Breck 100 2014

Breck 100 MTB Race Report

Prologue: The Breckenridge 100 is considered to be one of the toughest 100 mile mountain biking events in the country. With nearly 13,000 feet of elevation gain, crossing the continental divide 3 times, and all the while being at altitude, surely makes it tough to argue otherwise. The course is a clover design so you dont ride any trail twice, and features include everything from the beautiful and lush Colorado Trail terrain, aspen lined singletrack from Boreas Pass to Como, to high alpine jeep road accents up Breckenridge's Peak 9 and crossing snow fields and scree fields on Wheeler trail. The base of the operation and central aid station is from Carter Park in downtown Breck, a location which provides easy access to most trails in and around Breck. Certainly a great spot to start any ride in and around Breck if you are there for a leisurely weekend ride.

Aside from 18 and 24hr races, this will be my first true 100 mile race. Since the Pro finishers usually come in somewhere between 9 and 10 hours, i was hoping for something between 11 and 12. Although i have ridden all of the 2nd lap, not knowing what type of power i could crank out on lap 1 and 3 left me pretty uncertain about what my time would look like. Plan was to ride slow, almost 24hr race slow, but settle into the pack around riders who appear to be at my ability. Planned to use the climb up to Wheeler to figure this out.

  

Steed selection: As previously stated, this ride will encompass everything Breck and the high country has to offer from sustained 10 mile climbs over 12,000 ft to ripping descents down buttery singletrack, plus or minus lots of rocks, roots, creek crossings, etc. Therefore, the 1x10 carbon hardtail is staying home, Specialized Epic, 2x10, full suspension it is. Weight fully loaded with saddlepack, 1 water bottle, extra tube taped to top tube: 29lbs (not light!). Week before i set her up with some fresh rubber, Stans, tighten everything down, new brake pads and a fresh bleed, good to go!

 

(post race pic, but didnt look much better before)

Nutrition Plan: I will refer to my prior RR's, since, i never have a nutrition plan. However, I did bring two water bottles, a box of Probar fuels, a snickers bar, turkey jerky, and fig newtons. With 2 Aid stations stocked per lap i figured i could make something work. I would stock my pockets at the beginning of each lap and refill as needed at the aid stations. Best nutrition plan ive ever thought up. 2 beers and a jalapeno burger and fries the night before and i am ready. Buckle Up!

Race day:  wake up at 4:45. Last time i saw 4:45 was 18hrs of fruita, probably going out for another lap when it was 30 degrees. Remembered coffee, kit, bike, arrive at Carter Park at 5am. Warm morning so get dressed, arm warmers and leave the jacket for lap 2 when the thunderstorms usually roll in. Eat some yogurt, PB and tortilla. Meet up with fellow green mountain rider Mike Franco, he comments on how muddy my bike looks, i tell him i sprayed her down 2 weeks ago just for the race. I had hoped that helped ease his anxiety but i dont think it did. It was true, my bike was a mess, got caught in the rain the night before on my shake down ride. It desperately needed a shower. Go time.

Loop 1: headed up to the top of the ski resort. If you have been to the top of Imperial lift, thats where we were headed, and even a bit higher to get up and over the pass. Was a long slog up. chatted with a lot of guys, even the 14yr who was likely to beat me. I asked him for his autograph. We will likely see him in the portugal olympics in 2016. rode with a guy on a fat bike, with front and rear derailleur shifters on the wrong sides because he rushed last minute gear changes. there were some CRAZY people out there. Started climbing over snow fields at the top of Breck but had the most incredible sights of the mountain as the sun was rising. felt like i was on another planet. Then i Fell just walking my bike because, well, we were at 13,000 feet and there was no oxygen. Descend into Frisco, very cold descent. HR was 50 at one point. think i had vagaled down and almost syncoped sending myself off the mountain. Take Peaks trail back to Breck, temps warming up. can finally feel my feet again.

28 miles, Time: 3:20(45mins behind winner); 3 Bottles of water in, handful of endurolytes tabs, 2 mini hammer bars and a honey stinger waffle; 

  

Loop 2: grab some more probars, rain jacket, water, relube chain. rolling. This loop you head out to little french flume to start, up Sallie barber mine, out to west ridge and then back through dredge boat trail. basically all classic colorado trail stuff. tough loose rocky climb up little french to start.. start to get passed by the 68 and 32miler guys.Feels good to know i am still beating most up the climbs when ive already got 30 miles under my belt. They are very encouraging when they see 100miler riders. I let them fly by me on the downhills, i catch them on the climbs. Garmin started to get cranky. it randomly went dark, started scrolling, but woke up again after i flicked it a few times. I think its sick of being abused. Make mental note to buy a new one asap. Make it around to the westridge climb, brutal. seems like it is longer than i remember. I have to pee, great sign! I must be staying hydrated. go through my two bottles just as the next aid station comes up. about 15 endurolytes and some more snacks and im off. Back is starting to hurt. Neck is starting to hurt. legs feel great. keep pedaling.  

34 miles, Time 4:02 (1 hr slower than leader, yikes), 4 bottles of water, lots of endurolytes, 4 waffles, 2 probars, package shot blocks. 

Loop 3: roll into Carter and see other fellow GM riders Matt Morgan and Jamie Henkel who rode the 32. He is already 6 beers deep and i am jealous. They passed me somewhere in loop two and all i saw was a blur, the dudes rip. Jamie helps me relube and refuel. also reminds me to take my bike before i run out of the pits towards boreas. I may be getting a bit delirious at this point. Sun is cranking, im warm, still peeing though. Head up indian creek/Boreas and start eating some jerky, its salty. down the fig newtons, drink a ton. Loose rocky climb up to the top of Boreas. Aid station girl is singing keesha or something like that. i grab a coke and some oranges. Ask her what on the table will make it feel like someone had not ripped out my spine, she hands me another coke. down the singletrack towards Como. Have to pee again, wait is that a yeti! Seriously think i saw a Yeti running through the woods. Or maybe it was Marlow pre-brazillian wax? chew a few more shot blocks. Rolling...that is until i crash hard on some loose wet roots after a stream crossing. I am covered in mud. Bike is OK, im...im back on my bike. Dump out into Como and some guy named Scott is there post ride, I ask him for a beer and he hands me a red bull. OK, so maybe not the same thing but he is clearly thinking more clearly than i am. I down it, make the turn and head back up Boreas. Some thunderstorms start to roll in and lighting is close. I pedal faster. Start to catch a few people i had been trading places with on the ups and downs. Try to chat with a few riders on the way up but most ignore me and tell me they have just vomitted, or are about to vomit. I keep pedaling. Finally make it to the top of Boreas and realize i am basically done. Just need to make it another 10 miles downhill to the finish. Hammer it down Boreas and then have to make a hard uphill turn on some singletrack. This riding was not what you would call elegant. I hesitate to even call it “biking” but i made it down the last short technical sections.  95 miles in and i am hurting. Enter carter park and hear LG congratulate the finishers. Think to myself, that was a long 12 hours on the bike. ouch.

36 miles, time 4:26 (1:15 slower than winner). 4 bottles of water, 1 red bull, shot blocks, very salty jerky, 10ish fig newtons, probar, coke, oranges.

Overall Time: 11:49, 5th in AG.  total ride time 11:18. A 11:22 or better would have gotten me a podium spot. Should certainly be able to make that time up next year but the way competition and race numbers are rising out here i will have to work hard. Winner finishes in 8:46 for his 7th B100 win. I am spent.

Post race: Head straight to the beer. grab an old chub and down it. post race spread is delicious, pulled pork, chicken, pizza, ziti, cookies, beer, beer. Change cloths and cheer on some finishers. See Phil, other GM rider cross who beat his previous B68 by over an hour. the dude is nutty.  

Things to do better next year: cut down at time spent at aid stations. Know i can push the climbs and what downhills i am comfortable with taking a few risks on now that i know loops 1 and 3. check shock pressure, my front was wayyyyy too stiff. 

Up next: Xterra beaver creek this Saturday, anyone else in? Leadville 100 Aug 9th. ?24hrs in Sage?

Big thanks to the usuals WB, Sanky, breyer, byyny, matty animal and the rest of the strava crew.. Franco - #honeybadger; Phil/Jamie/MM - ballers. 

Until next time….stay safe out there

k2