High Cascades 100 mile MTB race_1st Place!

[michael todisco]

RACE REPORT
High Cascades 100 - 2016 edition

Well it finally happened - I won my category at this year’s 100 mile MTB race in Bend Oregon!

Official finish time of 11:49:29:02

Over 350 riders in the race this year with a 15% DNF rate, my category (Super Masters) was 15 strong at the start with only 8 finishers. Last Super Master to cross the line broke his seat 20 miles into the race, took an empty water bottle and turned it upside down to avoid impalement for the next 80 miles. This guy deserves some type of award, not sure what.

RECAP
5:30 am start was cold (as it always is in the high desert) , so cold that, for the first 20 miles, I couldn’t feel my fingers. So when trying to shift, I thought my trigger lever must have been loose and rotated out of reach, because I couldn’t feel it. After doing this for 45 minutes it dawned on me that my fingers were so numb I couldn’t feel the pressure.

All was going well as I made my way to front of the lead pack on the road, hoping to get a good position when we hit the technical sections. Nothing for nothing, but East Coast riders (now to be referred to as Beast Coast) can ride the gnarly and technical better then the West Coast (or as refer to themselves as the Best Coast).

Typical start for me, tempo for the first 40 miles, and throwing down 1 big effort to climb the first mountain (from 3500 vert ft to 6500 vert ft) before descending into Swampy Aid Station (30 mile) where Debra awaits with emotional and nutritional support. Here I shred off the arm and knee warmers I used at the start line.

Descending from Swampy down to Skyliner Aid Station (42.40 mile) brings some relief, but the next section is a tough climb (ascending back up again to 6500) into Dutchman (56.7 mile), this portion always wreaks havoc on everyone. Only neutral support here (no family), I grab my drop bag with the food and supplements pre-packed from the day before.

Some bad decisions regarding my food and fueling choices at Dutchman (more on that later), but the next section is all technical downhill to Lava Lake. This leg of the course you either love or hate (last year I hated it). Natural selection has taken at this point, so you’re with the racers you’re closely matched with, for the most part. However this year, my down hilling is off the charts good (some credit given to the type of bike I just switched to this year, less x-country more all mountain). I get a great groove going, carving and tracking like I’m on a rail, picking off racers in front of me, I couldn’t make a mistake. I hear another racer behind me and I ask if he wants to lead, he says “no thanks I would rather follow your line”. I said “not bad for 62 year old guy” to which he replies “ you downhill like your 18!” I’ll take that any day 

I should say at this point in my story that throughout the race I’m constantly looking at riders calves for the “SM” marking (Super Masters Category). However due to the cold start: leg warmers, high socks, etc, the markings are obscured. I do know at this point in the race and until I finished, I never saw an SM marking, but that doesn’t mean there wasn’t someone ahead of me.

Okay, now the ugly part – I reach Lava Lake Aid Station (69.6 mile) and we all know what’s waiting - a 4 mile straight up climb, full of loose lava rock, no switchbacks, tortuous uphill, unrelenting, with hike-a-bike sections. Food choice was stupid, I’m nauseous, ready to heave at any moment. The pace is painfully slow, almost a crawl, up this godforsaken leg of the race. Here comes the thoughts all racers have from time to time: “Why am I doing this? Is it worth it? I should just end it here and go back. Yeah, that’s what I should do. Wait a second, I’ve come too far to quit, I have to finish, once I get to the top, everything will get better”… and on and on and on your thoughts go as you battle physically and mentally up the mountain.

Fueling is nearly impossible, nothing wants to stay down. Not good, need fuel to keep riding, it’s getting dicey, on the edge, not sure what’s going to happen, just want to reach the top and start descending to Edison Aid Station (79.1 mile). Debra will have some different fuel there, that may help. Keep pushing.

Reach the summit and start the descent, just happy to stop climbing, thinking about what I can eat when I see Debra. Taking some chances and letting it fly downhill to make up some time, I missed judge a technical drop and go over the bars, dammit all! Quick body and equipment check, all seems fine, get on the bike and keep blasting it down to the bottom.

Debra is there with a cool fresh jersey and towel and change of socks (it’s been dry and dusty so everything is covered). The cold jersey and clean socks lift my spirits a bit. I grab the “Ronda wonder sandwich” (croissant with avocado and turkey) that she swears by for long races (glad I did that) and I’m off to the finish line, just 21 miles away. One small climb to get over and then mostly downhill. The sandwich takes a little time but starts working, nausea starts to dissipate. Race is back on, almost there, no DNF’s! Keeping a good tempo for the remainder of the race, I cross the finish line 45 minutes ahead of my nearest Super Masters competitor!

Okay so who's coming with me next year?

[jraguin]

Wow, great job and great report.

I just love the part that says "just 21 miles away". I have barely done a MTB ride of 20 miles, and you are saying just 21 miles after already riding 79. That is tough.

[KTeves]

Congrats Mike! That's quite an accomplishment. I don't want to do anything for 12 hours straight—except maybe sleep after a long night of drinking.

[JeremyC]

Congrats Mike. What kind of bike were you on?

[michael todisco]

2016 Specialized Camber Expert Carbon 29 is my current weapon of choice.

[ahamilton]

2016 Specialized Camber Expert Carbon 29 is my current weapon of choice.

I believe that YOU were the weapon young man!

Congrats on an epic race.

[argus]

Awesome and congratulations! And what Alan said!!

[Smudger]

Outstanding.Congrats on a mega awesome performance and result. Guess I need to try those WaWa repeats some time

[michael todisco]

Repeats at Wa-Wa are a big part of getting the legs and base established for these 100 milers. Also adding a 2nd day on the same weekend as the Wa-Wa repeats is essential during the 4 week build.

Alan: like the young man reference, young man!

If weather permits, going to the Barn Burner this Sunday in Walpole. Who else is considering?

[michaelcole]

I'm doing the fatbike race in Walpole

[michael todisco]

Coley: Do you want to recon the course tomorrow?

[Len_E]

Todisco, just getting connectivity and saw this massive accomplishment. Wow. Just effin Wow. Great work and great read. Truly epic.