Given the field size, I had a chance of becoming the 3rd Texas Flyer to win the 38-mile race. The undercard was less about peaking than right place and right time.
_preparation
Rest for 4 weeks after Montreal. 4 hill-repeat sessions the following 2 weeks. Taper for 1 week.
I was unable to focus on race preparation with job change, house repair, pending Asia trip, and helping family move. The night before flying to A2A, I stayed up to finalize an iPhone 5 warranty repair and unlock while trying to secure an iPhone 6 and initiate phone upgrade eligibility transfer before Taiwan trip. Sigh, I’ve become one of those phone geeks in hate with AT&T….
_new friend
Met Allan Hooker on the way to Athens. It was fun to talk to the veteran.
Abel Suarez the fitness skater flew from Mexico City to skate A2A. I swamped the rookie with advice before Henry’s Rant. I was envious that he would get to experience Silver Hill for the first time.
_pre race activities
I sought Jimmy's advice on boot fit, 125 mm wheels, and my issue with the carbon frames. Photo from FB.
In honor of Jens Voigt's hour record, I played Air Supply instead of Mendelssohn during morning coffee.
_slow start
The pavement turned wet after we got out of Athens. Wheels slipped. Everyone tried to hang on to his spot in the oversized lead pack. A gap formed. I started to bridge and urged Marcy to come. Herb and others followed. The lead pack accelerated. I didn't like the under-push required and let the pack go. The 38-mile trophy would wait another year.
The chase pack caught me at the worst elevation. I went hard for 5 minutes to bridge. This was my hardest effort all day.
The lead pack spitted out racers. Herb, and Marcy fell back to our group. They looked fresh. Jessica wasn’t in sight.
_off script
Traditionally, 3 groups would form by mile 20:
1. Lead pack with Eddy in it.
2. Lenny's chase pack. Female 87-winner came out of this group, often someone tall and slim.
3. Luke or Larry group.
If lead group contained too few skaters or if top skaters weren't recovered from NYC 100k, Eddy would skate with Lenny. I would followed Lenny to Dacula, then accompany Luke to Atlanta.
This year 2nd and 3rd groups merged to form a big pack. Rain stopped. Pavement still wet. No one took dumb chances.
I was disappointed not having enough lead to accompany Luke to Atlanta. Maybe I’d ask him to wait at Dacula finish. I ran through steps needed for 38-mile finish: hand over the tag, congratulate the winners, go potty, hug Valerie, resupply.
More skaters leaked out of lead pack. Jessica’s long limbs in green were identifiable miles away. I wanted Jess and Marcy to do well. I contribute in reeling in Jessica group, which didn’t put up a fight. We also gained Oswald, Kent, and Lenny. Sam lectured me on pulling for too long.
I admired Eric Krann’s ice-friendly technique. Living near the Olympic oval had its advantages. Wheel slip continued to annoy. “I’ll put on black wheels in Dacula.” Normal-height girls in the pack seemed strong, especially Ohio Rachael. Maybe one of them could challenge Marcy and Jessica.
Herbinator exuded excessive power accelerating on flats and downhill. Skaters popped off at each incline. Half the skaters dropped cresting the big hill before Dacula. Herb’s Greek-God-like quads spasmed with 50 miles to go.
_38-mile race
I looked for my competitions. Lenny suggested I could win. I made an effort to bridge a lonely Hernan Diaz on 125mm wheels. Lenny told me not to worry about it--"he's racing different distance." I wasn't convinced; why wouldn't Hernan wait for our pack if he were racing 87-mile.
My wheels caught something--maybe an acorn. The debris was near invisible behind other skaters. A minute later, Luke went down. Lenny eased off for 10 seconds before resuming the effort. He shielded me from potential attacks. None came. “Johnny, Go!” I sprinted. Rachel came in seconds later.
_Dacula
I went through my Dacula ritual like triathlon transition. I planned to use the 49-mile lead pack to catch Luke. I had no time to change wheels. I waited for the 49-mile lead pack but found Luke standing at check point 3 willing his muscles to stop cramping. His boots had blades of grass sticking out.
The chance to skate with Luke felt like a gift.
_49 mile stroll
The mid-distance leaders took off like jack rabbits. Luke and I joined the 2 biologists at leisurely pace. Allan skated like a veteran and worked well with Luke and me. Emilie was a single-speed machine oblivious to inclines. She made it clear
1. it's not OK to push her downhill.
2. she had a boyfriend.
photo by Emily
We caught another 49-miler Shafeeq. 5 of us skated as a group but not always in a line. It rained. The bearings were doing their job. No one braked well. Luke and I had our slowest Silver Hill descend in memory.
_long stop at check point 5
Oswald sat in a chair showing no interest to climb another hill. He decided to hitch a ride as Mighty Herb rolled through.
Emily and Shafeeq didn’t bother to stop. Allan, Luke, and I took our time. The weather turned gorgeous. The pavement became skater-friendly this year.
photo from FB
It was a perfect day.
photo by SkateNow
_incidents
“Lenny got hit by a car” wasn't what I wanted to hear as I reached the finish line. Fortunately he was able to complete his race with minor road rash.
There were 2 other incidences involving cars. The police considered pressing charge in one case.
Eddy started the day unrecovered from shoulder injury. At the finish he sat in the chair with road rash. It wasn’t a banner year for the legend.
_dinner
Went to Tipping Cow where Mark inspired me to race 2008 Montreal 24-hour. It was nice catching up with Blake, Elizabeth, and David.
Abel regretted not taking Silver Hill more aggressively.
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