Babies & Bikes - Vision Quest 2010

Race report by Leslie Williams, The Path Bike Shop race team member



Last year at this time, I was much larger, watching Erik come in from
the Counting Coup, with baby due in just a few weeks. Since then, I
have replaced long endurance miles with long endurance night feedings,
and the only intervals I have done have been up the stairs for diaper
changes. Two weeks ago, however, someone wanted to sell their spot in
the Coup, so I tentatively took it. I miss the long hours in the dirt.
What I don’t miss, as I was reminded of this morning, is getting up at
3:45 am. So two weeks ago, my training began with Blackstar to the
Motorway. Then the following weekend I added the paved part of Maple.
Perfect.



Erik had my stuff all dialed, as usual. I chose my Niner Air 9
hardtail because it's the lightest bike I own and this event is all
about climbing. We made a last minute trip to the Path for Stan’s
sealant; yes, we will drive 30 miles because it’s the best shop
around. All I had to do is hop on the bike and pedal, just hoping that
my Crossfit workouts would at least save me from a slow, painful
death. A saving grace was that this was the first time since 2003 that
I have used a geared bike for the Pow Wow. It was dark all the way up
Blackstar, which made for a beautiful sunrise on the main divide. So
far so good. I felt decent all the way across and I actually thought
to myself, “who needs all those long hours?”, until the descent down
the Motorway was a descent back down to reality. Cramps. My nemesis
from years past. At Aid #1, as Erik replaced bottles and the Hillbilly
Heckler shouted encouragement, I pounded loads of endurolytes and set
off again.



Maple was tough. No energy and searing cramps were both very
discouraging. In spite of all my years of racing experience, I had an
epic fuel-fail today. I was out of all liquids, solids, and
endurolytes by the top of Maple. Thankfully, the Hillbilly Heckler was
at 4 Corners, rocking the mullet, shouting in the megaphone, and
giving me water and salt. That got me a little further, but the cramps
just kept coming. Thanks to Keith E. for the chips too.



Oh how I have missed you Upper and Lower Holy Jim! This was the best
part of the day. A close second was the fact that at the bottom of HJ,
I turned right instead of left and smiled all the way to the finish.
No Horsethief! I finished in 5 ½ hours or so.  Lesson learned:
training equals less pain, or should I say different pain. It’s the
good kind though; the kind that makes you want to go suffer again.