At the PEE!

This photo is not merely me being cute, but a profound statement concerning the existential ambivalence and desperation at the core of endurance racing.

I love it because, if done right, I hate it.

In sum: the start on T100 was a ridiculous, XC speed start. I feel to the back immediately, knowing what was to come. I hung on to the Yuri-train through the northbound route finding up to Reach 11, which was fast and uneventful, except for THE WALL. The plywood construction barrier blocking the path along side of the freeway would have been less amusing if I hadn’t been with the man himself, and this fundamentally unconcerned with route finding. Reach 11 was more fun dirt, but dusty amongst the train. That, and the lack of thought towards route finding seemed a bit unsporting, so I stopped for a snack and continued on my own, reaching trail in the McDowell’s at 0900 exactly. Lost Dog was fun, Sunrise easier than expected, sore back excepted. After tanking on water I cranked the tunes and headed off, still feeling good. Windgate was a grind, and hot, but it was still business and usual I was back at the trailhead at 1300.

I passed Chris G. and Fetish guy fixing a flat within a mile of the pavement, and not knowing about the broken (carbon) frame, and knowing how fast those guys had been on the paths, was determined to put down the hammer and not get caught. So I did, stopping once to refill my water bottles from the (f’d up hose rendering it mostly useless) dromedary. The last 20 miles, the middle 10 of which were straight, flat, largely mindless canal path, went quickly only in theory. The curse of the computer: stare at bars, ride straight, keep your speed above 15 at all times. A good way to bring the (unfamiliar) roadie hurt. I got a bit impatient and confused, exiting the canal path early and wandering around on roads before getting my shit together and riding the last miles amongst traffic on Bethany Home.

Thank god for the iPod.

At the finish: chair, beer, food. Good people as crazy as you are.

What more?!