Sunday, May 2, 2010

another pmbar come and gone

Toby had been saying that he wanted to go for a run this morning, something like a Turkey Pen Gap > Black shuttle run, but no matter how much I pleaded and prodded this morning he kept talking about how he hurt. He left and I drove down to Pisgah to run the dog up Black. It was raining hard when I got to Pisgah Forest and that was more than enough reason to turn around and drive right back home. I tried to run around the block and realized I hurt too!

We had a good day at our second PMBAR. We got all five checkpoints and finished 9th over all and had nothing but a good time all day!

Photobucket

We lined up at the front of the pack and when Eric told us to open our passports I took one look at the checkpoints and had no doubt what the best single speed route was. Laurel Creek at Bradley Creek meant that Turkey Pen Gap was irrelevant and we took off up Black. Our route for the day was set at the start and never questioned:

Black > Buckhorn > South Mills > Squirrel Gap > Laurel Creek > 5015 > 1206 > 5000 > 1206 > Laurel Mtn. > Pilot Rock > 1206 > 276 > 475B > 225 > 475B > 276 > 477 > Clawhammer > Maxwell Cove Rd. > Black Mtn.

67 miles, 16000' elevation gain.

Photobucket

We decided to go all the way up and over Black instead of taking Maxwell and Clawhammer. It would be the same in terms of time but in terms of effort and the lack of a big ring for the gravel we thought the shorter single track route was best. We weren't the only other team who thought so:

Photobucket

There was no view but I had to take an obligatory Top of Black picture.

Photobucket

Going down Buckhorn and South Mills River were a study in frustration and had me really wishing for a big ring. I kept expecting teams to blow by us but they never did. Where was everyone, we wondered.

We headed up Squirrel and were having a fine time except I decided to lose all my balance skills and put on an impressive display of falling. With no less than a half dozen falls I escaped with only a single bruised rib! We were chatting about trail running and Toby told me about a wnc running group he knew of and when we got to Cantrell they were there. Serendipity. It was that kind of day.

We were the sixth team to reach the Cantrell and Laurel CP's and were feeling good about our position but where was everyone else? It didn't matter so on up the road we went. The Koerbers passed us going the up 1206 right past the campground and we knew we'd be seeing the other teams in front of us coming the other way as well on the out and back. When we got to the checkpoint it was hot out and there was a cooler of ice cold beer waiting on us. I've seriously never had a beer so cold or one that tasted so good. There wasn't much time to enjoy it though as we were timing and limiting our cp breaks to no more than 2 minutes.

Photobucket

From there is was on to the long hard climb up to the top of Laurel Mtn. for cp #4. This is a big climb and it was brutally hot. Toby was dragging on the gravel and then when we hit the trail it was my turn to hit the wall. The broken tree canopy provided no relief from the scorching sun and we suffered our way to the top. Like always we eventually made it and then headed right down Pilot where we started encountering a lot of riders headed up the mountain. I had burned through three liters of water since leaving the North Mills River Recreation area and we stopped at the creek at the bottom of Pilot for more. We weren't the only thirsty riders.

Photobucket

We made the best of the long gravel spin to our fifth cp at the end of 225. A full passport meant the only place to go was back and I told Toby we were going to go as hard as we've ever gone and he took off on me. I tried to tell him that what I meant was we were going to go as hard as we've ever gone while walking up the road but he was gone so I had no choice but to follow.

Photobucket

I wanted to walk up 276 but somehow stayed on the bike but then made Toby push my bike up 477 while I ate. We again walked up some of Clawhammer and when we made the turn onto Maxwell Cove David Cook turned on as well coming from the top. Cook looked cooked and was grunting instead of talking. I asked how many checkpoints they had I he grunted five and I realized other riders who went clockwise were finishing as well. I remarked that we got five as well so it looked like we'd have to race to the finish.

I felt pretty good and was hoping Toby had some legs left as well and jumped hard. Yuri jumped as well and we took off up Maxwell Cove Rd. as if we were fresh and had something to prove. Yuri passed me and I held his wheel at a safe distance wondering what was going on with Cook and Toby behind us. It was a team race after all so there was no need to chase hard without my teammate. I figured if we could hit the gap at the same time I could tell Toby to run as hard as he had ever run and we could beat them but they beat us to the gap and I conceded to Cook as he rolled past.

The race was over and there was no need to hurry down Black and I stopped to snap one last pic as Toby rolled over Hickory Knob. He hadn't ridden his mountain bike since last year's pmbar and stayed right with me all day and even gave me a few little pushes along the way!

Photobucket

The Wednesday Night Drinking Club had taken over my truck as they finished and the finish party was warming up.

Photobucket

We exchanged some good laughs and congrats with Yuri and Cook for the fireworks finish. Nice riding, guys! I'll lose to good friends any day!

Photobucket

Terri appeared with hot pizza and cold beer and after getting on clean clothes the good times started to roll once again.

Photobucket

We hung out and watched as teams finished in the sunshine, the dark and the rain.

Photobucket

Photobucket

This is a really special thing Pisgah Productions has going on. If you've never been apart of it you really should. I've never had such a good time!

Photobucket

4 comments:

  1. great job Clay! good seeing you and everyone else out there.

    ReplyDelete
  2. As always it was a good time. I want to thank you for spot on nav skills and non-stop fun. I will admit my fitness was not at it's best but determined to hold my own. Most of all thanks for the hospitality at Casa Duma. Look forward to setting our 2011 plan into action.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Maybe if you did not stop to take so many pictures you could have beat Cook.

    Good Stuff - Nice Finish! You and your partner make me sick.

    We will get you next year.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Awesome, I'm in 3 of your pics!! I'm wearing the black and orange TORC jersey... getting water, at the finish, and on the edge of the photo of Eric in the PMBAR shirt. Thanks! Rich A.

    ReplyDelete