I drove into Tannehill Friday morning happy to be exiting good service and entering weekend 24 hour race culture. I had joined Jason’s 5 person just having fun team. I helped Chainbuster’s Dawn, Jason and family get the final touches on setup. Luckily my part was getting a lap in on the course to check the marking. I had forgotten how fun these trails are.
After my pre-ride I setup camp with my friends Alex and Shea, and their adorable Doberman puppy Dita. I then got to ride some of the new trails out there with 3/5 of team Pudgish and Sluggish. The trails were great, but I was dying from the heat. I realized later that I was dehydrated, even though I’d been drinking a bottle an hour. That was a lesson well executed on Saturday, as I never stopped drinking and rode much stronger.
Our friend Angie and her new friend Chuck showed up and camped next to us, adding to a great camp vibe. Poor Chuck ended up cracking the top and down tubes on his bike Saturday. I slept great in a tent by the creek, listening to the crickets.
Saturday morning I got up listening to the birds at first light. I took a shower and made some coffee and oatmeal on the camp stove. The oatmeal was the only thing I didn’t sacrifice on for camp, chocked with local honey, dates, granola and blueberries.
I had no idea what the plan was for our team at that point, but there was a couple hours before the race. I helped out where I could and found out that our ringer, William Seitz, was out sick. We found a new one with time left to swap, and was happy to hear that Matthews plan was to take the first 3 laps, even if he was trying to time running a 5k right before he got onto the bike. We convinced him that had had to go first since that’s the only time he would know when his lap starts.
I had time to kill but made sure to be ready when he came through at the end of his second lap, just in case he needed a break. He did. I was happy not to be part of the big pack of the first lap. I slowly picked some folks off while getting passed by the fast kids from time to time. I really enjoyed my lap, but it ended at noon and was getting pretty hot out there.
Jason went after me and came really close to my time. He wasn’t messing around. The rest of us all got a lap and Matthew picked up 2 more before I got another lap at 6:30, which was great as it finally started to cool down a little out there, but not on IMBA trail, where it was low and in between the trees. That section through almost the end of the lap was just trapped stagnant heat through most of the day.
Matthew had to leave, and Meridith had not night ridden, so it was up to me Jason and Justin after I finished my second lap, until the sun came up. I got out for my third lap around 10:45. I love the night laps, it was much less hot and the leftover mud pockets from the thunderstorm Friday afternoon had turned into smooth grippy racing strips, with just a few still wet enough to slide you off a ridge. I was feeling good and had talked myself into riding two laps this time, right before I barreled down the rocky descent on never never land. I heard the rock pop against my rear tire, and felt the air spitting onto my left leg as the tire went around. I went to fix the flat, and found that I still had an expired co2 in my pack. Another lesson. I decided to run/walk the rest of the lap, which was about 5 miles.
At least it was beautiful on the trail, the moon was almost full and hung in the trees in front of me for a good while. About 5 or 6 racers passed me on the way out, a few checking on me. By the time I got out, knowing we might have a team mate back in the morning, I called that my last lap. It’s probably a good thing I did, because afterwards I found a nice 260 degree crack around my chain stay. A 4th lap could have ended very badly. Chuck isn’t the only one that lost a bike this race. Fortunately, Bob’s Bikes is checking the warranty for me. Fingers crossed.
Alex had said he was gonna wait up for me when I left camp. I was surprised to find him still waiting on me when I got back. We had a great time hanging out and enjoying the race in the background while discussing the nature of the universe. I had no problem getting to sleep Saturday night either.
Sunday morning I got up with the light again, got a shower and got to see Meredith come through before the 9am ending for our final lap. We came in 5th out of 7 for our category, but all had a blast. This race has always been a special place to be, and this year was no exception. Jason and Dawn always do an amazing job here, and at all of their races. Make sure to follow https://www.chainbusterracing.com/ to get in on the action.
Here’s some pics: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/k2bvsfkah5lcbhognyq44/AA9D4Ap-h7Fowtrh3iL3hCg?rlkey=4s9d4zwcquuv80m2l5j3nqcc4&dl=0