I did the scramble in 54:20 or so, I think that was better than last year. I estimated 53:00 so I was pretty close. Although I was 300 out of 1200 overall, I was 93 out of 120 in my gender/age. Apparently, all of the fast people are males 30-39!
I started out first in my group, but let almost everyone pass me soon after the start. I didn't want to get caught in the back behind slow people, so I made them get caught behind me! I did manage to pass some people along the way though. There was one section on the run where you can go up the Mayan Ruins or take the long way up the hill, I took the long way and passed about 60 people. The backup up to the ruins was so long I had to tried the other way. When we were crossing on the river rocks a bunch of people went the wrong way and I was able to get in front of some people there too. On top of Belle Isle there was a section that wasn't flagged and some people took a wrong turn there as well. I guess it helps to know the course.
In between races, I tried to eat some cold pasta I had made for the event. It was the worst tasting food I ever had and I was not able to eat very much (I did reheat it later at home and enjoy it.) Therefore, I wasn't able to get all of the fuel I needed between races. I had a bunch of water and around 50 oz of Gatorade/PowerAde, basically, the nastiest flavors they make. My friend Rick was kind enough to give me a fuel bar that I ate to provide some fuel (it was gross too). So starting the race I was concerned if I would have enough energy to finish. In the back of my mind was cramping out of the race last year, my only DNF.
The bike race starts with a LeMans start where you run to your bike and then start biking. Since I jogged and didn't run, I was last to my bike. I am a very slow starter on the bike and normally it takes 30 min+ for me to get really going. Rushing for me in the beginning doesn't help me overall, just tires me out. So I started last, but quickly passed one person and another person when he broke his chain.
By the time I got to the 42 st. staircase the group behind me had caught up, they were hauling a$$! Through the first part of Buttermilk, a bunch of people passed me. The same thing happened in Forest Hill Park (FHP), although I did start passing some people. FHP is the hardest part of the course; it has crazy hills that many people can't ride up. I rode them all and even surprised myself with the speed I took a couple of them. FHP was also the place where I most wanted to give up. My body hadn't warmed up yet and I was sore from the running, I just wanted to quit. I stuck it out though.
Coming out of FHP I got my first wind. I tore up the Buttermilk and back down the gravel road. I hit Buttermilk Heights (BH) with new enthusiasm and was quickly rewarded by passing two people early on. Why is it that when I pass people they stop IN MY LINE! I almost wrecked a few times because people didn't know how to get out of my way! BH was my best section. I passed a bunch of riders, men and women. I was on fire.
Crossing over the Nickel Bridge was a nice break and I loved the cool down the wind provided. The Northtrail section under Maymont is pleasant and not too difficult a ride. The trail beside the fence sucks! It is constant up and down and without full suspension, it gets old quick.
The newest section of the trail, the section featured in Thursday's RTD, is Stairway to Heaven (SoH). Named because it is a ramp and then dirt track that goes up in elevation quickly. I hit it in too low a gear, but managed to ride the ramp. As I was riding up the steep section of the ramp, both of my calves cramped and I had to change my pedal position to get up the ramp. At the top of the ramp, I had to stretch for a minute before I walked the rest of the way up that section of trail. (Just so you know, I have ridden SoH without stopping before.)
After SoH, it was a bit of road riding and then a quick drop in for some switchbacks and hills. The rest of the course is pretty easy and once past SoH I was on autopilot. I passed a couple more people on the trail, but it was generally uneventful.
I finished 13 out of 28 in my age group. So somewhere along the line, I passed half of the people that started in front of me.
I am extremely pleased that I was able to both run and ride the entire course this year. It's because of the great friends I run and bike with that I was able to complete both events this year. While they weren't with me, they were pushing me along the course nonetheless.
As always, a special shout-out goes to my wife Carrie for putting up with all of my crazy training! (My swimming lessons start next week!)
