14000' of climbing - You've Come a Long Way Baby!

Wow.  What an epic day.

5:30 am Z picked me up, and then James, and we headed up to Helen, GA to ride in one of the toughest centuries in the US.  The Brasstown Bald Buster Century.  100 miles, with 14000' of climbing, the majority of which is in the last 20 miles.  80 miles of rolling hills (about 6000') and then Hogpen Gap, Jack's Gap, and finally the piece de resistance - Brasstown Bald - the highest point in Georgia.

So you're thinking - uh, didn't you just finish your first century last weekend?  Ya.  And I've never ridden the Gaps before.  First, in my defense, I was only following Coach's orders.  ;)  Having said that, ya'll know me well enough to know that when I do something, I tend to do it all in.

My goal today was to finish.  I didn't need to be fast today, I just needed to climb, and finish.  I've got 15 weeks to get faster at it.  I honestly did not think I could do that much climbing, and especially not at the grades I was going to face - 10-25% grades on the tough ones.  I mean seriously, 14000 feet?  I am not a climber.  But, I was gonna go out there and give it the ol' college try, and just honestly take it as it came.  My plan was to ride my own ride, and not try to keep up with James or Z.  Hell, even if I tried I couldn't, and if I tried I'd blow myself up.


There was a nasty crash about 11 minutes in, when everyone was still in a big group.  I was very lucky, and managed to scoot around it - all I could think was Man! my bike handling skills have gotten a lot better!  Unfortunately, James got caught in it, and has a little road rash and a cracked helmet to show for it.  Thankfully nothing worse than that.  Kids - this is why you wear a helmet!!



I got through the first 80.  I stopped at the rest stops only long enough to grab supplemental calories, and pee.  Yes!  I had to pee.  Good sign -- well hydrated.  I was trying Infinit as my calorie source today for the first time.  I had 4 bottles with me.  I added a half a banana at the first two stops, and by the third, needed something more, so tried the peanut butter on white bread - 1 pc banana, 1/2 sandwich.  It went down well, and at 4th and 5th stops did 3/4 sandwich.  (next test - see if I can run off the bike with that).  Aside from that I took on only water, and added Nuun.  At the split-off for the 80mile option vs the 100 with the crazy climbs, I knew I was going all the way.  I had a lot more in me.  The first 80 weren't easy by any stretch - some long grinders with climbs hard enough that I was doing under 10 mph.  At some points I was as slow as 3.4.  Apparently I could go that slow and still stay up.  Who knew??!

So I get to the bottom of Hogpen.  I really don't know what's in store for me - I've never been up there, all I know is this is the hardest of the Six Gaps.  Almost 8 miles of nothing but uphill - and almost 2 miles of uphill.  I started out, and it took me just over an hour to climb.  I didn't stop, didn't get off, didn't walk.  I literally just turned those pedals over again and again for over an hour.  I'd say it is 95% climbing.  A few flat spots, and a few minor downhills - which honestly were just cruel! - and the rest is climbing.  10-15+% grade on much of it.  I was in my smallest gear almost the whole way, most between 4-7 mph.  Crazy!!  But I did it.  Once at the top, there was a mere 13 miles to go.  HA!  Nothing "mere" about it!!

Parental Warning - Mum do not read this paragraph.  :)  So just over an hour to get up, about 10-12 minutes to get down!!  LOL.  Interestingly, this did not scare me at all, which did surprise me.  37 mph with both brakes on.  Good Lord.  Had there not been so many twisties on this one, I'd have been going faster.

Jack's Gap was easier, but it had it's share of climbs too - only shorter.  Just can't compare to Hogpen though, and I got through that, so this was doable.  Chris was waiting for me at the bottom of Brasstown Bald.  What a great coach - waited for me at every rest stop!   So he took off, I followed a few minutes later.  With less than 5 miles to go, you'd think it would be over soon.  HA!!  I'll have to check but I think it took about 40 minutes to climb.  It was shorter than Hogpen, but steeper, with spots reaching 25% grade.  (YES, seriously.  If you don't know what 25% grade looks like - it is F'G Stupid Steep).

As soon as I started up, it started to pour.  With a 50% chance of rain all day I'd been very lucky, and had only a few drops, though a lot of wet pavement.  I wasn't too upset that it was raining here.  It was lowest gear all the way.  Whereas on Hogpen I was able to stay seated almost the whole time, here on BB it was so steep in spots I had to stand just to get enough force on the pedals to make them go around.  Probably half or more of the climb was standing.  I passed several guys who were walking up.  I managed to stay on.  :)  I skidded on one of the wet reflectors in the middle of the road at one point forcing me to unclip.  Fortunately it was in a "flatter" section, so I was able to get back up.  Once I hit The Wall - 25% grade - just un-freaking-believable how steep this thing was - I got about halfway up, maybe a little less, and finally was just unable to get the pedal to turn over so had to unclip.  I mean, my cadence was 30-35 - unbelievable that I could stay up with that!  So that was it for this section - there was no getting back on.  Walked up a bit - and believe me, even walking was tough it was so steep.  Got to a slightly lower grade, and hopped back on.  Turned out to be the only place I had to walk.  And, in complete shocked enthrallment I crossed the finish line at the top!!!  I had made it!!!


So took about 4:30 to do the first 80, and 2:40 to do the last 20!!  I was definitely not pushing the first part, since I wanted to make sure I had enough to get through, but it wasn't crazy slow either.  I stuck with keeping my power on the hills around the 200W mark or lower.  This was key for me - and something I only learned last weekend (Thanks Coach).  I've always just powered up hills, and now I know I don't have to do that.  I also think I nailed my nutrition, which is probably the biggest factor for how I feel.  I honestly feel great.  I thought I would be completely trashed if I managed to finish.  And I don't.  A SEVEN HOUR workout and I'm feeling good.  How awesome is that!! And after three very tough training weeks to boot.

So, I am pretty damn happy right now.  Completed another century.  Completed the toughest ride in Georgia.  Completed a 7 hr workout and feel good.  Nailed my nutrition.

Of course, I have to run 2 hours in the morning.  I'm sure that will be a little tougher than last week.  But it's all good.  My confidence for IMC just went up a notch.  The second half of that will be to see if I can hammer out a good race next weekend at Beast of the East, after this workout, on top of the last three very tough weeks.

Thanks to Chris - as always, I am very grateful that we are training for the same race, and I get to spend so much time actually training with my Coach.  You Rock!

Oh.  And as I was climbing up Hogpen, I started thinking about the fact that I can actually stay up at just over 3 miles an hour.  I recalled trying to bike up Rocky Ridge Road back in Calgary and how I could barely stay upright making my way up that towards home.  And how I thought that hill was SO FREAKING HARD.  Granted, it is a big hill.  :)  But in comparison to what I did today - it just is so far removed, I can't even say.  And all I could think was - You've come a long way baby!!

Happy Training!!
Kat