The Shennendoah MTN 100 is one of the hardest mountain bike races on the East Coast and in the country. It's the final race of the NUE series and arguably the toughest. It loops 100 miles with-in the George Washington National Forest near Harrisonburg, VA. Nearly 14,000 ft. of climbing (one of which is 18 miles), steep technical downhill, and classic Blue Ridge slate rock made this course super fun. It consists of 35% tight single track, and the rest double track and some fire road sections. Just under 600 racers showed up for the long grueling day. Sunday September 4th, 2011. I have been looking forward to this race all year, and due to an epic summer of traveling I had been off the saddle for about 5 weeks prior to this race, and factor in some back injuries from a gnarly Go Kart crash, a week before the event, I didn't think I would be able to attend.
I was spun out by the guy in the red helmet and this dude taping hits me in my side at full speed (55mph) and gets ejected from his kart.
If you connect the dots you can see the impact twisted my C-spine area (temporarily)
This race sells out every year and unfortunately I lunched on it and didn't get a ticket early. I was put on the waiting list and received an email 2 days prior to the race saying they had someone back out and I would have a ticket. I had been at the Chiropractors every day last week trying to get my back straightened out and some progress was made. I told myself I was gonna do this race and here was my chance.
Brian had scored a ticket early, and has been training hard all year for this race. It's always more fun when your friends are there to race with you. I talked to Kevin the same day I got the ticket and he decided to do it as well. He bought a bike that day (Friday) on-line, got it Saturday, and built it that afternoon.
Kevin's $500 29er score
I loaded up everything Saturday morning and hit the road for the 2.5 hour drive to Stokesville, VA. Once I arrive at the campground I found a sweet spot by the observatory, made camp, picked up my number, and took the Superfly out for a spin to dial everything in. When I got back Kevin arrived (with his new shinny bike) and set up. Brian hooked Kev up with some last minute tune ups and we all headed up for the free pasta dinner, race brief, and a beer. Early bed, big day tomorrow.
My spread
Brian's junior 2 person mini tent
Pre-race dinner
Observatory
Wake up call was at 5:15 am to the sound of a gong and race start at 6:30. After a quick bagel and yogurt I was concerned that I didn't have to "go" yet. About 20 min before the race start it hit me and I made way to the John's. The line was literally 30 people deep, this was a problem, for many of us. After a calculated risk assessment I was able to wait it out and finish business just before line up. At 6:30 the horn sounded and off we go (staggered start by projected finish time).
Race Start (check out the tandem!)
I would have to write a book on the trails, climbs, and descents of this course so I'll spare you that, however I can only encourage everyone who reads this to google pictures of it, awesome!
Here is the Skinny on the race:
So Kevin and I started out 3 brackets behind Brian. Our goal was to finish at a moderate pace this year. Through the first 2 climbs/downs Kevin's fork was stuck locked out. Blazing by aid #1 we were on a 10 hour pace with average heart rate looking good and no pain or cramps. I made a costly decision to ride the first up hill "hike a bike" section. This put my heart rate at 190+ for way to long, but passed about 40+ riders hiking there bikes. At mile 31 we rolled into aid station #2, Kev got a mechanic to look at his fork, I filled up on nutrition, hit the John (damn meatballs from pasta dinner) and 20 min later we were en route, behind schedule but ready for the next HUGE climb. This is when I started to notice fatigue, not good this early. About half way up the climb my legs started cramping like crazy (due to not riding for 5 weeks prior). I pushed through it and we cranked it to the top to be rewarded with an amazing twisty single track down into aid #3 at mile 45. Here I had a drop bag and tons of nutrition. This is where the mental struggle set in. Legs on fire, slightly behind the nutrition curve and moderately dehydrated w/meatball mud butt. We talked about it, revamped the plan, and 25 min later we set off holding an 11 hour pace. We got to see Brian in passing on the road section between the climbs as he had just left station 4 and we just left 3. The next section of climbs and descents was all technical single track. We lost a good bit of time here due to some sections not being ridable, and being behind the curve. We packed together with 3 other riders, formed a solid support group, and pounded though it to station 4 at mile 57. Excited and relieved for a break, we filled up on food, water, and moral. After some laughs we realized we were pushing the day light cut off of 4:30 to arrive at station 5 (only people with lights could proceed past #5 at this time). The up coming section was undoubtedly the hardest section for me mentally and physically. We left #4 at 2:45 and had a lot of work to do including 18 straight miles of it climbing. We split up and Kevin worked some magic on the climb and put 10+ minutes on me to the top. I was out, drained, and done mentally. Alone and realizing that I didn't think I could make the cut off and we couldn't finish because we didn't pack lights almost brought a tear to my eye. All the work we had done and we wouldn't be able to finish, have to quit at mile 75? Hell no! I was out of food, had a half bottle left, and 9 more miles of steep ass climbing. I said a prayer, focused on my pace, and hammered that shit out! It was a defining moment for myself and all the bullshit I have been through with injuries this year. I watched my Garmin pass 4:30 pm 3 miles from the top. I let out an angry roar, and came up with a back up plan in my head. I pushed into aid station #5 (mile 75) at 4:52 to see the look of hesitation on Kevin's face since he missed it by 12 min and I by 22 min. While stuffing our faces with food, I unleashed my back up plan (this is a McCulloch speciality). Excited and depressed all at the same time I sweet talked the aid station director into loaning us some lights and meanwhile Kevin worked on a diversion with another aid director assuring him how serious we were on finishing and that we would give the lights back. Teamwork! 30 min later we had "our" lights packed up and pulled out of #5 stoked as hell! With 5 more miles of climbing we gained back some time, but with all the time lost at aid stations our goal was now a sub 13:45 pace. With dusk setting in we didn't want to stop and hook up the lights so we made a command decision to hammer it out. We started the final dark wooded single track section calling out objects as we blazed by them in low light. In the groove, and motivated to finish, we managed the last of the climbs with stride and reached the top. On the final 9 miles we were out of light and in the dark. Luckily we caught up to the guys we formed the pack with earlier in the race and they had lights. We hugged there wheels and put another lonely rider behind us so we could use the faint light for direction. In a rumbling group of 5 we barreled down the last twisty, rocky, rolly single track into the campground and could taste the finish! Hearing the claps and cheering form everyone we pulled full throttle down the last turn and across the line side by side. We did it! All the bullshit and we did it! AHHHHH it felt so good. Final time was 13:31 (3 hours behind Brian) but for a last minute off the couch decision I couldn't be happier!
*123 People did not finish*
To exhausted to drive home I pounded some food, relished in the finish, cheered on the final finishers at 16 hours and hit the sack.
Ever so distant sunset
Kevin's no name fork after the race, the black stuff is internal metal wear from the course. Time for a FOX or Rock Shock brosif!
Drive home humidity over the Blue Ridge.
