people are resilient
One thing that really struck me was the people that finished this year that DNF'd last year.
Last year my friend, Jen, DNFd. I know she was disappointed but i told her of mikesee's words of wisdom.
here's the meat of the post:
"For anyone that's heading out to race it for the first time (and this goes for any ultra), it's ignorant and arrogant to think that you'll be able to have your best ride on the first go. I know that I'm just spewing opinion here (and probably in the minority) but I try to take the long view with every race: the first one is for recon, so that I can learn how to race it. The second one is to dial things in. The third time, it's on. Ridiculous, I know, in this age of instant gratification, but that's the way that I do things. To me, the planning/prep are way more important (because they are a lifestyle all their own) than the race itself. YMMV, obviously."
When i mentioned this to Jen - she(in typical Jen fashion) said "yeah - i know i read that but i didn't think that applied to ME!"
There was no doubt in my mind that Jen (after her disappointment last year) would finish bar broken bone or broken bike.
But I was also surprised to hear the #3 guy this year talk about his DNF last year.
"I knew I only had 20 miles to go but i had been hurting for HOURS. In a moment of weakness when I saw I-70 so close - i just headed toward it." I gathered from his comment this *moment of weakness* had haunted him for the last year so he was back with a vengeance and finished 3rd this year.
Also, I was SHOCKED to hear that the 4th place guy(Kenny J.) had DNf'd last year. I'm not sure what his story was last year(i was too intimidated to talk to him). Kenny J. is part the famous "Jack Mormon Militia". This guy looks indestructible. beautiful, buff, bald, with a tuft of hair on his chin. He looks like a total bad-ass. He had admitted to Ed that he felt "sucky" just past Fisher Creek and he doesn't look like the type of guy that would admit a weakness much less ever DNF a race. But apparently last year he did and came back and finished a strong 4th place on a 29er rigid SS.
UPDATE - by popular demand for a photo based on my description - i found this pix of Kenny J. on the www.fatcyclist.com blog. here's the link http://www.fatcyclist.com/2007/05/30/how-to-enjoy-a-race/
these pix don't do him justice - but check out those "guns" in the 1st pic and those legs in the next one. sorry dave - but i'm just purely pointing in out in an aesthetic cycling buff body sense - i think shonny is just as hot as kenny j.
I'm am super curious of what his story was last year. But as i said I was too intimidate to talk to him. He spoke to me briefly and asked about a "boo-boo" i have on my leg - but i was so tongue-tied i just babblered something lame about falling over. duh! i'm sure he thought i was some lame-o bike groupie.
Anyways - things worked out where I was at the Slickrock trailhead @ 10pm and got to see Jen finished (i knew she would - that it would be just a matter of time when she showed up) I was glad i was there and got to ring my cowbell... hmmm....i guess i am a bike groupie. ;)
here's a pic of Jen just after she finished
Last year my friend, Jen, DNFd. I know she was disappointed but i told her of mikesee's words of wisdom.
here's the meat of the post:
"For anyone that's heading out to race it for the first time (and this goes for any ultra), it's ignorant and arrogant to think that you'll be able to have your best ride on the first go. I know that I'm just spewing opinion here (and probably in the minority) but I try to take the long view with every race: the first one is for recon, so that I can learn how to race it. The second one is to dial things in. The third time, it's on. Ridiculous, I know, in this age of instant gratification, but that's the way that I do things. To me, the planning/prep are way more important (because they are a lifestyle all their own) than the race itself. YMMV, obviously."
When i mentioned this to Jen - she(in typical Jen fashion) said "yeah - i know i read that but i didn't think that applied to ME!"
There was no doubt in my mind that Jen (after her disappointment last year) would finish bar broken bone or broken bike.
But I was also surprised to hear the #3 guy this year talk about his DNF last year.
"I knew I only had 20 miles to go but i had been hurting for HOURS. In a moment of weakness when I saw I-70 so close - i just headed toward it." I gathered from his comment this *moment of weakness* had haunted him for the last year so he was back with a vengeance and finished 3rd this year.
Also, I was SHOCKED to hear that the 4th place guy(Kenny J.) had DNf'd last year. I'm not sure what his story was last year(i was too intimidated to talk to him). Kenny J. is part the famous "Jack Mormon Militia". This guy looks indestructible. beautiful, buff, bald, with a tuft of hair on his chin. He looks like a total bad-ass. He had admitted to Ed that he felt "sucky" just past Fisher Creek and he doesn't look like the type of guy that would admit a weakness much less ever DNF a race. But apparently last year he did and came back and finished a strong 4th place on a 29er rigid SS.
UPDATE - by popular demand for a photo based on my description - i found this pix of Kenny J. on the www.fatcyclist.com blog. here's the link http://www.fatcyclist.com/2007/05/30/how-to-enjoy-a-race/
these pix don't do him justice - but check out those "guns" in the 1st pic and those legs in the next one. sorry dave - but i'm just purely pointing in out in an aesthetic cycling buff body sense - i think shonny is just as hot as kenny j.
I'm am super curious of what his story was last year. But as i said I was too intimidate to talk to him. He spoke to me briefly and asked about a "boo-boo" i have on my leg - but i was so tongue-tied i just babblered something lame about falling over. duh! i'm sure he thought i was some lame-o bike groupie.
Anyways - things worked out where I was at the Slickrock trailhead @ 10pm and got to see Jen finished (i knew she would - that it would be just a matter of time when she showed up) I was glad i was there and got to ring my cowbell... hmmm....i guess i am a bike groupie. ;)
here's a pic of Jen just after she finished
Comments