One Hell of a Race - Breckenridge 100

What an amazing race!! The hardest race ever!! 100 miles of off road up a couple of mountains! Had to register the night before - after doing so Scott and I had a quick look at a couple of the loops - to me it looked like about 10 good climbs - ~ 12000 feet of climbing - not much point in checking it out further at this stage. It would be a hard day! There was a riders briefing meeting at 5.45 am and then we set off at 6. I was trying out my new Hammer products - a selection of supplements and I had sorted the gels and shakes into hourly packs - and was hoping they would do the job! As soon as we started I felt sick - maybe the food for breakfast - maybe the altitude. Even here at the start I was higher than I had ridden my bike this year! Almost immediately we hit Breckenridge Mountain - up the steepest ski trail!! Unbelievably difficult! My heart rate was immediately through the roof - I just couldnt seem to calm it down! So painful all the way up! Then the down though - really cool - the part I love! Real fun - right across the hill - if you'd fallen off the side you would have tumbled all the way down the mountain!! I managed to overtake a whole load of riders here - very cool! Then up and down again along a few bike paths - and then back to the starting point and the end of the first loop. Scott asked me how I was feeling - pretty terrible was the answer!! We did a great switch over with supplies and I was off on lap 2. Seemed a little easier climb at first - more of a dirt road to the top and then an incredible down - the next climb was harder - more like a 4 wheel drive track - and ended up with quite a bit of walking. At mile #4 I was so exhausted - at mile # 44 I really didnt know how I was even going to finish!! I was pushing, walking, hiking, riding - anything to get up that mountain! Another guy was struggling similarly along with me and declared he was going to call it quits after the second lap - but no way was I going to quit - I was determined to finish even if it killed me!! We chatted and yo- yoed our way along - he seemed to walk while I rode and vice versa! It was a killer hill - there were so many people walking!! The trouble with this section was all those doing the 32 or 68 mile courses joined it with us and so if you stopped to let someone by you ended up having to wait for another 10 or so. Bit of a pain!!

There were two really good downhills on this section though - but all I could think of was getting back and finishing lap 2 - I needed then to reach the cut off point on the third section in time!! I switched camelbaks etc with Scott again and set off on the final lap. The bike was doing really well - Scott lubed the chain for me. Lap 3 was really one peak - straight out and back again! - so up, down, loop round and return. We had to reach Borea Pass before the cut off time otherwise you would not be allowed to continue! This was a killer - climbing a 4 wheel drive track with huge boulders all around. At one point I turned around and could see about 40 people all hiking!! No one riding!! We were tired and it was a hard trail!! Finally got out on the road and reached the aid station at the top of the pass in time. It was good to have a rest! Then we headed off down the road turning off road onto an amazing single track through the woods - down into the bowl - almost like a roller coaster - up and down - great fun! It lasted for ages but I felt good and was enjoying it - I thought this would turn out to be my best lap!! Caught up with a load of people - the supplements seemed awesome and although I still felt sick I was used to it and could cope fine and had some energy!! Then as I reached the bottom of the mountain I started to crash!! Maybe dehydration? I dont think so - maybe just the altitude?? But my body could no longer cope!! After the rest there was a 12 mile climb up a gravel road - should have been easy! I set off at a decent speed but then just got slower and slower - I could barely go for a mile at a time! The really disappointing thing is that at least 40 people passed me on this final climb. But anyway I eventually made it to the top where I practically collapsed and ended up just sitting there for 10 minutes! Trying to drink and eat. Decided it wasnt really making me feel any better and there were only 10 miles left which would be mainly downhill so I should get it over and done with!!

So I went flying down another great single track and then my front suspension went. The air in the fork had leaked out and this caused the spring to rebound too much. I had to take it steady now as I didnt want to do more damage. Now I was just wanting it to end! Every now and then there was a little climb - each one killed me!! Eventually I crossed the finish line - it was great to see Scott! It had been an ordeal in many ways. The toughest 12 hours ride ever - in fact my time was 13 hrs 45 mins including the rests and me dying by the side of the road!!

But all in all what an amazing race!! Such a cool day - such a cool race. I just wished I had felt a little better! But I absolutely loved it. I would be surprised to find a harder race than that. And I do need to train a lot more at altitude - even the start was higher than anything I had ridden since Nepal. But the weather had also been pretty good - I just cant wait to do it again next year - and beat my time!! Disappointing that I ended up last in my age category - I lost at least 6 places in that final climb! Never mind - that doesnt really matter. To be honest - the way I felt at the half way point it was amazing just to finish! One hell of a race. The winner had an incredible time of 8 hours 10 minutes - no idea how he does that! Overall an awesome day - great fun (OK I am saying that as I am collapsed here on the couch just trying to recover). I will be back next year - hopefully on a different bike more suited to this type of race!!

Breckenridge 100 Today

Article about today's race:

Summit Daily

Course Description: Featuring an inspiring, sprawling course nestled between 3 ski resorts, participants will face a unique challenge of strength and fortitude. The distinct clover-leaf loops offer team competitors the opportunity to strategize their efforts and pick which loop each participant will tackle. Our goal is to provide you a unique and rewarding experience in cross-country competition. Our renowned course architect has linked together an amazing, interconnecting network of backcountry trails, dirt roads, double track and bike paths that will take you far beyond the typical boundaries of endurance racing. From start to finish, you will be both pampered and pushed to your limit at the same time. You’ll cross the Continental Divide three times, climb 12,000 foot passes and forge high mountain streams while all the time returning to the support and encouragement of our staff, friends and teammates who are waiting for you at Carter Park in historic downtown Breckenridge.

Off to Denver

Have had a busy two weeks since Tour Divide. Returned to my old school in North Wales, UK (St David's College, Llandudno) to present the prizes to the leavers and talk about my Guinness world record - many thanks to everyone for making me feel so welcome - I had a great day and managed to meet up with a few friends while there! Not sure about inspiring others but certainly managed to motivate myself into further preparations and planning for my ultimate adventure - to pedal round the world - more on that later!!

After that returned to Roswell to organise my collection of bikes and parts (sorry about the mess mum!) - and how to get them to Colorado. All ready now - my flight to Denver leaves in a couple of hours - my new home for a while!! Plenty of races to keep me occupied. First one - the Breckenridge 100 - is next Saturday! Am not feeling 100% fit still so not expecting a great result - but intend to finish!! Sounds a great race - this incredible course climbs 13,719 feet over its 100 miles and features a sprawling course nestled between 3 ski resorts. It crosses the Continental Divide three times and climbs 12,000 foot passes over a snow field, ending back in Breckenridge!!

Breckenridge 100

Looking forward to my TdA reunion with Scott - thanks to him and Tori for offering to let me crash at theirs for a while.

St David's Speech Day

Loved my school in North Wales! 13 years ago I attended Speech day as a leaver and today I am presenting the prizes!! Good luck to all the Upper Sixth leavers!!