Old Pueblo 2007
24 Hour racing is an interesting endeavor. I go through the entire range of human emotion, from tears of pain to tears of joy. My body hurts, my mind gets tired, I question every decision I have ever made. But I am not suffering.
I was riding along the smooth, fast stretch of dirt road after “the bitches” just before sundown when randomly I thought of my Aunt Rita. She died 2 years ago after a battle with cancer. I wondered for a moment why she was occupying my thoughts, at that moment and in that place. Then I remembered.
Just after her diagnosis I found myself in Moab, racing my first 24 hour solo. I remember thinking how hard it was, how much pain I was in, how much I was suffering. Then I thought of her, in the midst of intense radiation therapy. I realized that what I was doing was not suffering. If anything, I was thriving. I was experiencing life in a way most people never get to. I picked up my pace a bit, glanced down at the yellow LiveStrong wristband like the one I had bought for everyone in my family, including her, when she was diagnosed, and learned a bit about myself and what life is really all about.
So there I was last weekend, watching the sun sink low behind the tall cactus and vast desert of Arizona. I smiled at the memory of my aunt. She is missed, but not forgotten. She taught me a lot about how to face challenges, how to smile through them, and how to love life.
I am happy that I can go out and “suffer” through a day of bike racing. That I can experience the gritty wind in my face, or the dull ache of numbing feet. A 24 Hour solo is hard, don’t get me wrong. There is physical and mental pain, but it isn’t suffering. It’s experience. And that is why I think I do it.
A few things are emerging from this year’s OP race. For me the theme was consistency. I wanted to be constant in my eating, pace and attitude. And for the most part I did that very well. I made a few mistakes, I didn’t eat or drink enough, but it was leaps and bounds better than I have done in the past. Mentally I felt really good all day and night. I was having fun out there, despite the dusty headwind.
Physically things went well also. I fought off “mini” cramps early in the race. that was a new one for me, but after some extra electrolytes and some chicken noodle soup I was able to put those to bed. Arms, legs, neck and shoulders all felt good.
The major hiccup came on my last lap. It was a hard one. I wanted to be done. I was having trouble getting food and drink down. I think all the dust I had inhaled over the course of the race wreaked major havoc on my mouth and throat. For whatever reason it made it hard to swallow anything, even plain water. So I started trailing off quickly. I pulled over to let a group of faster riders by, and I fell asleep leaning on my handlebars. I took an 8 minute nap. I remember distinctly dreaming that I was with my wife and we were picking out a couch for our house. We couldn’t decide which size we wanted….I have no idea where that one came from.
I rolled in eventually after that lap, and although there was time to start a 14th lap, I called it a day. In hindsight I should have gone out again, but at the moment I was spent, and the lure of being finished was too strong. Next time however, that lure will not be so strong.
Life goes on now, and there will be another day to race, another day to explore the limits of the human mind and body. Another day to go out and enjoy the simple pleasure of riding a bicycle. Underlying the competition (which is important to me) and the strategy and the lap times, is the foundation of living life to the fullest. Part of doing that for me, is racing my bike. Not a lot of people outside the sport understand why I would do it. But then, I can’t really expect them to. For them, it might take years to feel what I feel in one day on the bike.
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Tomorrow I will comment on my light set up and few other gear choices. In short, the PT Switchbacks were amazing. For the first time in a 24 hour race I felt like lighting was not a liability. They were bright, light and extremely versatile. More on all that tomorrow….
13 Comments
MC
February 22, 2007Adam-
Thanks–I enjoyed that. I very, very, very rarely read racer blogs because they’re very, very, very rarely interesting to read. What you wrote here was different, more insightful, than what we typically see after a lap race.
I like your attitude and outlook. Please keep writing things like this.
Cheers,
MC
JB
February 22, 2007Good ride and well written.
The experience is what it’s all about for sure. Seeing the sights smelling the smells, living to fight another day…….
Dave Harris
February 22, 2007Adam,
Looks like you are full of inspiration this year on many fronts. Thanks for sharing.
It was great to share pit space at OP, looking forward to more of the same.
Dave
LyndaW
February 22, 2007Beautiful post Adam – and race.
I may not have won the race but I did get to experience that intense flash of living you describe. Living bright, learning and getting better is what it is all about.
Marni
February 23, 2007Congratulations on a great race! Quite a different Adam from the last time I saw you at the E 12 hour. Nice job.
Guitar Ted
February 23, 2007I agree with MC and the others here Adam. You have a knack for touching upon some things that others can not articulate. Great writing!
UtRider
February 23, 2007Hey Adam, if you’re so inclined I’d be interested to read a little on how you recover from a 24 hour race. Keep the good stuff coming!
slyfox
February 23, 2007i wish i could write that good, and ride for more than 5 hrs. good work epic adam.
sly
Cellarrat
February 23, 2007Good stuff so well put.
d-train
February 23, 2007It’s weird how you can read something that seems to be coming from your own thoughts…Thanks for the write-up and sharing your memeories. At La Ruta during some of the darker moments this year I found my thoughts drifting to my Mom who lost an eight year battle with cancer when I was very young. After watching her go through what she did, back in the dark ages of cancer treatment, I would tell myself “there is no pain.” If I needed a reminder, I’d look down at my top cap and remember that she was “Pretty and Strong,” bald head especially. Thanks again.
namrita o'dea
February 26, 2007Wow, great post. That made my day 🙂
Namrita
namrita o'dea
February 26, 2007Wow, great post. That made my day 🙂
Namrita
namrita o'dea
February 26, 2007Wow, great post. That made my day 🙂
Namrita