12 Hours of Mesa Verde

So finally after 2 years of bullshit I stayed up until midnight one night in December to enter and it was well worth it even if I was dragging ass a work the next day because the race sold out in 36 hours! WOW that was fast, at first May seemed along ways off when it is freezing outside and about 12" of snow in the backyard.  As temps rise and I get a new bike May is looming over me and my out of shape body pretty fast so I start riding more and more and then Bam May is here and I just hope I am ready for this race that I have been looking forward to all year.  So the plan is to meet at Jay house in Colorado Springs on the Thursday before the race to drive down to Cortez, Co and camp at the fair grounds.  About a week before we were trying to figure out who will drive and all that good stuff, well Jays dad said he wanted to go and he ended up hauling our butts and bikes down there THANKS DOUG!!!!!!!!!!!  Which I can't thank him enough for that.

all our shit in the trailer

Doug next to his cool ass camper

bikes and gear all packed and ready to roll bitches!

It was a cool drive down to Cortez we took I-25 south to hwy 160 over La Veta pass and Wolf Creek pass and it only took 7 hours which isn't bad considering we were pulling a trailer.  I really enjoy the drive down there it is definitely one of the cooler ones in Colorado.

going up Wolf Creek pass

the MEN?

We got to the fair grounds around 7 and man that was a good feeling to get out of the truck after a long trip like that, no matter how many times I have done a long trip like it is one of the best things in this life to just not be sitting.  Jay and I set up our tent and chilled out with some white whiskey, next thing you know its time for bed because we have a big day planned for Friday. 

home sweet home for 3 days

Friday morning was a good morning I woke up to the sun and I was feeling real good and it was going to be a nice day because all we had to do was go into town to pick up our race packet and swag then pre-ride the course. We went to town and got all our stuff, we ended up with number 298 and some last minute things for the race.  Got back to camp made some lunch and got ready and rolled out to the course and thoroughly enjoyed it no big climbs and lots of fun descents with little jumps and cool lines everywhere.

couple of touchers

I wish we would have rode the course in the morning as opposed to in the afternoon because of the wind but I still have no complaints about it at all just a really good place to ride, one day want to go back and ride all 39 miles of trail out there in phils world. We rode the course at a slow pace and just enjoyed it, I can say it was nice to be out enjoying some single-track with my good bro Jay.  That night we all just relaxed, I know that I was excited about Saturday.  Jay was going to do the Lemans start and get the first lap in on race day.

Finally Saturday comes and Jay and I are up early for the racer meeting and to get some breakfast and coffee, I can tell that Jay is nervous and so am I but it is mixed with a lot of excitement.  I love lemans starts they are a fun way to start a race. 

Jay getting ready

all the bikes lined up

waiting for Jay and talking to Ryan

I like this pic of Jay running to his bike the only picture I took all day and it turned out to be a good one.  It was good to just get to sit around while Jay was out on the first lap, although not knowing how long it will take is the only part that is hard lucky for me Doug was there and a friend from Denver was there racing as well.  

figuring out where to put my bike

This race has a lot of fast people racing as I watched some of them come thru the timing area I was blown away at some the times that were posted up for the first lap. Seeing Jay come into the transition area was a good feeling because I was getting anxious and I wanted to get out there and ride.

running to my bike

after lap 1

in the pits

I got out there on my first lap and it was awesome, I felt good and and I passed more than I got passed so overall I think that is a good thing on a 16 mile course.  I paced myself behind some ss guys and they had a nice pace and ended up putting up a nice 1st lap time of 1hour 32min. 

after my 1st lap

After my first lap I was so pumped  up I couldn't sit down for more than a minute, its weird that after riding like that I can't sit still.  While I waited for Jay to finish his lap I just drank a bunch of water ate a banana and tried to chill and get my mind and body ready to go out and kill it. It's funny how fast an hour and a half go by when you want it to go slowly, doesn't seem right.

Jay coming in from lap 2

My second lap started out really good I was feeling good my legs weren't tired, I was focused and I was riding a steady pace, ripping the descents and just having a great time ringing my bell and smiling the whole time until the last little climb after rib cage, I got caught and passed by a women and man she was fast it was all I could do to keep her wheel on the final descent to the tunnel and dirt road to the transition. In my small sexist mind I figured I could pass her at that point but, no she was just damn fast.

coming in from lap 2

I didn't have a single problem just sitting down after my 2nd lap and I was happy to just sit in the chair and have some water and a little bite to eat and chat with Doug and he said that Jay had, had some leg cramps on his second lap and we discussed kinda what was going on and I was a little concerned that I was going to have to do back to back laps which lets be honest I wasn't to thrilled about but I would have done it because after a shitty performance at the last race I did, I swore to myself to not let that kind of shit happen ever again.  When Jay came into the transition area he looked beat and I can understand why, it was hot and dusty but he was in good spirits and it gave me a lot of motivation to get out there and just have a good time. Because remember I don't get paid to ride my bike or race so that is exactly what I did, I just had fun and do you know what? I suffered and it was great, it was my slowest lap and I got passed by everybody and I just rang my bell and smiled.  It's funny that while I sit here and try to remember some of the pain I just can't do it all that comes back to me is the trail  and how amazing an experience it is to push your self.

after lap 3

As I was coming into the transition area I had a little bit of anxiety about what was going to happen, either I was going out for one more lap or I was done.  And I was relieved to see Jay standing there waiting to take the baton on one last lap.  I am proud of Jay for going out for one more I know he was not feeling super hot and probably wanted me to say that I would go but man I was fucking tired and beat and just wanted to relax and take a shower in his dads camper.

Mr. badass after his 4th lap

My two favorite photos of the entire trip, I don't know why they just make me laugh.

Good Job Jay I am so stoked about the 4th lap and I will never forget watching you come in man I am lucky to such a good friend and a great teammate!!!!!!