Growler IV 2011

Finishing PrizeThe Growler is a real kick in the nuts... over and over. This weekend was my second time out for the race and it remains at the top of my favorite race list.

This year the race course went in the clockwise direction, the opposite of last year. It seemed to me harder going the clockwise direction although the fun sections were mostly going downhill and the rocky climbs went up, except for the ridge line climb and Rattlesnake, those are easier to come down rather than up. The course is comprised of technical rocky climbs, mostly short and punchy, but require a lot of strength and skill to clear. These features are scattered throughout the 2x32 mile loop connecting sections of slick rock and fast swooping singletrack through sagebrush.

Course Profile from Strava.com

Although my race was not spectacular, I still shaved off more than 30 minutes from my time last year from 8:07 down to 7:36. For months now I have struggled with "feeling good", this continued for me over the weekend but I suffered my way to the finish line.

With some luck the weather gave us a warm start in the 50s rather than the 35 degree start we had last year. We rolled out of downtown Gunnison on the road for the several mile neutral start on pavement, then we hit the dirt and Kill Hill. Kill Hill is about a quarter mile portion of dirt road that pitches up to a 20% grade on slippery gravel. The intention of Kill Hill is to spread the field out so the start of the singletrack doesn't get backed up, it does the job! I stayed smart on this section because it is easy to want to pass. Doing so ends up in being too out of breath to keep the pace once reaching the top and being passed by everyone that had just been passed on the climb. I got to the top of Kill Hill fairly relaxed and proceeded up the gentle climb to the first bits of singletrack.

I had ridden the first section of singletrack the days before so I knew what to expect. Although I figured I would still play it smart. On the first little steep "run up" things were backed up as expected and riders in front were pushing their bikes even though it was totally ridable. I decided to dismount just in case the person in front of me dabbed, and I did a nice CX style dismount and kept moving without slowing down. Following was the first real singletrack descent with a couple rocks to clear. On the first rock the racer in front of me crashed just as I was going up, I had to jam on the brakes to not run over them and because I was just at the peak of the rock I lost my momentum and fell over and slid down the side, FAIL! I kept my composure though and jumped back in the line.

The following seven hours had many sections that are best described by viewing video shot by Jeff Kerkove of Topeak-Ergon during our Saturday pre-ride.

Most of the race was uneventful as far as notable things. I felt blah... I wasn't tired but I didn't feel like I had the energy to ride has hard as I could. The only time I felt like a had energy was after drinking the Coca-cola at the last aid station. Pure sugar dumped into my starved system and for 15 minutes I was off like a rocket, then the sugar was gone and I felt like I had less energy than before. 

At the top of RattleSnake climb of the first section of loop 2. Pain cave!

One thing that I know hasn't changed much for me over the many years is the high tolerance to pain and injury I seem to have. I know others have witnessed it, whether cuts, gashes, broken bones, smashed face, missing skin, I find it in me to finish. So on that note, the two injuries I suffered this time were a banged right knee which had me seeing stars for what seemed like minutes, and the gash in my shin which I kept slowing down to check to see how bad it was bleeding. Here it is cleaned up: 

Update on Thursday, June 2, 2011 at 9:44AM by Mike Berg

As always, made possible and special thanks to sponsors: Gebhardt Volkswagen of Boulder, European Auto Body, Mix1, Golden Bike Shop, Niner Bikes, Cogsnob, The Gear Movement, Wheat Ridge Cyclery, Ergon Bike Ergonomics, Zeal Optics, CrankBrothers, Stan's NoTubes, Carborocket, Elete, Honey Stinger, Copper Door Coffee, Feedback Sports.

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