Snake Creek Gap TT (34 Mile) Race Report

18th year of racing The Snake

During the month of January, I began 3 big endeavors to start off my 2022 training with a bang.  I did a Whole 30 (no added sugar, no grains, no dairy, no legumes, no alcohol for 30 days), I entered a competition with my local gym from January 5 through February 4 where you could get points for certain actions you completed/accomplished, and I began the first month of structured training with my new coach, Mike Schultz.  I felt as fit as a fiddle the morning of The Snake.

So why was my mindset so shitty, as I was riding the shuttle to the start?  No butterflies or screaming eagles in my gut, just a sense of dread.  Like I was going to work on a Monday morning.  Two things, perhaps.  One being doubting myself, that despite all my preparation the past month, I was still going to "fail."  And the second being the fact that Charlie, my husband, was 9 days post open heart surgery, and while he was recovering at home with a sawed through sternum now held together by stainless steel wires, I was going to play bikes and have fun.  He gave me his blessing to race, but still I felt some sense of guilt.

I finally HTFU'd myself into giving my all and leaving it all on the trail ... the past two weeks of worry, frustration, anger, and guilt.  Like a cowboy rides the wildness out of a freshly broke mustang, I was going to ride all of these emotions right out of me.  Because if I was bleeding out of my eyeballs, I could not think about anything else, especially reality, if only for 4 hours.

The temperature at the start is ALWAYS the coldest place in Georgia.  30 stinkin' degrees.  It was 42 in Dalton where I got on the shuttle.  With no warm up, I could only imagine the barking my legs would do when it was go time.  But surprisingly as I blasted off the start pedaling like a character in a cartoon, my legs played nice.  I went as fast and hard as I could, wanting so desperately to warm up.  This was as close to "sparkly" as I have been since I cannot remember when.  Awesome.  My mindset pegged the positive side of the mental tachometer.

I caught up to Angie on the fire road climb.  We chatted a bit, although she did most of the talking as most of my focus was getting oxygen into the lungs.  I dialed it back a notch, as I needed to save every match for Dug Gap.  I slowly pulled away from her and eventually got a clear path ahead of me into the single track.  Riders were very respectful as I made my way around them.  The trail was in primo condition; no mud, great traction, and fast!

I was so so happy that the legs were on fire ... in a good way.  Having to reign myself back in was a good sign that I was reaping the benefit of last month's training.  Losing the chocolate bon bon butt and sugar baby Buddha gut also helped when hitting the climbs.

My friend from last month, Mr. SuperTuck, caught up to me on Horn Mountain.  He apologized once again for last month's little mishap, and we reminisced about it.  I let him and his friend around once at the top of the climb, as they were getting much too talkative.  They needed to motor on at a higher pace than mine.

The descent down to Snake Creep Gap parking lot was WAY funner this month.  With the leaves gone, it made for a cleaner and safer ride down at speed.  I rolled into the aid station 14 minutes faster than January.  And was still feeling great! I dropped my CamelBak, grabbed a bottle, took a caffeinated gel, and headed up Mill Creek Mountain.

Now, all I wanted was to catch a glimpse of Lisa.  I know she started before me, but not sure by how much.  She was the one to beat, and I was sure she was going to go sub-4. She was my carrot, but it is hard to push harder if you cannot see the carrot.

Swamp Creek was rideable, and the double track up to the Middle Mountain ridgeline was firm and fast.  I was feeling frisky and was able to repeatedly stand and hammer to the top.  Looking at my Garmin, I was hoping to hit the single track at 2 hours and 45 minutes.  That would leave me 1:15 to finish sub-4, which I thought was definitely doable.

I pushed as hard as I could on the final single track stretch.  But, lawdy! I could tell I was having a good ride as I was quite gassed on the steeper climbs.  I opted to hop off and hike hard on several, as I knew I would make better time.  Thank goodness for all the training runs, as it definitely paid off during the HAB's.  I was much more efficient and could save my legs for when the terrain flattened out.

Hitting the "gunsight pass" section, it was gonna be close to a sub-4.  I let it go on the double track descent to the pavement!  Stood and hammered up the pavement roller and then tucked in for a free fall descent down to the Snake Pit.  Came under the banner in a time of 4:03:25 (second half I was 17 minutes faster).  Now the waiting began.  I did see Lisa pedaling around the parking lot as I finished.  So I couldn't have been too far behind ... but was it enough?

I went to my truck and immediately called Charlie to check on him.  He was just fine, having had lunch, and was getting ready to nap.  Whew!  I was glad nothing bad happened in my absence. I was in a good space; all those emotions I was going through this morning were scattered over the rocks of the Pinhoti:  good riddance!

I cleaned up and then headed over to see the results.  Lisa came up to me and congratulated me.  I barely squeaked out the win.  I thought for sure she had a sub-4 and that it would be the time to beat.  I was super happy with my effort, having gone as hard as I could.  

Rescue Racers go 1, 2!

Another big shout out to the #snaketamer Jameson Keith.  At 10 years old, he earned the buckle and took 1 3/4 hours off his January time.  I am so so proud of this young man, who dug deep, entered the pain cave, and exited with a huge victory!

Jameson's drive inspires me.