Casey skipped another A2A due to life curve balls; Candy's supposedly final racing season was ruined by crashes; I skipped the final 5 key training sessions due to family illness and weather. Can't plan for everything.
_training
In 2011, my weekly skate consisted of 10 hilly miles. I skated flat twice: 100k in August HHH and in September NYC. 12-day EuroRoll involved a lot of time in skates but not high mileage.
I continued to lower the bar for mileage required prior to A2A. My 2012 weekly hill skate doubled in August but stopped 4 weeks prior to the race. I skated 50 miles at Hotter n Hell then skipped NYC. I counted on cross training to stay in shape.
During the Taiwan trip, skating was replaced by ad hoc hill running, hiking and biking. Traveling also meant losing base of my calorie control. I failed my weight goal for the first time. I felt at peace with my decisions leading to my unpreparedness--I was at the part of the life journey where a race event took a back seat. I cherished sharing my brother’s training for his Ironman.
My quads were weak after all the Taipei mountain funs. I let them rest. 4 weeks prior to A2A, I totaled 15 miles of skating—just enough to keep blisters away. On non-taper weeks, I ran 35 ~ 40 miles.
_plan
Racing 38 miles with 49-mile cool down had been my MO. I wanted to skip the cool down for 2012. Candy offered a ride—“but you have to get to Dacula quickly.” She needed to support Morgan.
15 minutes before the race, all I hoped for was an injury-free skate and not to break down by the final 2 hills. Hanging on to Lenny felt like a long shot. I told Candy not to wait if I didn't show up with Lenny. I packed cash for brunch while waiting for Dacula-Atlanta bus.
_start
A2A start suited my strength. I took it for granted I'd end up in the lead pack and would have plenty of chances to decide what group to go with. My legs felt great after first few turns. Confidence soared: “I'll skate in chase pack and attack the final hill!”
I followed a dozen skaters behind the lead police car into a wrong turn. I came to a complete stop before getting back to course. I sprinted and got within 50 meters as Lenny pack crested a hill. I knew chasing a group downhill was futile but did it anyway. Legs fried. My race was lost before mile 1.
The 3rd pack included familiar faces: John Charbonneau, Penny Streicher, Larry Griffin, Sam Fistel, JT, and my roommate Linchen Xiu. Everyone worked well together. I tried to stay positive. "Just enjoy the day."
photo by John Charbonneau
I was frustrated having so much left on the final climb with no one to attack. Alex, Oswald, and Susie smiled and invited me to the row of chair at finish line. I didn't want to sit. I felt robbed of an opportunity.
photo by Brian Geisel
#’s
38 miles
Time: 2:28:24
Avg speed: 15:36 mph
Candy’s support vehicle was long gone. All I wanted was getting to Atlanta hotel and sulk. The 3 top finishers were heading back to Athens. Bus to Atlanta would leave in 3 hours. Sandy offered to take me to Atlanta; I didn’t trust myself to contain the negativity. I picked up nutrition and roll toward finish—Might as well lose a little weight for the December foot race.
Like previous years, Luke Sawh picked me up with happy skaters. 52-milers joined us shortly after. We were in no rush. A few skaters hadn’t figured out the downhill; we gave them time to catch up.
The sun came out; air temperature was perfect; legs felt strong; I skated among friends. I forgot about the wrong turn. A few us demonstrated more talent in skating than singing.
_young 52-miler
15-year-old BJ came out of a shopping center and passed us on a climb. His light frame was immune to gravity therefore lost much ground going downhill. The group watched him in amusement as he stayed in sight. We talked about inviting him to join us; no one was willing to deliver the message. The group swallowed him before Silver Hill.
_45.7 mph
For the first time, I had more than 2 skaters willing to hull ass at top of the Silver Hill. Luke had the helmet cam and graciously offered me the lead. I wheel-wobbled big time and set the personal speed record.
_mile-71 check point
Bladder was full. I could’ve asked the group for a team pee, but no one else seemed ready to stop. I announced I’d use the porta potty. "If I don’t catch up, I’ll see you at the finish."
I had fond memory of that rest stop. I sat down there in 2011 defeated; Colleen offered me all ingestible in sight expect Guinness that I wanted. I plotted but failed to steal a beer then hitch a ride to Atlanta that year.
I won the race to toilet before hugging Colleen without washing hands then started chasing Luke. I heard Luke shouting behind me—BJ was the only skater who didn't stop at the check point.
_city skate
The group was down to Luke, Brice, and me. We again watch in amusement as BJ tried to make it on his own. We soon picked up BJ. Brice wasn’t keeping up; we put him in front to go at his pace. BJ no longer tried to break away. The final set of little hills emptied everyone’s quads.
Once in the city, new challenges were headwind, gator surface, and city traffic. I took the lead. BJ, who climbed like god an hour ago, had difficulties keeping up. He asked for mileage every few minutes. “We’ve gone 0.4 mile since the last time you ask….” A recovered Brice got impatient and took off with 7 miles to go.
BJ's struggled but didn't ask for help. Luke and I left him. I was envious of BJ's constructing his first A2A memory. In a few years, he'd develop into a speed demon I had no chance of staying with.
Brice stayed in sight. Luke and I thought it’d be funny if we chased him down, but it’s wasn’t that kinda race. We enjoyed each other’s company and shared another good skate on the gentle Georgian hills.
photo by Brian Geisel
Luke's #’s
87 miles
Time: 06:28:33
Avg speed: 13.43 mph
_other results
Alex Van Duyne and Brian Oswald’s 38-mile title came down to playing chicken with a truck between the final turns.
Sam Fistel skated his usual A2A2A. As he recounted his logistic issues with his 170-mile skate, I started to think of joining him after qualifying for Boston.
Candy put her 38-mile course record effort on hold after multiple crashes this season. She brought large quantity of baked goods for the event. I want t be there when she breaks the record.
Mike Pantelakis got the 52-mile title. It was a lonely solo effort after dropping his teammate BJ.
Jarrett Paul beat Francisco at the line for men’s title.
Women’s top time were by Marcy and Jessica came in at 05:22:53 with Morgan.
Morgan’s 2008 race became a solo event after a pee break. History repeated when 3 young punks attacked during a group pee break. He needed to return with Stadium Pal (http://www.stadiumpal.com/).
John Charbonneau and Peter Doucet made the same wrong turn before mile 1 and skated with slower groups than planned. I felt small after learning Peter clawed his way through the field and ended up 10th.
Michael's Lin's Chicago marathon didn't go as planned. 33.5 min behind goal.
Photo by Lenny
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