Once in a while we coin a term that sticks. Mt. Washington, has been nick-named the "rock pile". I kinda like that...it makes it less scary in your mind. So keep that in mind if you attempt the most challenging climbs anywhere in the U.S. - "It's just a big rock pile".
By Karen Franzen:
Bob-you were 100% right, great weather for the pre ride, expect "challenging" weather on race day. Truer words have never been spoken. Nice at the base but the top had been covered in mist all morning and wasn't about to change anytime soon. What looks like mist from below was actually cold WINDY mist.... my lens of my glasses on my right eye not only misted up but FROZE so I was not able to see out of that eye. I actually did better just closing that eye while I rode. Wind gusts averaging around 20-30 with gusts over 50 made it a bit tricky. Nice when it was a tail wind but HELL as a headwind. After the dirt section we hit the "mist" and visibility went from bad to worse. The final mile I tried to stay with a guy from Stage 5 team just so I could figure out where to go. Sometimes it was sooo thick I could barley make out the lines on the road! While I was coming to the final right with a sharp left to the "wall" at the end, I took my left hand off the handlebars to wipe some water that dripped down my left lens (the only one I could almost see out of) and promptly start to fall over, slow motion of course.... had to get around the corner, hop back on and ride over the line.
Then to try to find Dan. I couldn't even see 10 feet in front of me but was able to locate him and that was a very good thing. Lots of others weren't so lucky to find their rides that quick. MANY were wondering around shivering in their bike clothes wrapped in the PolarTec blankets we all got.
I learned a few things: keep pedaling even if you can't see... NEVER take your hands off the bars! I know now to take my glasses off as soon as I hit the mist on that mountain. Couldn't see anyway so wasn't much different than being blind like I am with out the glasses.
Proper warm up was key, even though we all stood on the line for quite a while before the cannon blew (yes- no starting gun or bell or whistle... a CANNON).
I saw a couple women I wanted to try to stay with, did pretty good until hitting the dirt section, keeping them in sight and sometimes getting right on their wheels. I was starting to cramp though so cut back and decided to stay with in some saner ranges on the PowerTap. At that point, we had a great tailwind but I knew it was going to be awful as soon as we hit the hairpin to the right and sure enough, smack dab into the headwind with gusts that were whipping me around pretty good. Started cramping in the quads so tried to adjust my pedal stroke, the cramping in the quads eased but then started in the hamstrings.... and that's pretty much how the rest of it went to the finish. Thank GOD my legs didn't cramp up completely. I know the cold damp conditions were the major problem there as that's been what has happened to me over the last few years. My legs don't like the cold damp & working hard all at the same time.
Not sure how I place over all but came pretty close to my goal time of 1:30 with finishing time of 1:37:54. Happy with that. Had a great turkey dinner post race (yes, I said TURKEY DINNER), Dan loved that! Then hung out for awards and low and behold, I ended up with 3rd for my division. Pretty cool as I thought I was about 5th or so but with them lumping a bunch of the master fields together, it was tough to
tell who was in my age group.
No comments:
Post a Comment