The Berryman Trail Epic race was held on a Saturday this year. They decided to combine the tour and race into one day. I think most enjoyed it better this way since we could party after the race and not bolt home to go to work the next morning.

I got up early on race day and took my own bag w/tubes and cooler to the only feed zone in the race which we would come to twice during the 55 mile race. I decided to do this for several reasons: 250 red bags all look the same on a picnic table, I wanted cold drinks in a small cooler since it was going to be warm, and I didn't want to have to get off my bike since I need a quick transition since my goal was to go after the geared women on my single speed. I placed my little cheap cooler next to a tree in the campground next to the parking lot.

The forecast was calling for rain so, I put a trash bag in my back pocket in case temps dropped w/rain. This is light weight and takes up no space. I mingled my way through the 250 racers at the start line looking for the top geared women. Scott Davis started announcing the race info. Then, 8 minutes till the start, a kind guy behind me pointed out that I had a big blister in my rear tire. Ok, this was bad. As soon as I would hit the rocky single track, this would for sure blow. I had no choice but, to push my way out of the tight crowd of anxious racers. I rode as fast as I could back to the cabin to change out the tire. I looked back and my kind husband was following me to help. I was mad at him for pulling out to help me since this would hurt him but, happy that I could change the tire out faster with his help.

Almost done putting a new tire on and then, I heard the explosion which sounded like dynamite! Race started. I started to panic since I was missing the start. I was saddened to see everyone heading up the hill but, me. My goal all the sudden changed to finishing the race instead of being competitive up with the geared women. Finally, I jumped on my bike and bolted out onto the course like a spooked horse . The first section was hilly gravel roads before getting to the single track. My legs were feeling pretty good climbing and I soon found myself weaving through the racers and catching up with the main field. I think being panicked helped a little.

Riding the single track was fun. I felt like I was back in the game. However, I was definitely pushing harder to get back in. I reached the 1st feed zone. Todd, my husband was standing there for some reason. He said all of my food, drinks, and tubes were gone-stolen. I had 2 bottles on my bike which were almost depleted and 1 bar and GU left. One of the race spectators was so kind to give me her left-over water so I poured it into my bottle. I said, "oh well...I'm going." Todd had quit the race due to his frame cracking.

So, I went from being panicked at the start of the race to pissed off. Who would steal orange filled bottles that looks and smells like crap and little Dixie cups filled with cut up bars and cliff blocks? Not as mad about the tubes since I still had 2 strapped on my bike. I still had a long race ahead of me with little water and food. So, I started looking for dropped bottles on the trail. Gross..I know. I was desperate. I saw a ton of them in the beginning of the race but, didn't find a single bottle when I needed it.

I bonked a little towards the end of the OT trail. Not sure if was going out too hard in the beginning to catch up, not drinking/eating much, or probably both. I was trying to conserve my water but, it was really warming up. Made it into the 2nd feed zone. A couple of racers who pulled out loaned me 1 more bottle with Cytomax in it to make it to the finish. Started feeling good again. I gave it everything I had left at the end. I managed to get 1st in single speed and 10th if I squeeze my time into the geared women results. I was hoping for top 6 among geared women's times but, considering everything that happened, I was happy.

Burnin at the Bluffs

As much as I would have loved to race 12hr solo at Burnin this year, I decided it would be in my best interest to race on a team for 3 reasons. They are I just came off a 24hr solo MTN bike race last month, I will have BT Epic 2 weeks later, and most importantly, I wanted to have more fun since I have done so many endurance races solo this year. Don't get me wrong...I was still going for the BUCKLE!

The team was formed consisting of Carrie Cash, Jamie Valencheck, and myself. Rock on! I was pumped because this was going to be fun and fast race. Our biggest competitor going into the race was Team AB Cycles-Sarah Parrish, Mia Phillips, and Beth Weimer. I have race against these 3 in many races and I know their strengths! This was going to be a close race. These girls are fast. We had a short huddle Friday night and we wrote down our order. Their team said they drew straws and Mia was going first. Are they bluffing? I figured they were and said I bet Sarah will be standing at the start. So, we decided to have Cash take Sarah on for the 1st lap. The plan would be for me to go 3rd so I would ride on the darkest lap since I love night riding and could do a double lap in the end if a 9th lap was needed.

Saturday AM..racers surrounded the start line for a short run to their bikes. Surprise! Sarah Parrish at the start line. This is going to be an awesome race. Gun went off and so did the smoke bombs. You could hardly see your bikes. Cash bolts off the start like a bull with horns are chasing her. Off she goes. After an hour goes by, the guys start coming through from their 1st lap. Among the 1st 15 guys is Cash! She was smokin with a time of 1:17. Oh yeah...that's with changing a flat! Jamie and I completed our laps in under 1:30. I was excited about this because I was so much faster on my 1x9 geared bike than my single speed I usually ride out there.

After we competed our 1st round of laps, Mia came in with a possible fractured wrist from a crash. I saw Beth standing at the start not knowing if she should take off. I yelled to her to just go since still on the clock. Carrie and I walked Mia to the 1st aid tent then, I rode down to her campsite to find Sarah to let her know Mia was injured. Total bummer. Our favorite team lost a member and now they were down to 2 racers. This wasn't the race I wanted and felt bad for Mia. Her wrist was pretty swollen.

We kept riding hard for the rest of the race. Anything can happen and I knew Sarah and Beth wouldn't give up. They have lots of experience in endurance racing. Cash started off our 2nd round of laps. On the trail, she heard something that sounded like a rock hitting the ground. Later, she realized she had lost her shifter when trying to shift. She knew exactly where she heard it so rode backwards on the course yelling "racer coming, racer coming" to try to avoid a crash while riding full speed. She found the shifter and put the front shifter upside down on opposite site so she could shift in the back. She still came in off that lap at 1:22. Wow. Would you believe she flatted on her 3rd lap too? But, that barely slows her down.

Jamie had the best luck. No crashes and smokin times. I had 2 good crashes on my 2nd lap but, no injuries. I went out on the 8th lap not sure if I would go back out for another to make 9. I came in within 10 minutes of cut-off. Cash and Jamie were each standing there with a beer and said I didn't need to go back out. "We won the Buckle!"

Berryman Epic on board next and starting to build my fixed geared MTN bike. New bike just arrived and hub is ordered. Hoping Mia has a speedy recovery.