Post Infection in da ankle

Yesterday, I went to check out a new trail in Fruita called Peak A Boo. This trail is located in a secret spot off 18 Rd. I started in town and packed for 12 hours not knowing really what to expect or how long it would take. I packed 2 PB&Js, Fig Newmans, Peanut M&Ms and 180zs of water with nuun electrolytes. I got a later start and not knowing how long it would take I mounted up the light system to the Raleigh XXIX and off I go. 

The trail is sweet! It starts with a STEEP double-ish track climb! at the top it overlooks 18 Rd, which is an amazing site. Mostly in the trees Peak A Boo climbs up and descends several peaks, as the trail is new there are some sections that must be hiked due to soft sand and newly dug soil, it will get better the more it gets ridden. There were some Mountain lion prints in the mud from the last rain 5 days ago. I was probably being watched, I had the I pod cranked, was in the zone and didnt much care. After 15.5 miles the back door dropped me onto the Edge loop climb which is another STEEP double track climb, so steep that i've seen tanker trucks getting a pull from another truck! it hurts! The Edge was washed out due to the heavy rains Fruita had recently, none the less it was still fun. Just before the single track descent down to the wash, there were two motos in new condition leaning in the bushes covered in clay turned to cement. They must have got stuck in the rains and had to leave their bikes and start walking out. Damn! They were 15 miles from anywhere! The single track descent was fun and fast down to the wash which is generally sandy but was wet and packed which made for a fast escape around the rappel to lower Chutes & Ladders, over to 18 Rd and back to town. 

Before going home I stopped at the gas station and grabbed a 20lb bag of ice, threw it over my shoulder and road home with my lights on, I had them on my bike the whole 9 hours but only needed them for about 1 mile in town. Oh well, I like being prepared and its like training (as Courtney says) "Rocky Balboa style". I got home, filled up the tub with ice, cold water and took a 5 minute bath. BRRRR! Than put my legs straight up for 1o minutes. I believe taking these two steps make for rapid recovery.    

In fact my roommate Dogger had salmon and a fresh spinach salad ready for Robo, who is an OG snowboarder from Montana, Doug, who is the cat now living in the backyard and actually built Peak A Boo, and Myself. 

Awesome day! 

Peace                 

18 Hours of Fruita

   

 

This was my third year at this race in Fruita, CO. I won it the last two years. Starting at midnight this an 18 hour race. The laps were about 6 miles long and they took about 30 minutes. I ended up with 35 laps bringing the total mileage to 210. DAMN! 

I arrived at Highline state park on Friday 7  hours before the start to organize, set things up, and relax a bit before the race start. 

The first several hours of the race went smooth after Tad, from Orange peel in Steamboat Springs, CO. fixed my Bottom Bracket. I was keeping a consistent  pace on my Raleigh XXIX. Than the rain came!, the soil on this course is bentonite and while its raining its fine, but when it starts to dry out it becomes clay and just sticks to everything not allowing the wheels to roll,  so running with the bike than becomes the next best thing. Good thing I had a spare bike and an amazing pit crew so that every lap start I had a clean bike. I felt strong through out the entire race never going into the lull that normally I find my self in mid way through these long races. I think it had allot to do with eating wright and the nuun tabs I was consistently having my crew add to my water. I never got any consistent feed back on the results, so I never really new were I was place wise. I just kept eating and pedaling. At the race end I thought I had finished 2nd. I was stoked with this result thinking I did single speed nation proud even though I had wanted a win for the three peat. While in the showers a friend came over to let me know that I had actually one! Since I finished 5 min behind the guy I thought I was chasing I was confused as to how I possibly had one. After looking at the results I than saw I was actually about to lap who I thought was leading and was  actually 25 minutes ahead of him. YEAH! I GOT THE THREE PEAT!