You can do more than you think you can......

I know this is the start of Ken Chlouber's quote from LT100, but this was the theme as I came off a horrible week of being laid up with a horrible flu and temps in the 102 range as I traveled to Tucson last week. Being a coach, you can't easily bail on a Spring Training Camp that is laid out for 20+ cyclists ready to get some big miles in their legs. And I knew I'd already shipped my mtn machine down to Tucson to finally take part in the 24 Hrs of Old Pueblo race.

I knew it was gonna be tough to head to the race course on Saturday night after an expected 18hrs on the bike the five days leading into it. Unfortunately I wasn't going to give it up as I've wanted to take part in 24HOP for almost 4 years and the stars hadn't aligned. Luckily a stellar corporate team from Area 51 Audio let me join up with there team just off the recommendation from our Tucson GM, Jason Tullous. Even with the caveat that Jason I wouldn't arrive to start pulling our weight until 11pm that night....11hrs after the race had started!

Frankly Tullous and I discussed on the way out how absolutely crappy we felt and decided that if we were stopping for coffee at 9pm there was no turning back. We committed and did just that as the lights of Tucson disappeared in the rear view mirror on the way towards Mammoth. Slowly a hazy glow started to appear in the distance which was the infamous Tent City in the middle of the desert. Off the main highway to a washed out dirt road mile towards the glow as I started to see trains of riders headlamps circling us as we approached. As we rolled in, the dumpster was overflowing with mangled pop-up tents from the days' storm and wind micro-bursts. It was definitely odd to have wet ground and 40deg temps in Tucson after the consistent 80deg days and 65deg nights all week long, but that's what blew in while we were finishing the final day of camp with the Stinger ride on Mt Lemmon.

Rolling into the Area 51 camp, I was introduced to several teammates in the dark via the glow of headlamps and a camp fire. Some of the intros were, "there's Steven in the tent....you probably won't meet him til morning..." kinda thing. Next Richard, the team leader indicated we were battling out 1st/2nd and a couple of the guys came down with the flu and were vomiting, thus how much weight could I pull. It was amazing that I was getting jazzed just from rolling into the race venue and my body was pulling into race mode. I told him I would do what I could and just be consistent. Deep down I was thinking, "man I'm tired, but racing and riding is what I do, so time to get to work."

I started making myself at home at camp and getting my new Light and Motion lights set up. Luckily enough I'd received a sweet little package in a Honey Stinger waffle shipping box the week prior. I was half-way upset when it wasn't waffles but a set of Seca 1400 and Stella 300 lights wasn't a bad perk from our new sponsor. Once the light were set up and the bike was all systems go, I was just on-deck waiting for Tullous to complete his lap.

We'd decided that to help pull our weight as late reinforcements that we'd alternate 4 laps to get into the groove. Once Jason finished his night lap, I was ready to roll in the exchange tent as I thought to myself...."ignorance is bliss," since this lap starting at 1:18am would be my first time on the course despite 3 failed attempts that week to pre-ride the course.

The quick transition happened and I was on course. I'd heard of the "7 Bitches" and that this year the Epic Rides crew had put in a "Skip the Bitches" trail that added a few tenths of a mile and some time to your lap, but potentially some freshness to your legs. Unfortunately no one informed me of which way to take at the fork but getting pinched as I quickly approached a lapped rider put me to the right direction. Stars aligning as I hit the faster 7 Bitches trail. I must say the little kickers weren't the easiest but manageable since we have much bigger biotches here in CO! The course flowed on and a few brake jams in tight corners occurred as I learned the course in the dark. I must say that it was kinda eerie as mice and rabbits were coming out on the course due to the lights and frankly getting slaughtered by knobbies.

As I made another correct split in the trail approaching tent city to hit the techy rock slab in the dark, I found myself so frazzled as the trail snaked in and out of tents lining the side of the final stretch of the lap. Coming into the tent with a swift cyclocross style dismount, I logged a very respectable 1:03 lap time. I was stoked as I had 4 hrs of Mt. Lemmon and part of El Tour's washes in my legs at this point. Oh well, no pity since there were solo guys that had plenty of laps up on me.

With a quick hour break to refuel on some of the double sodium GU Brew before starting my next lap, I was only getting more amped. The race was on as with the last couple laps, Area 51 moved into 1st place. Lap 2 was great and I learned from lap 1 that if I slowed down, I'd go faster. You're probably saying, "Whaaaaat?" Yup, it's embracing the flow of the course and not killing your legs but conserving energy so the laps will be consistent. Although feeling a little fatigued as I rolled out at 3:26am for the 2nd dose of the "bmx course in the desert" as I liked to call the trail, I still had a good lap. I turned a 1:05 for this lap which was only a 2min drop off, which I was happy with considering by the time I finished I'd been up almost 24hrs.

After lap 2, some of the other team members decided to get back with the laps since they'd had some rest now during our night laps, so I had 2 lappers between mine. Looked like my next lap was gonna fall perfect to catch the gem of the "sunrise lap." I must say the extra hour between laps was almost my demise as I struggled to stay awake and prepped.

Lap 3 was game time as I rolled out of the transition tent at 6:50am. The LnM Stella 300 on the helmet burning for a matter of seconds before I switched it off and let the AZ sun burn through the haze. I was actually able to see where I was riding for once; what a cool place and trail. My energy was rejuvenated by the ever growing glow of the sun over Mt Lemmon in the east. I rolled into the tent with a negative split lap of 1:03 matching my 1st lap. Looking good but I kinda expected it since I should be able to anticipate the trail a bit better with daylight.

Our team was holding steady in 1st but didn't have any margin to spare. If a mechanical or bonk occurred, we'd easily fall into 2nd place. So more of the teammates emerged from tents and campers as I met my fellow cohorts in daylight. Wow, I wouldn't have recognized them after only the night meeting, but glad they were ready to take another pull before I was on deck again. As the morning hustle of tent city was picking up, I mowed down a tasty breakfast burrito and a fresh cuppa joe from the Trailside Peddler as we discussed our team tactics. It was working out that I was going to pull the anchor lap heading out just before noon that would put us at 21 laps total if all went as planned.

Well each team member was charging now they'd caught some zzzzz's and we were staying on schedule. I suited back up and wanted to perform on this lap. I'm usually very consistent with times so my goal was to lay it down and really be steady. I did just that as the course flowed. Besides the killer gusts of wind on the last grind of a slight grade, lap 4 felt great. It was as I raced to the line with tent city campers cheering a few of us as we trained into the finish line with my fastest lap of the race, a 1:02:14. Stellar ride for Area 51 and Honey Stinger!

That's the way I wanted to end on a positive note. It means I'm on track and I just overcame the adversities of being sick and working a demanding camp all week. I love being an athlete, a coach, and an inspiration!

24 Hrs of Old Pueblo ended up being a success for all Honey Stinger athletes involved as we had representatives on the top of most podiums; duo female 1st, 5 person 1st, corporate 1st, 4 person 1st...

Til next time, D