The Epic ExperienceDay 4 & 5: When Everything You Ever Wanted Gets Under Your Bike

Team CF was asked to write about our experience for the tsEpic blog. Here is what we put together. 

Team CF:  As a new mountain biker, the sport grew in my heart like wildfire. (Speaking of, I hear tomorrows ride on Tussy’s Trail views were made epic by a recent wildfire.)

Today was so much fun! No, yesterday’s course was pure fun, with the ups and downs and smooth riding and all you had to do was keep on keepin’ on.  Today was nothing like that.  Today, riding was a battle with the rocks.  The trail was a line of rocks that were hidden underneath grass, sand, dirt and mud.  You could barely see the trail beneath your feet and when you did see it under the shrubbery, it was because there were too many rocks condensed into one area to support any sort of life form.   Today around 150 people risked their lives to cross the rocks for what?

Because of descents that left me so happy I couldn’t cheer loud enough.  At the end of one of the second descent, I was so happy I couldn’t remember why I hated my bike on the third days’ road ride.  I couldn’t be happier!  I ride with the ease of knowing my time doesn’t count.  But Chip on the other hand, rides with the pressure of having not only the team counting but if he keeps up his amazing rides, we could get loads more publicity for Team CF.  The point of Team CF is to promote healthy living for people living with Cystic Fibrosis.  Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disease that mainly affects the lungs and digestive system.  The idea behind Team CF is to get people with CF out active and using their lungs.  My personal motto is ‘use it or lose it’.  So here I am, as an athlete with Cystic Fibrosis, in a 7 day stage race with athletes I’ve read about in magazines.  I’ve never been more inspired and welcomed by the people who have supported me and the entire effort of Team CF.  I am on a team motivated by their loved one’s.  It’s an experience that is inspirational down to the soul.  Being part of this effort has been awe inspiring and if I could convince everyone to join the biking community, I would.  Chip rides in with the very first group of men who are taking the Epic by storm and I have been riding in as they clear up the cones and I have never felt like a champ with my team waiting at the finish line. 

Kaitlyn, Chip, Nate, Jesse and Jack 

Day 3: When Things Go Dark Inside My Soul

Today was LONG! As I rode the emotional roller coaster, I was literally riding PA’s finest roller coasteresque gravel roads.  (But there was no motor powered crank to get me to the top.)

It felt like a 40 mile uphill climb on gravel road that you cannot gain or keep momentum.  Each push of the peddle was its own effort.  Yesterday was so fun.  Yesterday, I was excited to hear that today’s stage was on the road to give my legs a bit of a break.  But it was a different pain today.  Today I felt lazy.  I left this morning without my heart rate monitor, but I quickly realized I would not need it.  My legs were moving too slow to get my heart in a furry. 

The first 17 miles were enjoyable.  The sun was shining, and the views of the small towns were great.  People were on their poaches, well some were still there by the time I rolled through.  We followed a river.  But, and I learned this today, if you are next to a river, it only means that you are at the bottom of the valley.  And we NEVER finish at the bottom of the valley.   

All day I pulled out my self-laminated elevation map to see where the dreaded 1000ft climb was.  THIS the big climb, I would think.  Then I would realized what I had just done was too small.  Rinse and Repeat.      

I had been peddling along and feeling good and happy and moving when I hit the check point at the 17 mile mark and joined a group of riders.   I saw them and wanted some company, so I pushed it harder to catch up with them for about a mile and found my place in the group.  A little down hill, a little more up hill, and we hit a trail.  This is called ‘Fishermen’s Trail’….self explanatory. It runs along the river bank. There was no trail! It was all broken down mossy boulders that trees had pushed their way through.  I don’t know that I have seen such a beautiful and enchanting forest, but there was no way I could efficiently and safely ride it.  

Not many people in the whole race could (I come to learn upon finishing).

It was here that I lost my newly found riding mates as they passed through fisherman’s Trail.  This was very discouraging.  I don’t know why, but I was at an emotional low point. The trail opened up to a gravel rock covered road that you could look straight uphill for at least a mile.  I just couldn’t motivate myself to get the drive to pump it out.  I stopped at the creek, rinsed off my face and talked to my legs.  I took a pile of salt from my bag and knew there was no way out but up. And so I trucked on.  The next part was the worst.

I hit the rail trial.  The challenge of a hill was stolen gone, the beauty of the forest; gone.  I was left with a no speed, straight, grassy, sandy trail.  It felt like at least ever before I saw a change of scenery.  I couldn’t even push myself to push myself, I lost a lot of momentum there. 

It was emotionally and physically all up hill from there.  I hit the tunnel.  Imagine riding into a black hole in the side of a mountain after not having seen a soul for what felt like hours.  I had no idea if it was paved, and I had heard a rumor that there was a boulder somewhere in the middle. If I crash into this boulder, who will ever know? I was pretty sure I was the last one on course.  So I turned on my go pro so I could at least have some good footage of my last moments.  There was no boulder, but there was a vampire handing out beer on the other side!!! That worked wonders for my attitude as I raised in altitude.  I was never more released to see the dreaded 1000ft climb.  FINALLY SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO!

The climb was gorgeous! Sandy rocky terrain and about 24 feet wide before it dropped on either side.  I literally biked straight up to the top of that mountain.  I felt like a champ! I absolutely loved the climb and everything that came with it.  At the top I saw my Pops, and Matt from the crew.  They threw ice-cold water and hugs at me and I was on my way. The last 13 miles!

I knew I was on the last leg.  I was cursing the monotony of the gravel road when the arrow pointed to a trail.  “WHAT THE HECK! I THOUGHT THE REST OF THE COURSE WAS GRAVEL ROAD?!?!” That’s when I realized I was crazy.  And the thunder cracked and the skies opened up.  I had just spent 40 miles in 90 degree weather fighting the gravel road asking for a trail, I get one and the rain comes pouring down.  I realized that this was exactly what I was asking for all day, and so I had no right to complain.  I thanked those responsible for such luck. 

At ¾ of a mile to the finish line a support truck came and tried to pick me up.  I knew I was one of the last, but I had just riden all that way and you want to take the glory of the finish line away by driving me in?!? NO WAY! I can take a little rain J

And so I did! And as I pulled in, 5hours and 9 minutes after starting, my Pops and Team mate Nate Cross were there cheering me on. 

THANK GOD TOMORROW IS ALL TRAIL! 

Day 2: The Real Deal! WHEN MUSCLES PLAY FREEZE TAG

The more I think about 43 miles, the smaller the number sounds.  After I did a 7 mile bike race, a 5k running race sounded tiny.  Today, I was a lot less scared of the endurance aspect and I had faith that, at my own pace, I could finish.

I nearly didn’t get to the starting line in time. I was up a the mess hall filling my goo container with goo.  They played the national anthem.  I love the national anthem.  It allows me to humble myself and think about how lucky I am to be where I am.  Pride is a wonderful thing to have and uphold. When I hear the national anthem I am motivated to make the day, the event, or the moment something to be proud of.  Whitney Huston was the singer that brought me to my zen place. 

AND WE’RE OFF!

The entire first half of the race, I was waiting for the uphill to be over, but not out of exhaustion, just because I knew when I was done the HUGE up hill, it was ALL downhill.  One of the speakers mentioned that if you’re not ‘in it to win it’ then stop and enjoy the scenery today.  Fact: On my team of 5, I am the slowest.  I am racing myself and challenging my body.   At one point during a gravel road 5 mile uphill (I’ll get to the mossy dark forest of black magic in a minute) a clearing to the right opened up to a gorgeous view of a valley with rolling hills behind.  I thought, this is AMAZING!  I am so lucky to soak it in.  I knew that no matter the outcome of the day, I was blessed to be given this opportunity to ride.

Having said that, I was recently dislodged from what might have been the wicked witches summer layer.  It was a single track 1.5 mile uphill climb. Not one person was riding! The trail had barely enough space for your bike, so pushing it was dangerous as you were stuck between the falling off the side of the earth and you were combating mossy loose and freshly wet rocks to avoid imminent death.   My extremely optimistic point of view stated because I came from seeing the dark side.

As I reached the top of the climb I hit one of the most fun and rocky sections of trail I have ever ridden.  It was challenging, wide, rocky, mossy, and FAST! There was a lot of standing above the saddle, and just trusting that your bike wouldn’t crash, and then getting back up when it did.  It was, as my friend Jim would say, ‘miles of smiles’.  I loved every second of it.  Coming off of that, I hit a creek and was verbally reminding myself ‘let it roll just keep rolling’ as I tried to climb out of the woods onto the gravel road.  I stopped dead in the middle and a couple just ahead of me laughed and said ‘well it was a good try!’ I went back and for the with them for the rest of the day. 

I was coming up on mile 28, and check point two.  I was feeling like the boss, and moving along and nothing in the world was going bad.  I felt a little crampy, so as I rode away from the check point.  I turned around and went back to get a banana, and continued. 

Crampy is not a world used lightly.  Not 3 miles later my entire legs cramped up so bad that I fell off the bike and couldn’t get my leg to straighten for 3 mins.  No exaggeration.  I talked to my legs, rubbed my muscles, promised my feet a foot rub if only they would calm down enough to bend.  Eventually I punched out the cramps, and slowly made my bike move.   I was slow as a molasses stick from there though.  If one muscle cramped while my leg was straight, an opposing muscle cramped when it was bent. If my legs felt good, my toes cramped.  At one point I couldn’t clip back into my shoes because my foot was at a completely perpendicular position playing freeze tag with my calf muscles.

This was EXACTLY my concern coming into the race.  NO SALT = NO MUSCLE MOVEMENT. NONE.

I pushed it through making more promises to my legs and more punching and rubbing.  Finally, I turned the corner to finish, and I felt like THE BOSS.  All of the other riders did not waited for the boss to come in though.  I guess they were all showering. 

Dom was there!  Cheering and whooping with Nate Cross, a team mate who is just absolutely amazing to be around. He is high spirited and a real team rallier! I came into these two guys and was so proud.  It took me (officially) 5 hrs and 20 minutes and 35 seconds to finish. I was so proud and astonished.  Now I know what tomorrow will bring…ish

Tomorrows’ course is HILL CITY CENTRAL. Maybe even HILL COUNTRY right by HILLS VILLE USA.  I’m nervous about cramping up big time, but I got some ELETE formula that is high in salt content from an ELETE rep and trans rider Sarah.  She told me lots of CF athletes use it! I am so relieved to have it, and am praying it will work.  I am also going to carry table salt with me and take handfuls of that!

It’s currently 10:30 and my roommates have  retired and my vest just powered down, so off I am to bed. I’ll catch up with you tomorrow!!! Fun fun fun!!1

Race one: A SHOCKING TIME TRIAL

That was awesome! But I wasn’t always thinking ‘This is awesome’ at the time. In fact for a good portion of it was thinking ‘What the halibut did I just sign up for?!’

The first  11 miles…

The start was very different than most, because we started off with the team.  My team is 3 men from Ohio and a man originally from London (which I learned yesterday) but now resides in Philly, and myself.  I wasn’t sure what to think when we started.  Who would I be riding with? Should I try to keep up? Does it matter if I come in dead last?

I was super worried about coming in dead last, and then they called GO!  I stayed with the guys for about .25 of a mile and then I was on my own for the entire course.  It was normal single track until we hit the pile of people celebrating and cheering the riders on.

The first 3 miles were up hill

 The crowd was in the center of a 1.5 mile dirt bike section with trick hills and tires to get over! Not to mention they were playing “Bicycle” by Queen… on repeat.   This was at mile 3, and at that point I was not bee bopping to the sweet melodies and joyous cries from the crowd.  I get it! I’m on my bike!... You wanna ride, you say?!?! Take my place?!  This was the beginning of a slow and treacherous uphill climb. Or shall I say, walk.    The next mile and a half  was a very technical uphill single track battle with my bike.  I had the ‘gopro’ helmet which added 3x the weight of the helmet to my head, and it was slipping back pulling my hair.  I was getting very frustrated, and with not being a skilled technical rider I was making silly mistakes that were knocking me off my bike left and right. I knew that I had the muscle to at least make the climb…BUT THERE WERE SO MANY ROCKS! Who put them there?!

I would hit a rock sending my front tire off to the side, dismounting me from my bike and losing my momentum.  Then, I would hop back up on my bike and start again, going uphill, gain some momentum and loose it all in the same manner.  I think the frustration was also brewing in the fact that this was an 11 mile race, so I was gung hoe on going fast.  I could take my time on the 43 mile rides, but this was a time trial and I was going nowhere.

Finally, I got through that section to find a beautiful downhill road! I double checked my heart rate, making sure it was between 160 and 175, and I cruised down!!  That is when I started having fun.  I finally got my legs and the rest of the race was a fun battle with rolling single-track, rocky sections, and fun climbs. 

I started an small uphill climb which opened up to THE FINISH!! Everyone was cheering and all I had to do was ride around the lake and not fall in.  I didn't fall in, Thank God. Though, I'm sure it would have been a relief, giving the heat.  

I pulled into the finish line and realized it was all just beginning. THAT WAS AWESOME!!

OH. P.S. - I almost forgot.  at one point a rider pointed out that my handle bars were getting extremely close to the live electric fence the trail was following.  for 2 miles, i avoided electric shock my 5 inches.  This is the real Tough Mudder BABY!!

SETTING UP CAMP: MIND, BODY AND SALT

Packing was terrible!  A horrible packer in general and I was so nervous about what to bring! It’s summer camp meets extreme physical competition. I was not worried about what clothes to pack, but I didn’t know what types of food to bring with me. I know I need gues and gels. I’m used to one 15 -20 mile race a week.  What quantity of food will suffice for one 30-40 mile race everyday for a week?

I am also very worried about my salt intake.  (People with CF sweat out a larger amount of salt than the average no CFer Joey Shmoey.  In the summer, I am a favorite at the bird exibit at the philadelphia Zoo.  The birds, who usual feed out of nectar cups you can hold out, usually just feel off the salt on my skin.) But I digress, I couldn’t find ‘salt pills’ anywhere. I checked all the local pharmacies, Walmart, Target, CVS, Rite Aide.  No one even knew what I was talking about.  My mom used to get me ‘salt tablets’ which were just a pill made of straight table salt.   I used to take them after any sweat fest, like a softball game, or after gym class.  I haven’t taken them in a long time.  Now I just eat gratuitousness amounts of salt in and on my foods.  I can monitor it that way.  However, on an endurance week like this, I won’t be eating the quantities of salt that I will be losing, so I need a supplement.

When I got to the campsite, Seven Mountains Campsite, I figured I would just eat all the chips and salty pretzels and keep up the intake of Gatorade.  Lucky for me, the entire race is sponsored by a company that makes ‘heed’ an electrolyte drink supplement.  FREE SALT FOR A WEEK! I am so relieved right now.  My one serious nutrition concern has been answered and I feel at peace…for now!

AND THE CABIN IS AWESOME!!!

ONE WEEK TO SHOWTIME BABY!!!!

Oh boy. 

I must have been on a Mudder high when I was interviewing for the documentary they are making about the tsEPIC.  I told the shooter, Kurtis, that I wasn’t nervous any more!

I wasn’t, at the time, because I completed the Mudder’s monkey bars.  The monkey bars took about 45 seconds and all of a sudden I was feeling like I could trump the weeklong race they call the ‘EPIC’ ! It’s not called an epic for nothing!!

Oyvey!

This happened when I met up with Kurtis, the film guy, and Kristin, the bike lady for a prerace capture and a fitting for the bike! You should see the bike!!! (look down <3) 

I got my new ride!!!! She’s a black beauty filled with matt love and hydraulic protection!  I picked her up on Tuesday, and I can’t stop peddling!!! After the filming, we went for a ride and ended up meeting with Jesse and some other team mates along the way!

(I am rocking the old uniform to preserve the new one) 

FANTASTIC PEOPLE ALL IN ONE SPOT

Dan, Kristin, Me, Jesse, and Buddy, (sorry buddy, I forgot your name!!) 

Right now, I am packing and I am getting more and more excited.

My phone is a buzz with emails and phone calls from team mates and room mates and in mates! (bahaha play on words, no actual inmates have emailed me). 

I have everything I need, but I am a little nervous about the heat.  It is supposed to be in the 80’s! The hotter it gets, the more salt I will need.  (People with CF sweat out more salt than the average sweater).  And, if I get behind on my salt intake, it will be hard for me to recover and be in the best shape for the next day.  

So here I go! I am off to prepare, get my legs warmed up and get going on this crazy adventure!

I HAVE ONE TOUGH MUDDER!

THE TOUGH MUDDER!!!
YOU THINK YOUR TOUGH!?!?!

PROVE IT!
On May 12 I graduated from University after 4.5 long years!
On May 13 I celebrated with my whole family by dunking myself in ice water and gallivanting about the Pocono woods in mud covered uniforms.
Since it was mother's day, we challenged my mothers creations and as a tribute to her hard work and amazing efforts, she learned that she raised 3 TOUGH MUDDERS!

I survived, based solely on team work and was absolutely covered from toenails to scalp on mud at the end of the day.

I am working on a slideshow, so Ill work on that this week at the TRANS-SLYVANIA EPIC!!!!!
ILL BE CHECKING UP SOON!