EPIC TRAINING SYSTEMS
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2006 Red-Eyed Vireo Furnace Creek Race Report Page 3 - Time stations 5- Finish
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| Stage Five: Shoshone to Baker, 56.3 miles. Elevation Gain: 2186' Arrived at Baker 31:38 Race Time, or 2:38pm Sunday On the way into Baker I came across Scorpion. We chatted and he gave me another golden nugget of wisdom. He told me to take it easy going into Baker because the next three climbs would be really tough. He even volunteered that he would rather do Jubilee and Salsberry again than do the next climbs coming up. By then I was really hungry. I was ready for some solid foods. My crew asked if I wanted anything at Baker and I replied, “A gyro platter, fries and a Coke” .And that kept me motivated to keep going to Baker. I was ready for solid foods!! My feet hurt so bad coming into Baker that I removed my second pair of shoes and was now riding with my flip-flops. I had plenty of foot problems on many of my training rides. I was concerned that I would have “hot foot” really bad at the 508. But a few minutes in flip-flops and a lunch stop and I was back in my cycling shoes LESSON LEARNED- "HOT FOOT" Bring extra shoes and last resort running shoes or sandals. Shimano makes sandals that are SPD compatible. |
| Stage Six: Baker to Kelso, 34.90 miles. Elevation Gain: 2920 Arrived at Kelso 35:34 Race Time, or 6:34pm Sunday I got into Baker at 2:38pm Sunday, Once at Baker, I heard about all the DNF’s that happened throughout the night. Psychologically, I thought if I made it to Baker then I was going to finish. Baker was a milestone I had created in my mind during training. I sat down and ate my Gyro, fries and Coke so quickly that I actually was ready for seconds. But I know not to eat too much. Before heading back to San Diego, Blackbird joined us for a few minutes while we ate. I knew we shouldn’t stay long. The next climbs were going to be hot and sitting in the Mad Greek was not going to get me to Twenty-nine Palms. We must have looked really strange to the other patrons in the restaurant. Here were people dining and then we come in dressed in lycra, walking in our clickity-clack shoes, all sweaty, bloodshot eyes and funky looking bikes. Could it be that we also looked like hell? I hated the climb out of Baker. It went on and on and on. 21 miles of endless relentless climbing on a very straight road. And it was getting hot again. Then I saw Ostrich. He chatted with me took a few pictures and I was feeling good again. Not really knowing the course I got stuck on the wrong bike on the 21 mile climb. I was on my TT bike and should have been on the climbing bike. My TT bike had a rear disc and a three spoke front it was at least 5 pounds heavier than my climbing bike. I must have lost at least 10-15 minutes on the 2 hour climb. I just slogged up the climb, next time I will definitely do this climb on the climbing bike. LESSON LEARNED- Study the elevation charts and if you are on the wrong bike change bikes right away. |
| Stage Seven: Kelso to Almost Amboy, 33.8 miles. Elevation Gain: 2280'. Arrived at Almost Amboy at 37:50, 8:50pm Sunday I climbed really strong out of Kelso. I don’t remember much except the long, long descent. I tried to rest and recover for the last stage of the race. To be honest was just too damn tired. Most if not all of this section of the race is a blur. Compared to the just completed Baker Grade, I now headed up a slightly steeper climb: 2000 feet in 12 miles to the top of the Granite Mountains (El 4000’). I remember how cold it was at the summit. I was very cold on the descent. I also remember the downhill to the outskirts of Amboy was fast and long. My shoulders and neck were hurting quite a bit staying in a tuck. I didn’t pedal on the descent. I wanted to just rest and conserve energy for the last 58 mile section. |
| Stage Eight: Almost Amboy to Twenty Nine Palms, 58.2 miles. Arrived at Twenty Nine Palms 42:59 Race time, 1:59 am Monday am The time station at Almost Amboy is another one of the things that makes this event so great. The volunteers who man this time station really put their hearts into providing the best decorated time station. All the other time stations are EZ ups, or the back of pick-up trucks. But no, not this time station, there are Hawaiian girls, lights and even leis. At this point of the ride it is so refreshing to see. The crew even gets pineapple juice At mile 472, I began the last climb: 1500 feet in 10 miles to Sheephole Summit. Like all desert climbs, Sheephole Summit begins gradually and gets steeper near the top. I remember the shoulder being really sandy. I struggled trying to catch people on this climb because the climb turned a few times and just when I thought I could catch them they would disappear into the dark. I was feeling really good again and I was climbing hard. I thought I could finish strong since the rest of the ride had been so poor. Once I got to the top there was a quick descent that led to rough roads and rolling slight uphill to the finish line. I totally hated the last 15 miles or so. It was another one of those endless climbs. I was so tired and I was falling asleep. At this point I was awake 40+ hours and I couldn’t keep the bike going forward. I was talking to myself and I couldn’t make a complete sentence with a straight thought. My crew noticed that I was swerving and asked if I needed something. I asked for an ice cold frappachino, when that didn’t work I asked for a Coke. Then I started slapping my helmet and screaming out loud. I switched the battery on my iPod battery extender and put on Nine Inch Nails. I figured this should work but alas, nothing was working. Finally, my crew pulled up next to me and started talking to me. This helped a lot. And then there was a set of lights again to chase. I caught the last rider I was going to catch, it was Picachu. Just before the finishing straight I chased down another set of lights-- oh yeah they were flashing –it was a traffic signal my crew tells me. Now I had made the final turn onto Twenty Nine Palms and I just had a few more minutes to go. I could see the Best Western. I came in and broke the tape (toilet paper actually) and it was finally over. All the training all the miles had come to this, completing the 508 as a Solo rider. |
Best Time Station in the race!!! |
| LESSONS LEARNED RECAP LESSON LEARNED--Don't eat a monster breakfast. IF you chose to have a large breakfast, wait at least 1/2 hour for every 500 calories before racing, preferably 1 hour per 500 calories. LESSON LEARNED- We didn’t practice hand-offs. Our first few attempts were not very successful LESSON LEARNED- Experiment with your nutrition plan in training, race with what works. I was not able to handle a constant flow of calories. LESSON LEARNED--Train all crew members on all aspects of all your equipment i.e. tubular wheels and tires, lighting systems etc. LESSON LEARNED-- Your crew should know everything you packed. Have an inventory list of your nutrition. Your crew can use it as a menu for you when you are falling apart. In addition, have a list of things that have worked for you in the past in similar situations. Your crew may purchase those items the night before if they are perishable or along the way. LESSON LEARNED-- One of my favorite things to drink when I am feeling off is V8. It has lots of Sodium and Potassium and it was in the cooler. My crew forgot to offer it to me. LESSON LEARNED-- You, your crew and more specifically your crew chief should be intimately familiar with the route and be able to tell you at any time, how far to where, how many feet of gain is the next climb or where you are in respect to your goals. LESSON LEARNED-- Have VERY good lights for the descent into Death Valley. I use a Niterider HID type. The crew vehicle will not be able to stay on your wheel. LESSON LEARNED-- Pack a sleeping mat. LESSON LEARNED-- Let your crew sleep even if you can’t. LESSON LEARNED-- Get out of Death Valley before the sunrise. LESSON LEARNED-- EYE DROPS EYE DROPS EYE DROPS LESSON LEARNED-- MINI-VAN is much better than an SUV LESSON LEARNED-- "HOT FOOT" Bring extra shoes and last resort running shoes or sandals. Shimano makes sandals that are SPD compatible. LESSON LEARNED- Study the elevation charts and if you are on the wrong bike change bikes right away. |
ADDITIONAL FURNACE CREEK RACE REPORTS |
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