We had lots of rain right before the race, and on and off during the race, so the conditions were pretty horrible at times. There were 159 teams in the race, anything from 1 person team.. up to 5... but that is a lot of bikes on the course.. and in all the rain, it got muddy.. very muddy. Because of this the course changed every lap. They also had a crew out on the course most of the race, trying to fix things.
Some people race it for fun.. some just to challenge themselves.. some out to win. It can be a very competitive event. As an example after 24 hours of racing the first two teams finished 19 seconds apart.
In my class [solo over 50 ]there were 5 of us. I was of course racing against all the other solo racers [of all ages]... and really everyone else. Obviously the faster 5 person teams fly.. if each of their riders only ride a lap in every 5.. they are pretty fresh compared to someone who rides the whole time. Typically I have a hard time with someone passing me. Even out on a road ride.. if someone passes me.. or even if I spot another cyclist up the road.. I can't help but try and catch them. Well in a race like this.. you get over that pretty quickly
I knew right from the start I needed to control that... for quite a few hours though that impulse was still there. This race starts with a Leman's start, with us doing some running before we jump on the bikes. It is their attempt at spreading us out some. At my last race I took off way too hard, this one was better. I did start a little fast, but not bad. There was some bottle necks in some of the single track area's and one had to walk some. I felt a little jittery and sloppy during that first lap.. not bad, but hoped I would feel better later on. My second lap felt good. It was only a few seconds slower than the first lap [although the first lap included the run] I felt more settled and rode more comfortably.
In my class it quickly came down to 3 of us. Bruce who I had met last year, a real nice guy who drove up from Va. The other was another Glen.. I did not know him.. and never saw him for much of the race, but the 3 of us were all very close. We each switched the lead through out the race. Even after 11 hours of racing Bruce only had a minute lead over me.
Parts of the course had improved during the race... with the milage on it, some areas got worse. Then sometime during the night it started to rain again, and everything got slippery again. In some places it was unrideable.. you had to slog along on foot in mud up to knee deep.
My 8th lap I had slowed a bit. I was getting nauseous and was getting sloppier in my handling. I was having a harder time riding some of the narrow bridges.. and my left knee started bothering me. I don't remember a lot about that lap. I do remember before the race understanding there would be times when you felt really really good.. and others when you felt really really bad. One is not supposed to judge them.. and just keep riding, and it would pass. I don't remember really suffering a lot mentally, but I also remember after 11:00 hours being unsure if I could go on.. or more like.. if I wanted to go on. I was not ready to call it quits.. yet.. but I was not sure. I figured I would try to go to bed, and see how things looked in the morning.
I slept off an on for about an hour. I got up and went to our trailer in the pits [we had a bed there also] I tried sleeping and could not. I walked to the timing tent.. and to one of my competitor's tents. He had a hired pit guy [another great guy I had met the year before.] I don't know if it was his intent, but he finally "shamed" me into getting back out there.
At about 4:00 am I slowly started getting ready, and by 4:35 I was back on the course. It was a pretty slow lap.. but I was moving forward. The other Glen had gotten sick before me.. and Bruce and I were looking at maybe getting an "easy" first and second place. But then Glen got up.. got back on the course and was riding hard [That Bass turd]
I had about an hour ahead of him by that point.. but the way he was riding I would need to work. I got myself back together and got back out there. My next lap was a little faster, although perhaps physically I was at my worst. I had dry heaves through out this lap. I knew that was not good. I was pretty sure I could get back in without help, but I was unsure if going further without adding hydration was prudent. Back at the pits, I sat a bit, tried to drink.. had a coke.. and some ginger. Glen was still at it.. so that meant in order to hold my place I needed to go again. This went on for 2 more laps... except for the dry heaves. Considering it all.. I felt relatively strong. I had 2 good strong laps. By then Glen was broken. In this time we were so focused on him, we did not notice I was catching Bruce. By the time we realized, it was too late, we did not have enough time left. I do not know how much he had left either.. he perhaps could have just kept going, holding me at bay. So Bruce got first, I got second and Glen got third. I completed 107 miles [ I had hoped for a bit more] but considering the conditions not bad. This course is monster hilly. In that 107 miles I did just under 16000 feet of climbing.
It was so weird to have everyone so friendly and supportive of each other, while also trying to kick each other's a$$.
I learned a lot from this race.. and hope to come back next year.. stronger, and better prepared.
Good for you, Glenn! Keep it up and you'll Ace 2013!! 
Oh, what a difference 24 hrs. can be! Take care as I can never seem to get on the DT anymore I don't always get to keep up with adventures anymore of my fellow 
