Mama always said, “karma’s a bitch.”
I joked about first place getting a mechanical so I could catch up. Lo and behold, this bitch can’t get a break.
I got nailed—and not the fun kind.
I was setting a pretty good pace at the start, making sure I didn’t burn any matches. I was feeling pretty okay considering I woke up feeling like dogshit.
We hit Little Frenchy and started descending. Then I heard a clamor. Thinking I just bottomed out, I kept going. Then another ping. Then another clang.
I pulled over. I had a flat af rear tire.
Awesome. So fucking awesome.
I start inspecting and see a nail going in one side of my tire and coming out on the other side. I went through my shit to put in a tube. Then I go to fill it with C02 and wouldn’t you know, the little top thingy was broken and the C02 blasted out a hole that wasn’t supposed to be a hole.
Luckily, this guy (plate 443) slowed down enough to ask me if I needed anything (plenty of people asked but no one slowed down enough to hear my response). He helped me with the C02 then Jackky came up from Aid Station 1 with gels, so I threw those back while he put the wheel back on my bike.
Then I had to burn matches to try to make up time.
Thankfully, Jackky got us some hiking mountain bike shoes and those worked perfectly walking up all the gd trails I couldn’t bike.
I tried not to give up. I tried repeating the shit people keep telling me to make me feel better that I’m in second place: “a lot can happen in six days.”
They’re not wrong, but…
It’s just that the shit is happening to me. So, now I know to never joke about someone else getting a mechanical.
First place kept her position as well as lengthened her gap to 27 minutes. I know I lost at least fifteen minutes to the flat.
This race is relentless. Just when you’re feeling good, something checks you real fucking fast. Something like a bee sting or a lost gel or when your crotch feels like it’s been rubbed down by sandpaper.
But it isn’t all doom and gloom. This is Type 2 fun. While it’s pretty fucking miserable at times, I still found myself smiling at parts and seeing some familiar, friendly faces along the course.
It was also cool to talk to Mike, the Race Director of @breckepic early this morning and then see him on the course later. You can tell he puts this on because he really wants people to go out on a big bike adventure. He understands the competition aspect but he’s also passionate about people going out and having a fun time.
And that’s something I can get behind.
Stats:
Distance: 39 miles
Elevation: 6,866’
Finish time: 5:23:53
Place: 3rd
GC standing: 2nd (down by 27 minutes)
Songs stuck in my head today:
“Bad Karma” by Ida Maria
“Walking is Still Honest” by Against Me!