100 MileS And RuNNiN: Final thoughts before the race.

The run is done and I'm feeling good. Ready to go out there and put my best effort. Its funny, I now understand the whole sponsorship thing a little better. Jay P, former record holder of the GDR, uses slime tubes. Got me curious on trying some, ordered some and installed them last night. All because I knew if he used them then they had to be worth it, the man's an animal.
I learned from my previous race experience at the Santos 12 hour.
1. I got super worn out from the tech riding, to combat it, I beefed up my arms.
2. I got fatigued quick, but found out later, it was due to a medical condition, problem fixed.
3. I climbed too slow, lost 30 lbs to help with that.
4. I got a flat late in the race, when I was tired and fatigued, I discovered changing a flat was not as fast as I would of done it in the day time during a XC race. I got slime tubes, a slight weight penalty but I should be flat free and not have to worry about changing a flat late in the race. That flat made the difference between 81 miles and 90 miles. I could of moved up like three spots if I would not have flatted and made the podium in my class my first race.
5. I never really knew where I was in the race, my place, if I would have known I would of done somethings differently. This time I will have my pit do a better job of keeping me informed as well as fed and hydrated.(as if she doesn't have enough to do)

My concerns. Well, I am not worried about the heat, nor the rain. I'm not worried about the nutrition and I got all my bikes ready last night. I am worried slightly about my legs. I guess my new levels have made me stronger then my legs can handle and it will take some time to adjust, so I got no choice but to just go for it and hopefully I can ride myself into the numb zone quick.

I am really looking forward to getting the start out of the way. I do well in the run, I do well in the start, but I really look forward to that part of the race, that even though there may be 300 other people out there, you somehow always end up alone, that's the part I like.

On some final notes. At first I was hating my new expensive custom handlebar bag. But once I figured out how to use it, I discovered that thing is super duper fly. It works so good. I'm planning to head up to Pisgah early October and I plan to use it instead of a hydration pack for the purpose of secret training. Also, although I didn't get a crankset, I finally resurrected my surly cross check and its ready for some road work. I don't like riding road, but I don't want to do the horrible hundred on my Mamasita again, so I guess its the right tool for the right job kind of thing, I will probably take it for a spin tonight, why not. I applied my wobble measurements and it looks spot on and really nice. I know once I get on it, I will remember how much I love that bike and how many good memories we have. So many good and hard races together.... Its actually the bike out of all my bikes that I have had the longest. On average an MTB bike last about 1 year with me, I have learned to start keeping them a little longer now.

Laters,

LOS