'Welcome to the dark side of running.
Weak, wimpy, treadmill running pansies who are afraid to get some dirt in their shorts need not apply.
Expect to be scratched, muddied and bruised by the beauty of this unpolished gem.
Expect to get out near the edge where life is full color.
Expect a day that leaves you knowing you are fully alive, awake and crankin' on all cylinders.
Expect insanity, stupidity and nirvana. '
That is the welcome you get from the DancesWithDirt website.
Yesterday 14 friends and myself danced with dirt and mud in the hills of Brown County State Park (yes, there are hills in Indiana, ask anyone who rode in the PanAm cycling road race back in the 90's what they thought of the hills). This second year race, attracted teams from as far away as Florida! They give out awards for the best costumes. Some folks were chasing beer cans hanging from their hats. Other fun costumes included, men running in kilts, tie-dyed hippies, a team handing off a fuzzy pink bunny rabbit backpack at each exchange, men wearing Kentucky Fried Chicken buckets on their heads. While there are some super fast runners, many are here for the fun and the challenge. Probably half of the runs are on established trail, half are off trail through the woods, follow the flags, if you miss one you could be lost for a while - last year one person was lost for 4 hours! Last year every one on our team got lost once. This year we fared much better with not a single person getting off track. It was a perfect day, sunny, highs near 70. Lots of mud, lots of water crossings, lots of smiles, and laughs.
If you have 4 friends you want to enjoy a fun day in the woods with, give this event a try.
And, yes, there really is a town in Indiana, called Gnaw Bone! Population 5, or something like that.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Sunday, May 4, 2008
DINO #1 - Warsaw/Winona Lake
The Do INdiana Off-road (DINO) series began Saturday, May 3rd with the first official race at Winona Lake in Warsaw, IN. The four hour drive is mostly on two-lane roads and very unexciting. However, the course is full of thrills.
I rode up to the North Country with Matt & Meredith on Friday to pre-ride. Again, rain plagued the drive, but the course had only a few sippy spots. It wasn’t marked when we arrived, but we felt we had covered most of it. The trail is very tight and twisty with a few short, steep hills. There are some cool BMX-type jumps and berms that made me smile every time my wheels came off the ground. The pre-ride was slow for me since I was still feeling the effects of Tuesday’s interval session.
After a swell night at the Super 8, we hit Maria’s pancake house then headed over to race. The incessant winds overnight had dried the trails nicely making it perfect for the race.
As I was warming up, my legs felt heavy, but I was mentally ready to go. I lined up at the start with 3 other Expert riders and the Sport class. All of us were doing 2 laps of the 9-mile course while the Pro/Expert men had already started and were doing 3 laps. One of my goals was to finish the race without getting passed by the men.
The horn sounded and we were off. I was 4th into the woods behind Nicole Borem (E), Melanie Rogers (E), and Emily ? (S). Meredith (S) was right behind me. Nicole was never seen again. That girl is FAST! As always, my HR was way too fast, and my legs felt shot. Fortunately, the beginning of the trail is super fun with some twisty descents and the flow helped me find somewhat of a rhythm. After a few miles, I settled in and quit freaking out.
Meredith was behind me the whole time and we kept shouting encouragement to each other. I made it along the twisty stuff and the more technical stuff on the last part of the trail. There is a section along the creek that is flat and fast. I was choosing good lines and having a blast. Then it happened. I chose the wrong way leading me on a nasty trail along the creek that slopes into the water instead of the high ground that avoided this tricky path. My bike was sliding into the water, so I got off to walk. I hear, “There’s no walking your bike. Get back on there!” My teammate, Meredith was giving her own form of encouragement. At that point, I tripped or slipped on a root falling on my bike as I watched her pass. (I have a nice bruise on my right leg from it. Granted she did ask if I was OK.)
As we came close to the finish, the Sport rider, Emily, was off her bike checking her tire. We rode by and dropped down a cool descent to the spectators and finish line.
Going in to the second lap, Meredith and I took turns leading and going through the now familiar course. It was even better the second lap. I was much more relaxed and having fun thinking my place of 3rd was solidified in the Expert class. At the half way point of the second lap, I saw Melanie (E) just up ahead. She shouted at me, “How’s it going?” I shouted back, “Slow down!” I stepped it up (which is like going from a HR of 183 to 190) to try to catch her. She must have stepped it up too, b/c I didn’t come that close again.
As we were riding through the more technical stuff, Jean-Luc approached—the first Pro men’s leader. UGH! I didn’t reach my goal. Now for the next 4-5 miles, I would have to worry about the guys trying to get around. JL always gives plenty of notice and he didn’t have anyone right behind. It was a clean pass. I’m down by the creek again when the next 2 Pros call out. Again, they gave plenty of notice, so I was flying down the single track trying to find a good place for them to get by. I found a little section where I could pull off. As I looked behind me to see where they were, I hit something or snagged my bar on a tree; I don’t really know what initiated the crash. I managed to hit the ground hard and slide in to a tree in front of Brad Nelson and Don Galligher. How’s that for an Expert move? They both slowed to ask if I was OK, but I felt like the biggest dork. I hurried back on the bike and took off again knowing the end was close.
The 4th guy was fellow teammate and sponsor, Matt Battin. I got out of the single track in time and on to the short, paved section before he came upon me. Before going in to the single track again, I slowed to let him by me and followed him to the finish. Matt decided to put on a show for the spectators as we came down the descent, He leaps off the ledge and turns the wheel in the air and lands hard going off the trail a little. I’m trying not to crash as I’m cracking up hearing the announcer, “..and here comes Matt Battin crossin’ it up at the finish.” The landing didn’t slow him down as he continued to catch air on the next two little ramps. In my book, that was a fine finish as I beat last year’s time and got my own show. Meredith was a few seconds behind coming in first in the Sport category.
I rode up to the North Country with Matt & Meredith on Friday to pre-ride. Again, rain plagued the drive, but the course had only a few sippy spots. It wasn’t marked when we arrived, but we felt we had covered most of it. The trail is very tight and twisty with a few short, steep hills. There are some cool BMX-type jumps and berms that made me smile every time my wheels came off the ground. The pre-ride was slow for me since I was still feeling the effects of Tuesday’s interval session.
After a swell night at the Super 8, we hit Maria’s pancake house then headed over to race. The incessant winds overnight had dried the trails nicely making it perfect for the race.
As I was warming up, my legs felt heavy, but I was mentally ready to go. I lined up at the start with 3 other Expert riders and the Sport class. All of us were doing 2 laps of the 9-mile course while the Pro/Expert men had already started and were doing 3 laps. One of my goals was to finish the race without getting passed by the men.
The horn sounded and we were off. I was 4th into the woods behind Nicole Borem (E), Melanie Rogers (E), and Emily ? (S). Meredith (S) was right behind me. Nicole was never seen again. That girl is FAST! As always, my HR was way too fast, and my legs felt shot. Fortunately, the beginning of the trail is super fun with some twisty descents and the flow helped me find somewhat of a rhythm. After a few miles, I settled in and quit freaking out.
Meredith was behind me the whole time and we kept shouting encouragement to each other. I made it along the twisty stuff and the more technical stuff on the last part of the trail. There is a section along the creek that is flat and fast. I was choosing good lines and having a blast. Then it happened. I chose the wrong way leading me on a nasty trail along the creek that slopes into the water instead of the high ground that avoided this tricky path. My bike was sliding into the water, so I got off to walk. I hear, “There’s no walking your bike. Get back on there!” My teammate, Meredith was giving her own form of encouragement. At that point, I tripped or slipped on a root falling on my bike as I watched her pass. (I have a nice bruise on my right leg from it. Granted she did ask if I was OK.)
As we came close to the finish, the Sport rider, Emily, was off her bike checking her tire. We rode by and dropped down a cool descent to the spectators and finish line.
Going in to the second lap, Meredith and I took turns leading and going through the now familiar course. It was even better the second lap. I was much more relaxed and having fun thinking my place of 3rd was solidified in the Expert class. At the half way point of the second lap, I saw Melanie (E) just up ahead. She shouted at me, “How’s it going?” I shouted back, “Slow down!” I stepped it up (which is like going from a HR of 183 to 190) to try to catch her. She must have stepped it up too, b/c I didn’t come that close again.
As we were riding through the more technical stuff, Jean-Luc approached—the first Pro men’s leader. UGH! I didn’t reach my goal. Now for the next 4-5 miles, I would have to worry about the guys trying to get around. JL always gives plenty of notice and he didn’t have anyone right behind. It was a clean pass. I’m down by the creek again when the next 2 Pros call out. Again, they gave plenty of notice, so I was flying down the single track trying to find a good place for them to get by. I found a little section where I could pull off. As I looked behind me to see where they were, I hit something or snagged my bar on a tree; I don’t really know what initiated the crash. I managed to hit the ground hard and slide in to a tree in front of Brad Nelson and Don Galligher. How’s that for an Expert move? They both slowed to ask if I was OK, but I felt like the biggest dork. I hurried back on the bike and took off again knowing the end was close.
The 4th guy was fellow teammate and sponsor, Matt Battin. I got out of the single track in time and on to the short, paved section before he came upon me. Before going in to the single track again, I slowed to let him by me and followed him to the finish. Matt decided to put on a show for the spectators as we came down the descent, He leaps off the ledge and turns the wheel in the air and lands hard going off the trail a little. I’m trying not to crash as I’m cracking up hearing the announcer, “..and here comes Matt Battin crossin’ it up at the finish.” The landing didn’t slow him down as he continued to catch air on the next two little ramps. In my book, that was a fine finish as I beat last year’s time and got my own show. Meredith was a few seconds behind coming in first in the Sport category.
(Photo credits for this entry go to Matt Link. Thanks, Matt!)
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