1st place for the Highland 300
16:59 riding time
19:22 total time
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Grand Tour Triple (300 mile)
I signed up for the Grand Tour Triple knowing that I could always cut it short and do the double instead of the triple. I knew a couple of great double century riders (Marc and Brook) were starting at 5:30 so I decided to roll out with them. These guys are so good, if we had decided to do the 200 miler in under 10 hours, it would be very possible. They had a buddy they were riding with for the day so we took it relatively easy throughout the day. This worked out perfectly for me to be fresh at the 140 mile mark. The 140 mile rest stop was the point I had to decide to go north on PCH for an additional 100 miles or go south on PCH to complete the double. I found some other triple riders at the rest stop so I had no excuse not to do the additional 100 miles and complete the triple. These riders started over an hour before me but weren't in any hurry to get going so I decided to leave. After somewhat getting lost out on the course I come across this group of riders and it was them. They had avoided these ridiculous turns I did according to the route slip. At this point I decide to ride with them and make sure I don't get lost. We were going a slower pace than I'm accustomed to but that was fine with me. When we reach the next rest stop I tried to be patient and wait for everybody but nobody seemed like they were even close to leaving, so once again I decide to leave. I get in cruise control and take off towards Gaviota. On my way to the turn around I notice 3 guys going the other way. Knowing that there's another group up the road was perfect motivation to keep the hammer down. I catch these 3 riders at the next rest stop (220 miles) but we miss a turn somewhere and lose 10 minutes. The sun was getting ready to set so I went to the front to help speed our group up but everybody fell off. I see some lights up the road and crank it up some more and chase down these two riders. Luckily, one of these guys had the route programmed in his Garmin so I didn't have to read my route slip in the dark. We miss the Port Hueneme rest stop and decide to turn around and check in. This cost us an additional 20 minutes and I see two of the three guys hanging out at the rest stop. With only 30 miles to finish I went to the front and cranked it all the way back to finish in Malibu.
1st place for the Highland 300
16:59 riding time
19:22 total time
1st place for the Highland 300
16:59 riding time
19:22 total time
Saturday, December 8, 2012
World Champion - 6 Hour Time Trial
The 6 hour time trial was starting at noon in Indio. I was able to sleep in my own bed and drive to Indio in the morning. I prepared 8 bottles the night before, 5 Accelerade and 3 water bottles. Luckily the week before, I rode 115 miles on 400 calories and didn't bonk until 90 miles in. I figured 1000 calories and I would cruise through 100+ miles. The problem with starting at noon in Indio was the temperature was close to 90 degrees and rising. 5 minutes before the start I was trying to find a plastic bag for my cell phone. By the time I set Strava and got my phone in the baggy, I missed the start by 10 seconds. I chased down the group and there was still a rider up the road.
It's always nice to have a racing plan, mine was to hopefully keep the leaders in sight and then give everything I had after 100 miles. It was warm so I used my regular helmet instead of an aero helmet. Back to the race, I was quickly closing in on the leader. It was a female and she was a triathlete. I had no experience in these things so I stayed back 30-50 feet. After the first lap (15.8 miles) she stopped in the sag stop and I continued because I still had 1 1/2 bottles left. I wasn't in 1st place for long because she soon passed me around the 20 mile mark. She slowly started pulling away and I decided it was too early to put that kind of effort with 100 miles left.
She was now a little dot up the road coming into the next sag stop (31.6 miles). This time I stopped and picked up two bottles. I didn't have any sag support and had to get my own bottles out of my car and figured she had support so I would lose even more time. At about the 35-40 mile mark she wasn't gaining on me anymore. That little black dot up the road was getting larger and larger. I was thinking maybe it wasn't even her because my speed hadn't increased and I was gaining too quickly on this person. The closer I got I could tell it was her, so I started slowing my speed down. I didn't want to take 1st place so early in the race. I kept on gaining even though I slowed my pace down. She obviously went out too hard and now has hit the wall. As I was passing her around the 45 mile mark, I told her "We have a big lead, just finish and we have 1st place." She told me she needs a coke to get back to normal. Just as we come into the next sag (47 miles) she passes me up to be 1st into sag.
I get my bottles and take off and notice I have a front wheel flat. My car isn't too far back so I do a U-turn and go back to my car to fix the flat. The stem on the tube I used wasn't long enough for my carbon wheels. I had to quickly search for an extender to pump up the wheel. As I'm fixing my flat I'm also watching other riders coming into the sag. I didn't recognize any of them as my competitors in the 6 hour TT. I finally take off and figure it's going to be a long time before I catch that girl. After having to ride back to my car and fix the flat, I figured I lost about 6-8 minutes. That's at least 2 miles.
If I can maintain my pace, hopefully I'll catch her in 2 laps. Lap one (63 miles) goes by and no sign of her. Lap 2 (79 miles) goes by and still no sign of her. At this point, I'm figuring I can do 2 more laps within the 6 hour time limit and hopefully I'll catch her. Due to the heat, I took my last two water bottles at the 79 mile sag. It's getting close to 5pm and I can see it's going to start cooling down because the sun is going to disappear behind the San Jacinto Mtns. Still no sign of her and I'm preparing to come in for my last lap (94 miles).
The plan was to come into sag and tell everybody that I'm all out of water and get at least one bottle. The plan worked and some ladies came and filled up my bottles. I changed my helmet and put on my aero helmet for the last lap. I will have to average 20 mph for my last lap to finish in the 6 hour time limit. I figure if I don't catch her on this last lap she must've dropped out. I cranked out an awesome last lap (110 miles) and finished a few minutes under the 6 hour mark.
After changing and putting my bike away, I made my way to the finish line to find out what place I came in. 1st place! The day went according to plan. 5 bottles of Accelerade, 4 bottles of water, 2 hammer gels, 1 gu gel and 1/2 peanut butter and jelly sandwich, 1 flat tire. 110 miles, 5:45 riding time, 1000 calories consumed and 4000 calories burned. Once the results finally were posted online, I checked to see what happened to that girl. She dropped out after 79 miles and finished in 3rd place among the females. http://24hrworlds.com/24/index.php?N_webcat_id=408
Monday, March 26, 2012
Solvang Double Century 2001 and 2012
I've never done the Solvang Century, but I did do the Solvang Double Century back in 2001. I was just a young kid back then. An up and coming bike racer trying to balance USCF bike racing and these crazy endurance rides. It was a last minute decision. I drove from Huntington Beach at 3am to make the start just in time in Solvang. Yes, drive 180 miles, bike 200 miles and then drive 180 miles home. I remember showing up at the last minute and giving Hugh Murphy 80 dollars. He said ok and that was it. No route slip, no number and no wrist band. That's how things were done back in the old days. I guess I was in pretty good shape because I remember being in the lead pack and leaving lunch with about 8 other people. After each taking turns on the front we came to this long straight road that looked like it was a 1-2% grade for several miles. Since I didn't have a route slip this would be a good spot to pull and not worry about any turns. This was around the 130 mile mark and I felt pretty good. After giving a good pull on the front for 10-15 minutes, I looked back and only 1 rider was still on my wheel. It was the only female able to hang in the lead pack all day and I could tell she was sponsored by Hammer Gel. So I eased up and told her I didn't have a route slip and didn't know the next turn. This was no problem for her, she had a route slip and trains on these roads all the time. After talking some more, I learn that she is Cassie Lowe, the 2000 Womens RAAM Champion. For those of you who have never heard of RAAM (Race Across America) it is a bike race from the west coast to the east coast (3000 miles). The race is won on sure will and sleep deprevation in about 8-9 days. We arrive at the next rest stop (150 miles) and nobody is there, that's how it was back in the old days. She said there was a gas station nearby where we could get something to eat and drink. I didn't have a route slip and she was my golden ticket to the finish. The closer we got to the finish the faster we kept riding knowing we were going to go under 10 hours for 200 miles. We arrive at the Hotel finish and noboby is there, so we get a pad of paper from the desk and write our names down with our time. Total time from start to finish was 9 hours and 50 minutes. Riding time was probably 9 hours 20 minutes. (Cassie also went on to win RAAM again in 2001)
The 2012 Solvang Double Century started off the same way. I didn't feel like driving up there on Friday, so I woke up early Saturday and drove 180 miles in the morning. Took off with all the top dogs at 7:30am and stayed with them till we hit the first major climb at mile 25. I'm not even close to the shape I used to be in but I still like to give it a good try. Then I rode with a few other riders who were also dropped to the first rest stop at mile 41. There was a bunch of people at the rest stop but the fast guys had already left. As I'm filling my water bottles I notice a good size group of guys leaving and think they would be perfect to ride with. After chasing this group of 10 guys for 15 minutes I finally catch them and can now get a rest. The rest doesn't last long because they slow down to regroup with some other riders in their club. Now, I'm on my own passing all these other riders who left early before my 7:30 late start. Most of the turns are at lights or T-intersections and of course I miss the one that isn't. I knew a turn should've been coming up so I just kept going and going up this climb and then decided to go back when I couldn't see any turn up ahead. I finally get back on course and have to pass up the same riders again till the next stop at mile 86. I'm hoping to find some good riders to ride with because it's not fun riding these things by yourself. Knowing that all these riders I passed are too slow I take off solo. I make the 100 mile mark in 5 hours so I'm right on time. The lunch stop is next at mile 113 so maybe I'll hook up with some decent riders there. I saw a couple groups leave but I wasn't done with my sandwich and bottles, so I'm off solo again. I'm really enjoying the ride as I'm riding through Shell Beach and Pismo Beach and then I hit the headwind from HELL at mile 130. For the next 10 miles was a headwind till the next stop at mile 141. I'm really drained after riding the last 100 miles solo and the headwind to boot. I see a familiar looking jersey at this rest stop and tell him "That's my tri-clubs jersey". It turns out his name is Rene Rodarte and he has done several Ironman races and Ultra trail runs. We leave the stop together and then for the first time all day some dude finally passes me. He is wearing a Vineman jersey, so I take off and hunt him down and wait for him to slow down. He doesn't slow down, this Vineman guy is trying to drop me on a little rise and then the descent after. I can tell he doesn't want me on his wheel and doesn't want to work together so I let him go. 10 minutes later Rene comes by behind a tandem and a few other riders. I finally get what I've been looking for and latch on to the back of this group. There's still 20 miles to go into the Headwind from Hell. Riding solo I was going 9-11mph but with this group it was more constant till we reached the next check point at mile 168. I don't have any lights on my bike so I can't stay too long at this rest stop. I've lost Rene and the tandem somewhere. I have a cup of chili and a nutrition shake and I'm off. Solo again but done with the headwind from Hell. Around 180 miles I find a group of guys who are all lit up with lights and finish safely with them. I end up with 202 miles for the day, only 5 miles over the official route. 5 hours for the first 100 miles and 7.5 hours for the second 100. My fitness has sure changed in 11 years but the long 180 mile drive home hasn't. I stopped for a 2 hour nap in Calabasas on the way home.
The 2012 Solvang Double Century started off the same way. I didn't feel like driving up there on Friday, so I woke up early Saturday and drove 180 miles in the morning. Took off with all the top dogs at 7:30am and stayed with them till we hit the first major climb at mile 25. I'm not even close to the shape I used to be in but I still like to give it a good try. Then I rode with a few other riders who were also dropped to the first rest stop at mile 41. There was a bunch of people at the rest stop but the fast guys had already left. As I'm filling my water bottles I notice a good size group of guys leaving and think they would be perfect to ride with. After chasing this group of 10 guys for 15 minutes I finally catch them and can now get a rest. The rest doesn't last long because they slow down to regroup with some other riders in their club. Now, I'm on my own passing all these other riders who left early before my 7:30 late start. Most of the turns are at lights or T-intersections and of course I miss the one that isn't. I knew a turn should've been coming up so I just kept going and going up this climb and then decided to go back when I couldn't see any turn up ahead. I finally get back on course and have to pass up the same riders again till the next stop at mile 86. I'm hoping to find some good riders to ride with because it's not fun riding these things by yourself. Knowing that all these riders I passed are too slow I take off solo. I make the 100 mile mark in 5 hours so I'm right on time. The lunch stop is next at mile 113 so maybe I'll hook up with some decent riders there. I saw a couple groups leave but I wasn't done with my sandwich and bottles, so I'm off solo again. I'm really enjoying the ride as I'm riding through Shell Beach and Pismo Beach and then I hit the headwind from HELL at mile 130. For the next 10 miles was a headwind till the next stop at mile 141. I'm really drained after riding the last 100 miles solo and the headwind to boot. I see a familiar looking jersey at this rest stop and tell him "That's my tri-clubs jersey". It turns out his name is Rene Rodarte and he has done several Ironman races and Ultra trail runs. We leave the stop together and then for the first time all day some dude finally passes me. He is wearing a Vineman jersey, so I take off and hunt him down and wait for him to slow down. He doesn't slow down, this Vineman guy is trying to drop me on a little rise and then the descent after. I can tell he doesn't want me on his wheel and doesn't want to work together so I let him go. 10 minutes later Rene comes by behind a tandem and a few other riders. I finally get what I've been looking for and latch on to the back of this group. There's still 20 miles to go into the Headwind from Hell. Riding solo I was going 9-11mph but with this group it was more constant till we reached the next check point at mile 168. I don't have any lights on my bike so I can't stay too long at this rest stop. I've lost Rene and the tandem somewhere. I have a cup of chili and a nutrition shake and I'm off. Solo again but done with the headwind from Hell. Around 180 miles I find a group of guys who are all lit up with lights and finish safely with them. I end up with 202 miles for the day, only 5 miles over the official route. 5 hours for the first 100 miles and 7.5 hours for the second 100. My fitness has sure changed in 11 years but the long 180 mile drive home hasn't. I stopped for a 2 hour nap in Calabasas on the way home.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
2012 Camino Real Double Century
I had really high hopes when I signed up for Camino Real in October. I figured, it couldn't be any worse than last years ride. Last year my whole motivation was to finish before dark in the worst storm of the year and luckily, I accomplished that with a first place.
http://racedaytiming.com/results.php?event=35
This year was a different story. Usually, I like to train for these rides by riding 4-5 days and 200-300 miles a week for a couple months. This year, I rode my bike once a week for 5 months, then rode 5 100 mile rides in the last month and a half. I knew I was going into this ride unprepared. How am I going to ride 1 day a week, 50-100 miles a week for a 200 mile ride? The only things I had on my side was experience and not being human. I was really counting on the not being human part to pull me through. So here's the story...
The plan, wake up at 4:30am, eat, walk the dog, load the car and get to the start by 6am. The dog took a little longer to walk, since she's not used to walking at 5am. I'm behind schedule but I should still make it in time. As I'm driving there, I remember I forgot my number and ride directions on the kitchen table. After turning around and getting my stuff, I arrive right when everybody is leaving. By the time I get ready to check in to leave, the leaders are 5 minutes up the road and the stragglers are a couple minutes up the road. All hope is not lost, so I time trial for 9 miles at 25 miles an hour and catch the lead pack just as we start climbing Jamboree Rd. I quickly notice I've wasted a ton of energy and everybody else is fresh as can be. The next climb is San Joaquin Hills Rd. and this is when I notice who's going to be strong and who's not. Unfortunately, I'm on the not strong side because when I reach the top I'm 15 seconds behind 8 riders. After chasing again for several miles a tandem comes by with a bunch of riders and we eventually catch the lead pack in Laguna Beach. After 22 miles, I finally get to recover till we reach our first checkpoint at mile 55. We have a pack of 15 or so riders as we reach the checkpoint. I see a giant pack leaving and I have to gobble down a 1/3 of a PBJ sandwich. I'm in time trial mode again, 10 seconds behind this pack but I just can't seem to pull them back as they keep taking turns on the front. After a 12 mile time trial I get caught by the tandem and Burrito Bob in Oceanside. I'm done wasting energy, I still have 130 more miles to go, I'm going to kick back and take turns with Burrito. 5-10 miles later we see the lead pack on the side of the road fixing a flat. I tell Burrito, lets kick back and let them catch up so we don't have to waste anymore energy. They catch up 15 minutes later and we all ride to the lunch stop at mile 88. This time I'm keeping an eye on things, a few riders take off and I decide to leave with 3 other guys. After mile 95 we catch 3-4 riders and now have a group of 8. The guys are talking about some guy who is up the road and how good he is. These guys are obviously good because they're wearing Furnace Creek jersey's and Hoodoo jerseys. Furnace Creek is a legendary 508 mile race and Hoodoo is a brand new 500 mile race in Utah. As we are doing another climb at mile 98, I notice that I just don't have the power to keep up. My lower back is really hurting and I think it's from those hard time trials I had to do earlier in the day. My speed has severely dropped and there's no way I can take this pain for another 6 hours. Burrito catches me at mile 110 and I tell him I'm going to drop out. He tells me to get behind him and navigate. Burrito pulled all the way to the next water stop at mile 121. I tried to drop out and Burrito told me we are a team and we're going to stick together. I guess I have to because the SAG vehicle probably won't arrive for another 5 hours. Once again, Burrito did most of the pulling to checkpoint #3 at mile 136. I would've called my wife to pick me up, but she was in Wisconsin. I brought up the fact that I wanted to drop out, but noboby seemed to listen to me. One good thing about the checkpoint was that we hooked up with another rider. Burrito and this guy pulled me to the next checkpoint at mile 169. I'm not going to drop out with 30 miles to go. I did start feeling better towards the end of the ride and was able to contribute in the end. Two huge lessons learned, always train for a 200 mile bike ride and I guess I am human after all.
http://racedaytiming.com/r_results.php?event=49
10th place, 11 hours and 43 minutes total time.
10 hours 55 minutes riding time.
http://racedaytiming.com/results.php?event=35
This year was a different story. Usually, I like to train for these rides by riding 4-5 days and 200-300 miles a week for a couple months. This year, I rode my bike once a week for 5 months, then rode 5 100 mile rides in the last month and a half. I knew I was going into this ride unprepared. How am I going to ride 1 day a week, 50-100 miles a week for a 200 mile ride? The only things I had on my side was experience and not being human. I was really counting on the not being human part to pull me through. So here's the story...
The plan, wake up at 4:30am, eat, walk the dog, load the car and get to the start by 6am. The dog took a little longer to walk, since she's not used to walking at 5am. I'm behind schedule but I should still make it in time. As I'm driving there, I remember I forgot my number and ride directions on the kitchen table. After turning around and getting my stuff, I arrive right when everybody is leaving. By the time I get ready to check in to leave, the leaders are 5 minutes up the road and the stragglers are a couple minutes up the road. All hope is not lost, so I time trial for 9 miles at 25 miles an hour and catch the lead pack just as we start climbing Jamboree Rd. I quickly notice I've wasted a ton of energy and everybody else is fresh as can be. The next climb is San Joaquin Hills Rd. and this is when I notice who's going to be strong and who's not. Unfortunately, I'm on the not strong side because when I reach the top I'm 15 seconds behind 8 riders. After chasing again for several miles a tandem comes by with a bunch of riders and we eventually catch the lead pack in Laguna Beach. After 22 miles, I finally get to recover till we reach our first checkpoint at mile 55. We have a pack of 15 or so riders as we reach the checkpoint. I see a giant pack leaving and I have to gobble down a 1/3 of a PBJ sandwich. I'm in time trial mode again, 10 seconds behind this pack but I just can't seem to pull them back as they keep taking turns on the front. After a 12 mile time trial I get caught by the tandem and Burrito Bob in Oceanside. I'm done wasting energy, I still have 130 more miles to go, I'm going to kick back and take turns with Burrito. 5-10 miles later we see the lead pack on the side of the road fixing a flat. I tell Burrito, lets kick back and let them catch up so we don't have to waste anymore energy. They catch up 15 minutes later and we all ride to the lunch stop at mile 88. This time I'm keeping an eye on things, a few riders take off and I decide to leave with 3 other guys. After mile 95 we catch 3-4 riders and now have a group of 8. The guys are talking about some guy who is up the road and how good he is. These guys are obviously good because they're wearing Furnace Creek jersey's and Hoodoo jerseys. Furnace Creek is a legendary 508 mile race and Hoodoo is a brand new 500 mile race in Utah. As we are doing another climb at mile 98, I notice that I just don't have the power to keep up. My lower back is really hurting and I think it's from those hard time trials I had to do earlier in the day. My speed has severely dropped and there's no way I can take this pain for another 6 hours. Burrito catches me at mile 110 and I tell him I'm going to drop out. He tells me to get behind him and navigate. Burrito pulled all the way to the next water stop at mile 121. I tried to drop out and Burrito told me we are a team and we're going to stick together. I guess I have to because the SAG vehicle probably won't arrive for another 5 hours. Once again, Burrito did most of the pulling to checkpoint #3 at mile 136. I would've called my wife to pick me up, but she was in Wisconsin. I brought up the fact that I wanted to drop out, but noboby seemed to listen to me. One good thing about the checkpoint was that we hooked up with another rider. Burrito and this guy pulled me to the next checkpoint at mile 169. I'm not going to drop out with 30 miles to go. I did start feeling better towards the end of the ride and was able to contribute in the end. Two huge lessons learned, always train for a 200 mile bike ride and I guess I am human after all.
http://racedaytiming.com/r_results.php?event=49
10th place, 11 hours and 43 minutes total time.
10 hours 55 minutes riding time.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Camino Real Double Century 2011, 1st place overall
I'm not sure when was the first time I did this ride, I think it was in 1998 or 1999. Back then it was called the Butterfield Double Century. Hugh Murphy used to put on this ride but he just didn't seem to get enough volunteers to help support the ride. The ride used to start in Yorba Linda, then it went down the coast to Oceanside, then inland to the 15 and back north up through Lake Elsinore and Corona then back along the 91 to Yorba Linda. The first time I rode this ride I remember hooking up with an older guy named Dick Keonig, (not sure about the spelling) about 60-80 miles into the ride. He could tell I was a rookie and generously let me hold his wheel the rest of the 200 miles. I'm still very grateful for that help and probably finished in the top 20.
The next time I did the ride was 2001 which was the last year Hugh Murphy put the ride on. In 2001, I was a beginner USCF racer and came in more prepared. I hooked up with Tim Coleman and Marc Patton, both of these guys were legends of the sport. Before I did the ride, I remember looking at past results of the Butterfield Double and other double centuries. These guys had won numerous doubles and Tim had won some gems of the sport. After riding with them for an hour, I remember asking them their names. Marc had told me his and then said the other guys name is Tim. I said "Tim Coleman" and he said "yeah" and looked at me really strange. I tried to pull just as hard as these guys for the first 100 miles. After lunch I just couldn't match these guys and Tim kept on pulling like a machine. Tim pulled 45% of the way while Marc pulled 35% and I pulled 20%. That was my first taste of greatness as we came in first place by an hour, in 10 hours and 20 minutes.
Marc also told me that Tim was the record holder for Climb to Kaiser. I had no idea what or where Climb to Kaiser was, but soon I would find out. The next year in 2002, I did the Climb to Kaiser and briefly led the race until a mechanical ruined my day. I ended up finishing in 19th place and I'm sure I wouldn't have beaten Tim's record.
In 2002 I came to Butterfield ready to go. It was foggy and within the first 3 miles a tandem shot out of the pack and into the fog. I looked around and nobody chased, so I shot out into the fog and chased down this tandem. Once I caught the tandem, I learned that the captain was Carl Moler and the stoker was Mike Crago-Schnieder. I couldn't match these powerful riders on the tandem so I was able to sit in most of the way. On the climbs they would slightly get dropped and then I had to be prepared to sprint for the tandem when it came downhill. We led the rest of the way (or I should say they led) until an untimely flat at the last sag stop (175 miles). I wasn't going to leave them there after all the work they put into this ride, so I politely waited for them to fix the flat and then they sat down and had some soup. 20 minutes later Marc Patton shows up with 2 guys on his wheel, Craig Robertson and Bill Ellis. Now, Carl and Mike are throwing away their soup and jumping on their tandem as fast as possible. We start leaving and I'm not sure if the new guys even got to fill up their water bottles. They weren't about to let us get away, so they jumped on and finished the last 25 miles with us. 5-way tie for 1st place in a time of 10:58. www.planetultra.com/butterfield/Results/2002results.htm
2006 wasn't too memorable. All I can remember is that I was now married, out of shape and did most of the ride by myself, I think I got lost too. 9th place 11:34.
In 2007, despite being out of shape, I was in the lead pack for 80 miles. After lunch, I drank both my bottles in 10 miles, so I turned around and went back. Being severely dehydrated and riding above my capabilities I pulled out at 120 miles. I also remember Marc Patton pulled out for the same reason.
2009 was my comeback year. I wasn't in top shape but I was determined to finish. At the halfway mark I made the lunch stop just as the first 3 riders were pulling away. David Goggins and I left the lunch stop in pursuit of these guys but I made a wrong turn and got us lost. Without going backwards we wasted an hour trying to get back on track. I recognized David from my Runner's World magazine, he was an ultramarathoner and now was training for RAAM. After getting back on course, David did most of the work to the finish. We ended up in 7th place, 42 minutes behind 1st place. Had we not got lost I'm sure we would've caught them.
I was registered for 2010 and almost all packed up, then it started raining at 5:30am. At that moment, I sat down on the couch and decided I wasn't going to ride it. I was in better shape than 2009 and still regret not starting. David Goggins and Keith Brodsky finished in 1st place.
And now, after all this history and background, we come to 2011. I had been watching the weather reports all week, the worst storm of the year was coming and it was coming on my ride. I was in the same shape as 2010 but a few pounds lighter. Most importantly, I was mentally prepared to start and finish in the worst storm of the year. After an hour of riding, we had a nice pack of six riders together. My buddy Lou Jimemez, was one of the six doing his first double century, so I told him to save his energy and not pull through. I figured the best rider out of the other four riders was a guy with a Bike Palace jersey on. The one question mark I had, was some guy who was wearing an arrow helmet. He sat in the back and never pulled through. So Bike Palace and I did most of the pulling to the first checkpoint. We checked in, filled up our water bottles, took a leak and now I discover Arrow Helmet had snuck away. Bike Palace and another guy had slow leaks, so they were going to change their tubes. Normally, I would wait for these guys, but I couldn't with Arrow Helmet up the road. I already envisioned myself coming in first place with Bike Palace. So I told them "I'll see them up the road" and take off. After going through a very muddy tunnel, I look back and Lou isn't far behind, so I stopped and waited for him. We're flying down Interstate 5 and finally catch Arrow Helmet in Oceanside. We catch some other rider on the river trail and draft for a few miles and then I finally go to the front. Since Arrow Helmet isn't pulling through I ask him where the next turn is and he doesn't know. This isn't what I want to hear, if he isn't pulling through he better be navigating. Now it's just me and Arrow Helmet so everytime I notice I have a gap, I put a little gas on to put the hurt on him. It's now pouring rain and we reach the lunchstop. Lou comes in 5 minutes later and we're all trying to fit under the canopy as it's raining cats and dogs. Arrow Helmet starts getting ready to leave and I notice Lou still has 1/2 a sandwich to finish. I still can't believe this guy is going to get a head start without asking for my permission. Doesn't he understand the proper etiquette, as I pulled him and his arrow helmet all this way? I have a couple of Rice Krispie treats and Bike Palace pulls in with a couple guys. Lou's now ready to leave and I tell him there's a big hill coming up so we probably won't stay together. I'm now climbing this hill with one mission in mind and that's to catch Arrow Helmet. I make sure not to make the same wrong turn as I did in 2009 and crank it up a notch. Everytime I look into the distance I still can't see the guy. I figure if I can't catch him, he deserves to win. I hit the next mini-check in and Jon Shellenbarger tells me I'm the first one there. Now it makes sense that I didn't catch Arrow Helmet cause he got what he deserved and got lost. I eventually get what I deserve and get lost in San Juan Capistrano. I get back on track but I'm not sure if I'm in first place anymore because I lost at least 15 minutes for my error. It's raining hardcore again as I reach the last checkpoint to find out I'm still in first place. Now it's all about finishing before it gets dark. The rest of the way I'm getting rained and hailed on but still finish just before dark. 1st place in 11:39. The title is back in Orange County where it belongs. :)
http://racedaytiming.com/results.php?event=35
The next time I did the ride was 2001 which was the last year Hugh Murphy put the ride on. In 2001, I was a beginner USCF racer and came in more prepared. I hooked up with Tim Coleman and Marc Patton, both of these guys were legends of the sport. Before I did the ride, I remember looking at past results of the Butterfield Double and other double centuries. These guys had won numerous doubles and Tim had won some gems of the sport. After riding with them for an hour, I remember asking them their names. Marc had told me his and then said the other guys name is Tim. I said "Tim Coleman" and he said "yeah" and looked at me really strange. I tried to pull just as hard as these guys for the first 100 miles. After lunch I just couldn't match these guys and Tim kept on pulling like a machine. Tim pulled 45% of the way while Marc pulled 35% and I pulled 20%. That was my first taste of greatness as we came in first place by an hour, in 10 hours and 20 minutes.
Marc also told me that Tim was the record holder for Climb to Kaiser. I had no idea what or where Climb to Kaiser was, but soon I would find out. The next year in 2002, I did the Climb to Kaiser and briefly led the race until a mechanical ruined my day. I ended up finishing in 19th place and I'm sure I wouldn't have beaten Tim's record.
In 2002 I came to Butterfield ready to go. It was foggy and within the first 3 miles a tandem shot out of the pack and into the fog. I looked around and nobody chased, so I shot out into the fog and chased down this tandem. Once I caught the tandem, I learned that the captain was Carl Moler and the stoker was Mike Crago-Schnieder. I couldn't match these powerful riders on the tandem so I was able to sit in most of the way. On the climbs they would slightly get dropped and then I had to be prepared to sprint for the tandem when it came downhill. We led the rest of the way (or I should say they led) until an untimely flat at the last sag stop (175 miles). I wasn't going to leave them there after all the work they put into this ride, so I politely waited for them to fix the flat and then they sat down and had some soup. 20 minutes later Marc Patton shows up with 2 guys on his wheel, Craig Robertson and Bill Ellis. Now, Carl and Mike are throwing away their soup and jumping on their tandem as fast as possible. We start leaving and I'm not sure if the new guys even got to fill up their water bottles. They weren't about to let us get away, so they jumped on and finished the last 25 miles with us. 5-way tie for 1st place in a time of 10:58. www.planetultra.com/butterfield/Results/2002results.htm
2006 wasn't too memorable. All I can remember is that I was now married, out of shape and did most of the ride by myself, I think I got lost too. 9th place 11:34.
In 2007, despite being out of shape, I was in the lead pack for 80 miles. After lunch, I drank both my bottles in 10 miles, so I turned around and went back. Being severely dehydrated and riding above my capabilities I pulled out at 120 miles. I also remember Marc Patton pulled out for the same reason.
2009 was my comeback year. I wasn't in top shape but I was determined to finish. At the halfway mark I made the lunch stop just as the first 3 riders were pulling away. David Goggins and I left the lunch stop in pursuit of these guys but I made a wrong turn and got us lost. Without going backwards we wasted an hour trying to get back on track. I recognized David from my Runner's World magazine, he was an ultramarathoner and now was training for RAAM. After getting back on course, David did most of the work to the finish. We ended up in 7th place, 42 minutes behind 1st place. Had we not got lost I'm sure we would've caught them.
I was registered for 2010 and almost all packed up, then it started raining at 5:30am. At that moment, I sat down on the couch and decided I wasn't going to ride it. I was in better shape than 2009 and still regret not starting. David Goggins and Keith Brodsky finished in 1st place.
And now, after all this history and background, we come to 2011. I had been watching the weather reports all week, the worst storm of the year was coming and it was coming on my ride. I was in the same shape as 2010 but a few pounds lighter. Most importantly, I was mentally prepared to start and finish in the worst storm of the year. After an hour of riding, we had a nice pack of six riders together. My buddy Lou Jimemez, was one of the six doing his first double century, so I told him to save his energy and not pull through. I figured the best rider out of the other four riders was a guy with a Bike Palace jersey on. The one question mark I had, was some guy who was wearing an arrow helmet. He sat in the back and never pulled through. So Bike Palace and I did most of the pulling to the first checkpoint. We checked in, filled up our water bottles, took a leak and now I discover Arrow Helmet had snuck away. Bike Palace and another guy had slow leaks, so they were going to change their tubes. Normally, I would wait for these guys, but I couldn't with Arrow Helmet up the road. I already envisioned myself coming in first place with Bike Palace. So I told them "I'll see them up the road" and take off. After going through a very muddy tunnel, I look back and Lou isn't far behind, so I stopped and waited for him. We're flying down Interstate 5 and finally catch Arrow Helmet in Oceanside. We catch some other rider on the river trail and draft for a few miles and then I finally go to the front. Since Arrow Helmet isn't pulling through I ask him where the next turn is and he doesn't know. This isn't what I want to hear, if he isn't pulling through he better be navigating. Now it's just me and Arrow Helmet so everytime I notice I have a gap, I put a little gas on to put the hurt on him. It's now pouring rain and we reach the lunchstop. Lou comes in 5 minutes later and we're all trying to fit under the canopy as it's raining cats and dogs. Arrow Helmet starts getting ready to leave and I notice Lou still has 1/2 a sandwich to finish. I still can't believe this guy is going to get a head start without asking for my permission. Doesn't he understand the proper etiquette, as I pulled him and his arrow helmet all this way? I have a couple of Rice Krispie treats and Bike Palace pulls in with a couple guys. Lou's now ready to leave and I tell him there's a big hill coming up so we probably won't stay together. I'm now climbing this hill with one mission in mind and that's to catch Arrow Helmet. I make sure not to make the same wrong turn as I did in 2009 and crank it up a notch. Everytime I look into the distance I still can't see the guy. I figure if I can't catch him, he deserves to win. I hit the next mini-check in and Jon Shellenbarger tells me I'm the first one there. Now it makes sense that I didn't catch Arrow Helmet cause he got what he deserved and got lost. I eventually get what I deserve and get lost in San Juan Capistrano. I get back on track but I'm not sure if I'm in first place anymore because I lost at least 15 minutes for my error. It's raining hardcore again as I reach the last checkpoint to find out I'm still in first place. Now it's all about finishing before it gets dark. The rest of the way I'm getting rained and hailed on but still finish just before dark. 1st place in 11:39. The title is back in Orange County where it belongs. :)
http://racedaytiming.com/results.php?event=35
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