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Mohican 100 |
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Team Bikeman -
Race Reports
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Written by Jason Mahokey
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Sunday, 03 June 2007 |
Mohican 100
Mohican State Park, Ohio
National Ultra Endurance Series #2
June 2, 2007
 I said it before, I'll say it again- 100 milers rock! Granted I've only done three (2 Mohican 100s and 1 Wilderness 101) but those are three of the best races I've ever done. Not the best RESULTS, but the best races.
I find the 100s a great combination of "controlled" adventure. 100 miles of varying trails, roads, and conditions, but a fully marked course and aid stations to make sure I don't become bear fodder. The following is a brief recap of my experiences at the 2007 Mohican 100.
The 7 a.m. rolling start was a bit chaotic as more than 1/2 the field went off hard right from the start line leaving the pace motorcycle honking it's horn, trying to get through the pack of hundreds of racers so as to lead us out to road and the "official" start.
I just rolled along on the road doing my thing, getting the legs ready for the single track. As we rolled down the hill from the dam I shifted into my big ring and dropped my chain. Not sure but this COULD be from the fact I'm missing about 3 teeth on my big ring, ha! So I needed to take a minute to get my chain back on. No big deal. Not fun, but no big deal.
Once we hit the single track we had a nice group of riders keeping a pretty good pace. Eventually I got ahead of these folks and rode on my own for much of the race.
A HUGE hunk of the first section was single track. Maybe 30+ miles or so. It had a little of everything and conditions were much better than last year. I felt so good the first 50 or 60 miles. Many times diving through endless single track with the sun shining though the foggy forest it seemed too perfect to be racing. This was just damn fun!
So far my nutritional choices were spot on. Stomach felt good, legs felt good and the bike was doing just fine. I was having a great time.
The heat was a tad intense and later in the morning some of the exposed climbs were damn hot. I could see the white salt stains starting to form on my shorts and jersey. I cramped a few times but overall cramping was minimal due to my intake of Heed, Gatorade, and Hammer Endurolytes.
Then as if by design the skies clouded over and a few minor thunderstorms dumped some rain. Nothing too major but enough to cool it off and make some of the remaining miles in the dirt pretty soggy.
One such section was/is my most hated section of the course- a 10 mile stretch of ghetto rail trail. It's sort of an incomplete or abandoned rail trail. The rain turned it to a slow soggy mess by the time I hit it. And it was not unusual for me to riding along mumbling expletives out loud.
On this stretch I was out of calories. I had water/heed, but no gels, or my Heed/Carbo Pro cocktail that I had been using up to now. All I could think about was the sugary goodness of a Pepsi or Coke.
When I FINALLY exited this section and hit the road to the next aid station at mile 75 I hoped like hell they had some pop. Yes! A cooler with Pepsi in it! I chugged a bit, got a nice sugar rush flattened the rest by shaking it up, and poured it in one of my bottles.
This is something that when I done in the past whilst using Hammer Perpetuem, has back fired and left me vomiting on my top tube. Not this time. Other than a few echoing belches I just enjoyed the sugary goodness, the caffeine and the calories.
Some of the climbs were REALLY getting tough for me at this point. The legs could move but not very fast. I had a goal of under 10 hours and right now it was in doubt.
I kept plugging along, trying to make up time whenever I could (down hill) and struggling with some of the remaining big climbs. By struggling I mean walking. I just had no power left.
Then I hit the last aid station at about mile 90. Took in a little more pop, a bite of PBJ and headed off for the remaining 10 miles. I found he PB&J sandwiches this year primo! Soft bread, not too much peanut butter and some yummy jelly. REALLY easy to get down my pie hole.
It was at this point I saw my goal of sub 10 hours vanish. The single track after the last aid station was super slick and I was all over the freaking trail! It took a few spills for me to realize I had my Reba locked out. DOH!!!
Then it was to a root filled, rocky, mud bog trail along the river that had me hike-a-biking most of it. The trail had a good amount of day hikers on it too. Seeing my mud covered spandex clad body slipping and sliding over the rocks like a drunken loon must have gave them a nice chuckle. Finally I saw the "5 MILES TO GO" sign. THAT rocked!
I finally made it to the base of the dam and did the STEEP hike-a- bike up to the road. Then some road, and double track led me back to the finish. Another 100 in the books. Finished in 10:27/39th place out of 70+ Open Class Solo Male racers in the 100 mile race. I did miss my personal goal of sub 10 hours, but I'll be back in 2008 for damn sure!
The shear amount of BIG name Endurance freaks there was amazing! Eatough, Tostado, Tinker, Harlan, Kerkove, Musto, the list was endless. Getting to compete with these folks is an honor and another reason why doing these races rocks. In no other sport can you line up with some of the best in the world like this. Yeah, I came in 39th, but with folks like that in front of me I'll take it!
After I finished former Bikeman.com teammate Shey Linder introduced himself to me and admitted to being a reader of my blog (The Soiled Chamois). Shey is a SUPER fast racer who now races for Bear Naked/ Cannondale. Congrats on another great finish at Mohican Shey! Glad to meet you and hope to see you again soon!
My Salsa Dos Niner frame rocked as usual! The 1" of rear suspension did just enough to keep my back feeling good. The IRD (Panaracer) Fire Pro 29ers hooked up great through all the single track and dirt roads, although I may have upped the air pressure a bit too much for the amount of single track. It's hard to find a good PSI to both hook up on the single track AND roll fast on the pavement.
The Rock Shox Reba 29er smoothed out the single track and the lock out was great for sustained climbing. The Anti Friction cream from Greyhound Juice really helped in... well lets just say it helped in preventing friction in places where you don't want friction! HA!
My Lake 230 shoes once again proved to be comfortable and perfect for hike a bikes on the rocks. Oddly on the start line there were three of us together all wearing the 2007 Lake 230s! Looks like the 230 is going to be popular among the Enduro set!
I still have a LOT to work on to get more competitive, but I was damn happy overall. My only regret is not sticking to my original 2007 season plan of doing more of the 100 mile series and less lap races. The 100 mile format is hands down my favorite race format. Looking forward to the Wilderness 101 in August already!
Thanks for reading.
Jason Mahokey
Excerpts from "The Soiled Chamois"
The Complete "The Soiled Chamois" |
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