Finally, I had a complete day off to train. Up to this point in my preparation for the Leadville Trail 100, I have done plenty of long and easy endurance rides, and a decent number of short and intense rides. What I needed to do was put it all together in an all-day epic, going hard for hours over hilly terrain at an endurance racing pace. I also needed a day to clear my head a bit, to think of nothing but the challenge of pounding the pedals.
I started out under cloudy skies. The forecast called for late afternoon thunderstorms, with only a 30% chance of rain for the rest of the day. Nonetheless, 30 minutes in I was practically swimming through a blinding rainstorm. I pressed on, determined to keep going regardless. I was soaked and filthy, but the temperature was fine, and I was feeling decent. My legs were a bit heavy, but not bad. All was fine until I arrived in Pottersville and crossed the grated-deck bridge over the Black River. Metal bridges are never fun, but in the rain they’re dangerous as hell. I tried to keep it steady, but halfway across the bike began to slide sideways. Some serious body-English somehow kept me upright until the tires hit asphalt again, and I rolled into the Pottersville General Store with my heart racing.
After a quick break to fill my bottles, I continued northwest. I was in the mood for something different, so I turned onto Black River Road North and followed the rushing stream up a lush valley of green, deep into the hills. All day I looked for new roads, and I wandered through new terrain, connecting familiar routes via interesting short cuts and long cuts. The weather held out for the rest of the day, getting warmer and sunnier. After 75 miles the hills were beginning to hurt, and I was fighting off cramps. The final 35 miles from Long Valley to home were brutal, with all my legs muscles playing tug of war with each other. I ran into Mike Lalor, who was starting a ride on Washington Valley Road, and he suggested that I ride over to his house and grab a cold beer. I almost did, but that would have been the end of the ride for me. I pushed on, and finally rolled into the driveway with 108 miles and 7500 feet of vertical. A protein shake and a cold shower, and I started to feel human again.
Epic days like that are milestones in my training year. They give me a good reference point, and they illuminate my weaknesses. I’ll be back out there in another 14 days or so, hopefully stronger and faster.
