Hanson Hills 100

Over the last few years, I had this crazy idea in my head that I wanted to complete a 100 mile mountain bike race. With all of my injury excuses pretty much behind me, a new Epic 29er, a solid week of singletrack and beer drinking in North Carolina and a 3 day weekend ahead of me, all of the stars lined up and I entered the Fun Promotions Hanson Hills 100.


The Start: 7:00am, Grayling K-Mart Parking Lot
The race began with a "spirited" 20mph police-escorted road start which took us into Hanson Hills. Once inside, the pack quickly separated into the fast guys who were out to win it and the rest of us who were out to simply finish it. My plan for the race was to pick a reasonable pace and try to maintain it for 100 miles. As we passed the first aide station at around mile 8, I realized that my flawed strategy was thrown out the window at about mile 4. I ended up hooking onto the wheel of Jason Bailey of Twin Six/Lakeshore Cycle and we spent some time talking and keeping our minds off the long road ahead of us. He was pushing a reasonable pace and the next thing I knew, we were rolling into our first pit stop.

The Pits:
As it warmed up a little and the rain stopped, I stripped off a layer and reloaded my VelEau Hydration Pack (which was a lifesaver!). I grabbed an Odawalla bar just in case I got hungry down the road. Jason was waiting for me so I hopped back on my bike ready for lap #2. We kept a pretty good pace going into the aide station again. We grabbed a few supplies and headed back out. About mile 30, I looked up and realized that I was fading so I think I told him I'd see him later (I never did see him later, though) and he took off. About 40 miles in, the Odawalla bar was calling my name. I was hungry and decided to bust into something solid, Big mistake! From mile 40 to 50 (and probably beyond), I tried my best not to litter the woods Odawalla style. I had also been battling some butt-muscle cramping since about mile 15, which didn't help!

Lap 3, JRAD and Julie:
This is where things start to get a little blurry...I got into the pits and it was really nice to see JRAD and Julie there. We talked a little bit about stuff but I was honestly delirious. I remember JRAD filling my water bottles for me and laughing at how pathetic I looked. I grabbed some of Shaun's Endurolytes and some Advil in hopes that they would do something for me. Everything hurt and I felt like another 50 miles was next to impossible. For whatever reason, I got back on my bike and headed back out for another 25. I was trading spots with a rider who was in the same boat as I (just trying to finish). We kept each other in eye-shot and just pedaled a good pace. Lap 3 hurt, but it went by pretty "smoothly."

Lap 4, I Think I can...I Think I can...Can I?
I dragged myself into the pits with a couple of hours before the Cut-Off time and was kind of surprised that I was doing so well. I decided to reward myself with a coke and some pringles that I had bought the day before. The sugar, caffeine and the salty chips made me feel like Pac Man when he eats a power pellet. So with everything in my body hurting, a bunch of chips, some pop and a fresh refill of liquids, I did what I came up there to do...Finish! About 100 yards down the trail, I started to really regret my decision to go back out. While walking my bike slowly up the first hill, I began talking to myself out loud that I was going to take the last 25 miles one-by-one. Every mile marker, I decided to celebrate with a little fist pump and a "woohoo!".

I limped into the aide station and really started to feel like death warmed over. The guys working the station pumped me up with some humor and a promise of Quesadillas at the finish line. I grabbed some endurolytes and a hammer bar and prepared for 18 of the most painful miles of my life. The miles ticked by slowly and it was incredibly lonesome out there. I was upset at myself for not bringing my Droid, which had such great songs as "Rock and Roll McDonalds" and "Cut the Mullet". I began to walk up hills that weren't really hills and then I would realize that I was walking DOWN hills too. Getting on and off my bike felt like I had sandpaper for a chamois. Hell, even trying to stay on the trail was tough!

I set my sights on the "Napper" bridge as the point where I was "Almost home!" It seemed to take forever to get there but when I did finally make it (I feel stupid saying this, but...), I let out a faint and weak "Wheeeeee!" for my tHD Homies. I knew I only had a couple of miles left. The sun came out and I pedaled with what little energy I had left. Fun Promotions must have sent out the search and rescue team after me because (I think it was...) Brent was waiting for me at the bottom of one of the last climbs. He cheered me on and pumped me up to pedal the last grueling hill and ultimately to my first ever 100 mile finish. I even had a nice little cheering section and a Quesadilla waiting for me!

So, my apologies for the long post but this was the most difficult and rewarding ride I have ever taken on and I had a lot to say! 100 Milers are no joke. It's really crazy how many different situations come up, whether it's bike related or body related, that you have to deal with and determine whether or not to continue. Ultimately, you have to want it.



Bring on The Lumberjack 100!
- Steve

Blogs?

First things first, there has been a carrot dangling out there in front of us for the past two weeks. Yet we are no closer to reaching that elusive carrot.

I must ask where are the lost blogs of North Carolina?

Second things second, the THD group ride of last Saturday. What to say, it was an Epic day in many ways. Epic in ways that you could never imagined. There were hopes of Burgers and Beers, maybe the hint of Chinese food. But we ended up at the CVS for our mid ride snack. All because it was an Epic day.

All in all it was a good day, Shaun, JRAD, and myself clocked in around 80 miles give or take, it was approximately nine hours on the bike, I popped my Highland cherry with way too big of a gear, and there was one Epic bike failure that dashed all our hopes and dreams.

Sorry for Steve who could only join us on half of our ride due the the Epic bike failure. But, we did hold off on burgers until you can join us.

I know it won't be North Carolina

Since this will be my last weekend before LJ to get a long ride in here are my ideas:

1. Multiple laps at Poto
2. A PLRA and Holdridge ride
3. A PLRA and Highland ride (I have never ridden Highland)
4. A PLRA, Highland, and Holdridge ride.

Looking to start fairly early (8:00a) but am open to suggestions. I am looking to get somewhere between six to eight hours of ride time.

Need to get a last long ride in before I drive the Subaru across the big pond.

Beam Me Up, JRAD!

Since most of my tHD brethren wussed out on the 2nd Annual N.O.S.S. Gravel Grinder, you're all stuck reading my awesome blog post about my thrilling Sunday Hines Drive with JRAD. In short, it was beyond expectations...ESPECIALLY the part where JRAD was nearly assaulted by a Flying Saucer. He didn't see it because he was tucked in a sweet-azz aero position cruising down one of the biggest hills in Hines Drive...but some hippie Frisbee golf player apparently had too much of the wacky tabakee and sent his disk shaped golf ball flying over Hines Drive and almost right into jrad`s noggin. Here is what it looked like from my angle:



Most of Hines Drive was blocked off due to flooding but we didn't really have much of a problem with the water. Otherwise, it was an uneventful roll. I am fat and out of shape and the countdown to our Pisgah trip has begun. If you want some sweet blog photos and exciting stories, you already know this is not your lucky day. In closing, I would like to caution you all to either wash your brand new biking shorts or apply generous amounts of Chamois Butt'r before riding. OUCH!

- Steve