Lotoja 2013 Report Part II

I was worried riding out of Montpelier.  I didn't feel very good and I knew how far I had to still go.  I knew I'd burned a lot of energy trying to catch on the group after my unfortunate stop approaching the Strawberry climb and I knew that last years "dark place" for me was still to come on the Salt River climb.  But I did what I knew I had to do when the doubts enter my mind.  I just kept pedaling.  Soon I was feeling better.  In between the Strawberry Climb and the Salt River climb there is the smaller Geneva Summit climb.  I remember secretly hoping as I was climbing this hill that maybe this was actually the Salt River climb and that somehow I had already done Geneva and this would be my last major climb of the day.  But deep down I knew I was fooling myself and I laughed at myself because I remember thinking the same thing the year before.  Soon enough Geneva was done and I remarked to the guy riding next to me that we only have one more major climb left.  I said this more for myself but the guy did not look amused.

I tried to keep my fear of the next climb in check as I approached it.  It wasn't like it was that hard or long of a climb, it was just the fact that last year this was the hardest point for me.  I remember hitting a major wall both figuratively and literally.  I had to really will myself up last year.  With my struggles up Strawberry already this year I was worried that it would be all the worse on this last climb.  But as I continued up I noticed that I had my strength and I felt okay.  I was also passing people and I wasn't being passed too much.  This was a good sign for me.  I found a good rhythm and worked myself up to the top without too much trouble.  I was grateful at this point not to have a repeat of last year.

I found myself in a good group as we worked our way into Afton.  It took much longer than I expected to finally arrive.  Once there I was grateful to see Jen there waiting.  My arms and shoulders were hurting pretty good and up til then I didn't have to take any Advil but I remember thinking on my way in that I probably ought to get some from Jen at this stop.  But once in Afton I had totally forgotten this until Jen suggested I take some.  I was grateful she did because this made me feel so much better as far as the aches and pains in the shoulders and neck.

I rode by myself for the first part out of Afton until I was caught by 2 riders from another race group.  This was the first I'd seen of this group but I didn't even think that perhaps they were the leaders in their group.  I didn't hesitate latching on and they seemed more than happy that I work with them.   The 3 of us rode hard through Star Valley.  Once in a while we'd get some others in our group that would work with us but soon they'd disappear.  As we raced through the valley I'd often think to myself that I need to eat and drink but it always seemed an inopportune time to do so.  The three of us were working so well I didn't dare interrupt the rhythm of the thing.  I hardly drank and I don't think I ate at all, all the way to Alpine.  Once there I met up with Jen as I watched the other 2 guys ride through grabbing bags of food as they rode on.  I remember thinking they must be the really serious, not even stopping.   I found Jen waiting for me and I began apologizing when she found all of the food in my pockets uneaten.  I think she found this funny that I would apologize but somehow I felt at the time that I let her down buy not doing so.  Still, she cleared my pockets and put in the minimal amount of food for the last stretch.

Rolling into Alpine, the last feedzone for me.

Again I was by myself leaving Alpine until I was caught by a group of about 7 guys.  I began working with them and taking pulls when, after just getting done with one of my pulls, I noticed the guys in the group looked a little uneasy.  A guy at the back then informed me that the others in the group had asked him not to help because they were going for the win in their category and didn't want to get in trouble with race officials accepting help from others outside of their category.   This made me laugh a bit and I told the guy that they weren't in the lead.  In fact, I just rode with a couple of guys who are in their category and they were way ahead by now.  I wondered if I should tell them or not, or maybe they already knew?  Either way, I was happy to let them do all the work through Snake Creek Canyon.  Eventually, other mixed groups caught us and were faster and I latched onto them.  I wondered if the group that asked us not to help would hold to their morals and not latch on to this bigger, faster group.  Sure enough, they latched on.  Maybe by then they realized they weren't in the lead of their category.

We rolled through Hoback Junction and I skipped the neutral  feed zone there.  I still hadn't eaten much but I was feeling better and better and I knew I had enough energy to make it to the end.  Once out of Snake Creek we made the turn towards Jackson I could feel myself getting really happy.  This was my favorite part of the ride and seemed to come quicker then I expected.  As we continued toward the finish the speeds steadily picked up.  There were quite a few from my category in the group I was in and I was still feeling pretty good so I made plans in my head to try to take the sprint out of at least my group.  This would be different from last year as I didn't even attempt a sprint at the end.  I could have but  I think I felt stupid doing so when I was finishing so far behind the leaders.  This time I didn't care.  I knew I would regret if I didn't.

The finish line came faster than I was expecting.  I was surprised to see the 1 km to go sign so soon.  I was further back in the pack than I wanted and guys began sprinting in the front.  I followed a guy who started sprinting just in front of me and used him as a lead-out.  I was able to round him and caught who I thought were the lead guys in our little group at the line.  As I stopped at the finish I realized there was one guy from our category who must of got off the front and finished solo.  Must not have seen that.  Oh, well.  I was happy to be done.

Jen's photo of the finish line.  I didn't see her as I came in this time due to the sprint.

It's a strange feeling to finally stop.  As they make you stand to take off your timing strap I remember feeling that I should be hurrying and that I should get back on the bike and go.  But I was done.  No more hurrying.  I still felt pretty good too.  Better than I did the year before.  And last year I finished strong as well.  Upon reflection I wonder if this means I'm not leaving it all on the road like I should.  But it sure felt like I was going as hard as I could throughout.  It's just that for 2 years running I did much better, especially in the overall standings, in the last 30 to 40 miles of the race.   And I hadn't really eaten particularly well since Afton.  I will have to ponder this some more as I prepare for next year.

Glad to be done.  Perfect riding weather all day.

In the excitement of the finish line I completely forgot to get my finishing medal.  Oh well, I guess they'll mail it to me.

There will be a next year.  I'll have higher goals and hopefully bigger plans.  I've got plenty of time to prepare, right?  As I write this I laugh because I had a dream the night after Lotoja that it was race day 2014.   I thought "wholly crap, didn't I just do this."  I know this dream has some truth to it.