I have always been a recreational MTB racer…not training much but liked to go do a race occasionally. I purchased the Finisher plan and a 100 mile PR plan over the winter after having spent the winter recovering from ankle surgery. I went on a diet during that time and lost 18 lbs then started the Finisher plan and never missed a work-out despite the long winter here in the midwest. The plan you had laid out for me was to do the 12 week plan, then do my first race, Calvins Challenge 12hr road event, then do a week off then weeks 1,11, and then 12 before the Mohican 100.

The day of Calvin's was cold with 25-35 mile and hour winds. I did it last year in ideal conditions and rode 189 miles, completely blowing up at hour 3 and somehow managing to stagger around the course for another 9 hours. This year I went out too fast again but not as bad. It was difficult to let go of a group when I hit zone 4 because the wind was fierce and riding in it alone was brutal. I did let go of a few groups though and dropped to a group where I would maintain level 2/3 but spent too much of the first few hours in high 3 low 4. Did the first 100 miles in 5hr 35min and felt great but knew I could not maintain that. After a pit stop I did not hook up with anyone figuring I would find people on the road but it did not happen. Spent 12 miles fighting the strong winds alone before getting caught by a guy on a time trial bike. We then caught a very strong younger woman and the three of us made a good team. My legs progressively slowed and at times I was completely exhausted. I cramped on and off the last 50 miles and HR dropped to low zone 2. I had nothing that last 50 and could not raise my HR. There was very little shelter from the gusts but we pushed on as we each wanted to get the coveted 200 mile mark. We finished together with 204.5 and were very pleased. Only 15 miles farther for me then the year before but the average for the field dropped 20 miles from 2012-2013 due to the conditions. I tied for 5th place out of 12 or so in the 45-50 year age group.

That 12 hr event took a lot out of me. I did not drink enough during the event using my camel back and bottle. I was down 6 lbs after the event and took a week to get my weight up. I then started week 1 of the PR plan. Power test was the same as in week 7 of my Finisher plan. Wanted a higher number but I did still feel knackered. The second week I was out of the country for a few days so did not train. Then the week before the Mohican I was sick for three days but showed up the day before feeling fine. It poured all day prior to the race and I awoke with a sore throat and cough. I raced the 100K course the year before after a hard rain and was dreading the thought of some of those treacherous slimy climbs and descents. Almost decided to turn in a DNS but decided if conditions were sunny I would have gone out so it was more fear of 100 miles in the mud that was weighing on me and not so much my cold. So I lined up.

Heart rate was 110 on the line. I was very nervous. Out of town and up the big hill I was in lower zone 4 and into the single track I stayed in lower 4 upper 3. Amazingly though when hit the trouble spots from the year prior I just powered through them. One switch back climb I remembered from last year and was dreading it. Everyone walked it then and this year was no different. Tire to tire walkers on this greasy narrow trail. I figured to bail at the first switch back…but I made it around by just keeping the power going as my wheels slipped and slid. I yelled rider back and people were giving me Kudos and yelling good ride so I kept going…and going…and going.  My HR monitor was mad but I did the whole climb passing two dozen people along the way. My HR did hit 193! but there was nothing I could do once I got on the climb as there was no where to pull over. That scenario would repeat itself several times in the first 4 hours where I made obstacles I never made before. It was not all rosy however. I was using water bottles for my fuel and water so I could see exactly how much I was taking in to avoid the Calvins fiasco. I got new bottles the day before with 28 oz capacity and one ejected! It meant I would have to stop at every opportunity and drink water and calories like crazy while refilling my only bottle.

After four hours of low level 4/high 3 I started to tire. HR gradually dropped to low 2 and level 1 at times as I road with a few others who were also dying out there. We had to walk a few big climbs but recovered on an old cinder rail trail. Then with 30 miles left we hit a very, very long steep dirt road. There were a few up ahead walking and those in my group also said they were walking it. I decided I would do as much as I could. I put my head down and settled into a rhythm and passed the two on the lower part of the climb. As they said “great ride” I assured them I would fall over at any time but my legs kept going…and going…and going. I looked back at the top and saw no one behind me. My legs had come back! I decided to test them a little more and press on. My legs got stronger and stronger. On the single track I climbed through mud and over rocks around racers walking and kept on moving. On the roads I only walked one small section to preserve a little strength for the last 8 miles of single track I knew was to come. I hit the single track and was loving it. I could push on the pedals and had power, my tiredness was mostly gone. I had no cramps. I finished in 10hrs 42 min which was well under my 12 hr goal and 69 of 131 in mens open. It was perhaps the best day I ever had on a mountain bike and I almost quit without even taking the line! All the preparation paid off even if I did exceed the HR limits a wee bit early and did not test my water bottles before racing with them. Recovering now and looking forward to completing the rest of the PR plan and races as you laid out for me at the time of purchase. Thanks for helping me successfully navigate my mid life crisis and recapture some of my lost strength of youth.