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MountainBikeReview.com's Forum Archives - 24 Hours of Adrenalin Photo Essay Contest
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Experiment- 2 yrs of races, chronological order (11 posts)
|  Experiment- 2 yrs of races, chronological order | Carter Taylor
Oct 30, 2003 3:44 PM | | I am just going to see if I can put them all down, from most recent to the oldest. |
| Idyllwild | Carter Taylor
Oct 30, 2003 3:50 PM | | Carter Taylor Sep-29-03, 03:49 PM
"Idyllwild, 24 hr race report...depressing..."
I sit here in my office wondering what in the world is going on? I cannot unload my truck from the 24 hr race at Idyllwild this past weekend because I can't remember what the security number is to get into the gate to my storage locker. This is a number that I easily remember, but at this time it is gone, I just draw a blank. Is this normal,I do not know.
As a veteran of 9 solo efforts in the last 19 months, all of them exciting and challenging with good results, except the last 2, the World Solo Championships at Whistler (you can read race report at MTBR 24 Hrs of Adrenalin Photo Essay Contest page for those interested)and this past weekend at Idyllwild.
My race strategy was to go slow during the heat and then kick it up when it cooled off. Temperatures had to be close to 100* in the afternoon I would guess. I did the run and 1st lap in about 1:09 and then the 2nd lap at 1:03 (these times are unofficial, just the numbers my wife gave me). Half way around the 2nd loop I knew I was out of this race. My mouth was dry, body was fatigued and my mind was gone. So frustrating because I consider this my home track and really wanted to do well here after a dismal performance at Whistler.
My wife quickly inserted an IV and loaded me up on fluids after the 2nd lap trying to get my body back together. A bag later I take off with no enthusiasm and finish the 3rd lap at 4:09. Last year on this same course I had finished my 4th lap in this same time. That was it, I was done, toast, fried, it was over. I had made the decision not to kill myself like I did at Whistler if I did not feel well prior to the start of the race and my wife was holding me to it. I was Ok with it also, at least a little while.
A couple of hours later, around 6:30 PM sitting in my pit, showered and cleaned up. My wife and I waiting for some friends to show up so we could go into the town of Idyllwild for some dinner. In my own mind as the weather was cooling off, I wondered if I could get back into this race riding hard through the night. As I was telling my wife this, she wasn't taking it well either for two reasons, she wanted to go to dinner and second, my health. I do believe this was the correct order of her priorities.
While we argued, a voice drifted across the thin mountain air "Carter, what are you doing sitting there, get back out there !" That voice happened to belong to Wendy Skean, World Champion Womens Solo Rider the last two years for her age group. My wife was screaming " no Wendy", but it was too late, a quick change and I was gone.
I am not exactlly sure what time it was except I had to turn on my light the last half of the beginning climb, but for the first time since late August, I felt pretty good overall. My legs were strong, energy levels were up and my mind was positive. Even a flat tire on the downhill after the oak tree didn't get me down. I turned 3 consecutive laps having a good time, averaging about 1:10 per lap, riding steady on the climbs and pushing the meadows and flats a bit. I was getting excited thinking if I continued at this pace, I really could climb back into the race, maybe not top 3, but still a good finish. From past races, I believed this was a pace that I should have been able to hold.
On the 4th consecutive lap, it was gone, I knew this race was finally over. It is around 11:00 PM, all the riders I see are all bundled up in long sleeves and tights, so it must be cold, but I am burning up only wearing short sleeved jersey and shorts. Legs were strong because I could still push hard, but something that I needed to make riding 24's effortlessly or at least challenging and fun was gone.
A day after the race and only riding 7 laps in 12 hrs, I sit here totally wiped out, wondering what is going on and what was that four digit number? |
| World Championships-Whistler | Carter Taylor
Oct 30, 2003 3:53 PM | | Better late than never : World Solo Championship Report"
Sep-15-03, 11:29 AM I originally posted this on the Passion board Sept 15. I had forgotten completely about this part of MTB'R site, so I figured better late than never. Along with a few re-edits here it is.
A couple of comments also. I tend to focus on myself so much during a race, basically trying to monitor and control the system. I am like an airplane pilot who is watching the instrument panel and very rarely looks out the window. I know this being the 8th 24 hour solo effort in the last two years that I had done, this one was tough. After reading the other posts, it is refreshing to know that other people suffer just as bad as I had, but had a great experience anyway. Thanks to all you fellow competitors for the nice encouragement through out the race. It was great rehashing old relationships and making new ones also. Again, thanks to all. Cya at the next one.
Ok, time to write of my experiences 10 days ago at the 24 hrs of Adrenalin World Solo Championships held at Whistler BC., now that my energy levels are starting to come back up. I am about 80% of normal I would guess right now. Also, I tend to write like I ride; I just stubbornly plod on, so bear with me.
I have been training specifically for this race from the day after finishing the 24 hr race at McDowell Park, April 5 & 6 in Phoenix. I did not want to set the bar too low, so my goal was a top 10 finish in the Elite class.
I thought I was as prepared physically and mentally by the middle of August as I could have been, considering where I live and in the conditions I live in. I live 100' below sea level and in the desert, which meant lots of miles driving to escape extremely high temperatures and to get training in the hills.
On Thursday, 10 days before the race, I remember my body starting to ache and my head and sinuses begin to suffer from dryness with bouts of vertigo. I thought with 10 days to go and plenty of rest that I would be OK. I always believe that if you lie to yourself often enough, you will eventually believe it. So I kept telling myself that I was OK. Since I was tapering and not doing any sustained intensity, I never really noticed anything real bad while on the bike.
Cut to Thursday in San Diego checking in at Alaska Airlines: When I race solo I always carry 3 batteries. These batteries I have flown internationally and domestically a few times and never had a problem. Except coming home from Silver Star last year, we packed them in the luggage and forgot to declare them to the check in person. They looked awful strange to the baggage people x-raying the luggage and caused quite a stir for awhile. Anyway the check-in person in San Diego over-reacted, even after seeing they were a dry cell battery. They continued to treat them like a wet cell battery, which is a hazardous material, dry is not. After much time and negotiating, they were packed in a separate wet cell box and sent on their way.
All bikes, luggage and batteries did make it to Vancouver on time. We made the trip up to Whistler OK, even though my wife was no longer talking to me. That came from a silent argument we had at a Canadian Super Store. I can barely stand still long enough at a normal store than to have to hang around one of those monstrosities while my wife slowly searches for what she needs.
Pre-ride: Build both my bikes the next morning after setting up my pit. My mechanic and I headed down the hill and within 60 seconds were lost. They said many of the locals were taking down the markers for souvenirs, so the trail was not marked very well. Luckily, some other riders that knew the course came along, so we jumped in with them. I rode the whole course in my middle chain ring. The course had a ton of climbing. The down-hills were either steep or technical so there were not many places to recover for a flatlander like me. Sinuses and bouts of vertigo still bothered me while sitting around the hotel that afternoon and evening. A couple of hours after pre-running my calves ached, which is abnormal for me.
Strategy: I usually tend to go out hard after the run, hold the pace as long as I can, then just try and survive. I usually have a race plan for how many laps per block of hours, along with a nutritional plan for how many calories per hour to eat and when. Any pre-run strategy changed very quickly after riding the course, it became a very basic "stay upright and don't stop".
Race:
Lemans start: I was told the run would only be 400 meters. As I am rapidly converting the distance to feet in my head, I think that would have to be pretty easy. That's not long enough of a run to get in any trouble, even for me, a guy who can't run. I even considered crowding to the front for a 30 second kamikaze run, just to get my picture up there in the front with Chris and Tinker. The mass of people pushing to the front quickly dispelled any thought of doing that. At the start, I had my typical run, the pack surges and slowly gains speed while I try to hang on. To no avail though, I slowly fall backwards into and beyond the mass. I especially suffered when they made us run up and down a steep hill. I am sure glad chicken man was not there as last year at Silver Star, or I would have been spanked by the big guy in the chicken suit again.
Bike:
Lap 1: I am finally relieved when I reach my bike, now the race officially begins. The frontrunners are long gone and I am mired somewhere in mid pack, at least that is what I want to believe. Everybody is trying to use the wider sections prior to the single track to move up. I quickly pass many people only to lose 20 of the spots after floundering through a rock section and going over the handle bars and having to wait for a gap to get going again. Now I have already screwed up my race strategy by not staying upright. Covered in dirt, both knees sore from landing in the rocks, I quickly come to the conclusion that I had better get my stuff together, start riding and controlling my bike before I hurt myself or do something stupid. Things did get a bit better after this, but I had no snap in my legs that 1st loop. At the time it did not concern me because I usually go through many cycles during a 24 hr race. I think, if my cycle is starting at the bottom, all the better because I supposedly will only get stronger for the remainder of the race. I did go over the handlebars one more time in the special solo section, but I am not sure why, screwed up on a root or something.
Lap 2: I change out of the dirt covered clothes between laps and actually feel much better. It is so embarrassing to ride into the pits covered in dirt and blood. I did notice my skin was beet red while changing jerseys, again I thought, this is strange. Riders are spread out so now I can carry speed and ride all the sections. Again my climbing is terrible and there is no power in my legs. Half way around the loop my legs start to cramp. This causes immediate concern because now I know something is very wrong, because I very rarely ever cramp, maybe a couple times a year. I rapidly change my goals from a top 10 to just finishing the race. I kept telling myself," I am not going to let cramps knock me out of this race."
Lap 3 till sometime in the late evening: I am hurting so bad from the cramps. My stomach is messed up so I cannot eat or drink. I even cramped in my ankles and I have no idea what muscle group exists there. I offset the cramps by changing gearing, cadence and by not stopping. There is a section I started walking early in the race just to stretch my legs and stave off the cramps. I am still riding everything else but at no pace. I humor myself by keeping track of how many times I am being lapped by the top guys.
Sometime in the late evening till sometime prior to the sun coming up: It is finally cooling off quite a bit and I suddenly feel much better. I am trying to eat but my stomach is still rebelling. I have no power to push the lesser grades, but am now passing quite a few people on the steep sections. Again I am not stopping. I realize my only shot at doing anything is to stay on the bike. I tell anybody who will listen, "how much I love the night" and I actually am having a good time. I still am running the transition with a smile, trying to please all the volunteers with my attitude and endurance.
Sometime prior to the sun till 6:30 AM: Whatever fun I was having, gone now. The lack of nutrition finally has caught up with me. I shoot for 500- 700 calories an hour while racing, but for this race I was only getting 250-300, I just could not eat. I take my first break at 6:30 AM to analyze my situation and see what I have to do. My crew says I have moved up through the night into 25th place and have time to do 4 more laps. "Yea, right."
Sometime after 6:30AM till end of race: I decide I am only going to do 2 more laps, so I need to stretch the laps out. As the temperatures heat up, the cramps return. I finish lap 13 and instantly head out wanting to get finished with the race, but with no food and just a tiny bit of water. That was one of the stupidest thing I have ever done. Somewhere between checkpoint 1 and 2, I bonked so bad. My body finally shut down and it scared me. Scared me not because I thought I was in any health danger, I knew somebody would find me if I passed out. It scared me because I might not officially finish after suffering so much and being so close. I was going so slow, looking for food, bottles that contained water or anything edible on the ground. Problem was I had already passed all the rough sections where that stuff was everywhere. I finally made myself get on the bike and started pedaling, and pedaled more, and even pedaled more counting the time I thought it would take to get to checkpoint 2. Finally after 15 minutes of mental torture, I roll into checkpoint 2. They had Hydrade, a new performance drink sponsor this year, which I needed. After filling up my pack and eating most of their chocolate covered peanut balls that they happened to have for snacks, I now knew I would finish. I complete my 14th lap at 11:03, well behind the 22 laps Chris and Tinker did, in officially 25th place.
Lessons learned during race, not in any specific order: A 20 man corporate team and being the last man to go would be an ideal situation for my next race. Use a wet rag to cool off HID light if it does not want to restart. Do not run the transition when in the throes of cramping. Do not start a new lap, especially towards the end of a race without food or fluids. Be careful how much alcohol content those paper moist wipes contain after sitting on a bike for over 18 hrs (You'll have to figure this one out for yourself).
Lessons forgotten since the race: I seemed to have forgotten everything I learned because I just entered Idyllwild at the end of September as a solo racer. |
| 2003 McDowell | Carter Taylor
Oct 30, 2003 4:51 PM | | 24 Hrs @ McDowell Race Report"
Left Brawley Friday morning with my wife (nutritionist and medical duties), Wayne (director sportif) and Dave (1st timer in the solo division) and headed to Phoenix Az for the McDowell race.
We arrived and preran the course, it was the same as last year. You were either going up or down. If there was flat section, there was usually a headwind. Also more than enough rocks to go around.
Game plan: I was concerned about my early season form at Tucson a month ago, particularly my strength. I could not hold as fast of a pace there that I thought I should of been able to. My plan for this race was to break the race into four six hour blocks. The first block I would do six laps, the second I would do five, the third I would ride a very conservative four laps and eat alot to recover or save some energy for a kick in the last block.
The Race: Early in the race I found that there wasn't any way I was going to stay close to the leaders on lap times. I had to make sure I stayed with my game plan and hopefully caught some of them sleeping.
I knew I was giving up three to four minutes a lap if not more to Alex on his rigid singlespeed and there wasn't anything I could do about it. (Alex broke three chains during the race by the way and got sick during the night)
First Block: six laps in 5:54, felt comfortable but had to control my emotion. I kept wanting to go harder, but alas, better since won out and I stook to my game plan.
Second block: my 11th lap in 11:53, I love this portion of the night, I call it the magic hour. Also it is an equalizer. Had some lighting problems but my crew handled it fine.
Third Block: four more laps by 5:33 AM, there must of been three hours that I never saw another solo rider. My Director Sportif even told me that I was solo leader for about three minutes in the wee hours of the morning while the real solo leader had to repair a tire, then he blew by me like I was standind still. I was told he kept an eye on me as I left. These three minutes have to be the highlite of my whole cycling career. So my game plan seemed to be working, I had caught many of them sleeping I assumed.
In the back of my mind I knew that as soon as some of the big guys woke up and started clicking off fifty minute loops, they could take a loop back every two and a half loops. It was a motivator on the course for me, doing the arithmatic in my head while riding. One thing I forgot to mention, I do not want to know where I'm at in a race till mid morning. Because if I think I'm doing well and feel good, but I find out I'm not doing to good results wise, I can lose motivation instantly.
Fourth Block: took the only break between 5:33 till about 6:45. I set in a chair naked in front of mister heater taking a sponge bath and eating regular food. I do not think I offended anybody except my wife, I believe nobody saw me.
Before the start of my 18th lap, my director sportif told me I was in fourth and the guy in third had just left. I started my lap and caught the guy fairly quickly at the start, it looked like he was struggling a bit. Upon passing him, a rush of adrenaline took over and I just hammered that lap to put more time on him. At this point I'm thinking I might have my first podium. On my 19th lap a friend told me that the director sportif had miscaculated and I was actually in fifth. They were worried that it my bother me or cause depression or something I guess. At that point I did not care about results anymore anyway, my purpose was to get the 19th and 20th lap in, I was racing strictly for myself at this point.
Finished the 20th lap at 12:30 officially in 5th. Probably my best race ever, even better than my 4rth last September at Idyllwild.
Yea there were times I struggled. There were times I hurt so bad from the rough beating taken in the rocks. There were times I thought I might throw up during the third block. There were times I wanted to go faster but couldn't make my legs go. But what made it so sucessfull then? it was not giving up, working all the way to the end, doing the extra lap even though I didn't have to.
I also would like to thank all the other racers, volunteers and spectators, you were all awesome. I really appreciate the consideration from the other riders out there and your encouragement.
My racing season is over till the World's in August. Solo events take alot out of this 42 year old body so I plan to back off some, but I could be available for a team event if anybody needs a rider.
cya all,
Carter |
| 24 Hrs In The Old Pueblo | Carter Taylor
Oct 30, 2003 3:55 PM | | Carter Taylor Feb-17-03, 05:29 PM
"24 hrs In The Old Pueblo(long)"
Just got home from Tucson, actually feeling fairly well compared to yesterday. Neither my wife nor myself was in any shape to make the 5 hrs drive home after the race. Laying there in bed at the hotel last night, an IV solution entering into the body, a vicatin fog just starting to take effect, my wife asked me about what was the best part of the race, " the finish" was my reply after completing my 14th lap.
At this point I'm not sure how to sum up the race yet. 14 laps solo was 1 lap better than I did last year, but short of my goal for this year. My body started to falter on the 10th lap and flat hit the wall on the 11th which lead to a 2 hr loop. My wife stuck 2 liters of fluid in me, wrapped my body from the cold and kept my legs elevated for about an hour, to an hour and a half, at which I then did 3 more laps to finish the race.
I think to myself, I haven't been able to get the miles and time in on a bike till the days get longer, so physically I wasn't in any shape compared to Atlanta or Idylwild last year. One thing that I did not lose was my attitude though, I stayed happy and smiling till the end, even when I was trying to talk myself into quitting.
So back to the question my wife asked me. After having a chance to reflect, there were so many good parts of this race besides of how well or no so well I finished.
Getting to meet Alex Hardt on lap 2. He is a guy I raced with all last year but never met. We watched him put in a phenomenal performance at Phoenix and Idylwild races.I came up behind him, saw the helmet and vans. I asked "Alex, Alex Hardt?" and introduced myself. Also riding a large part of lap 4 with him also to where we could talk a bit. I didn't see him again till he blew by me like I was standing still Sunday morning. I wish I would of been able to meet Katherine also. Bad thing about riding solo, never get to see things or meet people except by chance.
Another best part of the race. The racers themselves, so many people were ready for a quick chat. Lots of friendly attitudes. I never have seen so many racers helping other racers before. Many times when you came across a racer who flatted or had a problem, there would be another racer also there.
The course: it was in excellent shape and with the full moon, just awesome. Weather was perfect once the race started. Question for those who know, I got passed by a guy early in the morning with no light, he was going a pretty good pace and even picked out a faint line to get around me. Was it my imagination or did he have on a funny looking helmet which lead me to believe he had some kind of night vision?
Spectators around the finish were awesome also. To the group at the cattle guard with the fire, thanks for letting me warm up there at the beginning of my 11th lap, but most of all for the encouragement the whole 24 hrs.
Volunteers worked there tails off. The women with the blond hair and glasses who scanned you on the right hand side was always very friendly and always had a quick smile.
My wife, alwys awake and ready to keep my pits to a minimum or if I needed some special attention. Her new mixture she tried this year for the night loops, hot accelerade in my cameback? To my crew also, for keeping my bike in top shape and anything else I needed.
There were 2 low moments also. The guy in a fetal position with hypothermia and a gal sitting next to him, that vision haunted me on my 10th lap. A pickup truck was in the process of picking him up when I passed again on my 11th lap an hour and a half later. My thought would be to have a couple of checkpoints with radios on the course so information could be passed on quickly.
The pit situation this year was terrible for me. We set up on the road between the transition tent and the cattle guard thinking the course used the road as in the previous year. After everything was set up, the guys said they'd tear down and move, but I figured I could just deal with it. I would ride the singletrack to the road, then up the road towards the tent to my pit, then back down the road and return to the course. On lap 10, a guy physically stood in front of me and made me stop at the cattle guard and asked me questions. He said everthing was cool since I exited and re-entered the course at the same spot. I guess people had been cutting the course from the transition tent and used the road to pick up the course. My race was going real good up till then. Since that was the lap I started having physical problems on, I have to blame the guy cause he got me out of my groove. Just kidding, the guy was doing his job. I seemed to lose so much time going up and down the road. Also not being on the course, my crew had no idea of what was going on, except by the results. They weren't any good either, since at one point they had me listed 1st which I knew was not correct. I wish I had gotten a picture of that, "Carter Taylor" at the top of the leader board, now that would of been a 1st.
14 laps, 11 of them nonstop, we kept the pitstops to just a few minutes each. An additional 3 laps with my last lap clocked at 1:33 that included about a 4 minute pit stop also, after not just hitting the wall, but slamming it head first. No flats or mechanicals. No injuries, I only rode the rock section for the first 3 laps and also the last lap just because as I got tired I didn't trust myself. My wife said a guy got body slammed there about 10 minutes before I came through on my last lap. No cactus needles anywhere. Never go sick. Met new people. Kept a great attitude even while I struggled.
On lap 13, a group started to form on the backside of the course. By the 14th loop, it was a group that consisted of about 10 men and women drinking a few beers. Anybody from here involved with that group? I always look at other riders and people and wonder, is he or she a MTBR passionite? All passionites need something special that they can wear that can be seen from the back for ID.
OK, after all this, how would I sum up the race after thinking about it for awhile?
It was a great race, can't wait till next year!
cyas, carter |
| Conyers, GA | Carter Taylor
Oct 30, 2003 4:07 PM | | 24 Hrs in Conyers Ga. my first DNF at a Trilife Race"
had an incredible time this past weekend. My wife's brother who I have only met in person one other time in the 18 years we have been married, came down from Tennessee with his family so we could spend some time together, he also worked with my wife in the pits. He is career army, so pulling a 24 duty roster was a piece of cake for him.
I loved the course, except it was so rough. The second half of the course was my favorite because it was very challenging. I liked the technical climbs, long and short, which I was able to climb consistently, except the climb to the checkpoint which I was only able to clean 3 out of the 13 laps I did. The switchback climb I had no problems until the roots got so slick, I couldn't make that first left hand turn. The granite climb, I walked the upper section about 3 times just because it hurt not to.
What sticks out the most for me about that race were the people. After finishing 4th 3 weeks ago in Idyllwild and already qualifying for the World Championships, plus my brother in law and his family being there and wanting to do some socializing, motivation was going to be a problem. During the run I put in very little effort, the first 4 laps my back was sore and I thought about quitting. My original game plan was to have fun and ride till around midnight then assess my position. I was not going to ride myself into the ground like I did 3 weeks ago.
Back to the people, I cannot believe the amount of encouragement that I was getting from fellow riders, people in the pits, the police officers, they kept me going. You people there at Conyers were the most supportive and vocal of anyplace I have ever been, again it was incredible. The encouragement pushed me another 7 laps, I think it was the 10th lap that I finally went over the 1 hr average by just a few minutes. The 11th lap was still fun and there were about 10 of us that were only about 20 minutes apart behind Josh, who was already 2 or 3 laps ahead of us, he was flying.
Then came the 12th lap, my back took a dump again, the mud was getting really bad at that point. After washing my drive chain my back stiffened up even worse so I called it and went back to my room across the street to soak and stretch it. I stayed there for about 3 hrs till 5 AM then got back on my bike and did my 13th lap, my back was so painfull still at that point I just turned in my baton at the end of the lap and called it a race.
Was back at the pits at 10:00, but only to pack my bike up in the box for the trip home. Hung out there cheering on fellow riders and new friends till 1:00. Then we went out and had a nice lunch with brother in law and family before they headed back to Tennessee.
My favorite line the whole time riding was, " how come I do not have a f/s?" I was riding a Klien Adroit Hardtail, maybe that was part of my back problem. Anyway, upon arrival back in San Diego on Monday, we stopped off at a Trek store just to look at a Fuel 100. You all know how it ends, a brand new 2002 Fuel 100 ended up in the back of my truck for the ride home.
Hope I am a better rider than I am a writer. ( rt is my hero the way she describes her races, makes you think you were there. Maybe one day I could write like that.) Oh well, work with what I have.
Anyway,cya all at the next one,
carter |
| 2002 Idyllwild | Carter Taylor
Oct 30, 2003 4:12 PM | | "Hardest race I have ever done, 24 Hrs of Idyllwild"
I sit here after 3 hrs of sleep, a massage, a liter of IV fluids and a painkiller in my body.
My game plan this weekend in the solo category was to: ( not in any particular order) 1st, throw away my heartrate monitor( because I got so sick of looking at numbers at the solo championships awhile back),I was going to ride how I felt. 2nd, try different nutrition plan because the last couple of races I had problems with bloating and cramping. 3rd, minimize pit stops to 2-5 minutes max. 4rth, go hard right from the biginning and don't stop, trusting to my recovery and the nutrition plan. 5th, mental game plan, start a loop, finish the loop. No stopping on the course for bathroom stops, sight seeing, eating, etc. 6th, after completing the run, having more than a dozen bikes still inthe racks.
Things were going pretty good from the start, I think I did the first four laps in 4:10, I need to see the official splits.
On the fourth lap, on the second downhill, I slammed my left leg into the ground to keep from wrecking in that rut that kept getting nastier and nastier. Must of twisted my knee alittle, because the muscles above the knee started to spasmn as it got colder. I tried mega dosages of advil and knee warmers to manage that knee. It was wierd, one lap I would have to practically ride one legged while it spasmned, the next lap I wouldn't feel it at all. The one thing that caused it to spasmn was by putting alot of pressure on the pedals.
I was still able to ride all the climbs till after my 10th lap, which then really started getting cold . I had alot of trouble managing my knee so it was necessary to start walking areas that put alot of pressure on my knee, like the beginning of the 2nd and 3rd climb, also the finishing climb.
My 5AM loop I walked every climb from bottom to top trying to keep moving and hope that my knee would come around. From that time on, it became a matter of survival, a couple loops I even had to run my little chain ring across the meadow, walk when I had to, ride when I could.
Results: I was in 8th early evening, moved to 4rth about midnight, the spent the rest of the time at 3rd. I lost 3rd when I finished my 16th lap at 10:30 AM, waited for 11:00 AM to cross the finish line to be official and quit the race due to the pain in my knee. A guy, #30 had finished his 15th lap around about 10:15 and did two more laps finishing at 12:45 for his 17th lap and 3rd on the podium. He earned it definitely.
Goals: the nutrition worked good, rode hard with no bloating or cramping, seemed to recover pretty good. The only time I took my helmet off was when I had to change to a dry jersey, about six times. Most pit stops were under 5 minutes with quite afew at only a couple minutes. The longest stop probably was about 15 minutes while my wife tried to massage and stretch my left knee before my 15th loop so I could continue on. The "start a loop, finish the loop" kept me agressive, racing with what I had, even if I was walking, it kept my head in it. In the past I would stop, look at the moon and take a ton of pee and food breaks on the course. The run, there were actually as many bikes still in the racks as those that had left, in other words, I was in the middle. I had been training at a mile length 3 days a week for the last four weeks, so there was improvement.
Overall, had a great weekend because stuff we tried worked. Not sure at this time what I would change, been to tired and sore to evaluate.
Wish I had a chance to meet some of you that were there, again maybe next time.
See you all at Conyers, GA. in three weeks for the next 24 hrs of adrenaline event.
Carter |
| World Championships- Silver Star | Carter Taylor
Oct 30, 2003 4:15 PM | | "My World Championships Report........Long"
sitting here reflecting on my adventure this past weekend at the Solo World Championships.
Flew out of San Diego early Thursday morning for Kelowna via Seattle with my bike, gear and clothes. My mechanics packed his bike, bike stand and tools, along with his gear and clothes. My wife was packed with medical and nutritional stuff plus her clothes also. One piece of advice to anyone traveling to San Diego, never stay at the Travelodge on Pacific Highway. I know the parking is free and they pay for the shuttle trip to the airport, but you are at the end of the runway, the jets, the trollies that ran tii after 11:00, and the train that went by at 4:00 am sure make it hard to get any sleep.
We make kelowna with all our gear still intact, rented us a brand new white 4-door Dodge 4x4 with leather seats and head up the road to Vernon.
My wife has us at a B&B there, what an exceptional experience that was, but that is a for another story, let's just say I got some culture.
Friday morning we head up the hill for a quick prerun, plus get our pit site set up, check in and all that stuff.
The course started out with a fairly quick middle chainring climb up to the top, thinking to myself this won't be too bad, since I do not consider myself any type of a good climber, but I could get in a good rythmn on it. We got to the top and entered the singletrack after checkpoint 2, again I thought, not too bad. There was a place that had 3-down arrows on it, I assumed from the map I had seen that that would be the drop off, again it did not look bad, you could actually roll it. There was one guy there with his head hanging sitting on the ground, it did look like he took a header there, but he was with 3 or 4 other guys, so we continued on.
Further on there was another set of 3-down arrows taking you into the woods, since 3-down arrows in So Cal really do not mean anything, I just dove right into the woods. At that point I realized, Canadians have a since of humor, fast wide open up hills and So Cal flattlanders killing downhills. I got down to the bottom of that one, but never again did I ride it or the other 2 sets of 3-down arrow sections.
I finished the loop thinking to myself, OK, I can survive this.
Race day: after the riders are called out, me being #66, I head off towards the back cause when it comes to running, I cannot run a lick. I can be quick on a base ball diamond or a tennis court, but to run any distance at all, I'm in trouble due to bad lower back and right knee.
Anyway the race starts, I just kind of sit there to let all the team guys get around me, they have us running about a half mile with an uphill and a downhill, I tried to stay with the back of the pack, but that became too much of a struggle and finally got dropped. My mechanic is screaming at me where he placed my bike in the racks, I really did not need to listen to him since there were only about a dozen bikes hanging when I got there.I had no trouble finding my bike.
We go out on the loop, really do not have any trouble. I thought I had ran a decent lap time.
To the blond girl who mention my name, once at the start/finish and once again towards the end of the extra solo lap, if you are at this site, since I mentioned before I left to say hello, I looked for you after the second time, but then I started to suffer a little and never recognized you again. I would of liked to of met people who use this site, sounds like there were a few there, maybe next time. I'm sure I spoke with Dana on his single speed at some point cause I tried to speak to everybody.
I always like to challenge myself, my game this time was to hold off being lapped by the leaders till at least the 4rth lap. Chris lapped me on my second lap going up the hill right after where the soloist do the extra 2k, Tinker caught me in the wooded area a few minutes later. I thought at that time I was holding a good pace, I was way under what I had originally set for myself, those guys were flying.
By the end of my 4rth lap, started to have some trouble with cramping, my wife shoots 300cc's of fluid in me and I'm ready to go again.
The next 4 laps were actually fun, I like riding at dusk and in the dark. My lap times were terrible, I couldn't get any rythmn going so I just backed off and enjoyed myself. There were some people sitting in a jacuzzi on the extra 2k loop, I tried to invite myself a couple times, but they never responded. Maybe they did not speak English, or did not like the idea of a cyclist hollering at them out of the dark and drizzle. That reminded me of the conversation I had with the guy from Austria out on the course, well it was a one-sided conversation, since I finally realized he spoke no English,only German.
It had been drizzling since the afternoon on and off again, but staying warm was no problem as long as I was riding. About midnight or a little after it started raining pretty good and I was soaking wet, came into the pit at about 1:00 am, still feeling good, but I made the fatal mistake, I sat down. Being wet I started to shiver badly, but instead of getting up and changing clothes, I hunkered down even more. I got colder and colder over the next 30 minutes, pretty soon fluid was building up in my lungs and I started coughing violently for the next 20 minutes. At that point my wife shut me down and sent me to the truck to run the heater and warm up. It was amazing how fast I went from having a great time till being violently sick.
I never slept, just sat there with the intentions of going out again as soon as it stopped raining. I do not own the right kind of stuff to ride in the rain for hour after hour I found out. Stuff I had would keep water off you but eventually would soak through.
It never stopped raining through the night and morning brought even worse weather which I witnessed from the truck. One part of me wanted to be out suffering in the weather, the other wanted to sell my bike for whoever would take it.
I already had admitted defeat to my wife and would take a DNF, I never regained any energy after my body shut down at 2:00 am. She said the magic words at that time "don't be a wuss, Cowboy Up", what sympathy I get from her. I come from a Pro Rodeo Background, so the words "Cowboy Up" would mean something like "Semper Fi" to a marine, the closest thing I could come to an analogy.
I jumped on my bike, no food or anything in my system and cruised an easy lap through the mud. I saw Christy Begay coming down the climb backwards and asked her if she needed anything, she just shook her head and kept rolling down the hill. I crossed the finish line after 11:00 am, so I was an official finisher: 25th out of 26 official finishers in the Elite category. ( Does that mean I was 25th in the World! ) I remember hearing one guy say that that soloist sure looked strong and fresh still when I went by, yea I was, cause I hadn't ridden for the last 8 hours.
I really did enjoy the trip, the new people I met, the country ( my wife is already looking at what it would take to become a resident of BC, she is an intensive care neonatal nurse, there seems to be a shortage of nurses in the country, I myself would bag groceries if I had to as long as I could ride).
That may be a few years down the road, but for now I am just getting ready for Idylwild in 3 weeks for another solo venture, see you there. |
| 2002 McDowell-Cannot find. | Carter Taylor
Oct 30, 2003 4:27 PM | | |
| 2002 24 Hrs in the Old Pueblo- still searching | Carter Taylor
Oct 30, 2003 4:28 PM | | |
| I do not know if I even posted a report (nm) | Carter Taylor
Nov 3, 2003 2:39 PM | | |
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