Battle of Fort Sumter Gravel Race

How I wished I had my 46 year old legs today!

This is the first race in a series put on by Southeast Gravel.  I chose the long course which is 72 miles and 3700 feet of climbing, which, in my book, is flat.  Not possum road-kill flat, but lumpy gravy flat.  I figured that the first thing I needed to do coming out of hibernation was a good ass-kickin' to get me fired up for the season. So when I signed up, I entered the Pro Women's class.  Not because I thought I stood a hell's chance of stepping on the box (well, maybe 5th), but to help fill the roster and ensure that there were enough entrants for the $1000 pay out.  I shoulda waited 30 minutes.  Because right after I signed up, Southeast Gravel made a FB post about how stacked the women's field was.  I guess I could have emailed the promoter asking to be moved to my age category, but WTH, now my focus was not to be DFL! It is always good for the ego to be humbled now and again.

I would call this more of a "groad" race, since it was half pavement.  I also don't excel on the flats (my sustained power sucks), but I kept telling myself this was going to be great training for the mind as well as for the lungs and legs.  And it was going to be a short sleeve and bib short kind of day ... and I was all up for that!

After Covid crashed the party on many a race in 2020, cyclists came out in force for one of the first gravel races of the season.  Over 200 racers toed the line, everyone inching to be in the front rows and itching to throw down on some speed.  My warm up was necessary, but also put me towards the back, as most cyclists were on the line 20 minutes prior to the start.  Once the gun went off, there was no neutral roll out.  My average speed for the first 10 miles was 21mph.  Racers took up the whole width of the road and there were lots of jockeying for position and elbows rubbing.  It had been a long time since I had been in a mass start and I ... did ... not ... like ... it.  I was not ready to entrust my body to the abilities of 100+ others to hold their line.  There was a lot of squirrely riding in those opening miles.  And when we hit the gravel, dust and rocks were flying!

So I settled towards the back, knowing that I would eventually be yo yo'd off the back.  But not expecting to win nor podium, I did not want to risk a crash in order to "race" for 6-25th place.  Too early in the season to be Humpty Dumptied.

I got dropped somewhere around mile 12.  I was on my own for awhile, which was o.k. because the dust became non-existent: my lungs appreciated the clean air.  Legs were still feeling great so I was able to slowly reel in a small group of 4-5.  We hung together to the first aid station at mile 20.  It was there that I latched on to another group, which contained 3 Milligan College women. The first tunnel under I-26 I clearly remember as I was able to follow some riders through fairly quickly, even when it was dark and sketchy.  The group I was in slowly began to break up at mile 30 and soon I was just left with the 3 women and a couple of men.  Funny but I cannot even remember the second tunnel under the interstate, which happened around mile 33.  I think this was because the fun was ending and the grind was beginning.

When the rollers began to feel like mountains.

About the 2:30 mark, which was around mile 45, the wheels began falling off the bus.  After having sustained what felt like L4 training (7 x 20 minute efforts), my legs were fried!  Now it became an effort just to hang in the draft.  Our little group did some busting up and melding with others over the last 30 miles.  I don't recall much of mile 45-60; my eyeballs were bleeding and my mind was numb.  I was just totally focused on turning the pedals over with as much wattage as I could muster.  I was even beginning to feel some twinges in my quads and hamstrings, so I knew I was on the rivot.  It was even hard to keep a poker face and talk to the other women without them knowing just how fatigued I was.

With about 12 to go, our group had dwindled to 2 Milligan College woman, one CWA Racing woman and myself.  We had a great paceline and everyone taking equal turns.  With about 5 miles to go, 3 men come blowing by us.  One says hi, hop on ... and I instantly recognized him ... George Hincapie.  We hopped on their wheels and immediately the pace intensified. I fortunately found another gear (the Goggins affect) and was able to hang on along with 2 other woman.  One of the Milligan ladies blew a head gasket and fell off pretty quickly.  It seems that George had issues with keeping air in his tires, hence the reason he was behind me, until now.

He lead us into the final stretch.  I lost contact as we hit the final pavement uphill to get to the back entrance of the Clinton House property.  Riding through the field, I was slowly able to reel in the Milligan College woman.  As we hit the final 22% grade to the finish line, I was not gonna race her to the line, but I did encourage her with a little yelling to not let me catch her.  That was all she needed to sprint the final 10 yards.

I ended up with a time of 4 hours, 56 seconds.  I achieved my goal of not coming in DFL in the Pro category.  I did well against my age category.  This has given me the motivation to begin work on my limiters.  It was a glorious day on the bike!

If you want a good hard fast day on the gravel bike, this is the race for you.  The gravel roads were hard packed, with not much gravel, and little to no technicality except for 2 sketchy steep washed out descents.  No cornering skills necessary as the roads were pretty straight.  The organizers did a great job of marking the course (I never needed my GPS) and the post race meal was really really good!

I will do more of these events, but will definitely stick with my age category.