Boggs VI

[Carl Sanders]

Last year I'd never even tried an eight hour race. For Boggs V, I gave it my best, not knowing exactly what to expect; I stayed relaxed and calm, attempting to tap the cumulative benefit of a winter's base training.

Somewhat to my surprise, I had finished with the best time and with the most laps among all the experts on that cold and muddy 10 mile course. Only 12 minutes behind Kevin Smallman, I would have been second in Pro and third overall (some single speed dude inched passed me on the last lap!).

This year, I had a title to defend. I had a sense that more folks were watching. Given my previous success, I developed my Boggs VI specific training around a similar structure; 10 weeks of build with increasing volume and intensity, punctuated by local practice races and rest weeks for recovery.  The difference this time, was that much of my training was spent on a road bike in the icy rain. I wondered if my dirt skills would suffer.

Arriving the night before, to scout the course and set up my pit, the Race Director Carlos informed us that there were going to be some last-minute changes to the course given the sloppy conditions. The next morning we all learned that the course had been shortened to only five miles and had no single track! Expecting fast laps and potentially greater distances covered, Carlos set the course closure at seven hours instead of eight and the final lap cut-off time at seven and half as opposed to eight and a half.  Someone said something funny about a dirt crit. I tried to smile.

The next morning at 7:50 AM, I moved to the front of a truly mass start; 600 people had registered, most going solo, many on teams, hard to tell how many hundred riders were behind us few in the front row. In this mob, Summit Bicycles was also represented by Eric Olson, lost a few rows back. My co-worker Meagan Arnold was also out there for only her second XC race, but seemed a bit unsure as to what lay ahead. I picked local favorite Brian Astell to pace off with on the first few laps. Just watching his line and handling ease on the descents was worth the extra effort. With pit support, Brian never stopped rolling when he needed to refuel. I on the other hand, fumbled through my ice chest for water and hammer gel every few laps. 

We were consistently turning 22 - 23 minute laps, ripping past the lap tent calling out our number plates. No rain, but lots of snotty mud. Brian got away from me after about the fifth lap, but never caught me from behind. Without any single track bottle necks, it was easy to thread my way through the throngs of racers spread over the entire course. Early in the race, Eric had a race ending mechanical, but offered to help at the pit for a few laps -- what a time saving difference to have support! 

As with last year, I quickly lost track of my lap count and what my position was on the course. So, I resolved not to get passed, and to attack all riders whenever possible. I had found a solid rhythm, repeating to myself to ride smarter in order to go faster; breath, pedal, eat, drink, repeat. Who knew if that next racer ahead was going solo or was on a team? 

Cresting the last climb at 2:55 PM, just before the final descent back toward the finish, I knew I could roll out one more lap before they closed the course at 3:00 PM and under the seven and half hour time limit. I let go with all I had left, burning every last match to see what I had in me. Barely able to see past my muddied glasses, I pumped up each climb with legs still responding well and blindly bumped down each descent picking clean lines more from memory than clear vision. Across the line, with 20 laps under my belt at 7:19, I had once again finished first among all the Experts and second overall, just 10 minutes behind Brian. Had I stopped only a few moments too long somewhere back on the course, Gabriel Forsythe might have overtaken me, finishing just 33 seconds back, after also completing 20 laps!  Somewhat to her surprise, Meagan also ended up first in her Category. Time to celebrate! Cold, Coors beer out of can never tasted so good!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jim Hewett]

It's hard to keep your focus when they make such a big change to the race the night before. Great job keeping it together!  Now get that bike into the shop for a tune-up before Napa! 

[Paul Montgomery]

Nice work...! Thanks for the write-up.