Lumberjack 100 Race Report

My Lumberjack experience started on Friday afternoon. I loaded up the boys and we headed down to Big M to get prime locations for the two E-Z Ups.

Our way down in the team van saw trees down in the woods and standing water everywhere. The boys were besides themselves. Questions abound from the little minds. Is God going to flood the world to why is that guy in a canoe in his front yard?

We arrived at the racesite, set up the my E-Z Up and the Mclain Cycle E-Z Up, talked to Rick Plite, and grabed my registration from the lodge.

Back in the van for the 65 mile trip home to relax and go throught the mental checklist for the race on Saturday morning.

Friday night the family and I went to a Beach Bums game for my wife's office. All the ladies were there. The boys and I sat and watched as the Beach Bums routed the Thunderbolts 9-0 in 2 hours! I sat with the legs up the whole game except once to get up and eat a grilled hamberuger and foot long hot dog. Not exactly my best prerace meal, but if Ned Overend eats a steak before a race it should work for me. I also consumed 3 bottles of water.

After the game and fireworks, it was off to the pie plant for the desserts that would feed 500 plus people after the race! 10pm I rolled up to the front docks loaded the desserts and off to home to arrange the van.

Arranging the van required a little engineering problem solving. 12 cases of pies, three bikes, cooler, gear bag, tool box, chairs, wheels, pump, and extra clothes all made into the team van. By the time that was done, it was 11:30pm.

I hit the sack after a shower and went to bed with mental checks running through the head. My wife wanted to chat but gave that up when my eyes signed up for REM.

4am came on Saturday and I got out of bed, pulled on the Kenda kit, woke the minature version of me, and waited for Motoman to show up. To my suprise Motoman arrived at 4:15am and was ready to go.

We piled in the van after completing two copasquats and off we went to the big town of Welston.

Motoman needed some lifeblood for the morning. We stopped at the Speedway on 4 mile (4 miles from the house) for Motoman. My son asked me if I had everything, I forgot my hydration bladders in the fridge crispers. Back at full tilt to the house.

Bladders in the van and off to the race!

We traveled with dead silence in the van. Arrived at the Big M drive to parking out on the road. Shoot! I have to leave a little earlier next year! We drove in to see if there would be a possibility of a spot. Then an angel came forward, well actually Rick Plite and motioned us into one of the coned off spots. We had the desserts! That meant VIP parking.

Motoman and my son unloaded all the essential for the E-Z Up. I got ready loading up the bike with Heed and Perpetuem, Hammer Gel, and my Camelbak. Helmet, gloves, shoes, and glasses. Off to the E-Z Up for the 6:30 racer meeting.

Rick in usual fasion had his blow horn giving out instrutions. The one thing that stood out was the 200 yards of standing water on the back part of the course. Yes! I love water crossings! I love difficulty and suffering in a race. I love the epic!

Two miles down the road I found myself lined up behind the fast freaks! I lined up next to Ron Sanborn and we chatted while other buddies rode by. Dan Frayer rolled by looking fast and fit and the Farmer was on my right side pushing a SS Niner. Off we went into the race course.

Riding down the two miles of pavement I settled in behind the main group. My plan was to hang off the back of these guys. Well it worked for the first lap. Motoman was excited to see me in the group.

My first lap was typical. Find a good pace, get through the shock of high heart rates and puke in the mouth and hold a pace. I love this course because it has everything. Leg busting climbs, singletrack, and downhills. The Quiring tackled it all. Four miles in I passed a group containing Ms. Musto, Mike Seaman, and a couple of other racers. I rode witha Vassago SS for a while until he dropped off from my pace. Into Road Monkey I thought to myself when the water was coming up. Soon enough it came. We powered through like a bunch of motocrossers trying to do a mug bog race! I loved it. The Q went through without me putting a foot down. I passed a lot of riders tip toeing through the water. Come guys! This is a MTB race! The water made for a cold remainder of the lap. Since back in the woods it was 50 degrees! Most of the first lap was spent in the big ring! The gym workouts during the winter helped!

After the water, the bike still shifted well thank to Sram I was a little worried, but I was happy because the Ernesto Lube held on!

After the first lap I went through the pits and grabbed more Heed without stopping and started the second lap. I grabbed on to the Trek/VW girl's rear wheel and worked together for most of the second lap. As we rode, I heard laughter from behind! Rolling up from behind was a 450 pound 29er! It was the Quiring tandem rolling on 29er wheels. We chatted for a few miles enjoying the benefits of 29ers then I had to split to keep up with the Trek girl. We pounded out the second lap without any issues. I actually passed her and did not see her again until later in the third lap.

The start of the thrid lap brought some suprises to me. CRAMPS! I could not figure out why. I never get cramps! I had to battle through it. I always stop for 2 minutes in the pits after lap two load up on water, gel, and bottles. I also get the chain lubed. Motoman and my son had it down! I loaded up the gel flasks while Motoman loaded the fresh bladder and my son put bottles in the cages. Off I went to the third lap. My chain was lubed, but I think Motoman used the whole bottle of Ernesto on it. It will be fine. No issues other than cramps in the legs. I started to slow on the pace. I was now in survival mode. Just finish the race. I was expecting everyone to blow by me, but no one did. It was a little crazy because I wondered where everyone was? I pulled my carcass around for the third lap by myself only to have my suffering interupted by the Trek girl. We paced together for a little bit before I let her go. Third lap done.

My pit strategy was no stopping only after the 2nd lap. For the start of the fourth lap, I stopped to chat with Motoman and my son. It was only 34 seconds. I grabbed a bunch of Heed to get rid of the cramps. As I stood there straddling the Q, the maker himself pointed to the bike and said that is a steel frame to a potential customer. I mustered up a, "Hey Scotty!" and off I went to the last death march lap.

Fourth lap, no suprises. I rode most of it by myself. That sucks because you have no one to push your pace. I just kept the engine going recovering on the downhills and telling myself not to get off the bike. Getting off the bike and walking is like drinking sea water lost at sea! It goes back to a High Country Trail ride with John Roe where I kept getting off the bike to rest. Since then I vowed never to get off the bike no matter what! I plowed through the water for the final time. I take pride in the fact I never got off the bike in the water and the entire 100 miles except to pit. As I made my way through the woods after the look out climb, I was passed by two riders. I did not worry about it because I just wanted to finish. Once I made it into the singletrack, off camber downhills, I passed the guys that passed me earlier. Call it luck, or call it an uncaring attitude while decending. I rounded the corner to climb the last major hill. I knew after that it was all downhill and my body found some energy. I was flying through the long downhill at 35 mph and hitting all the lines a breakneck speeds after that. Tossing riders off the trail. No one could stop me now. I had the need to finish!

I finished! Rick handed my a little patch to finishing and it was off to the E-Z Up to get all the crap off from me. I shot off the Sidis and put on my Crocs! My feet loved it. Propped up the Q for the onlookers and off the to van to clean up. I laid on the pavement watching the clouds go by and thought it was nice to finish.

I had a good race despite being under traind. I ran on stubborness and determination.

Some shouts go out to my sponsors: Sram, Quiring Cycles, Ernesto Lube, and Kenda Tires. All performed at their best!

Congrats to Ron Sanborn for winning the SS class! At the start he was worred about Deejay Birch and how the race would go for him. As you can see it went fine.

Also congrats to Jason "Ironman" Whitaker for finishing the Lumberjack on a SS. He had no expectation for the race. Watch this guy for next year. He is a methodical runner who applies everything he knows to win.

And thanks go out to Motoman and my son for hanging out for 9 hours supporting me. I do not think I could do that. Who wants to watch 9 hours worth of lycra clad guys and gals riding by.

See you next year!

-Chad