Mt. Tam Double Century 2012 'Over the Top'

[Carl Sanders]

Just a week out from the 12 hour suffer-fest in Humbolt, I found myself on the start line in the dark at 5 AM for the Mt. Tam Double. I wasn't there to race I told myself. This was simply one more double event on my way toward my 50X50 goal: completing 50 double centuries by the time I complete fifty laps around the Sun.

Unlike many doubles that aren't timed and times are kept personal, this event started under a banner with a over-sized digital clock and went off with a race director calling out 'ready-set-go!'

Rolling neutral through suburban Terra Linda neighborhoods, I tried to keep my cool, stay relaxed and remember, this was not a race. Easy enough to just let riders go by in the dark, until we hit the first hill on Lucas Valley Road. Off the saddle, I began climbing up through the ranks of blinking red tail lights and beaming white head lamps. 

Over the top, past Big Rock, a string of lights still streamed along ahead of me.  Of the 270 or so double riders out this morning, I'd guess at least 40 riders still remained ahead. Glad I wasn't racing.

Into San Geronimo Valley, I caught up with a strong pace line heading toward White's Hill. Not wanting to be at the back of the pack on the Descent into Fairfax, I stepped to the outside and motored my way past another 15 riders, cresting the pass and blasting solo on the fast run into town. 

On familiar terrain, we rode up Bolinas-Fairfax to Ridgcrest. I couldn't resist methodically working my way past more riders as the Sun came up as we rolled toward East Peak. Still, I kept saying to myself, 'just finish...last week hurt...no need to race...'

Near the top, I could now count riders going past in the opposite direction who had just rounded the first summit. As I rolled past the Control at the summit parking lot, the officials confirmed I was 13th to round the top mark.

I just couldn't ride my bike. I felt compelled to chase the next guy in front of me.

This behavior continued down to Muir Woods, past Stinson Beach, up Olema Valley, into Point Reyes, past Nicasio, toward Hick Valley, then down into Petaluma for a feed. En route, we caught up with the other 2,700 'Marin Century' riders mobbing the narrow west Marin rural roads. Thankfully, the CHP provided traffic control and rolling closures for lead riders. A rolling circus on wheels.

Out of Petaluma, now in with the top ten double riders, we battled a fierce head wind heading north into Chileno Valley. While these lead riders steadily motored on, my energy level began to fade, falling off the back of the pack as we came into the Aid at Valley Ford. It seemed that I burned up my reserves, watching my HR dwindle and my power steadily fade. Oh well, I had the fall back goal of just finishing.

Without much kick, I plodded north up the brutally steep Coleman Valley off HWY1, then screamed down the paved cliff face that is Joy Road, back into Valley Ford and finally with a tail wind, reversed the loop through Marshall, along Walker Creek, past Nicasio and one more time up Lucas Valley toward the finish in Terra Linda, finishing in 6th place with a time of 12:11. 

Reasonable finish, all things considered.

Annadel next weekend, then finish the season with Marathon Nationals in Bend on Sept. 15.

[Adam Nuyens]

Gotta love 12 hours on the bike!

Great job, Carl!