Race report for Tri for Ole
Glory 2014
Let me start this by saying that last year’s Tri for Ole
Glory was a blast despite the torrential downpour. Although not without hiccups, the race was
lots of fun and was not one that I could justify being a spectator for this
year.
This report can’t be written without the obligatory pre-race
prep. My expectation for this race was
to “have fun.” I have not ridden my
mountain bike since last year’s Tri for Ole Glory, not that I don’t enjoy
mountain biking. I just can’t find the
time to fit it in the schedule. After
borrowing a friend’s 29’er for last year’s race, I was not motivated to ride my
26-inch mountain bike for “fun.” I did,
again, borrow the 29’er for this year’s race.
I made it to the course late Thursday evening to do one loop, check out
the two jumps and preview some of the other “gotchas” on the course from last
year. I also discovered the river rocks
that were used to fill in the erosion areas on the powerline, which added a little
bonus pain to the top of the hill climb.
The last lesson from my preview was that tinted glasses on this course
would not be a good idea. Although it
was late in the evening, I could tell the dense canopy kept the wooded area
very shaded and clear lenses would be important to prevent unplanned delays
(aka crashes).
Friday was planned to be a light day of road biking to
maintain my training for road triathlons.
This plan was soon subverted when I was invited to do 104 miles with a
few friends, none of whom were racing Tri for Ole Glory. I gladly accepted and proceeded to do my
first century ride on Friday. This first
also included a “second,” that is my “second” dog-instigated bike crash in the
last month. Fortunately, the result was
less troublesome than the first. Minus a
scratched brake lever and cracked helmet, I escaped with just a few minor
scratches and a sore shoulder and was able to complete the 104 miles. I followed this ride with a late night of
Huntsville Stars baseball and fireworks to celebrate Independence Day. Nutrition included a ballpark hamburger and
water. Please don’t try this strategy
for your “A-race”.
Race day morning, I violated the rule of “superstition
nutrition,” and only fueled with a banana and peanut butter toast. After putting some lock-laces in my running
shoes and getting my transition area set up, I did down a Honey Stinger waffle.
Last business was a quick team pick by
Melissa Johnson with fellow Fleet Feet Tri Team members, Paul Erickson, Wendy
Tyler, Donny Neal, Jess Ahrens, Dink Taylor and Tonya Hardy.
I was in wave#2 for the start and managed to get my goggles
on prior to entering the water this year – improvement. The swim was uneventful, although it was very
difficult to see the first buoy due to the sun.
T1 was slow as a result of the extra gear associated with mountain
biking: socks, lace-up bike shoes, gloves, and Camel-bak.
Then the fun began. About a half mile into the mountain bike course, I felt my seat tilt to what I thought was a very steep inclined angle. Thinking the bracket must have loosened, I continued. The two jumps went okay, but the log just prior to the wooden bridge proved fatal to the seat post. It wasn’t the bracket that was loose. The carbon seat post had broken right at the clamp, and it fell to the trail as I crossed the log. What to do now? My first thought was, ‘this race is over. How can I ride this course without a seat? I am not a mountain biker. This is not a good idea (unplanned colonoscopy). Explaining this to the ER nurse would be uncomfortably comical.’ I stopped, picked up the saddle with its broken post, got back on my bike and started to carry it with me. It’s hard enough to mountain bike without a saddle – don’t try carrying an item in your hands too. Realizing that wasn’t an option, I threw it off the trail and went back to racing.
Conveniently
pushing the ER nurse situation out of my mind [until Julio Driggs speeding up
behind me was kind enough to remind me of the risk]. Seatless mountain biking does change your strategy. And I must say, if my legs weren’t fatigued
from the previous day’s mileage, they were on fire by the end of the mountain
bike course. I also discovered
how
important a seat is for things other than sitting. It is also a big
part of steering and maintaining a good center of gravity while
mountain biking. Although I was passed
by a few bikers, I finished the two loops (sans saddle). I hope this was due to my fatigue as a result
of standing the entire course… or maybe the ballpark hamburger.
Then the fun began. About a half mile into the mountain bike course, I felt my seat tilt to what I thought was a very steep inclined angle. Thinking the bracket must have loosened, I continued. The two jumps went okay, but the log just prior to the wooden bridge proved fatal to the seat post. It wasn’t the bracket that was loose. The carbon seat post had broken right at the clamp, and it fell to the trail as I crossed the log. What to do now? My first thought was, ‘this race is over. How can I ride this course without a seat? I am not a mountain biker. This is not a good idea (unplanned colonoscopy). Explaining this to the ER nurse would be uncomfortably comical.’ I stopped, picked up the saddle with its broken post, got back on my bike and started to carry it with me. It’s hard enough to mountain bike without a saddle – don’t try carrying an item in your hands too. Realizing that wasn’t an option, I threw it off the trail and went back to racing.
This year’s run course went around the lake and then back to
the power lines for an out and back.
Powerline hill was not fun. Legs
are toast. At least I got to hit the
water station twice. On the way back in,
Gregg Gelmis, had retrieved my saddle with the broken seat post and passed it
to me as I hit the pavement coming off the powerline. I felt like I was at the Olympics’ opening
ceremony, and he had just passed me the torch.
Thanks to the hill (and the seat post) I can say that I negative split
the run, even though it was a slow 5K.All
of this effort resulted in 2nd place in my age group. I guess it does pay to be in the same age
group as the Overall Male Winner, Jonathan Krichev.
Thanks to RD Dan Pline, the sponsors, and volunteers that kept this race
going: Eric Broyles, Dink Taylor, Rick
Greif, Mike Gerrity, Melissa Johnson, and many more. As always, a huge shout out to Gregg Gelmis for taking incredible race photos. I hope this race will grow and mature, as it
has great potential as a local favorite and a perfect beginner race for
off-road triathlon. Team Rocket Tri Club has a host of quality races, so get out of your comfort zone and sign up!
