Sunday, July 26, 2009
Today was Stage 8 and the final stage of the Sadler's Alaska Challenge. It was easily the most demanding of all the stages this week. We had an early start time and fortunately it was not raining (it threatened but no go) during the race. I'd like to say I blazed through today's course, but truthfully, by the time we started climbing I just wanted to finish!
There was about 15 miles into the course before your turned to the road leading up to Hatcher Pass. Then the next 9 miles were gradual climbs (5-7% gradient). At about the the 24 mile mark we turned and started to climb which turned out to the be hardest climb I've ever done. The average grade had to have been around 9% with places all the way up to 15%. To put that into perspective: riding up Mt. Lemmon was easy compared to this. The last six miles was just a grueling, steady effort up and up with no relief. You're putting out a strong effort but still only moving at 3mph. What was strange is even in places that visually looked flat or even downhill I wasn't going that fast at all and when I looked at my computer on the bike it said you were still at a 7% grade. Nobody, except the real beasts, was moving at a blistering pace here.
The great part as always is when you finish! "How did you do, Pastor?" I finished! What was great was even if they were world class racers or plodders like me, everyone was cheering as you hit the 100 meter sign to the finish. Everyone was truly glad for the fact that people made it to the top. At this time it wasn't about setting a world record (although the leader and winner probably did), but it was about making it to the end! My overall standing in the men's longseat division was 16th out of 23 racers. It was basically the position I found myself in from Day 1. In the 55yrs and above group, I finished 3rd. The "labor pains" are now offically over...the child has been delivered....and now we get ready to come home tomorrow. There are a lot of thoughts in my mind right now. I'm very grateful for Mona and Leonard who were volunteers who helped not only me but many, many other racers as well. We've got an awards banquet tonight and then back to the "real world" tomorrow. I'm praying that the Revival Meeting with Stacy Dillard is going well, and I should see most of you on Tuesday night!
There was about 15 miles into the course before your turned to the road leading up to Hatcher Pass. Then the next 9 miles were gradual climbs (5-7% gradient). At about the the 24 mile mark we turned and started to climb which turned out to the be hardest climb I've ever done. The average grade had to have been around 9% with places all the way up to 15%. To put that into perspective: riding up Mt. Lemmon was easy compared to this. The last six miles was just a grueling, steady effort up and up with no relief. You're putting out a strong effort but still only moving at 3mph. What was strange is even in places that visually looked flat or even downhill I wasn't going that fast at all and when I looked at my computer on the bike it said you were still at a 7% grade. Nobody, except the real beasts, was moving at a blistering pace here.
The great part as always is when you finish! "How did you do, Pastor?" I finished! What was great was even if they were world class racers or plodders like me, everyone was cheering as you hit the 100 meter sign to the finish. Everyone was truly glad for the fact that people made it to the top. At this time it wasn't about setting a world record (although the leader and winner probably did), but it was about making it to the end! My overall standing in the men's longseat division was 16th out of 23 racers. It was basically the position I found myself in from Day 1. In the 55yrs and above group, I finished 3rd. The "labor pains" are now offically over...the child has been delivered....and now we get ready to come home tomorrow. There are a lot of thoughts in my mind right now. I'm very grateful for Mona and Leonard who were volunteers who helped not only me but many, many other racers as well. We've got an awards banquet tonight and then back to the "real world" tomorrow. I'm praying that the Revival Meeting with Stacy Dillard is going well, and I should see most of you on Tuesday night!
God has many blessing both big and small! The mood of everyone was much higher today for the first time all week there was no rain! In fact, there was sunshine and it lasted during the whole 3-5 hours of the race. Plus, on top of this, we had a tailwind for most of the 56 mile course. Even though you have to race in any condition and you have no control over the elements....a tailwind is always a blessing!
Today's course was a very challenging one where we climbed for about 3/4 of the race. The reward today for all of tht was the last 10-12 miles were downhill, so you really picked up the pace a whole lot. Even though I rode again mostly by myself I felt pretty good throughout. Thoughts of finishing tomorrow are definitely predominat in my mind right now!
Afterwards, we had a long, 2 1/2 hour ride into Palmer, AK. The final stage is a wicked climb up Hatcher Pass with grades between 8-15% for the last half of the 30 mile event. We have about 20 miles to race to reach that point, and then it is just a long, hard, steady grind to the top. I don't think I'll be challenging Lance Armstrong (although maybe he should try riding a handcycle) but hopefully I can maintain that sustained pace all the way to the top. There are some really phenomenal climbers among the riders who will definitely distance themselves from the rest. That leaves most of the riders pretty much on their own to the top. The good news and the gaol is once you reach the top ---- you've won, because you finished!
Today's course was a very challenging one where we climbed for about 3/4 of the race. The reward today for all of tht was the last 10-12 miles were downhill, so you really picked up the pace a whole lot. Even though I rode again mostly by myself I felt pretty good throughout. Thoughts of finishing tomorrow are definitely predominat in my mind right now!
Afterwards, we had a long, 2 1/2 hour ride into Palmer, AK. The final stage is a wicked climb up Hatcher Pass with grades between 8-15% for the last half of the 30 mile event. We have about 20 miles to race to reach that point, and then it is just a long, hard, steady grind to the top. I don't think I'll be challenging Lance Armstrong (although maybe he should try riding a handcycle) but hopefully I can maintain that sustained pace all the way to the top. There are some really phenomenal climbers among the riders who will definitely distance themselves from the rest. That leaves most of the riders pretty much on their own to the top. The good news and the gaol is once you reach the top ---- you've won, because you finished!
Today was a long, hard day, beginning with an early wake up call so we could be at the ferry terminal by 7:00am, in line for the 8:30am departure to Valdez. How, and did I mention that it was raining again! Even with lightweight rain gear, when you're riding a handcycle that low and close to the road and its raining, you're going to get wet! Plus, it was a very cold and a long and demanding course today. What made it interesting is there were no facilities where the race started after the ferry ride to change your clothes, get ready, use the facilities etc. Everything had to be done on the ferry so that when you disembarked you were pretty well race ready.
The scheduled event today was 55 miles long, taking us up the extremely steep Thompson Pass, followed by a very rapid descent. The race officials collaborated and made a ruling that today's stage would be shortened to just 26 miles. This was due to the fact we had a very late start and the weather condidtions were really pretty bad. By the time I made it to the top I was pretty well drenched again. If we would have continued it would be a very long downhill section which presented problems such as hypothermia (not good). As it was, after I made it to the top I had do wait for my wheelchair in those very wet and cold conditions. I had to be covered with blankets in order to stay warm until the pilot car arrived with all of our things. Once we cleaned up, we had about an hour and half drive to Glenallen near where Saturday's stage began.
I've been able to maintain some of my early overall position, but I've slipped due mostly to some great performances by some other riders. I'm currently sitting pretty solid at 15th overall in my division, and 3rd in the 55 year old and above category. Two more climbing stages to go. Right now sleep and recovery is crucial.
The scheduled event today was 55 miles long, taking us up the extremely steep Thompson Pass, followed by a very rapid descent. The race officials collaborated and made a ruling that today's stage would be shortened to just 26 miles. This was due to the fact we had a very late start and the weather condidtions were really pretty bad. By the time I made it to the top I was pretty well drenched again. If we would have continued it would be a very long downhill section which presented problems such as hypothermia (not good). As it was, after I made it to the top I had do wait for my wheelchair in those very wet and cold conditions. I had to be covered with blankets in order to stay warm until the pilot car arrived with all of our things. Once we cleaned up, we had about an hour and half drive to Glenallen near where Saturday's stage began.
I've been able to maintain some of my early overall position, but I've slipped due mostly to some great performances by some other riders. I'm currently sitting pretty solid at 15th overall in my division, and 3rd in the 55 year old and above category. Two more climbing stages to go. Right now sleep and recovery is crucial.
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