Holland 100

The day started off sluggish. I drug myself out of bed later than intended. I planned on meeting some people for breakfast, but I was already running late. I decided to have oatmeal and was slightly disappointed when the container was empty. I loaded up the Defy in a light sprinkle and headed out. I swung to McDonalds for an oatmeal and I pulled in at 5:55am. The store, that used to be 24 hours, was not open yet. I headed North toward Holland and landed my oatmeal before heading to Herman Miller Greenhouse. I pulled in behind and parked next to my friend Dan T. and headed to grab my packet. I got a location on Jay, Dan T, Matt, Nate, and Lisa then it was time to go.

I was feeling pretty relaxed about the ride. Knowing it was going to be tough, simply because 100 miles and the word "easy" are not in the same category. We started off and started to settle in. Riding on the road in a group is a lot of fun. Especially when the group is working together. Before I knew it, we were at the first aid station 11.5 miles in. Quick stop and we were off again.

We started to find a few climbs on this loop. We passed a guy pulling his disabled son on a trailer. We all told them good job and they returned the gesture. Then it was a solid downhill and Matt took the lead. He was setting a solid pace and I was holding his wheel the best I could. Lisa and Nate were tucked in too...enjoying the work Matt was putting in. It was a fun segment, and I made a comment about how cool it was to find a draft like that.

We made a turn and started a climb. My mind started to wander. I slowed down. I started a second climb, and was spit out of the group. I mentally checked out. I went from confident at 19-20 miles per hour in a pace line to riding alone, shattered. We were about 20 miles in and I was done. The gang waited up...but I was mentally blown. Lisa came back and chatted with me, giving me encouragement to push on. I kept moving.

Next climb, I was for sure done. Groups that we had blown past were catching me like I was sitting still. Mentally there was no way I could continue for another 75 miles. Lisa dropped back again and tried to get me to jump on her wheel, but I wasn't interested. I was done. The gang tried to keep me going. Saying we could ride slow, just keep going. I emotionally didn't have the energy to continue. We got to an intersection and I checked my phone to see where we were. I took a left when the rest of them went straight.

I started the long 11ish mile trip back to the car, miserable and defeated. I have no clue how long it too me to get back, but I was totally checked out. I finally got back to the greenhouse. I rode 37 miles because I had to. I wanted to ride 100 but the day just wasn't meant to be. I missed out on 3 of my friends completing their fist centuries, because my brain quit.

Live to ride another day.

Fast.....a highly relative term

"Dude is fast"

"that guy is a strong rider"

"he got so much faster"

These are all things I heard on our ride last night. While the comments were all correct, the word "fast" is still a relative term. I myself can be "fast" or "strong". It depends on what benchmark is being used.

I am not "fast" when compared to Matt Acker. He is a qualified "strong and fast" rider. A pro. I cannot compare myself to him because we are on different levels. My benchmark is much lower. Does that mean I am slow? Well, yes and now. Slow is another relative term that is used when describing a ride or a rider. I use the word slow all of the time, simply because I ride with people that are "faster" than me. 

My ride last night felt slow, but in reality was a full mile per hour faster than my last ride. Sure, not "fast" but for me it was considered "fast". And that is the qualifier. The word "me". As a rider I get "faster" and "stronger" every time I get on the bike. So my benchmark has to be only "me" and where my levels are. Put me up against my old times and I am faster. Put me up against riders in the Sport Clyde class and I am "slow". 

Just know this much....on my ride last night I rode at my pace. I was not with the fast group and I was not with the slow group. I was in between. My ride was fast for me, but not fast enough to keep up with the fast group. To the group behind me it probably seemed like I was riding fast. Again, relative.

So what is my point? What is the takeaway? You simply have to be where you are. Fast...slow...it doesn't matter. Ride to your abilities. In my daughters therapy they use a very good motto: 

Everyone is doing the best that they can. Everyone can do better.

Right now, my fast is the best it can be. But I can do better and be faster. 

Weekend update

With the holiday on Wednesday and a hectic schedule I wasn't able to get out until Friday. I met Nate and Pears for some mileage at Luton.

The weather was gorgeous on Friday. Warm, but not hot. I was feeling pretty good and I decided to attack the first climb. I stood and mashed, taking the first climb in a good clip. We pushed on, and I was feeling better the further we went. I guess there is something to be said for resting for a week between rides. ha.

I know I was feeling better because we were putting a gap on Pears. We would attack a section and then wait for her before going and attacking the next section. On the Black loop I was feeling it and took off riding about as hard as I could. Nate stuck with me (for obvious reasons) but I did give him a peek at what I am actually capable of. I heard him say "keep going man, keep going". I felt fast as hell until I had to slow down and recover. It just felt good that I can actually go fast, even if for a short period of time.

Nate and I headed out for another lap and I felt good again. I was pushing the downhills as much as I could and riding strong on the sections between. Actually set a PR on "all loops" so that means I am getting stronger. I will take it. One thing to show I was moving faster was the descent after the orange loop. You can get some serious speed down that hill and there is a right hand bender at the bottom. I knew I would have to commit so I dove into the corner letting my shoulder brush the branches on the inside of the turn. As soon as I hit the dark gravel I could feel the bike start to break loose. I was prepared for it so it was a controlled slide, but a slide around the corner is something that I don't generally do...simply because I don't have the speed. Felt good. We finished up with dinner at Perrin Brewing Company and then made the long drive home.

Saturday my oldest wanted to ride, so I took out Albert for a spin. The D.U.F.F. has a few broken spokes so the fatty needed to be dusted off. We just did a little tooling around the woods and that was enough, I had a long ride planned for Sunday.

Sunday I loaded up Albert and headed to Kal-Haven. I wanted to do 50-60 miles as a tune-up for the Holland 100 on this coming Saturday. When I reached 20 miles I knew that number would be 50. A 38 pound fat bike under constant pedaling becomes very heavy. Mentally I checked out because I was riding alone and was already getting tired from the previous two days worth of miles. I hit my 25.2 miles and turned right around, knowing that the rest of the ride was going to be tough. I pushed on and eventually made it to Bloomingdale where I stopped to refuel with a banana and some water. Then I rode the last 18 miles back. I didn't have anyone pass me until about 10 to go. They passed me like I was sitting still and made it clear they didn't want any company. I kept them in sight thru Gobles before the turned off to their car. I slowly inched my way back toward Kalamazoo and eventually arrived at the parking lot. 50.5 miles on a tank of a fatty. Awesome way to start a Sunday.

Next up is Holland 100. We are leaving at 7am with a few people that have never done a century before. I can't wait to see how awesome they feel when they accomplish this goal!

Sweat Shaker Recap...NO DEER.

I got all my stuff ready the night before. It included lots of extra water and a hydra pack because it was gonna be hot. I was up on time and ready to go out the door. When I opened the door the humidity took a swing right at my face. It was 5:45 am and it was already 80 degrees and high humidity. It was alright though.....I borrowed a 2up bike rack from Dan and was taking my car...that blows stupid cold air. 

Off I went towards Grand Rapids where I stopped and picked up Matt. Originally Nate was going, but work got in the way. So Matt and I loaded up for the 2 hour drive north to Harrison and the site of Mid-Michigan Community college. Thankfully the trip was uneventful. Last time I was here was the trip when Jay, Lisa, and I got attacked by a deer...taking a huge toll on us before we ever arrived. Not going to lie, I had high heart rate as I passed that area three years after the event. Moving on.

We got there plenty early and got our numbers. Then we just kind of stood there and looked at each other because we had over an hour before the start. Eventually we got ready and met up with Easton. He is one of my younger teammates and his grandpa brought him up to race. The three of us headed out to warm up on the course. It was everything that I remembered. Flowy but bumpy singletrack. The warmup was short because we had a racer meeting, but it didn't take much to break a sweat. Thinking about riding was more than enough.

The Sport Clydes and Fat Bikers started in the same wave. Seems ironic doesn't it? lol. Anyway, the start was fast, as expected I got dumped right at the first corner. I was riding with one guy in my class but the rest of the group was gone. We got about a mile in and one of the top guys in our class was stopped with a flat. The guy in front of me stopped to help (they are teammates) and I pressed on. With everyone starting at 10:30 I had a ton of traffic pushing past me. I was giving them plenty of room but I was also making them call their passes. I refuse to just let someone by unless they call it out, or at least say "when you get a chance". I notice some racers tend to just expect me to move. #timetolearnhowtopass

The course if fun. I like it lot because the climbs are not too terrible. The downhills are solid and the flow is pretty good. Granted, the way the course was set up there were some hairpin turns, but that is part of the adventure. Eventually I stettled in and found my rhythm. I was comfortable riding, but if I stopped the heat immediately started to surround me. It felt like climbing into an oven. The open areas with no tree cover felt the same way. I actually passed a few people the further I got in. I was feeling "quick" about 8 miles in and used that the best I could.

With about 2 to go I reigned in a guy on a fat bike. I passed him, but he caught me on a climb and I decided to just settle in behind him. I wasn't seeing anyone from my class coming so I figured I was safe. On one section he must have bolted because he was just gone. I started riding harder to figure out where he went. It was pretty odd to me that he got that much of a gap, but he must have pushed a section that I didn't. Then I spotted him and I was starting to recognize that we were near the finish. I pushed the last climb and watched him turn left towards the school. Last descent out of the woods. I hit the opening and pushed to the final stretch. 

I could see him and it appeared he wasn't 100% sure where the finish was, so I pounced. I jumped on the pedals and buried myself in a sprint to the finish. I passed him with maybe 30 yards to go. It felt good to hear the R2R guys all cheering for me. Especially because they kick my ass so much. lol. After I finished I dumped the rest of my hydra pack over myself. It felt amazing. Then I headed to the car and continued to pour more cold water just to tell my body to slow down. 

I ended up in 8th place out of 9. Not last. I guess that is a small victory. The big victory was not needing a trip to the hospital for dehydration or heat stroke. 

On a side note....there were 4 guys racing that were over the age of 70. The eldest statesmen was none other than Neil Scharphorn Sr. at the spry age of 76. Their times....all faster than mine. Well done to you gents.