Training Log Archive: kgeisen

Event: Gold Rush Gravel Grinder
 

Well, Gold Rush didn't go quite the way I'd hoped. The morning started out about 80 degrees and super windy. I struggled early on between the wind and my typical slow to warm up-ness but recovered once we started climbing. The first 70 miles of the race is basically all climbing, but with mostly easy grades it was more like riding a slightly mushy Katy Trail than riding uphill.

I felt great and strong for much of the leg. The scenery was incredible, and because we were riding with hills all around us the wind wasn't nearly the factor is expected and the morning shade made sections feel like we'd ridden into air conditioning. Unfortunately, Renee was really struggling with her breathing, so I did a lot of soft pedaling to stick together and try to be in front whenever we had wind.

We were on pace to comfortably make the 12:30 cutoff, but somewhere around mile 50 everything fell apart. The temps were up, and the sun was high enough that we lost our shade. I really suffered in the heat. Renee, on the other hand, flipped a switch and started feeling good, meaning she did a ton of slowing and waiting for me.

I don't typically do well in heat, and today was really difficult. I took a 100oz camelbak bladder and 3 16-oz bottles. I refilled the bladder and 1.5 of the bottles at a mile 32 water stop, then had my bottles filled again at mile 65ish. Still, by the time I reached the checkpoint at mile 69 I had 1/2 bottle left (I did dump about half of one on myself to try to cool down).

I managed to stay on top of my nutrition and hydration, but by mile 67 I was so nauseous from the heat that I couldn't ride. I walked my bike until I got to a slight downhill and rode the rest of the way in, missing the cutoff by 15 min.

All I wanted to do was call Jeff and cry in the car, but after I sat for an hour with a cold towel and ice and eating a ton of potato chips, I decided I didn't drive 14 hours to ride 70 miles. I spent the next 40 miles at pleasure cruise pace, saw lots more amazing Black Hills scenery, and met some nice people.

It wasn't the race I trained for, but I came here to ride my bike and I got to do that all day. I'd worried a little about how I'd handle the terrain, never having climbed for so long, but this race it was the weather that was tougher than me.

Renee and I had planned to stick together and work together, but I think we may have done each other more harm than good in that the help we got from the other didn't outweigh the amount of time we spent waiting on each other. I think I'm just better off riding on my own so I can stick to a pace that works for me throughout the race.

C • I can relate 2

Rode the first few miles of the course plus a steep gravel road just because.