There is only one thing you can control....

And that is your attitude.  On the beach of Coeur d'Alene in 2008, my first Ironman, this is what Mike Reilly said to the crowd, and I have never forgotten those wise words. 

From my personal experience in racing Kona to watching the Men's WC in Kona, Ironman Sacramento, and St. George 70.3 World Championships on the group, I have seen a lot of racing.

Each race brings its own challenges: heat, wind, cold wind, and extreme cold... you name it.   We can do our best to prepare for what we think may happen, but ultimately you are faced with what Mother Nature orchestrates on the day of your race.

What can you control?  Of course, leading up to the race, you can do the best you can to train, practice nutrition, simulate the weather, etc., but once you are on the ground race week, you have to leave that behind.   You can control your energy expenditure that week, both physical and mental.

Running all over town, socializing, doing last-minute shopping and final race prep at the 11th hour takes a physical toll.  But what takes a bigger toll is your attitude.  Freaking out, near panic attacks, scrolling the FB group to "crowdsource," and allowing Social Media to pull you down is exhausting, and YOU can control all of that.

For many, this goes back to training.  We train the swim. bike, run, and hopefully, nutrition regularly.  But how do we train our "attitude."  How do you respond when a workout goes South, the weather does not cooperate, technology fails, and you get 4 flat tires?   Looking back at those times can help you prepare for challenges/adversity on race day.  

Great listen on positive vs negative.  https://www.ted.com/talks/alison_ledgerwood_a_simple_trick_to_improve_positive_thinking    

 For many, it is the end of the season, so it's the off-season/pre-season.  Before you put the TT bike into hibernation, take the time to reflect on 2022.

Here is how I look at my year and ask the same of my athletes- this is the beginning, but it starts the reflection process; once that is done, we move to look forward. Setting goals and intentions or 2023 comes after we reflect on 2022. 

• Overall feeling about your year?   This is an emotional, first-reaction response, 
• What goals did you hit? Why
• What did you miss?  Why
• What did you not do that you should have done?
• What did you do that you should not have done? 
• What did you learn this year?
• What needs to change for next season?
• What needs to stay the same? 

 

 

Kona 8: Julie 0

 

8 Kona Starts
7 Finishes
#8 was my worst race.

Never make decisions about a race within 72 hours of finishing a race, but let's just say I'm pretty f'ing firm on this one, 24 hours post-race and still 5 days post-race.

I am not racing here anytime soon.

What I did to prepare:

•  Consistently reworking my nutrition and hydration plan to deal with my 72oz per hour fluid loss and 2200mg of sodium. Extensive heat testing to learn my body is not made for heat. 
• Trained my ass off
• 0 Alchohol since 8/24
• Passed on many social events/travel to train and get ready 
• Managed sleep, recovery, weekly ART
• Arrived 2 weeks early to heat acclimate 

What more could I have done:

• Lived here 2 months
• Trained in a bathroom with a heater and humidifier in my aero bars

Race week in Kona is my favorite. So many friends from all over whom I only see in Kona; the vibe is indescribable; there is a pulse in the town. Hanging with athletes and friends and meeting new friends makes Kona, Kona.  

Race Day, I was calm and ready to do the best I could do. I knew that if I could nail my nutrition and keep the fluids in my body, I was set up for a great day!

SWIM:  1:02:08, my slowest swim in Kona ever. Swims were notably slower this year, but the kick in the ribs from the previous Sunday reared its head at the turn buoy, and I struggled to take deep breaths and adequately use my right arm during the 2nd 1/2 of the swim.   It was painful, but I knew it would be okay on the bike and running.

📷by Donald Miralle

BIKE:  5:50:08, I had a solid bike until mile 70; the fuel going in as planned, feeling good, the watts were good, and my attitude was good  Around 70, I got really uncomfortable, arms fatigued, my back and neck, struggled to stay aero  Every time I sat up I saw my speed drop and the chimp brain started to creep in, why I am weak and cannot remain aero ,,,, I nipped that pretty quickly and got refocused  Clicking off miles to 90. I had the first burp that I was afraid to trust; my stomach was not super happy  I spit up a bit soon after that. Around 100, a whole lot of fluid came up. I was hot and not feeling well, and my power dropped significantly. My HR was too high and had been since returning from Havi. I was past the last aid station, my bottles were hot, and I was not feeling good.   I worked my way back, trying to not focus on "how the F am I going to run."

T2: No bike catchers, so I hopped off, and that long transition around the pier was rough; I was not feeling good, my legs here cramping, and I was so hot. Into T2, no volunteers, and I sat down, put my head between my knee,s and was in tears; how the F was I going to do this? A volunteer appeared with a cold towel, and I began to get ready; nearly 10 min later, gulp, I headed out feeling dizzy.

Run:  I quickly moved to 1 mile at a time and shuffled along  1.6 miles later, 1st the aid station, I grabbed ice water and drank it, and immediately puked it up, I tried sipping on my hydration vest, and it came right up  With a massive headache and feeling dizzy I know I was dehydrated but could not get anything down  The next 5 miles was shuffles, try and drink, puke, try a gel, puke.   I gave up on fuel, my HR was high, and my head pounding, but I was tired of puking.   Alex, my athlete, came along asking how I was puke, and she walked a bit with me. She had one goal of finishing her first Kona and hung with me walking/puking/running to the next aid station. I kept trying new items to see if I could keep anything down. Around mile 11, I ate a bit of a fig bar, and it tasted reasonably good. I stayed down. I kept nibbling on that and could feel myself turning around.   I was able to run a bit, and then Alex was sick; at that point, any hope of a decent race was gone, so we stuck together as she puked and struggled.   It was a LONG time out there, and it was dark, but we slowly got across the finish line.

If you had told me 1 week ago I would cross the finish line hand in hand over 12 hours and be happy, I would have punched you in the face.   I was pleased, and sometimes, you must readjust and reassess in a race and set a new goal.

Am I disappointed? Of course. Am I upset? No, this IS KONA. It chews up and spits out the best. 

I was thrilled the Giardia finally left my body when I landed in Kona. After living on 2 Immodium + 4 Pepto + every day for over a month, I was VERY relieved! 

Kona is about perseverance, not giving up, and continuing to fight to finish. There is one thing I can do, s roll along and suffer.  

I left the Island in peace without regrets, with new friends and appreciation for everyone in my life, and I am eager for the off-season.

John was excellent as usual on the course, my #1 fan and supporter.  The NYX Sherpas were all over and so inspiring when things were dark and horrible. My coach Marilyn had COVID and missed the trip, but I appreciate all she has done to get me fit and ready.   Sharing the course with my athletes and the other NYXers made the day! Hillary, Cam, Molly, Kristin..San Diego, love on the course, thank you! 

 

Ironman World Championship 2022 (pre race thoughts)

 #IMWC #Kona #BigDance  Ironman World Championships returns to Kona; last race here was 2019. I did not start in 2019 due to a torn hamstring. My previous trip to IMWC was in 2017. It has been a minute.

To say I have history here is putting it mildly. 

30 years ago, I was here as a spectator on the last-minute trip to watch my brother's college roommate race. I had no idea what Ironman was besides a free Hawaii trip. I was a year out of college swimming, very out of shape, and landed in what felt like the land of the fittest people.   I swam the swim course, NBD, but was in complete awe of what unfolded that day.   I had never seen such grit and suffering, and at the corner of the Queen K and Palani when Mark Allen made the pass in the Ironwar, I was speechless. I was moved in a way that I cannot explain.    My brother made a bet I would be here one-day racing.  

12 years later, I ran a marathon, barely finished, and called my brother and said no fucking way, an Ironman is not even doable. 6 years later, in 2007, I bought a bike after being injured so much running, and then stumbled in a sprint and was hooked!!! 2008 was my first Ironman, and 2009 was my first year in Kona. 

2009: I raced sick, ignored my HR of 170 on the bike, started puking at mile 70 of the bike, cried in T2, stumbled out on the run, and passed out at mile 8 of the run. I was laid out, and every time they asked if they could take my chip, I said NO and tried to get up; at some point, they loaded me up and hauled me to the med tent. A few IVs later, I realized I had DNFs. 

2010: I had one goal, FINISH. I swam hard, biked conservatively, and ran a "comfortable" run with no pressure; I just collected the medal and wore the gear I bought in 2009.

2011:  I was ready to race; I took some risks, pushed it a bit too much in the early part of the run, and puked the last 10 miles, nearly every aid station. I hung on for a sub 11 hours. It was 7th.   

2014:  I needed a break from the Island but was ready to return in 2014. This was a hot year, and I knew I was in trouble on the bike, dizzy, and dehydrated, and I did the best I could. Early in the run, I was walking and overheating.   Diarrhea started about mile 10 and stayed with me for 16 miles; I ran from aid station to aid station . I was so worried I would DNF; at one aid station, I put my head into the trash can of ice water, much the volunteers protested. I crossed the finish line and puked all over my handler, which I coached for a few years afterward. 

2016: New nutrition plan, new hydration plan!    Rode conservatively to have a good run. 10 miles, no problem, and then I started puking again and basically trotted aid station to aid station. As it cooled off, I started guzzling coke, as in 5 cups at a time, and I got a 2nd wind and thought I could crack the top 10. I have no memory of the finish line and apparently told the medics I was at a circus, a few IVs later, and GTG.

2019:  DNS torn hamstring 

2021: St George, I had a great day, but let's be honest, it's not Kona!  

So with 6 days to go, I am reasonably calm. I came over 2 weeks early to try and heat acclimate; I learned in 2016, with extensive testing at the KSI, that I lose over 72 oz of fluid per hour with 2200mg of sodium.   On our post-testing call, he said, " you are not made for the heat and humidity, stick to cool races, and you will be fine"  Well, that is not an option...

I want a GD Podium Koa Bowl, but I cannot focus on that.   

If I can keep my fluids in my body during the run, this race will be a success!! And I can hope for the result I am chasing. My lead-up to IMWC St. George was spectacular, and I felt invincible.   This lead-up has not been so ideal; from Giardia to an undiagnosed GI Issue, a lot of my critical training was compromised. This is not an excuse; it just is!

This race is humbling and I am ready to be humbled. 

I want to enjoy this magical place; Kailua Bay is my happy place, where I want my ashes scattered, so in case I die, you all know.  

Enjoy all my friends and athletes! 

Smile and be grateful that KONA is back!   

I will do the best I can on that day. 

Boulder 70.3

 

Photo courtesy Khem Suthiwan

2022 has been a spectacular year in racing for me and rolling into Boulder 70.3, I was excited for another opportunity to do what I love  

The lead-up was a bit rough, coming off 2 weeks of struggling to hit targets, pushing through fatigue and soreness, backing off, and following Coach's plan to try and get myself righted for race day. I was not worried; generally, when the cannon goes off, I am good to go, regardless of the previous week.

I rolled into Bouler Friday, booked to the Res, got my bike, rode, checked in, and all was good. The only issue was eating some salad Wed night that was just not right; I picked out the offensive pieces but was still suffering some GI issues.   Nothing a little Immodium cannot fix.

Good sleep, and off to the Res.  Pre-race was great with 4 of my athletes racing + 6 other NYX Athletes, a real community. Hanging out and chatting for 3 hours.... don't get me started on the 30 min race delay due to traffic jams. How often has this happened? When will they make some changes to fix it OR start the race as planned, and all those who slept in can start off the back,  just my .02?

The swim was fine, the water was warm 75ish, but I wore a full wetsuit. Why? It's ALWAYS faster and enough faster to be a bit hot. I have tested this out, sleeveless vs. full vs. skinsuit; we are talking minutes. I felt like I was swimming an Ironman, strong and steady, just no extra gear. 27:50, decent swim. And look at the pros; every single pro had a full wetsuit!

On the bike, my legs were heavy, and watts were not coming up. At altitude, I expected them to be about 10watts low, but there were lower. Settle in and give it 30 min/okay 1 hour, OK time to chat with me that this may just be a really tough day. I was uncomfortable and did not love this. Lots of self-talk through the bike, trying to stay positive. I stay on my nutrition plan after reading that the #1 people fall off their nutrition plan when they have a bad race, so I was not going to let that be my issue.   I focused on calories, fluids, and mph, forgetting the watts. Stay aero and go as fast as I could. The only concern was that I had not peed and was swelling up with swollen hands and wrists.   Bike: 2:33:29

Running out of T2, I was hoping my less-than-stellar bike may have saved my legs, but that was not the case. More of the same on the run, and I had to open up my mental arsenal. Take this 1 mile at a time, stay in the moment, do not look at pace, use the downhills, fuel like a boss, and try not to be an asshole to everyone. Seeing NYX Sherap's and athletes was great, and that was my happy spot. The aid stations became my refuge, wet towels, ice/water/anything cold, even a cold Redbull over my head.   I got the place I could just hang out and suffer, no walking, just moving, channeling Ironman's brain.   Run 2:02:15, a good 13 min off.

Photo courtesy Khem Suthiwan

I finished the race. Sure, the outcome was okay, but the race was not what I was working towards. I remembered what a tough race feels like. I know I can suffer a long time and just keep moving.

Something was off race day with my GI, and I am still unsure what. My fueling plan was similar to previous hot races:

• Friday:  PH1500 preload
• Sat AM:  PH1500 preload
• 500 cal/120 carbs 4am pre-race 
• 30g carb 30 min before the swim. 
• BIKE: 5x24oz bottles -
• Total carb intake: 240g = 96g/hour, which I have trained with
• Sodium  5000mg
• RUN:
• 500ml in the first 3 miles with 1500mg sodium + 30g carb
• After a side stitch, I quit drinking for 2 miles and then resumed Gatorade endurance, coke, + water.   2000mg sodium
• All this was according to plan, but I did not pee at all on the bike or run, and post-race I consumed
• 2x24oz H20
• Kombucha
• Spindrift and still did not go.  
• I was really puffy and assumed  I had plenty of salt. Took in 2000 g + more water and a large iced coffee, and around 4pm, I finally peed. 
• Undoubtedly this played into my performance, but this plan was tested and did not work that day, 

Since race day my GI has been wrecked and currently and on antibiotics. I had a complete blood panel done after I returned, and they all came back in the normal range,   

Back to IM training with 8 weeks to Kona!  

Oceanside 2022

I went into Oceanside feeling fit and ready to race, albeit slightly tired, with IMStG 5 weeks out.  

Coach Marilyn sent me the best pre-race I have ever received, and I took it to heart 100%. A few key takeaways from that, there were more, but this is the gist of it! 

• Focus on You and only YOU, and do the very best that you can every step of the way
• Be aggressive and relentless the whole way……….Being OFFENSIVE is the key...

My competition was steep, as in she won 70.3 Worlds by 12 min and placed overall quite well, in addition to 5 other strong Kona racers, so the goal was to focus on me and only me.

This is the 11th time I have raced Oceanside, so I know the course inside and out. It really comes down to execution, nutrition, and attitude. 

Swim:  27:07

I started with the 25-30 min group, well placed, and passed over 35 people, primarily green gaps who either think they can swim faster or just want to be out front. The waves were 2-4 feet and nothing crazy if you can practice and understand the ocean. The Water temp was around 60, so tolerable. The ocean is large, so there are no issues getting around them. I swam hard, + we had a generous current pushing us North, so that was helpful. Felt tremendous and got onto the bike.  

1 Precision Hydration Gel, 5 min before the swim 

BIKE  2:40:16 

This is an Oceanside Bike PR, so yes! But I really wanted to crack 2:40. However, the guy in front of me was not interested in hauling ass down the narrow chute. So be it! This was an interesting bike. Rolling out of T2, I realized my bottle on the down tube was GONE, not there. Well, damn, no clue about that.  🤷‍♀️. Once I was on the road, I went to drink out of my aero bottle, and it was making slurping sounds; clearly, it was nearly empty. Oh, fuck! Literally no fluids until mile 18; I was literally swallowing my saliva in the hope of hydrating myself.    I had 2 packages of Precision Hydration Chews and started eating those, which are the BOMB. So I punted and went with Gatorade Endurance + the chews. The fact it was 55 degrees is what saved me.

Legs feeling good, power spot on, and then I hit a bump end now power, gone! Okay, time to ride by, feel, I know how to do that; I pushed it a bit and felt strong; I know this course and know where to push and when to hold back. The last 8 miles on Vandeveer tells how one rode; either you are struggling for watts and staying aero or pushing strong; I was the latter on Saturday.

Into T2 and onto the run

RUN:  1:47:52

Heading out of T2, it took me a bit to get organized; gels in my Smashfest 4 Gel Pocket Bra and salt tabs into my rear pockets. Coach has said, don't stress about the first 1/2M; when I looked at my watch, I was running 8:45 pace, shit, slow. I settled in and picked it up, and my legs found they were pleased around 8:10-8:15, so I ticked off the miles.   This run course is the best; miles 1.5-3, there were people every .25 miles I knew, so it was like a party. I say Les around mile 1.5, and I got the intel that 1st was over 12 min head and 2nd was 12 min behind, so this was me racing against me. I was feeling great and loving every mile. Onto lap 2, waiting to feel terrible, and it never happened. So much so that I negative split the run for a solid sub 8:00 mile at the end.   

Nutrition:  500ml bottle with 30g carb of  Precision Hydration 30 Drink Mix + 1000mg sodium from a Precision Hydration 1000mg tab.   I was worried I was a bit low on sodium and calories, so I drank this in 2 miles.   Then had 1 PF gel at 30/60/90 min. At every aid station, I had water/Gatorade/ and then at mile 6 started the RedBull. I took an additional 900mg sodium of PH Sweat Salts.   This was solid all-around. The extra gel at 90 minutes was the key to a strong finish.

5:03:14, and I am damn happy! This is 4 min off my Oceanside PR, which I did 13 years ago!  

Onto Ironman St George in 4 weeks, and I am stoked!   Great chat with M about the final build. There is a lot out there, but the key is not overdoing it. I often tell my athletes this, don't get greedy!  

Recently, a few have asked me why they think I am racing so well?

• Implicitly trust my coach and do what she says. Hard is hard, and even more critical easy is easy!  
• Consistency, day in and day out, week after week.  
• Nov and Dec were about shedding fitness, doing what felt right, M had me hitting the gym hard, but the rest was minimal; I lost a lot of bikes and swim fitness.   I stay with my coach year-round to ensure the offseason is still a time to make some gains, not overtrain, and ensure we are ready to go when the time is right.
• Strenght, I lifted heavy Nov/Dec and early Jan, and since then, its maintenance, a lot of mobility and core. 
• I am training my body to take in more calories/grams of carbohydrate on the bike and run. This does not happen overnight, but I can see it working. 
• Clean eating, I eat copious amounts of leafy greens, but I also eat copious amounts of carbs, rice, sweet potatoes, and bread, knowing that is what my body needs. Don't get me wrong, you will see me on a long ride with a Dr. Pepper and Lays Potato chips. And cutting back the 🍷

I love this hometown race! Huge thank you to all the cheers and support out there on Saturday! The Smashfest Crew, the Betty Squad, Polly, Maureen, people from the past that I heard and recalled seeing you later.  

And my absolute favorite part of the day is racing alongside my athletes!   Watching Alex have a breakthrough race and a massive PR. Stacy smiled all day, embracing 0 technology. Kasey was determined and focused and even smiling despite the pain. And Chris, his first ever triathlon, and he finished like a boss! 

Camper vs Coaching

 I had 2 amazing weeks!!

Week 1 I was a camper at Triathlon Camp run by my coach Marilyn Chayota, in Tucson. I worked hard to finish all my athlete plans so the week would be lighter work-wise. I packed up, fueled up, and drove to Tucson for 6 terrific days.  

Triathlon camp is my favorite activity, well, 2nd to racing.   I get to do what I love every day and be an athlete. No planning, no thinking, just show up and crush me. On a few days, I found myself the weakest rider in my group and embraced that. I stopped looking at watts and focused on staying in the group. Times I felt strong and capable, and other times, I was hearing noises escape from me that sounded like a wounded animal. Every SAG stop, I ate and drank more, pounded the caffeine, and got back into the group.

The Swims, my happy place, were challenging, and I had a draft 👍, someone to chase!  

The Runs were humbling as always. The 5K TT was solid for me, but wow, there were some FAF men and women there, waaaay ahead of me. This is when I focus on myself and how am I running compared to ME and not anyone else.   

The week was fantastic! New friends from all over, all the ware stories, new friendships, and new people to cheer on at races.   Camping outside of your home is key! I could focus on me, not the dogs, my husband, the dishwasher, or the laundry. I could train, eat, sleep, eat, repeat!   I know from camp that eating and fueling are critical to a successful outcome! 

I drove home Sunday with a filthy bike, a car full of laundry, a readiness score of 54, and a mom in the hospital with 8 staples in her head and 7 broken ribs.

I slept like a champ, caught up on work, got ahead, and shifted to our camp! The first of many,  NYX Endurance Camps!   

NYX Camp San Diego fucking rocked!   I could drop the mic and walk away here!

5 days,  19 athletes, 3 coaches, 3 SAG peeps, and hours of fun! We laughed, cheered, pushed, dug deep, ate fantastic food, enjoyed the stunning San Diego Coast, and deepened friendships.   The coaches stayed in houses with our athletes, and that was amazing. The chatter in the house around mixing bottles and sitting in Normatcs's is impossible to replicate in any other way. There is something about making coffee together and eating breakfast that is a level up.  

The camp is about logistics and more logistics as a coach, but that is all in the planning. Once it kicks off, it is about watching people, pushing when they need it, encouraging when they need it, chatting to get up a climb, or swearing a lot so they know that is helpful. At NYX, it's never been, MY athlete. It's OUR athletes, and camp allowed us to coach, encourage, swear with everyone.   I appreciated getting to know so many new faces and deepening relationships that were merely acquaintances.

I left camp with a full heart! 
Excited for the next camp!

Sad it was over!

Tired AF, readiness score 47, an all-time low. 

What's next..... Oceanside and Ironman St George. I took a deep dive into the start list of both races. COVID is OVER, and racing is back. Deep AG Fields at both races. #bringiton 

New year, back at it..... Step out of the comfort zone

It's been a minute since I blogged, it seems my Insta stories are my cathartic release of what is going on, but I miss blogging. As in the past, the longer I go without writing, the longer it takes to start up, because where to do you start? 

I start with Jan 29. Laura and Jen, we game to sign up for local Gracel Race,  Gravel, and Whine. Described as a 79-mile mixed surface bike ride through Temecula. Many challenging climbs, soft sand, and rough roads. I read this as a great ride through Temecula with some dirt and climbing. I have been on my gravel bike 3x since July, yes 3 times, so my skills were rusty at best and gone at worst  I was thinking my 1-hour gravel ride 3 weeks ago was refined; we will be fine.

These Kits....@bettydesigns crushed it again! 
Compliments ALL day!  

We signed up for the Decanter, the 79-mile option because we go long. Leading up to the ride, L asked how long it may take, and when I really looked at the course and thought about it, I realized it could be 6-7 hours, but that still seemed FINE.

We showed up in our fabulous new kits and decided how bad it could be. Totally unlike a Tri, we were in the back, backing up in the back, for the "spirited start"  3 fast miles on the road in 40 degrees was cold AF; the road ended, and the dirt started. Within a few miles, we hit the sand, as in beach sand, 3+ inches thick, people falling over and then pushing their bikes. I was muscling the bike along and then onto some sketchy uphill sections with deep trenches. 10ish miles in, my front wheel in the ditch, and I am off the bike, bloody knee and banged hip. My first thought was my new kit, but thankfully it was just dirty; welcome to Gravel. 

Eventually, we settled into some good gravel and then some roads. How I know I am not 100% a gravel racer, I breathe a sigh when I hit the pavement. But sooner than later, we were climbing and then descending this steep AF gravel hill, cramping hands on the brakes, wishing I could just let it rip, but scared of crashing and repeating the broken pelvis of BWR. I kept repeating it's January, and you have 3 Ironman races this year! My tip-over bent my set screw, so my chain was now dropping on the inside of my rear cassette whenever I was on the steepest part of the climb. Minor meltdown with the 4th dropped chain had to pee and was hangry. Gosh, I love this!  

We hit the aid station mile 24 or actually 28 and had a  "come to Jesus" The Decanter would likely take us 6+ hours. We were cold, not crushing it, and decided to "downgrade" to the Taster and turn around. We both felt wimpy until we hit that massive dirt climb and were once again walking/pushing our bikes up the GD hill.   Back on our bikes and happy that we only had 15 miles to go but not knowing if that meant going back through the "beach."  

 We hit a fork in the road, and a red sign said left, and the blue sign went right. We followed the red sign, forgetting we switched to the blue ride. Up another steep AF road but paved and down again to see a hill on the horizon that could not possibly be meant to ride up, but we could see tiny people pushing bikes up the hill. Mind you, these were the people who were 20+ miles faster than us, and they were pushing their bikes. We did not turn around; then, we decided to go all-in and possibly make it 20 yards before tipping over. After chatting, we decided that walking the remaining .5+ miles up the will would not win us any awards; besides, we were nearly in last place and, of course. One more wrong turn, and we were back on the road headed for the bottomless sandpit.

We finished in just over 4 hours and added did 3+ bonus miles, we did not cross the finish line, and the few who saw our bibs and actually thought we had done the whole 79 miles were a tad surprised, but we assured them that we did NOT.

Was the day fun? Yes

We laughed, swore, and had our asses handed to us. We were passed by nearly everyone and some of them twice.   When I started riding Gravel 2 years ago, it was to get out of my comfort zone, and Saturday was a reminder that I was way out! My confidence as a road rider is high; it is very low in Gravel. It's humbling, scary, and yet invigorating and fun.  

Huge shout out to Shana, whom I coach, who crushed the Taster on a rented bike and her first time on Gravel!  Kudos! 

Thank you to Gravel and Whine for a great local race!  I do not take racing for granted and appreciate a well-fun race.   The Bang at the finish line was magnificent but where was it at the aid station?  

Post-ride was wine tasting and food, none of which was vegan, but I planned for that.  

It was a fun day, and while mid-ride, I was saying n f'ing way, I know we will be back next year and may even do a little recon riding on those hills that do not seem rideable.