First of all, as is said in multiple other sites: Donate. A class act such as this has earned the right to request support from participants, fans or anyone else who is aware.
With a reported (yet to be officially confirmed) registration number around 800, a starting line number around 550 and a finish number under 400 it’s possible little more needs said. Someone defined Epic as an attrition rate over 50%; Almanzo 100, 2012 had an attrition rate of more than 25% based on those brave enough to start. While short of Epic, it certainly qualifies as impressive or imposing and every finisher should have a feeling of accomplishment. As many who toed the starting line equal the number who have a story about their weekend. Perhaps the organizers will create a simple way for everyone to easily share as I for one am interested in different perspectives.
As if the ride weren’t enough for the weekend our fantastic event directors also put on the first annual Wilder Foot Races (runs). Begin by reminding anyone to Donate. Given we had Riggs and Tony keying in on the W for their respective events the other five members of our group decided we’d support their efforts by running one of the events the day after the ride. We settled on the shortest, figuring we’d finish about the time Tony was finishing his. It worked out well.
Scripting a better weekend for our group would be difficult. No injuries, no illnesses–both surely on the minds of everyone even if not spoken. Solid, even great, finishes and an abundance of laughs and chatter with longtime friends and acquaintances. I’m still somewhat amazed at the way the entire weekend unfolded and closed. In part because of the time spent with longtime friends whom I miss and value greatly.
Weekend in Pics. (more to come)
With two unsupported, non-spectator friendly, free events it’s expected limited documentation exists. In fact, the bike event had multiple people driving along taking photo documentation which has been made available. Again at no cost. Yet another reason to donate.
Monday, May 21, 2012 2:56 PM
Thanks for the pictures guys, these are great! I found one of me(yellow) following Josh who is AWESOME:(white/black)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/craiglindner/7238960056/in/set-72157629828109338/
Summary of the weekend events: (multiple contributors) *Much longer version*
A slightly longer version…
There’s no way I would’ve started the 33-34k on Sunday morning if I’d been alone. Ten minutes before the start Riggs found a phone booth and changed into his Super-Saucony uniform. Tony told us, “Riggs said that if he can run to those kybos and back he’s running the 30k.” And of course he could. Tony took off alone while Riggs, Animal, Ben and I ran 8:30s together. One other guy, Josh Who Was NOT AWESOME, stayed a few steps behind the first four miles. We’d somehow managed to “drop” the field. When we walked up the first big hill, Josh Who Was NOT AWESOME continued running. At mile 14 Riggs asked if we’re okay. We were. He was going to chase-down Josh Who Was NOT AWESOME who was 10 minutes up the road. With that Riggs was gone. And within the span of a mile he’d put 2-3 minutes on us. A few miles later, up the one long remaining climb, we could literally see in the gravel where Riggs’d pawed so hard at the road he left shoeprints in the gravel dust. He ended up catching Josh Who Was NOT AWESOME and putting nine minutes into him. Afterward Riggs said that his final 10k was sub 40:00.
The day before that (while Riggs was running 52 miles)…
Animal, Ben, Robby Houlihan, Josh Who Is AWESOME and I started the hundo ride at 9AM. I’d heard (but can’t confirm) 800 registered for the bike, 550 started. Ben and Animal thought we’re going out too fast. We assured them we just needed to get clear of the masses. At mile 6 Robby (who’s also on a roadbike but unlike me not running thorn-proof tubes) flatted. Josh Who Is AWESOME and I stopped to help—well I just sat there while those two fixed the flat. Animal and Ben rolled on. Five miles later Ben had pulled over to wait. It seemed every fourth rider we passed somehow knew Josh Who Is AWESOME, so we’d slow for a minute so he could chat.
At mile 25 a fellow Almanzoan was off his bike at the side of the road, someone Josh Who Is AWESOME didn’t know. Nonetheless, Josh asked if he needed anything.
“Yeah, can you fix a bent, rear derailleur?”
“Well, I used to be a bike shop mechanic in a former life. Let’s take a look.”
We stopped at the side of the road and waited while Josh Who Is AWESOME went to work. A few minutes later the rear derailleur was functioning again and we were off. As we left the guy said to Josh (no kidding) “Thanks, man. You’re awesome!”
[Jumping ahead because I can’t fit every story in an email] Josh Who Is AWESOME asked if I’d doused myself in baby oil that morning because I was so bronzed and shiny (in other words, soaked in sweat and sunburned). It was super warm. And super windy. There’re times the wind almost literally blew your front wheel off the road. At mile 40 we caught Animal who told us to go on without him. Robby flatted again but by then I was hoping for any excuse to stop. Josh Who Is AWESOME and Ben rolled ahead. I was cooked and Robby waited with me. At mile 68 Animal passed Robby and me as we were sitting under a tree (along with about 20 others) at the checkpoint. Animal kept grinding it out. At mile 80 there’s a picnic shelter in the middle of nowhere where six others were stopped. Oddly enough there was a Pepsi machine there too. I was going to throw up if I had to drink another bottle of hot water. Robby went to buy a 20oz Mountain Dew and said in a cheery, sarcastic voice to the others who’re lying near death on the picnic tables, “That wind’s not so bad is it?” Long story short: we rode to the finish hot, windy, blah, blah, blah. Last year was near hypothermia. This year near heat stroke. On Sunday I talked with the race director who said they had 150 DNFs.
Nice job, Tony. Nice job, Riggs. Nice job everyone else. Thanks for the good times.
~Ryan
Subject: James Wilder 50K
(from Tony)
Short recap:
Time: 3:58:39
Weather: slightly warm for the first 16 miles, cooled down significantly afterwards
Ran first 2 miles with the race director, lonely next 28.2.
Lots of hills, dogs, deer, wind.
A couple of long stretches running into the wind and a creek crossing
Cramped on the last hill at mile 27ish.
Splits
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Mile 1
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7:44
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Mile 2
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7:27
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Mile 3
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7:17
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Mile 4
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7:23
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Mile 5
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8:05
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Water stop
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Mile 6
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7:34
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Mile 7
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7:25
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Mile 8
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7:31
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Mile 9
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7:16
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Mile 10
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7:27
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Mile 11
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9:13
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Water stop
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Mile 12
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7:27
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Mile 13
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7:16
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Mile 14
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7:50
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Mile 15
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7:33
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Mile 16
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9:04
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Water stop
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Mile 17
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7:53
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Mile 18
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7:25
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Mile 19
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7:42
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Mile 20
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7:35
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Mile 21
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7:34
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Mile 22
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7:50
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Mile 23
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7:26
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Mile 24
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10:28
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Water stop and creek crossing
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Mile 25
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7:49
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Mile 26
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8:08
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Mile 27
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9:31
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No water stop, cramping and walking up hill
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Mile 28
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8:31
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Mile 29
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8:16
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Mile 30
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7:38
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Mile .2
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1:23
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I think this would have been more enjoyable had I not been running alone. So if anyone wants to do this next year, let me know.
Hats off to Ryan, Ben and Animal for doing the 100 mile bike and 30k/21 mile run.
And oh yea, I am not sure if you heard, but Riggs ran the 30k on Sunday as well.
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Surely everything combined qualifies as an Epic Weekend. At least in my book.
AniMal