24 Hours of Old Pueblo (24HOP)
Oro Valley, AZ
February 15-16, 2014
Mike Bellows
24 Hours at the Old Pueblo – Race Report
This was the third year I’ve raced the Old Pueblo (and I use
the term race liberally). Rather than
share a blow-by-blow of each lap, what is important can be summed up in a good
course, good atmosphere, and good friends.
Notwithstanding the fact that I have been there – done that, this year I
saw a number of “firsts, including:
§ * Me really running during the Monte Carlo start
(What was I thinking?)
§ * Scott bonking on lap #3 (and napping the rest of
the race)
§ * Don breaking his wrist (and finishing the lap of
course!)
§ * Frank get 14 stitches from a wreck on the
Bitches (7 top & 7 bottom)
§ * Me setting a personal best (5 laps)
§ * A legitimate camp site and a ton of decent food
A big shout out and thanks to the sponsors who provided gear
which allowed the teams to compete in this year’s event:
§ * Serfas for the saddles, bags, and lights
§ * Stan’s for the sealant
§ * GU for the race nutrition
§ * Polar Bottle for the water bottles
Until next year…
Mike
24 Hours of Old Pueblo (24HOP)
Oro Valley, AZ
February 15-16, 2014
Don Mellow
Started with an anticipated drive down, hoping to get in 5 laps, which is one more than last year. Everything on the bike was dialed in, I had put some good training miles on in the previous months, and was looking forward to racing with some new comers to the race. We got to camp and had a great spot…better than years past, and had plenty of room. Big thanks to all those that went down early. After getting set up, I had the chance to walk around with some of the new team members to show them around. How the memories started to come back from last year. I really dislike the staging tent, but love the finish line. Such drastic emotions for both end of the tent.
We got some food and checked out the drop…never done the drop, and did not do it this year. I don’t need those rocks to go to the urgent care…keep reading.
Race day came, and I was definitely hydrated. Got the last of the team early that morning and settled in to relax and get ready for the start. Kept eating and drinking, and listening to past race stories and scaring the new guys with complaints of every aspect of the race. Boy, they really started giving some long lap times. Guess they were trying to be conservative, but I knew they would race faster when the juices started flowing.
Noon came and the bikes were staged. Everyone had a great start and off they went in the dust of the 24 hour…. My day lap came quick as everyone was crushing their conservative time. Great job boys! I started out about 5, and had a beautiful sunset to stare at, and was making good time for me. Did the &$%(itches, and was just settling in to staying on the bike and pacing myself. Again, I was prepared to do 5 laps. Past a few, got passed…you know the drill. Enjoyed climbing some of the hills that had given me trouble in the past and did really well. I was looking forward to the last climb, as I knew the terrain, and was dreaming of the last downhill. I wanted a 1:20 or less.. I came down the hill and was making pretty good time, but I did notice there was more exposed rocks on the trail than past years and was just trying to get to know the trail again. Finish line….1:23. I was happy with that as it was my fastest lap yet.
2nd round. The guys killed it again. Staying very consistent on the 1st night lap. I was thinking I would do the same and was anticipating the chance to earn my keep. Changed at the tent and there I went. I was feeling really good. No cramps from the day heat lap, and enjoyed the night time riding, as that is when I do most of training. Got to the (&((*%%itches….1, 2, 3, and then #4. I was cruising down #4, looking at the red blinking light at the bottom (I knew it was the hazard-duh). I was reading the road and picking my line to stay in control and do well. Well…when I got closer to the bottom and my lights focused on the not so downhill angle, it was then that I realized that my line was off. The trail was actually 3 feet to the left of the blinking hazard light and caution tape. My brain calculated the risk to jump over, then said NOPE, then I hit the brakes. It took just a few seconds, and there I was bearing down on a 14” high vertical curb of dirt at the bottom of #4, and BAAM. I remember being in the air…my bike lights behind me (never a good thing) and then I remember trying to get up and seeing all the dirt on my pretty new K-Blue racing jersey. I looked at all the body parts to assess the damage. Yep, the knee was bleeding, the other knee was swollen up immediately, and my elbow hurt. Yes, there was blood bleeding thru my new K-Blue racing arm thingees.
I went to my bike and expected a taco or something. It was still round, and the fork was good. The chain had whipped around itself a few times, but got it free. Then I asked, “where the heck is my water bottle?” I found it 30-40’ from the crash site. Only physics majors would be able to calculate the force it took to launch that baby! Oh, and I remember when I got up, I said, “You(^^&$^itch!!” Anyways, got back on and headed up the hill to the vulture type medic station. They asked the obvious question that one would ask when they see lights go round and round in the dark. I wish I had their “Sign”. They checked me out as I started complaining as to why they did not mark the hazard better!!! I hit a dirt curb! They replied with O, yea, we just hauled 7 guys off about 45 minutes ago. Not to happy, but still thanked them for volunteering. After they asked me how things felt, I told them my wrist was a little tingly and they asked if I was going to continue or should they call the ambulance. I paused, extremely pissed, and said, “you know what…it’s the 24 hour race, I’m going.”
I got back on the trail and was still assessing the various burning and aching parts of my body and watching how the bike was handing. Bike was good, adrenaline was still flowing and down the hill I went. It wasn’t until a few miles down the trail when I had to down shift, that I started to realize that the thumb couldn’t push the shifter well. Holy crap, it hurt! Kept going though and was testing my abilities. I started to have strength issues with my left wrist, and it wasn’t long before my refill of prescriptive adrenaline started to run low. I was on the back side of the lap, and it become every so difficult to stand up, hold on, or even shift. I just wanted to finish the lap so we could stay on track with our laps. I think the pain made me forget about the pedaling and pain. I just kept on going.
So I finally made it to the last downhill….I really don’t remember even getting there, but I was there. Hauling butt, dodging rocks, just praying that I could keep a good grip until the bottom. This was going to be one heck of story. I got to the finish line, and expected to turn a slow lap, and my other team member was probably asleep waiting for me. Got in at 1:40, and was very happy with that time considering the paragraphs above. I told him I thought I broke my wrist. He was worried, but as a true racing warrior, he looked me off and ran out of the tent. I didn’t take it personalJ Then I was greeted by some of the race wives, all worried and such. They took my bike and I went with another team member to the medic tent. So not where I wanted to be. I did the whole medic tent thing…lots of questions, got a riding cast because I thought I could keep going and left. I got back to the camp, and was sharing my story, but really feeling the pain. There was definitely something wong! I rested for a few hours and got up to see how I was doing, but the swelling in the wrist was pretty bad, and the guys in camp were telling me I had probably broke some bones…
Sure enough, got back to town and went to the urgent care. Broken Scoifold bone or something. Got a splint case and went to the hand doc a few days later. Yep, it’s broke, and also a fracture in the right elbow. Now I am the proud owner of a black forearm cast for 6 weeks and many scabs from the bloody spots. I had just survived a 20 MPH impact on (&(*%*itch #4, and lived tell about it. I want to mention the rest of the team rode hard and did an awesome job to get in 13 laps between the last two remaining riders. Now I only have the dreams of finishing lap #5. Keeps me going though…Maybe next year.
Don
24 Hours of Old Pueblo (24HOP)
Oro Valley, AZ
February 15-16, 2014
Scott Thomas
Old Pueblo.... Well this is maybe my favorite race course. Maybe this is because over the last 3 years (including this year) I have logged in more than 300 miles on it.
A little back ground behind my love hate relationship with Old Pueblo. In September of 2011 I was working in Utah and I got this weird idea that I was going to go after 24HOP solo. Doing a little research I found out that registration opened on Oct 1st and that the male solo category would sell out in less than 24 hours. At this point I was the only K-Blue racer that would be doing this race as a solo or with a team. I finished 6 laps (97.2 miles) in 2012. I returned again as a solo in 2013 this time I had another 4-person male K-Blue team there for some support and completed 9 laps (145.8 miles).
2014 seemed very different to me. 3 other K-Blue racers had each put together their own 4-person K-Blue race teams for 24HOP this year(their race reports to follow). This put a campsite of 13 plus. The support at the site was great. All the gear possibly needed was there.
So Friday afternoon Mike and I headed down to 24HOP. Sterling and Don where already there with some members of their teams and a couple of Mike's guys were already there as well. I was nice to get there on Friday afternoon and not feel stressed to get everything set up as years past when I would arrive on Saturday mornings.
Pre-race meeting and then same old same old stuff. Then comes the walk to the start line. The butterflies set in as I wait for the start. Oh yeah and the weather was great if you were sitting around watching the race. Sunny and 85 during the day and a full moon and 55 at night. Perfect weather.
Race starts and it seemed a bit dustier this year than the last couple of years. Started out really good and the my pace seemed good. Not to fast as I knew I had a long day ahead of me. Burnt thru the first lap and felt great. Stopped and grabbed a banana and switched water bottles and out again. 1:24 on the first lap.
Second lap not much different from the first. It was really spreading out, so makes it a little nicer on the single track stuff. I could start to feel the heat on me. It was hitting 2:30-3pm and it seemed to be warming up. Wrapped up that lap and came in to switch water bottles again. This time when getting off my bike I felt a small cramp in my leg. This isn't common for me. I don't cramp. Ever. None the less drank some water and switch and head out. 1:40 on that lap.
Third lap. I was drinking water and GU Roctane. I could really feel the sun just soaking into my skin. I really didn't start to get to bad on this lap till about mile 12 as I started to climb up to the powerline. This area has always been my not so favorite part of the course. I powered through the powerline section really starting to cramp.
Got back to the camp and it seemed like within 15 minutes or so of being there the legs were so cramped I couldn't move. The next 2-3 hours seemed to be consistent cramping in my legs. I'm not sure I have ever had pain that bad in my legs. So for the next 10 hours or so I recovered. Or so I thought.
Morning came and I decided that I was good to go out for a lap or two. Well I was wrong. This was the longest lap I have ever done there at 24HOP. I finished the lap and the race. My worse solo finish ever at 24HOP.
So a little of what I didn't mention at the beginning. 2 days prior to 24HOP I was stretching my legs out on a 30 mile road ride and told myself then that 2014 would be my last year at 24HOP as a solo for a while if I ever came back to do it as a solo. Then the dehydration and the poor finish was the icing on the cake. Old Pueblo and I really do have a love hate relationship. Here we are 2 solid months after 24HOP and I am on the fence of going back to try and pull together the best finish I can. Guess we will see how I feel come October.
Big thanks to Serfas (saddles, tires, shoes, eyewear, shorts, gloves, CO2, mini tools, grips and more), Stan's NotTubes (sealant), Crank Brothers (pedals and wheels), Geigerrig (hydration packs), GU Energy (Roctane Brew, GU, Roctane GU, Chomps), Polar Bottle (water bottles) and POC (helmets and gloves).
Scott
