first two laps. Also I wanted to eat every half hour or so and make sure I stayed hydrated and kept my electrolytes in order.
All of those things I did really well, Its getting easier to eat and drink...you would think that when you are working so hard and riding 10-12 hours you would be hungry but somewhere out there your body sometimes shuts down and you just don't feel like eating...but this I know if you do not eat and drink alot...You will shut down and once you do it's very difficult if not impossible to recover.
Lap times 2:33-2:53-3:03-3:33...so I basically got about a half hour slower each lap. Loved the course, but it was up and up and it was really hard doing 4 laps...it's tough to have the opportunity to stop and not go back out on lap 3 and 4...but we went through alot to get to this race and I decided going in I was to going to ride or walk this thing to the end...and I did my share of walking on lap 4...I'm getting stronger on these endurance events, it takes a year to two to understand what you are capable of and at what pace you can go at and what your body needs to endure a day like these events demands...but I love it...so much more than a 2 hour XC race event. I still enjoy those events, but the thrill for me is really riding my bike for 6 hours plus and really see some country...
I took 10th place in my age group and was happy with the event and thought the promoters did an outstanding job with the aid stations as well as the food and awards...first rate event..

See you next year!