Sunday morning I headed out for a check of the trail. I like to ride the 10 miles on the Blue Ox trail to the turn onto the Arrowhead trail.
A quick check of the trail Monday morning showed the sidewalk that was there yesterday was gone and replaced by a multitude of snowmobile tracks. Snowmobilers , like fat bikers, have been stoked to finally have a good snow year. Despite the snowmobile tracks there was still a nice section off to the right.
I lined up on the start line up front, but knowing I may not remain there long. Having taken several weeks off after my crash I wasn't sure where I'd land. Not more than 10 meters in I knew I didn't have what it takes to hang with Neil and Matt, who would go on to take 1st and 2nd overall. I fell into a solid pace but not too hard I was struggling to keep it up. Neil and Matt slowly faded into the distance. Once on the Arrowhead trail they disappeared all together around the turns of the trail. I was sitting in 3rd with no one in sight in front or behind me. Overall I was feeling good and not frustrated with myself for not sticking with the lead two.
The first checkpoint (Gateway) is about 37 miles in. We leave the Arrowhead trail about a 1/4 mile on an out and back. I circled the cone, shouted my number, and headed on without stopping. I didn't see the leaders or 4th place on that 1/4 mile out and back.
Photo by Dave Markman, coming into Gateway checkpoint. It's snowing a bit in this picture.
Typically after Gateway I have a little melt down. I'm tired from keeping up with the "fast" guys, I struggle a bit on the hills (the first section is flat, the hills begin now), get frustrated and eventually fall off the front. This year was amazingly different. By not burying myself to keep up with the lead group I had a bunch left in the tank. While the hills were still hills and hurt I was riding up them with seemingly less effort and ease than previous years. I did have my issues however. A week prior to the AH135 I went on my last longer ride. I tried out a new "what if it's really cold" set up. That set up gave me some good chaffing in some rather non-fun spots. Those spots started to rear their ugly head. I stopped and applied chamois cream. This produced some wicked stinging but eventually that subsided and all was good.
I eventually was caught by Charly Tri. I was more stoked than bummed to be caught. Charly is a talker and I was ready to hear some stories! We rode together the next 10 or so miles but eventually Charly was off the front and then gone form eyesight around the corners. I stuck to my pace and pushed on. Coming into the second checkpoint (MelGeorge at mile 70ish) we cross Elephant Lake. After the turn midway the far side comes into view and I saw Charly and Matt! Matt was running unsupported but Charly and I were supported so we took advantage or filling our hydration packs and grabbing a famous grilled cheese sandwich. I was in and out in 7 minutes. Charly and I rode off together.
Coming into MelGeorge. Photo: Jen Doom
A bit after MelGeorge Charly and I.
Photo: Jen Doom
Charly and I really only rode together, as in right next to each other, a small bit. Otherwise he was ahead a bit or I was. Just the way it played out. At one point I was up front and zoned out. When I looked back Charly was gone. I stopped to pee and still no Charly. I pushed on. This was about 5 miles past the above picture. Turns out Charly had a wicked asthma attack. He was in a pretty dark place. Not being his first time on the AH135 nor asthma attack he stayed cool and pushed on to a great finish, 4th!
MelGeorge to the last checkpoint (Surly, mile 110) is my favorite. It starts off fairly flat, going through many swamp sections. I find it beautiful and peaceful. Even more so this year as all the trees, throughout the 135 miles, were covered in a thick hoarfrost. The hoarfrost and the occasional fat flakes and it was the quintessential snow globe. The most scenic Arrowhead for me.
Love this photo by Dave Markman.
I felt great on this leg of the trail. While I had to walk some of the hills, everyone does, I found myself riding hills I walked in the past. I have also been known to lose my cool on this section, wondering when the fuck Surly was going to show up. Not this year. All of a sudden there it was! Surly is such a great checkpoint. I was welcomed by some type of horn (maybe the kind at soccer matches), Jen and her mom, the Surly Crew, and a friend and her brood of kids! I unclipped, gave my number, said I was good, and pushed on. Less than a minute. Only 25 miles left!
The last section is basically flat. Some say the most boring as it can drag on but I kind of like it. I've always ridden at night. I can see how it would be tedious during day light. I did stop on this leg to put in my music and reapply chamois cream. So glad I bought some along!
Road crossing 10 miles to the finish.
Photo: Jen's mom (MaryJo)
This year I didn't use my Garmin Edge 1030 but rather my Garmin Fenix watch. Besides the watch being amazing I like not having a computer in front of me showing me a map of nothing or numbers. I believe this a partial reason this was such an enjoyable AH135. I usually find myself checking mileage several times on the last leg but I think I only did so once this time around. Much like Surly the finish line just showed up.
I finished in 3rd with a time of 14 hours 49 minutes. 30 minutes behind Matt in 2nd and 45 minutes behind Neil in 1st, awesome job fellas. Oh yeah, Neil and Matt also did it unsupported! I was stoked with how I felt during the race, how I finished, how I felt after, and how I ended in relation to 1st and 2nd place.
Finish line photo.
Photo: MaryJo
Honestly not sure how much different the results would have been had I not had an accident in November forcing me off the bike. I know rest is good but not 7 weeks! I had hoped and planned on doing some speed work prior to the AH135 in attempts to make hanging on upfront less painful. That didn't happen so who knows. I'm just stoked I was able to finish my 8th (out of) Arrowhead 135 and have such a great time doing so. Thanks to all that followed along and gave me their well wishes. It makes it that much more fun.
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