UGH
The Dakota 50 - I did not finish it. UGH. I started out last, stayed last until I quit. My legs did great, and temps were perfect - the only low we've had all summer, it was 54 degrees here this morning, and I wore a tank top to stay cool, which was just right because it got up to about 75....
I did the singletrack 1/2 hour faster than I was expecting. I thought I was doing really well considering how I've done in the past, but then the sweep person kept asking me if I need electrolytes, food, etc. Ok, maybe I was in over my head. But I KNEW the trail, KNEW how soon I could get there...
I wasn't all that far behind. There were 2 more sweep people and they all were riding back and forth until the first one I mentioned above told me he was going to keep going and check on people further up. No problem, I said... I had all the stuff I needed to survive out there, including cell phone....
Just before I reached the fork in the trail, I thought I saw the first sweep person riding the road back to me, so I waved.... and then realized it wasn't him. Someone was CHEATING and riding the road down so he could finish in under 2 hours. What he didn't realize though, is the other 2 sweep people were waiting for me on the corner and found him. I think he said something nasty to them, because those 2 guys disappeared at that point and the cheater "finished" in 3 hours, but they disqualified him...
I felt so important by then... when I reached the fork, people kept asking "are you Donna?" at first I was surprised, but then realized that the sweep person told them to look for me. It made me feel safe. It helped too that I was celebrating my 50th birthday finally and had an "Over The Hill" balloon attached to my bike, lol. And NOOOO, it didn't drag, lol.... in fact when the wind blew at my back, I think it helped, lol....
And then I lost that 1/2 hour on Dakota Ridge. I started bleeding at that same spot (darn trail is bloodthirsty) and I ran into sand and crossed a logging area. Did I ever mention I'm allergic to pine? At first it was just runny nose, watery eyes like usual - but it smelled SO GOOD.... but coming down the ridge my lungs started to hurt (like a minor asthma attack). I was still doing ok, just felt like I was working harder at it. And I'm lucky... earlier riders disturbed a hornet's nest up there and some got stung at least 20 times - even under their helmets - according to the checkpoint people at the top of the ridge - I didn't see any hornets at all. And the checkpoint crew sang Happy Birthday for me as I pushed my bike up the hill to them! It was pretty cool!
And then my lungs gave me more trouble as I headed down the hill.... more dust, more pine, lots more sand that sometimes I had to hop off to prevent injury. When I got to the ballpark, I started getting slower and slower. Another car was waiting at the bottom of the hill - sure enough, the first thing he asked was if I was Donna. Soon as I said yes, he took off...
And so I kept going.... across the road, toward the hill... OH NO. They changed the trail. To the West - same direction I got lost. I stood there for about 5 minutes debating. I was behind schedule, the hills looked tough, and even though it was cheating, since I was last, MAYBE following the old route would give me just enough of a break to refresh and catch up. AND, last time they changed the trail it freaked me out and took me 3 hours to go 3 miles. So I went up the hill I knew, and met the trail on the other side, lol. If I saved any time, it was 10 minutes, lol. That's what I get for cheating too, lol. And so up Sheep Flats - the right way, lol - I went...
My lungs still hurt. My pace was only 3 mph. Squirrels who didn't even notice me at first were chasing each other for pine cones right in front of my bike, squeaking when they noticed the balloon and then yelling at me from the nearby tree branches but taking off before I could get a photo... and then a golden eagle SOARED from one of the trees...
I got to the road and texted for a pick up at Iron Creek. It was already 12:30 and I still had 2 hours of riding to try to fit into 1 hour through another tough section. I wasn't gonna make it - they were going to pull me off the trail. I still gave it my best and ended up at Iron Creek at 1pm just as my ride pulled up. And she was so prepared - chocolate milk, cupcake and candle, and even a Happy Birthday sign with little bike riders all over it as if they were doing the race.
And so... Total ride: 18.5 miles, 5 hours 27 minutes, 6,385 calories burned. And my knees don't hurt, lol! Even my lungs feel better. Life is good! And next year, I'm volunteering, lol.
I did the singletrack 1/2 hour faster than I was expecting. I thought I was doing really well considering how I've done in the past, but then the sweep person kept asking me if I need electrolytes, food, etc. Ok, maybe I was in over my head. But I KNEW the trail, KNEW how soon I could get there...
I wasn't all that far behind. There were 2 more sweep people and they all were riding back and forth until the first one I mentioned above told me he was going to keep going and check on people further up. No problem, I said... I had all the stuff I needed to survive out there, including cell phone....
Just before I reached the fork in the trail, I thought I saw the first sweep person riding the road back to me, so I waved.... and then realized it wasn't him. Someone was CHEATING and riding the road down so he could finish in under 2 hours. What he didn't realize though, is the other 2 sweep people were waiting for me on the corner and found him. I think he said something nasty to them, because those 2 guys disappeared at that point and the cheater "finished" in 3 hours, but they disqualified him...
I felt so important by then... when I reached the fork, people kept asking "are you Donna?" at first I was surprised, but then realized that the sweep person told them to look for me. It made me feel safe. It helped too that I was celebrating my 50th birthday finally and had an "Over The Hill" balloon attached to my bike, lol. And NOOOO, it didn't drag, lol.... in fact when the wind blew at my back, I think it helped, lol....
And then I lost that 1/2 hour on Dakota Ridge. I started bleeding at that same spot (darn trail is bloodthirsty) and I ran into sand and crossed a logging area. Did I ever mention I'm allergic to pine? At first it was just runny nose, watery eyes like usual - but it smelled SO GOOD.... but coming down the ridge my lungs started to hurt (like a minor asthma attack). I was still doing ok, just felt like I was working harder at it. And I'm lucky... earlier riders disturbed a hornet's nest up there and some got stung at least 20 times - even under their helmets - according to the checkpoint people at the top of the ridge - I didn't see any hornets at all. And the checkpoint crew sang Happy Birthday for me as I pushed my bike up the hill to them! It was pretty cool!
And then my lungs gave me more trouble as I headed down the hill.... more dust, more pine, lots more sand that sometimes I had to hop off to prevent injury. When I got to the ballpark, I started getting slower and slower. Another car was waiting at the bottom of the hill - sure enough, the first thing he asked was if I was Donna. Soon as I said yes, he took off...
And so I kept going.... across the road, toward the hill... OH NO. They changed the trail. To the West - same direction I got lost. I stood there for about 5 minutes debating. I was behind schedule, the hills looked tough, and even though it was cheating, since I was last, MAYBE following the old route would give me just enough of a break to refresh and catch up. AND, last time they changed the trail it freaked me out and took me 3 hours to go 3 miles. So I went up the hill I knew, and met the trail on the other side, lol. If I saved any time, it was 10 minutes, lol. That's what I get for cheating too, lol. And so up Sheep Flats - the right way, lol - I went...
My lungs still hurt. My pace was only 3 mph. Squirrels who didn't even notice me at first were chasing each other for pine cones right in front of my bike, squeaking when they noticed the balloon and then yelling at me from the nearby tree branches but taking off before I could get a photo... and then a golden eagle SOARED from one of the trees...
I got to the road and texted for a pick up at Iron Creek. It was already 12:30 and I still had 2 hours of riding to try to fit into 1 hour through another tough section. I wasn't gonna make it - they were going to pull me off the trail. I still gave it my best and ended up at Iron Creek at 1pm just as my ride pulled up. And she was so prepared - chocolate milk, cupcake and candle, and even a Happy Birthday sign with little bike riders all over it as if they were doing the race.
And so... Total ride: 18.5 miles, 5 hours 27 minutes, 6,385 calories burned. And my knees don't hurt, lol! Even my lungs feel better. Life is good! And next year, I'm volunteering, lol.
Replies
I am so utterly speechless and in awe! I would never attempt something so physically demanding. Well done!
Happy Birthday, too!
You did well and you should be proud of yourself. I wouldn\'t have tried that at all and on your Birthday too.
Happy Birthday!
Good for you for even attempting such a ride!!! I am so thrilled they made such a fuss of your birthday too, that is awesome!!!!
Ok, so I have to admit something.... my birthday was in August, during the rally, which is so INSANE out here, there was no way I would go out to celebrate it. So we postponed it to race day - that way I could be doing my favorite thing to do at the same time (biking). And there\'s more.... Before David (my late x) got really bad with his alcoholism, he promised me an \"Over The Hill Party\". He was gonna do balloons and black streamers and even a coffin on the corner of the deck. As he told me his ideas (he wanted to make sure I wouldn\'t be offended with any of his plans) I would LAUGH.... but then it all changed when the dementia started and he died.... You know, even during the divorce, he still wanted to be my pit crew person but I wouldn\'t let him drive the van knowing how much he was drinking then....
And so, after he died, I still really wanted to have that party. Since rally week was out of the question and most of my friends lived in another state, we moved it to Labor Day Weekend for the race. Out of state friends were gonna stay at my place for an old fashioned sleep over, over-the-hill jokes at the checkpoints, party with everyone downtown at the park while they gave out the awards.... it didn\'t quite happen that way.
Out of state friends had last minute medical emergencies.... one had a baby a few days ago, one has heart and walking issues and didn\'t want to try to travel from Oregon with the current state of her health, and another had emergency dental surgery and didn\'t want to drive up from Denver. Fully understandable. And so, I know it\'s lame, but I really wanted to feel like this birthday was special - I never celebrated my birthday for the other ones - my baby sister almost died during my 12th birthday party by choking on a penny and I stopped wanting birthdays ever since. But this one I wanted. Because I never expected to be able to reach 50....
So I bought myself the balloon - more of as a joke, but still wanting to feel fun for myself a little while. The sweep guy knew the whole story - I\'ve known him several years now - and he was the one who went ahead and let everyone know, which made it so much fun! And then Anna and her husband - who I\'ve only known about a year - came out and not only were pit crew but did all the stuff to celebrate (big poster, cupcake and candle, chocolate milk supply - because chocolate milk is a recovery drink, in case you didn\'t know, lol). They didn\'t want to stay for the party and after seeing race results, the tiredness set in and I didn\'t even stay for the t-shirt give away done every year. So it was a little bittersweet due to memories, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it.
This morning, my lungs are still a little tight and my eyes feel like someone threw sand in them, but otherwise I\'m good. Another friend and I are going to Deadwood tonite to do some restful gambling - well, as far as gambling a roll of nickels will get me, lol. I\'m happy. :)
Thanks, everybody!
You can celebrate your birthday whenever you wish. I had to celebrate my birthday three days early with one of my sisters. Never did it get celebrated on my day. I know, does it really matter when, but it did matter to me in my family. I always came up last in any plans.
I haven\'t celebrated a birthday in years. I think it\'s nice that you made your birthday what you want it to be and when it was convenient for you.
So what day exactly is your birthday? Mine is the 18th. I am a Leo, but I think you are something else, because your at the end of the month. I know what you mean about certain birthday\'s being more special than others. For some reason it is only the \"0\'s\" like 60 &70 that matter to me. I have missed all of them for the past 20 years because the X, sees nothing as important, unless his family says so. Since his birthday is always after mine, nothing was celebrated for me, but his family would give me grief over his. Why didn\'t I plan a big party? He didn\'t want one. Why didn\'t we invite friends over? He didn\'t want to and he has none. So I keep hoping and trying. I have another shot at celebrating in 9 years. When I turn 70 I hope to hear or see my kids at the very least. But I do celebrate in my own little way. This year I went and played Bingo with good acquaintances. Don\'t know about next year, but I will think of something! Hey maybe I will make a road trip up to your neck of the woods and we can celebrate my birthday late and yours on time!!! Sorry I didn\'t read all this sooner. (((HUGS)))
Mine\'s August 6th - RALLY WEEK. And I\'m also Leo. So if you want to pay $250+ per night for a room just to hear the roar of 500,000+ Harleys and other motorcycles.... well, now you know why I don\'t celebrate on the day - can\'t even get into restaurants. So I go hide that week, lol. Best time to come, if you don\'t mind the cold, the 3rd weekend in September and do the Mickelson Trail Trek - mountain biking with transport and overnight hotel stay on the Mickelson trail, WITH glorious Fall Colors (though, sometimes it spits snowflakes).