Fast Fitty Race Recap

 

I made the short jaunt over to Charlotte, MI for this years edition of the Fast Fitty. Here is how it went.

The morning started normally enough. I was up and out the door in plenty of time. I made a quick stop at the Donalds for an oatmeal. Normally I have been eating at home, but I honestly wasn't the best prepared for this morning. I figured a quick stop here was the best option, and I know the oatmeal doesn't mess with my system. With fuel in hand, I was headed East. Charlotte is kind of in the middle of nowhere. So its mainly 2 lane roads. The drive was pretty quiet and I got to Alive around 8:30. The front lot was already full so I swung behind the building to park. A change this year (maybe last year) was that the registration tent was in the Alive parking lot instead of over at the American Legion where it has been in the past. Not a big change, just something I noticed.

I got my registration packet and headed back to the car to get ready. The lot was filling fast as people were trickling in and parking was looking chaotic. Glad I got there early enough to not add that stress to myself. Eventually I was ready to do a soft warm up. 

I headed out past the American legion and turned onto the first road of the course. It had some fresh black top and was going to roll very fast. I just rolled a bit before heading back to Alive and looking for anyone I knew. I didn't really see anyone so I headed to the start line.

The Fitty starters

This is the back of the Fitty starters and the front of the Speedy wave

No I didn't do this....the glove was like this on its own. (if you know you know)

Now it was time to go. We all lined up and got our announcements from Dale before it go time. I lined up next to Jonas, who is Dale's brother. Kind of funny that we were talking at the start line very similar to how we did almost 5 years ago when I was on a borrowed bike from GRBC. He remembered and brought back that memory. Funny times. 

3,2,1...GO. 

The start was a rolling start because the road was narrow from some rain puddles that were filled earlier in the week. So we rolled under the banner and a rider in front of me slammed the brakes hard. Panic is an understatement. We were already barely moving and then this rider STOPPED. I had to swing wide to miss this person. Almost being taken out in the first tenth of a mile was not really what I had in mind for this race. I kept an eye on this person because they were very very nervous and wanted to be riding alone. So I gave space and eventually separation was there. (yes I say person instead of he or she because I don't want to call anyone out. This person was just very nervous and it as evident when other people were around).

Now that we hit the pavement the pace went up quick. Being towards the back of the pack is always different. This event had all types of people, and I tried to find a few that were riding my pace. We turned onto the first gravel and a few of us were still together. Jonas was pulling a good pace on this section. We turned to find the first climb and I told him I would do my best to pull him up the hill. We crested the hill and there were people just strung out everywhere. Jonas rode away and I couldn't hold his wheel any more. I was in my normal group of 1 riding solo with people around but not close enough to work with.

This course is pretty flat in the first half. Much of the climbing is back loaded. So you are cruising and feeling like a million bucks and then get hit with a small dose of reality as your average speed starts to drop. Well, mine anyway. Anyone else? lol.

Around 10 miles in a group of 5 caught me and I jumped in with them. It was a good group but I couldn't hang with them long. I got some help from them for a few miles and then they slowly creeped away. The miles were ticking away and I started to wonder why I hadn't seen the Speedy wave yet. I was in some rollers and carrying some good speed when I heard them coming. Well, I thought it was a car or two....but it was 40ish riders just smashing the course. I was rolling well over 20 and they passed with a high pace. Its so awesome and I can't wait to experience that some day. They blasted away and then it was a string of stragglers trying to bridge the gap again. This went on for a few miles. Single or dual riders passing. Many offering a "good job" or "keep it up" as they passed. I would offer the same back. 

I saw the first aid station and was craving a banana. Unfortunately all they had was water or heed. I thanked them anyway and pressed on. Here is where a group of us started together that would basically finish together. There was two women and one guy other than myself. We roughly formed a group and pressed ahead for a while. The guy eventually peeled off the front and went out of sight. The ladies and I stayed together for a while but eventually our paces differed and we all were spread out. Then we would reel each other in. We were working together the best we could. Different strengths. Good people. Once lady was from Indiana. The other was Waterford. We continued on....each of us leaving the others for a while before being caught and left again. lol. It was nice to have the company suffering in the same areas as I was for the entire second half of the race.

When the climbing started is when my issues started....again with my feet. Legs were doing surprisingly good and I was thinking I was going to hit my goal. But the pain in my feet just got to be too much and I finally had to get off and walk a hill. I could have made it, but my feet needed some circulation off the bike. One of the ladies caught me and asked if I was ok and said we are getting closer to the finish!

We pressed on and I was then riding with one of the ladies again. She said we have one more climb and then we are almost there. I cleared that climb and she was stopped at the top. I checked on her and she was ok, and eventually caught and passed me. She had a strong finish, Kudos to her! 

I rolled in very slow across the line to a group of cheers. lol. Tom and his girlfriend were at the finish as well as the lady I had been riding with and her husband. We congratulated each other and the other lady we had been riding with finished too. We all cheered for each other, told each other good job, and headed our separate ways. Nice to have people to talk to on a long race like this. Thank you ladies'! 

My finish time is shown below. I missed my goal by a few minutes, but I was happy to finish. Having only a handful of rides since the middle of June I really didn't know what to expect. Not taking DFL in the entire race was good, and finishing close to my goal was good. 

Overall it was a good day on the bike. Weather was great. The cause for this event is great. Dale is a good dude and he will always have my support for his events. I likely won't be racing anymore this year, but I will probably volunteer at his MTB race at Custer. Check it out here. Its the Custer's Last Stand. However, if no Sport Clydes sign up....you might see me out there on Albert doing what I can ;)

We keep at it....and we do our best.