What was touted to be the toughest, hottest, dryest gravel race in the all the land... became one giant mud fest after a rainy month of May in Kansas. Luckily-the temps were cool, which took heat off the "concerns" list, but the mud and other conditions more than made up for it.
I came into this event prepared to just work on finishing. I wanted to be sure I took care of my equipment and that I got to the finish line. "racing" was a secondary concern/thought. At times, I "raced." and at times, I simply survived.
I started near the front of my group +
I rode well the first early miles +
I dismounted and shouldered my bike once we hit the thick mud sections +++
Those who tried to ride just gummed up bikes and many rear derailleurs broke as a result.
I continued shouldering and walking with my bike for several miles not really using any excess energy and actually having a bit of fun with it +++
When we finally got to start riding again I was thankful for a clean operational bike. The shoes were coated but they willingly clipped in. +
I opted to hop off my bike and carry it through the deep water crossings. Many who didn't were seen on the other side of the water, with sliced sidewalls in their tires and other mechanicals. I became obsessed with preserving my equipment. +++
Could not really find other riders to work with -
At the quick stop at mile 32, 100 went one way and 200 went the other. At this point, the 100 mile course became very desolate. There were very few riders visible ahead or behind. It got quite lonely.
I was able to merge into a group of 2 guys and then we picked up 2 more - we were able to ride a pretty solid tempo pace into the CottonWood Falls checkpoint +++
I was in and out of there in under 5 min - had a PBJ, used the portapotty, refilled my bottle and was off. Many stayed longer, changing clothes, cleaning bikes etc. I wanted to keep going before I talked myself into stopping ! ++
After Cottonwood Falls I saw no other rider except for One way up in the distance. I became obsessed with the turn by turn my garmin was giving me and prayed it didn't die or fritz out on me.
About 4 -ish miles later, 2 dogs from a farm chased me in the road for a long ways -around a mile -and didn't let up. They didn't look friendly either but candidly I couldn't assume they were because if they caught me and bit me, I'd be out in the road all by myself with no one else around. I wasted precious drink mix from my bottle trying to spray the one as it kept drawing even next to me. Ugh. _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Settled in for final miles- kept waiting for that point in every century where the miles just really start to click off. That didn't happen here. On some of the trickier sections I had to really force myself to slow down and pay attention. These hills are full of sharp rocks that could easily slice a tire. I continued to run any of the standing water portions. And stayed on top of my food.
I quickly realized I had prepared for a normal 5-6 hour century, which it was becoming an 8 hour marathon.
As we neared town I picked up my pace, anxious to be done. Had a lot of steam to burn off in final miles and was surprised to learn at the finish I was one of the first women to arrive. Had no idea where I stood in the field or among the ladies. +++
Learned in a bit I'd finished 3rd! Then it was changed to 4th and now it's back to 3rd- so I'll take it!
And learned the DNF rate in the 100 mile event was 50% so I'm pretty pumped to have finished!
Awesome event photos here: http://adventuremonkey.com/blog/2015-dirty-kanza-200-images-first-look
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