12 Hour at
Night.
July 27-28,
2013
So as I
headed up to Prescott from the Phoenix metro valley I was talking with my
brother. He asked what the name of the
race was I was heading to. I told him 12
Hours at Night. His response was: “Seriously? Come on it’s got to be cooler than that.” Then as I was in a meeting this afternoon
with our attorney and I was talking with him and he asked the same
question. His response was much
different and was pretty good which was “Well at least you know exactly what you’re
getting into.” That is exactly it.
So here’s
the quick 2 second version of the race report.
It was long. I was slow. I’m not 17 anymore. And anyone that says staying up all night by
your self needs to try it their self.
Now those of
you that want some more details here you go.
So as stated the race is in Prescott (Preskit), AZ, which is about 2
hours from my cozy bed in Mesa. I worked
a little that morning and did some last minute running around town and then was
able to get a short hour or so nap in before heading up there about 3pm. I knew the race started at 8pm and I needed
to be there no later than 7pm, but I am usually not the one that want to show
up at 7pm and be rushing to get everything ready, so about 6pm I rolled in up
there. I had to make a couple of stops
before leaving the valley.
Well I get
there and get check-in and set up right along the trail. This was important as those of you that have
raced solo in a race before know you don’t want to spend a lot of time tracking
out to your gear and then getting back on course when you can be right
there. I packed a small folding table,
which is perfect when it’s just me racing as it will hold all of my needed
gear.
I pulled the
bike off the car and started to prep it.
Make sure the chain and gears all lubed and good, which really didn’t
make much difference after the first mud hole.
Strapped on the Serfas TSL-1500+ on the handlebars. Got the Serfas TSL-500+ set up on my POC
Trabec helmet. Set up all of my water
bottles with GU Roctane. Made sure all
of my fuel was ready and easily accessible.
Light batteries all charged and out.
Light chargers set-up at the neutral charging station where I knew they
would be to add batteries to later.
Lastly getting dressed to race.
Then came
the pre-race meeting. Dave Sewell with
Go-AR ran thru all the ups and downs and how the course was looking. He mentioned a little mud in a couple of
spots. Lighting flashed off in the
distance. Checked-in and got the arm-band. Then there was 5 minutes till start. Bike was staged and I was heading to the
actual start line to the Lemans start.
A friend and
race director Rick Eastman was at the start line to blow the air horn. We chatted for a couple of brief minutes
before it was time. Horn blows and we
are off and running to our bikes.
I was lucky
enough to be one of the first 4-5 racers to their bikes and off on the
trail. I had pre-road part of this
course the week before and I kind of shot out there passing a few and getting
into a good spot. The southern part of
the course is a wide almost fire-road.
Then we get into a couple of miles of single track leads up right back
up past the start line. This single
track goes on for about 2 miles before dumping back onto a mile or so of
fire-road that is called Rocky Road.
There were parts during the night I wished that this really was rocky
road ice cream. Prescott had received
rain almost everyday last week and Rocky Road seemed a little rockier than
usual. None the less this climb is the
longest and roughest. Once you get to a
jog in the climb you know you’re about there.
Then there is a small single track section, and when I say small its a
couple hundred yards and this dumps you onto some rough asphalt where you
travel next to the road for a bit. Dump
off the asphalt onto another short single track and then thru the first tunnel.
Once you
cross thru the first tunnel your well over half way thru the lap. Up the Outback of fire-road and down the
Outback before grabbing some single-track to climb and some more single track
to climb. This single track got a little
rutty as the night went on. You dump out
of part of this single-track and all of the sudden there is a new tunnel to
cross under. A short quick climb and
then you’re descending back into the start/finish area.
So as I was
writing this I realized that I was leaving out some detail areas on the
course. Along the southern fire-road in
the first few miles there was a mud puddle that covered the entire road and no
way to avoid it. First lap I saw it and
thought “well it’s going to rain sometime tonight anyways, so just get muddy
now.” Well this puddle got nastier and
sloppier as the night went on. I
specifically remember hitting it once and sliding about 2 feet one way and then
another time chunks of mud flying up and hitting me in the face.
So the first
lap seemed extremely long and slow for me.
I came up on one rider with no lights; this is a night race I thought to
myself. He ended up tucking in behind me
and finished that lap. We chatted a
little on the way and he was the 17 year old that made me realize I’m not 17
anymore. Later in the race I remember
him passing me and I have no idea where he came from.
My second
lap seemed much better than my first one and then came 3rd and the 4th
lap. Around 12:30am-1am I rolled in from
my 4th lap. It was starting
to wear on me. I grabbed some fuel,
switch water bottles and put on some arm warmers. Spent about 5-10 minutes doing this, which
was much longer than what I should have.
Then headed out on 5.
Those of you
reading this that have done long endurance races during the day I’m not sure
you can compare. Those that have done
long endurance races that lead into the dark hours of the night more than
likely have felt what I’m about to describe.
It’s 1:30am and you have pretty much been up all day as it is. Your in the middle of no where by yourself, it’s
dark and a little chilly or cool. You’re
wet or at least damp. You mind is trying
to wonder where-ever it can. Your body
is starting to tell you that it’s tired.
This is the part in the race where you really start to get discourage,
on top of the fact that there is a 17 year old that is making you look like
shit.
Finishing
the 5th lap I decide I need to take a few extra minutes before
heading out again. I could see the time
clock from where I was staged and I told myself I’m going to take 20
minutes. This was way to much time this
time. Some how I pulled myself together
and headed out yet again. My
discouragement had somewhat departed and I was feeling better. Finishing lap 6 was good and then I
immediately headed back out for 7.
By this
point in the race I think I could ride this course with my eyes closed, and
there were times I wanted to. 7 wasn’t
bad, but coming in I knew I needed to rest.
At this point, well I’m sure it was much earlier in the race, but I
could really notice it then, but the mud build up on the bike was building and
rubbing and all kind of noises it seemed like.
I stopped for a few after 7 and really rested again to long.
Heading out
on 8 I knew this was my last one. No
matter what I was done. I put my all
into the single track areas and just grinded out the climbs. I could see the sun starting to rise as I was
finishing this lap.
All in all
it was a great race. Lessons
learned? Ride more. Ride faster.
I’m not 17 anymore. I’m not a
professional and no-one is paying me to do this. And as my daughter told me 5th is
better than 10th. Thanks for looking at the positive side Annie.
BIG THANKS
TO:
Stan’s
NoTubes – ZTR Crest wheels and sealant
Serfas –
Lights, Pike (eyewear), shorts, gloves, saddle bag, tool, Suplest (shoes)
Polar –
water bottles
GU – Roctane
(GU & powder mix) & Chomps
Mike’s Bike
Chalet – Bike maintenance
Geigerrig –
backpacks
Geax – Tires
