This year's Dirty Kanza The World's Premier Gravel Race didn't turn out like I had hoped for. The day started out really good. I usually don't feel great until an hour or so into a race, but my legs felt really good once we rolled out of town.
The first 20 some miles were flat and the pace wasn't out of control like I thought it might be. Once we got around 30 miles, we came upon our first minimum maintenance road and it had lots of loose, sharp rocks. This was my first flat of the day. I stopped and quickly put a tube in and was on my way. About two miles down the road another flat happened. Thankfully Greg Vaught loaned me an extra tube incase I didn't make it to the checkpoint at mile 67ish. After I got to the checkpoint and got a new wheel from Roger Williams, since I had cut the sidewall of the tire, I was back on the road.
The next checkpoint wasn't until mile 150, but there were two water stops along the way. I made sure that I stopped to fill my bottles since the temperature was rising quickly. After the water stop at mile 120, I got my third flat of the day. Somewhere around mile 140 my hamstrings started to cramp a little. I kept drinking and eating until I rolled into the last checkpoint at mile 150. I took my time to drink some but I was having a little trouble eating much. By now the heat was starting to affect me a bit more. My hamstring was cramping more and around mile 172 it decided to totally lock up. I tried to pedal with one leg a little bit, but once I clipped back in, the hamstring would spasm. I finally stopped and got off the bike. After a few minutes I walked to the top of the hill and coasted down to a tree along side the road. I made the dreaded call to Roger that I was going to have to stop the race.
Not quite sure what I could have done different in the race. I felt that I was drinking and eating a bunch. I was using Science in Sport Beta Fuel and GO Isotonic Energy Gels, which I train and race with all the time. Many races I know that I don't drink enough, but I the conditions got the best of me at DK.
I want to give a big shout out to my Lauf True Grit. The bike handled the course like a pro. Even though I had a few flats, I felt super comfortable on how the bike handled the rough course.
Another big congrats to Move Up Off Road teammates Joe Kleidosty for finishing 3rd in the single speed division and Don Daly / Carrie Bax for coming in second in the tandem division. Also to Mike Morgan for a strong 23rd place overall.
Yes, I am disappointed not to finish, but it is only a race. There will be many more. It was an amazing weekend to catch up with lots of friends and gravel family. Next year I will be back and hopefully be competing in the DK XL. It will be a whole different challenge but I am looking forward to it.
#moveupoffroad #fueledbyscience #isotonicsquad #laufcycling #panaracer#ucantu #flyvie13 #possumdoping #unlearnpavement#justanotherdayonthebike #joypower
The first 20 some miles were flat and the pace wasn't out of control like I thought it might be. Once we got around 30 miles, we came upon our first minimum maintenance road and it had lots of loose, sharp rocks. This was my first flat of the day. I stopped and quickly put a tube in and was on my way. About two miles down the road another flat happened. Thankfully Greg Vaught loaned me an extra tube incase I didn't make it to the checkpoint at mile 67ish. After I got to the checkpoint and got a new wheel from Roger Williams, since I had cut the sidewall of the tire, I was back on the road.
The next checkpoint wasn't until mile 150, but there were two water stops along the way. I made sure that I stopped to fill my bottles since the temperature was rising quickly. After the water stop at mile 120, I got my third flat of the day. Somewhere around mile 140 my hamstrings started to cramp a little. I kept drinking and eating until I rolled into the last checkpoint at mile 150. I took my time to drink some but I was having a little trouble eating much. By now the heat was starting to affect me a bit more. My hamstring was cramping more and around mile 172 it decided to totally lock up. I tried to pedal with one leg a little bit, but once I clipped back in, the hamstring would spasm. I finally stopped and got off the bike. After a few minutes I walked to the top of the hill and coasted down to a tree along side the road. I made the dreaded call to Roger that I was going to have to stop the race.
Not quite sure what I could have done different in the race. I felt that I was drinking and eating a bunch. I was using Science in Sport Beta Fuel and GO Isotonic Energy Gels, which I train and race with all the time. Many races I know that I don't drink enough, but I the conditions got the best of me at DK.
I want to give a big shout out to my Lauf True Grit. The bike handled the course like a pro. Even though I had a few flats, I felt super comfortable on how the bike handled the rough course.
Another big congrats to Move Up Off Road teammates Joe Kleidosty for finishing 3rd in the single speed division and Don Daly / Carrie Bax for coming in second in the tandem division. Also to Mike Morgan for a strong 23rd place overall.
Yes, I am disappointed not to finish, but it is only a race. There will be many more. It was an amazing weekend to catch up with lots of friends and gravel family. Next year I will be back and hopefully be competing in the DK XL. It will be a whole different challenge but I am looking forward to it.
#moveupoffroad #fueledbyscience #isotonicsquad #laufcycling #panaracer#ucantu #flyvie13 #possumdoping #unlearnpavement#justanotherdayonthebike #joypower
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