One last ride... Spokane 24 hours around the clock - 20th anniversary May 25-26 2019

One more time down to Spokane for some fun !! When I signed up I wasn't totally ready for it, but I knew that bringing in the family and having a camping weekend in Spokane is always worthy.
Not a lot of training this year, but with a couple of 8 hours rides on the gravel bike I knew I could handle it.
The competition this year was tough, with 8 single speed registered and 66 total solo riders I suspected I had to be on top of my game if I wanted to podium.
Left Calgary on Thursday night after a school dance the kids were having.. So, at around 8pm we were on the road. We spent the night in Wasa Lake Campground (350kms from home) so that next day was almost half the distance left.

With everyone ready and breakfast done, we left to Spokane. Quick stop in Sand Point to buy groceries and last minute items. It was pouring rain !! and the forecast didn't look great for the race, but weather doesn't scare me :-).




 We pulled over in our regular stop and set up the pits, ready for the night and crossing our fingers for a nice weather.


My kids surprised me with a Venezuela flag to decorate the pits !! They were super excited to be there as well as ready to participate in the kids race.

My friend Steve (50+ category) was there along with his friend Dennis (60+ category) and they both wanted to win their age group ! Julie Kelly was also there, of course for a secure win in the female group.

I few thing I wanted to try different this year were: food (avoid to much sugar), drinks (only electrolytes without carbs and sugar), V8 juice (high potassium and sodium), Squash Soup, Oat Meal, Pasta w/chicken, empanadas, datiles, rice cakes with almond butter.




The first 8 hours went great, I would say I was fairly consistent with my times and minimum stops. Maria took the kids shopping in the afternoon to avoid distractions.

Rolling through the pits was quick and smooth.
The course this year had less elevation gain, so only 5 or 6 major hills. One at the start, then a few steep rocky pitches, then the 5 minute hill (1 mile long), followed by Devils Up (hike a bike) and the last 20-25 minutes of the course had 3 main hills.

Thinking about the night laps was keeping me excited during the day. At 7.30 lights were on the bike, by 9 they had to be on. I had 3 lights (one bar and 2 helmet lights), perfect combination and the batteries lasted the entire 9 hours of night time.

The rain started at around 9:30 pm and lasted till sun rise.... It was WET ! but, not super cold, I wear only shorts all night, with a rain jacket that I changed twice and winter socks that I also changed twice.





I have never done it before, but changing clothes during the race was quite nice, you feel fresh and new with dry clean cloth.

The kids had fun at night and even roasted marshmallows during the night !! went to bed at around 10pm completely exhausted...
Maria, oh Maria.... she set up the alarm every hour to help me through the pit stops and made sure I wasn't siting around wasting time !! I will never be able to thank her enough.

 


 At 8:50am I went out for lap number 18/19 and I wanted to be back right on time for the kids race that was at 10:00am. There they were (my three kids) waiting for me at the pits ready to go, I rolled in with 5 minutes to start and went to cheer them on !!! after all they have been cheering me on for a day already !!
I had a good solid lead on the second place and wasn't to concern about loosing the race.
This was the second time in Spokane that I can stop at 10 to watch the kids racing without been concern of loosing the race, so cool.

My last lap is always fun, although I was feeling great when I left the kids race, after 20 minutes I felt bonking... I was looking around the trail for left over gels, or food of any kid at this point !! holy crap was I ever hungry.

When I passed through check point number 2 I stopped and asked the guys if they had anything to eat. They gave me some M&Ms and I saw they had a piece of bread on the table, I asked about the bread and it was a sourdough bread that they found on the trails, someone was carrying it in his jersey and it was all sweaty %^&#$# I didn't think twice and asked if I could have a piece, they guys might still telling the story !
That bread felt amazing. Kept me distracted for the last 20 minutes yummy!!

 

 

 No injuries, no crashes, no mechanical, and in the last 10 minutes ! bang ! I went over the handle bars... I was chatting with Julie following her along and suddenly hit a rock and lost my hand from the handle bar. Over the bars I went, but not major injuries to report.. some bruces only.

I finished at around 11:40am with 19 laps (that is 395kms). 3rd place overall 3/67 and first place single speed 1/8.

The three amigos + one gal (all Canadians) won the single speed category (me 42), the 50+ category (Steve 50), the 60+ category (Dennis 60) and the one an only Julie Kelly (female winner).

Super stoke, super happy with my performance and with great memories.