Friday, July 21, 2006

Feelin' soggy

The stats

The truth

Date: July 19 and 20
Mileage: 14.3 and 24.1
July mileage: 470.2

The Soggy Bottom 100 is upon me.

This is the last race of my 2006 Alaska endurance trilogy. Time will tell as to whether it's a grand finale or "Scream III."

Single-track century. 11,000 feet of climbing. Technical stretches. Time cut-offs. Self supported. 40 percent chance of precipitation.

I've been trying to will myself strong ... as if self-fulfilling prophecy could make it so.

"It's only 106 miles. Traversing 40 miles of uninterrupted wilderness. With just myself and people who are expected to pedal a whole lot faster than me. How bad could it really be?"

The numbers are daunting, but when I step back from them, I'm surrounded by a new reality.

Self supported on wilderness singletrack - just me and my bike and some Power Bars ... a jingling bear bell ... maybe some Catherine Wheel pulsing through the iPod (don't judge me; I keep the volume low) - climbing until the lush spruce forest gives way to devils club meadows and alpine tundra, with its stark gray gravel sweeping down snow-streaked mountains. Bouncing through scattered rocks and dried mud pockmarked with bear tracks. Pounding that final pedal stroke over the crest before dropping into another tear-inducing descent.

The mileage will come on its own.

Hopefully.

Wish me luck.

14 comments:

  1. I'll be sitting on the edge of my seat.

    Have fun and be safe.

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  3. I wish you the best. Single track century? That is like 300 road miles!

    It looks like only a dozen lunatics usually finish in this kind of insanity?

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  4. If anyone can do this, you can, and will, and well. We're all waiting on your return info.

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  5. I've ridden every inch of these trails countless times -- but never all at once! Ironwoman for sure. Best of luck, and stay hydrated!

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  6. Jill, I know you will do well. Just remember that moving slow is better than not moving at all. I've been far back in many long races and moved up near the end as others started struggling.

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  7. At least you start at sea level ;)

    Good luck!

    Hopfully the bears don't steal your bike.

    Most of all look around and enjoy the ride.

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  8. Good luck and be safe. Just like in car endurance racing, set a comfortable but swift pace and be flexible if things don't go as planned. Can't wait to hear the results!!

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  9. Go, Jill, go! 106 miles is farther than I drive in a month!

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