2008 Hot August Nights 24HR - SOLO

August 23rd and 24th was the date for this years 24HR Hot August Nights Mountain bike race. The lone 24 HR race for me this year as I continued from early in the spring to work in a back that decided to have 2 dics slip out. Leading up to the race I was not sure if it was exactly going to be "Hot August Nights" or more "Moon soon August Nights" with the amount of rainfall - but low and behold the heavens above cleared the skies that weekend for what was the hottest weekend of the year in Southern Ontario - now thats its over I am looking back thinking maybe the rain would have been better??

My 2008 goals were to improve on the 15 offical (16 unoffical) laps I completed last year and see if I could improve on 6th place finish in the under 40 age group as it would be the last year I would be competing against the young bucks!! Next year I will be racing in the 40 plus which officially puts me closer to a Senior Citizen on a bike than these 21-23 year old professionals!! (think thats a good thing!)

Similar to the race last June that I competed in and finished 13th I invited Dad, Brother and Newphew on to the race. Making it a semi escape for them (not to mention free camping as being delcared my office "support team" even tho none of them have a clue how to fix a bike). I took the chance and told Chico Racing the race organizers I was going to be bringing a 26 foot trailer. My parents have had this trailer for sometime and it gets little use, the idea of bringing it was good from many points of view - one of which it ensure we got the trailer road and trip ready!! The gamble was that in solo competitions a campsite is shared by four solo riders. That doesn't leave a heck of a lot of room but I scouted the site assigned and given that I normally bring a tent and a gazebo a trailer of this length wasn't going to make too much of an impact.

We moved in on the Friday morning - first ones really to start setting up as some of the families were just leaving Albion Hills the location for all the 24 HR events in Ontario. Getting the trailer in brought back fun memories - me navigating me father as he tried to back up a trailer!! He did well and we didn't end up in our usual censored discussion on my left is your left!!. We were up in no time and .. it was.. HOTT holly toledo HOTT!!.... the awning gave some needed shade to the site. My newphew took off down the bluff behind us (of course.. bluff, steep danger.. just the thing for a young lad!!) to the stream below as I hand noted the stream and brought a few fishing poles to help occupy his time and my son's who was going to arrive on the Saturday and spend the night. My Dad and I have a great time.. sitting like rednecks under the awning the sound of the airconditioning in the trailer kicking in (ya we get water and hydro, its really roughing it I tel ya!!) watching the other teams arrive. As the teams arrived , there seemed to be nobody that was assigned to our site and I was thinking -- wow if these other guys don't show... these kids are going to have a blast.

One notable that arrived on the Friday was a team out of Michigan - surely sponsered by a few and had an impressive support team with him. I learnt a few years ago not to get too nervous with how "good" some riders appear at camp but... hmmm these guys look pretty good and oh -- the cocky nature of the support team was a bit much but thats ok, I also learned most of the people that do these got some peronality flaw (laugh)... yes that makes me flawed also!! ) The racer himself was decent - happy fun hangin guy. While they setup on the Friday they booked a hotel for the night to get a good nights sleep (ooooh again serious undertone here... )

I visited a few friends I have made in doing these races - the old guy with his daughter who brings the tv and DVD with a huge supply of movies not to mention the curling iron(its an amazing site to be out there in all this and some 20 year old curling her hair!!) .

I yapped with an old friend from Milton and last years 2nd place finisher in the "Senior Citzen" category. He reminding me of course one more year and I can race for maybe a podium spot.

Night feel quickly most riders doing a practice lap of the course - I got my time in a week ago as I was out at Albion and they had just marked it so I got 4 hours in on it and wasn't about to do more time on that then what was about to be asked starting at noon on the Saturday.

Camp fires and marshmellows (not for me but I cooked a few) - not to mention I think I Dad finished a few "pops" by then!! I asked him to ensure he saved a few of those!!

The next morning - race day my site mate had arrived a fellow from Quebec. He travelled out during the night and set up. In talking with him and he said he had completed 100 solo events I realized that he wasn't here for fun!! However he and his team were the nicest site mates to have - we joked and laughed as the minutes expired getting us closer to race time.

By the time the race start arrived - I was pretty sure I wasn't headed to the podium and I was also sure that it was incredibly hot!! and maybe my sleevelss BLACK jersey wasn't the smartest idea but... I don't own anything with WHITE!!

The race started and like all races - first strategy... avoid the idots on the first lap, stay safe and sound.
- first hill.. ooh its moving wow... usually we got lots of walkers and busted chains
- ooh minor down hill all is going well..
- avoid the guy being and idot and does an bunny hop over a hump...
- OH S@#$.. RIDER down.. big,, dude out front down laying in the trail like a beached whale
.. ... my options... ummm run him over... umm....
kill these riders on my right or the left or.. ummm
ya ride him over... I yell.,.. DUCK!!!! and now I am the idot doing the bunny hop over the fallen rider...
my tired nicked something as I went over..
I pulled to the side when it was safe. All the while screaming HOLD UP!! Rider DOWN!!

I walked back helped the guy up, he was alright and he said... that was awesome!!! He commented that my back tire just nicked his bike. He was ok... I gave him a gel pack and said get some sugar in ya... the anxiety will wear off and the sugar will help the jones'n your about to get!!.

I climbed back in the saddle so much for stragey number 1!! -- this is not a good start!!

I carried on - this years course seemed to have more hills, then again every August I say the same thing so this year I was all about "Shut up and ride"

The climbs came one after another.. the worst the section that spit us out into the sun after a long switch back climb in the woods.. OOOH that sun is crippling.

First Lap down and I didn't pit. I stopped for 30 seconds there after to quickly refuel and hydrate.

Night came and the move to have the lights ready on a seperate helmet would valuable in saving time. Back on the course but I could feel the tension in my neck building - the lack of long hours of trail riding were beginning to show up. There is no excersise for this its the process of doing trail rides at 3-4 hours in lenght.... I tried to stretch and hoped that I would just foret about the discomfort.

11:30 pm the discomfort is now PAIN - my mental ability to hold it off has passed. I can't stop thinking about it.... and my arms are begining to pull in to take the pressure off - but that means I got zero sterring ability... I get the lap done and walk through the timing tent 12:30 PM. The games of the mind take over, fear of the back problems from the spring re-appearing, thoughts of some rest in an airconditioned trailer take over my thinking... I am 10th, but its seconds between 10th and 6th at this point.. I should....but I take the easy route and head to the trailer.
I pass out

Sunday August 24th
6:00 AM
Oh F@#$@ its 6 I wanted to be out by 4, Damn.. back is stiff, stiff stiff but the pain has stopped. Even one more lap and lets see how far I have fallen
I make my way back to the start and hmm just 12th not bad!!! -- I look at who is ahead of me and can see they surpassed me at 2:00 am and then they stopped. I quickly glance they are not back on the course yet as there time chips are running at 4 hours plus and climbing.. I quickly get on my bike

I quickly pit and am able to push out 3 more laps - a fourth attempt was close but I missed the window for last lap. I check 10th.. I regained where I stopped for the night - decent. Then I gazed at the riders ahead of me - 1 lap... one stinkin lap. Uggghhhhh timing.. you train and train this sport is all about timing as much as it is physical ablity. Last year I caught that last lap window, this year seconds short. I also slept in which maybe puts me in solid 6th but.. these are hopes and dreams at this moment cause reality is 10th. I am happy, kisses all around are good too!! - and the taste of beer again.. munchin a bagel and having my beer. My wife says so -- we doing it again next year.. and I look at her and say.. Hell ya!! thats the goal right? at 40 get on that podium!!

The winners in my category pulled in 23,22, and 21 laps where as my cateogory in waiting was 20, 18 and 15 <-- my desitney. In any race anything can happen and without hope you got no dream and no dream no drive. I'll be back chasing my white rabbit and I can't wait for 2009!! Summary

Strategy 1
Avoid crashes on the first lap
- post race review: A simple reminder that the goal is to avoid but never to stop riding agressively. If your a pansie you will be taken out. Moments before the bunny hop there was a " oh no what am I going to do" moment. Can't happen in the future - see, look ride

Strategy 2
No Camel Bak this year -- water bottle rotation
I opted for this approach as in years past I found that I was drinking too much water and also having to pit too frequent . The weight off my back also would be a plus.
- post race review : awesome decision, I climbed quicker felt lighter on the bike and I am sure while I did eventually have to stop due to back pain, this approach let me ride long. Definitely in some cases faster.

Strategy 3
Easy on the Gel's and more just food
- post race review: well I am not sure you call gummie bears food but they helped although I think they made me too bloated. What was awesome and will be factored in earlier next year was peroggies -- ooh what a difference those made!! Eload over gatoraid helped but need a better mix of some water and eload in the bottles, the green tea- honey water - eload was awesome thats a keeper combo!! Didn't get enough bannanas into me and melon would have been great during the night as I was battling a bit of just body nutirent boredom.

Strategy 4
Seperate helmet for my lights
- post race review: this was great, next year I will also ride a different bike in the day and then swap to a fully read bike for the night. The change up will do my mental state a good refresh and having things ready was a big bonus and time saver

Strategy 5
The trailer option with family at the pit
- post race review: Was great to have the family there - some different challenges with the little ones there but that was worth it!!. The airconditioner was awesome!! however I wasn't prepared mentally for the tricks having that in the back of my mind would be on the trail in the heat of the night. The disappointment of having to stop at 12:30 am just as I was gaining on the leaders and having that 10th place drop to 12th by the morning will be motivation in the future.


This post is a bit scrambled with content but its in part to help me remember a few things that I took away from this years race. Nothing was better than the finish however and while a small bit of disappointment - waking in 12th and closing back the time lost to regain 10th meant lots to me. Next year its a whole new ball game I will be the young kid on the block. The 40 and under category took 23 laps to win, second was 22 laps and third 21. My goal of 6th was sitting there for the taking at 11 laps.. 11.... 11... 1 lap short.. 1 hour I slept too long , getting over the back.. 1 hour.... sounds like a big time to make up but when you know you had it, you were just unable to ride..makes it bitter... drives ya and folks thats why I ride... its better than any football game where that statement is " On any given Sunday" in these races, everyone has a shot. It always comes down to are you ready to push harder and fight your bodies natural tendencies. I was a bit short this year - in one view. The fact that I was unable to walk for 8 weeks this year and was in this race, maybe just getting to the race was the fight I battled mentally this year.
Next year is on my mind now -- at one point during the race I figured.. I was done with this... and what I love more than anything is when the race was done.. that lost feeling.. what am I going to do, then the goosebumps return as my inner kid speaks to me " Go get them again next year"

Lastly none of this happens for me without the strength of my family - my kids, parents , brother and most of all my wife. Ya she rocks!!