2006 Swank 65K
Well, yesterday I did one of the harder rides of the year, the Swank 65K. Todd Branham picked a tough route this year for sure. I didn't even know I was able to race until the Friday before because of work. I was able to work that out, though and made my way to the start out at Cove Creek on Sunday morning. I was running a few minutes behind schedule and hardly had the time to socialize that I wanted. Jonathan, Rich, and Brian were parked next to me, Dennis, Matt, the Poss's, Krause, Garth, Todd, Shrimper, Mark, Ken & Vicky, JT, Ivory,..... there were folks everywhere that I wanted to say 'hi' to. Luckily there was a time schedule at hand so it didn't turn into a meet and greet and big slow group ride... We were there to race! There would be time for socializing in 6 hours or so.
The race started with a longer than expected La Mans start and that split the field up pretty well. We circled around, found our bikes, left Cove Creek and took a right onto FS479. I immediately fell behind (who I thought was) Eric Krause and kept his pace for a while. We passed a bunch of people and I just stuck to his wheel like dog poop. I figured I couldn't chase Krause for long and was wondering if the pace was too hot out of the box but as the rider on the blue ti Fat Chance hit a steep I made a pass and realized it wasn't Krause, it was Chris! we talked for a moment and held each others pace and continued to pass other riders all the way to Glouscester Gap.
Next was a new experience for me, we climbed 5003. I had only ever done that the other way during backside-of-Farlow rides and was looking forward to riding it the other way. I really put the hammer down then and continued to pass folks until the gate at 140A. After the gate we went down to Courthouse Falls road and I followed a kid, I mean, teenager, I mean.... this kid had to be 14-16 years old and was absolutely flying! I got behind him, tried once to make a pass, and realized, O.k., I'm riding with the next Jeramiah Bishop here.... and let him lead. We hauled ass down to the road and I nearly rear-ended him. I gave out a big hoot, gave hime the 'Nice Run!' compliment, apologized for tailgating, and watched him disappear while climbing away from me on Courthouse Falls road. I took my first break at the bottom of Kissee Creek road and was caught by Chris and JT. Yeah JT!!!
Up Kissee Creek was easy at the bottom but got increasingly hard towards the top. I had been giving it my all (probably too much) and was starting to have a hard time. Brian caught up with me and said 'whew! That's too hard of work for this early' and I took the cue, I started to walk the nasty spots. Kissee eventually dumps into 140A where we took a left. Finally some downhill! I traded spots back and forth with Chris, Brian, and JT for most of 140A. I was very happy to have been back there with Wode just a few weeks before. Knowing a trail makes it go by soooo much quicker. I had a great time, saw Brian with his bike upside down for repairs twice, and made my way to checkpoint one with a big smile on my face. First loop down and feeling better and faster than expected. Yeah!
I drank a full water bottle of heed, put another bottle on my bike, and must have sat still for a moment too long.Once I got moving again my legs started their revolt. Like a mild shock from a wall outlet my left leg started to cramp. I compensated with my right leg, kept breathing, worked through the cramp, and passed Valerie. O.k., things are looking good.
Here's a photo from right then:
I got to the top and took the descent to the climb to Butter nice and easy. Recover while moving, you know? Well I got passed by Chris, Valerie, and JT since their machines are 'geared enhanced' and they didn't spin their brains out trying to pedal downhill. Next was a left and the climb to Butter Gap. I had actually never done Butter before so it was exciting for me to be there finally. I caught up with Chris again and he seemed to be just getting into his groove (He's and ultra-distance guy) so I decided to take another breather at the top of Butter, and to let him go.
I heard riders approaching so I took off down butter. That was a fuuuuuuuun trail. nice and smooth in spots, wet and nasty in spots, rooty, smooth, rocky, smooth, rhodo tunnels, smooth, creek crossings, smooth, and beautiful. It felt like forever at the bottom but I made it to Long Branch without being caught by the riders behind me. I didn't catch those in front either but at that point all I wanted was to make it back to Glouscester for the final time of the day. I did begin to notice how well Todd had marked the course while riding that section. There are a few twists and turns that I didn't have to think about once. Great job Todd! I didn't see another racer for the entirty of Long Branch. That trail was over sooner than expected then after a short steep climb up the fire road I was at checkpoint 2.
Once at the checkpoint I decided to keep moving as quickly as possible. I downed another bottle of heed, traded out my empty on the bike, and headed up to Farlow Gap. The climb up to Farlow was probably the low-point of my day. I was once again with JT and Valerie and we traded places a few times. The singlespeed was killing me at this point. Without a bailout gear I had to get off and walk a few times but I was happy to see JT walking also and no-one following close behind. The climb up Farlow went by quicker than expected, probably in large part due to having JT to talk to. I also got it in my head that the space-time continuem thing was just going to have to work and that soon enough, space, and time, would pass. As is always the case, time passed and I moved through space all the way to Farlow. I lost JT on the hike-a-bike but after about 5 minutes of descending Farlow, he caught me again. Farlow was unridable for many sections being that they were covered in knee deep leaves. When the trail WAS ridable I was being very very cautious. Early in the descent I had an unscheduled dismount that made the fronts of both of my legs lock up. I knew I had to be very deliberate in every move I made after that Eventually JT and I crossed the first creek, did some hiking, continued to descend, creek, hike, descend, creek, hike, descend, creek, hike, descend... jeez-us! The bottom of Farlow went on and on and on! I totally blocked out how far it is to Daniel Ridge. I lost JT somewhere along there and didn't see him again until the finish.
At the top of Daniel I was right at 5 hours of riding and my hands were starting to hurt. It sure felt good to be riding downhill, despite my hands. I exercised extreme caution and finally took a moment to take in the beauty of the woods we were all blessed to be riding in. It didn't take long at all to get to the crush-and-run flat section at the bottom of Daniel Ridge and I was feeling good again after the rest from descending. Down to 479 and onto Davidson River trail was next and over quickly. I hit Checkpoint 3 in high spirits and after downing yet another bottle of heed and replacing the empty on my bike I moved out of there as quickly as possible.
To finish the race all that was left was Cove Creek trail. I started out with Patricia and complained that my legs weren't doing so well. I had it in my mind though that I was going to leave her behind. I still had a little left and I wanted to end the day drained. I picked up the pace and she fell away. She chased a little but after every switchback she was a little further down the hill. Soon enough I saw a group of 4 or 5 riders ahead. I thought my luck was in my favor but I was having a hard time reeling them in. I fianlly caugft the last in thr group and what? GAH! No number plates! They did make me up my pace just enough to make me wonder how the end was going to feel. I took the left and continued to climb to Cove Creek trail. No stopping there, I just headed right in. After the first descent Cove Creek has a few ups and creek crossings to deal with and who do I see at the top of one of the ups? Jonathan Tomato! I called out to him, he stopped, I got to him, andgotonmybikeandhammeredlikehell. One of my unstated goals was to redeam myself from my bonk-out on the tomato ride and I did it. Jonathan put on a little chase but once I crossed a log bridge, scrambled up the other side, and took a look back, and he was no longer there. I pushed as hard as I could through the 'taint bruising' (thanks jonathan) section and was feeling a bit euphoric as I came into the start/finish area. There was a guy in an ape suit making ape noises, friends and the announcer Bruce calling out my name, and I crossed the line with my fists over my head like I had won or something. It was a great moment for me.
