Training Log Archive: kateness

Event: The Jersey Inferno
 

Wow. Today’s Jersey Inferno kicked my butt! Raced with Evan and Rick as Chaos Machine/LifestrAw while @StrongMachine stayed home with W. An incredibly physical course on a day that I wasn’t feeling great and Evan had a headache all race. Luckily Rick’s nav was super solid and we put in a serious team effort to get ourselves to the finish line.

Race began about 20 minutes before the planned 8am start (an AR first??) but RD Eric gave us til 6 to finish, warning teams the course may not be clearable due to “very technical” MTB.

Format was Trek-Bike-Trek-Bike, paddle leg canceled due to logistical issues (oh the joys of RDing). First trek was a fun ridge thru-trek with tons of elevation gain and loss, and 2 optional CPs that added even more. My struggles began this leg but managed to fight the lethargy and make it to the bike.

First bike began with some easy road miles then very quickly turned hellish :) We made our way through several miles of very technical trail made more challenging by nearly 100% leaf cover and lots of climbing. We ended up bike-whacking a fair amount since off-trail, more direct routes were just as doable as hike-a-biking on trail. I’ve never been so happy to make it to a TA, this one in Ringwood State Park at a spot with tons of Boy Scouts around doing whatever it is that they do.

Back on foot we tackled a 14 point Rogaine. Loved this section, especially the first half where we pushed hard and Rick’s nav raised our spirits. Ended up skipping 4 CPs as exhaustion set in - again a VERY vertical section that we mostly bushwhacked. In hindsight, our decision to get back to the TA a little earlier than we originally planned paid off big time...


...because the bike to the finish was similarly hellish :) Tons of leafy, technical stuff that we had to almost entirely walk until the last several miles on some really fun double track and then park roads. This section took us nearly 2 hours to complete, and we had to really rally to make sure we hustled in before the cut off, especially since we weren’t sure if the trail quality would improve at the end. We missed the last few optional CPs on MTB around the finish area, and were happy to make it to the finish in one piece. Unfortunately many teams arrived after the cut off and were treated to a rainstorm. Lucky us, we chowed down delicious post-race pasta and caught up with friends.

Many thanks to NYARA (and Eric Caravella especially) for putting together a super challenging but rewarding race today. Personally this was one of the most difficult races I can remember doing in terms of feeling off but having to push hard to make it through. The team really came together and the sense of accomplishment from completing a race like this is immense.

Results pending but we got 2nd in coed premier behind the awesome Rootstockers :) and I think around 5th overall behind a few very impressive solo racers.

Pleased with ankle brace and knee tape. Now on to recovery and strength/stability for preventing joint stuff for next year...