And one from me-
Hello, everyone.
I wanted to give everyone who donated, called me, helped me with a spare bike or parts, a huge thank you. This was definitely the most rewarding event I have done in a while, looking down at the red bracelet from the ALS society, with the saying"never give up", gave me strength during that 3 a.m. lap in the fog.
This was my first 24 hour mountain bike race, and I was honored to be asked. Team EMC/Documentum put together an awesome team, with all the racers boasting some very impressive wins at some tough races. I just hoped to be able to hold up my end and not slow us down.
The race started with a "lemans" style start with our first racer running about 500 meters to his bike. Joe did a great job getting ahead of the masses and got us into about 15th by the first lap. All five of us took turns doing a 10 mile lap, and quickly the race shook out to 3 teams left: EMC,Sycip, and Team Tam. Sycip had a mechanical problem, losing 20 minutes, and we were looking good! I have been battling a respiratory bug since before Ironman Arizona, but I felt pretty good. Our support crew, Larry and Angele, did a awesome job with logistics, massage. All we had to do was race and try to recover for the next lap.
The night came, and with it , a damp fog blew in off the ocean. Headlights were mounted to bikes and helmets, people were admonished to ride safe, and many layers of lycra were donned.
We held on to the lead for the first 6 hours, each guy taking 2 laps, so we could rest. Our fastest rider, Rich Thurman, actually won the fastest lap competition at night, with a 42 minute lap- smokin' fast!
In the middle of the night, trouble started. The rider ahead of me, Greg, lost his contact lens soon into his first lap. he then had no depth perception, which slowed him some. Then his light decided to malfunction, leaving him with limited vision and no light.He was forced to wait for riders to come along with strong lights, and ride with them. He stopped at one of the aid stations on the backside of the course, and asked them to radio for a new rider. Unfortunately, the message was not sent, and Greg found no one waiting when he came in. He decided to soldier on for the second lap, and gave everything he could. The lead slipped away, as Sycip was hammering every lap.
I grabbed the baton, and went out next. I thought I was doing two laps in a row, and paced myself a little conservatively. It wasn'y really a problem going easy, as I could only see about 15 feet ahead of me in the fog with my wet glasses anyway.
Quite ascene out there, I would roll around a corner at 20 mph, and someone would be walking their bike, or crashed out on one of the 40 mph descents.
I pulled back in, and the plan had changed. We would go to single laps and try to pull back the lead. Unbelievable efforts from everybody, all were cramping, backs were hurting, and the lead was staying at 15 minutes. I went out on the daybreak lap, which is supposed to be so awesome and beautiful. All I remember was staring at the fire road in a foggy gray, and going as hard as I could. Maybe next year it will be beautiful.
Before I knew it, my last lap was over. I turned my fastest lap as my last, in 49 minutes and change, and gave the baton to Rich.He volunteered to do two laps, and either bring back Sycip or blow up. Unbelievably, at the end of the second lap, with 10 minutes left on the 24 hour clock, Rich passed the Sycip rider. It was now down to Ron, our leader, 24 hour veteran, and all - around warrior. He left with a 6 second lead on Sycip's best rider.Much tension at the finish line, the announcers were playing it up, nothing to do but wait for about 45 minutes. Ron fought off the cramps that he had started with as long as possible, and rode the last 4 mile climb standing, trying to keep it together. Unfortunately, it was not meant to be, and after over 24 hours of hard racing, the Sycip rider crossed the finish line with a 80 second lead.
The team has no regrets, we all laid it on the line. The huge applause at the podium ceremony was nothing compared to the cheers when the representatives from the Bay Area ALS Society were brought onto the stage, and given a check for 5000.00. All of you that donated made the most meaningful part possible. Meeting so many folks that have been touched by it, and hearing the stories, gave me so much gratitude to be able to hop on a bike and ride with my daughter whenever I like.
Thank you again,
John
Hello, everyone.
I wanted to give everyone who donated, called me, helped me with a spare bike or parts, a huge thank you. This was definitely the most rewarding event I have done in a while, looking down at the red bracelet from the ALS society, with the saying"never give up", gave me strength during that 3 a.m. lap in the fog.
This was my first 24 hour mountain bike race, and I was honored to be asked. Team EMC/Documentum put together an awesome team, with all the racers boasting some very impressive wins at some tough races. I just hoped to be able to hold up my end and not slow us down.
The race started with a "lemans" style start with our first racer running about 500 meters to his bike. Joe did a great job getting ahead of the masses and got us into about 15th by the first lap. All five of us took turns doing a 10 mile lap, and quickly the race shook out to 3 teams left: EMC,Sycip, and Team Tam. Sycip had a mechanical problem, losing 20 minutes, and we were looking good! I have been battling a respiratory bug since before Ironman Arizona, but I felt pretty good. Our support crew, Larry and Angele, did a awesome job with logistics, massage. All we had to do was race and try to recover for the next lap.
The night came, and with it , a damp fog blew in off the ocean. Headlights were mounted to bikes and helmets, people were admonished to ride safe, and many layers of lycra were donned.
We held on to the lead for the first 6 hours, each guy taking 2 laps, so we could rest. Our fastest rider, Rich Thurman, actually won the fastest lap competition at night, with a 42 minute lap- smokin' fast!
In the middle of the night, trouble started. The rider ahead of me, Greg, lost his contact lens soon into his first lap. he then had no depth perception, which slowed him some. Then his light decided to malfunction, leaving him with limited vision and no light.He was forced to wait for riders to come along with strong lights, and ride with them. He stopped at one of the aid stations on the backside of the course, and asked them to radio for a new rider. Unfortunately, the message was not sent, and Greg found no one waiting when he came in. He decided to soldier on for the second lap, and gave everything he could. The lead slipped away, as Sycip was hammering every lap.
I grabbed the baton, and went out next. I thought I was doing two laps in a row, and paced myself a little conservatively. It wasn'y really a problem going easy, as I could only see about 15 feet ahead of me in the fog with my wet glasses anyway.
Quite ascene out there, I would roll around a corner at 20 mph, and someone would be walking their bike, or crashed out on one of the 40 mph descents.
I pulled back in, and the plan had changed. We would go to single laps and try to pull back the lead. Unbelievable efforts from everybody, all were cramping, backs were hurting, and the lead was staying at 15 minutes. I went out on the daybreak lap, which is supposed to be so awesome and beautiful. All I remember was staring at the fire road in a foggy gray, and going as hard as I could. Maybe next year it will be beautiful.
Before I knew it, my last lap was over. I turned my fastest lap as my last, in 49 minutes and change, and gave the baton to Rich.He volunteered to do two laps, and either bring back Sycip or blow up. Unbelievably, at the end of the second lap, with 10 minutes left on the 24 hour clock, Rich passed the Sycip rider. It was now down to Ron, our leader, 24 hour veteran, and all - around warrior. He left with a 6 second lead on Sycip's best rider.Much tension at the finish line, the announcers were playing it up, nothing to do but wait for about 45 minutes. Ron fought off the cramps that he had started with as long as possible, and rode the last 4 mile climb standing, trying to keep it together. Unfortunately, it was not meant to be, and after over 24 hours of hard racing, the Sycip rider crossed the finish line with a 80 second lead.
The team has no regrets, we all laid it on the line. The huge applause at the podium ceremony was nothing compared to the cheers when the representatives from the Bay Area ALS Society were brought onto the stage, and given a check for 5000.00. All of you that donated made the most meaningful part possible. Meeting so many folks that have been touched by it, and hearing the stories, gave me so much gratitude to be able to hop on a bike and ride with my daughter whenever I like.
Thank you again,
John
posted by Gianni at
11:42 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home