Snake Creek Gap TT

 

📷:  Icon Media

Nine days into the flu and I thought it would be a good idea to race my bike.  I am going to feign ignorance on this one, as it has been 40+ years since I have had the flu.  And I thought I was feeling better on Friday.  With perhaps the best February weather in the history of The Snake, there was no way I was going to have FOMO.

Starting temp was 52 degrees.  It was so nice to wear only a kit and NOT be shivering.  My goal was to finish and ride the course as easy as possible, trying not to trigger a coughing fit at higher heart rates.  I started mid-pack.  I was gracious and let a lot of people past me.  I felt ok keeping my heart rate in the 130/140's. It was nice to have no pressure, and I took the time to chat with a few fellow racers along the first half of the course.  Tony Orru, a fellow RR'r, rode with me for awhile, until he had an issue with his bike.  Another fella, whose name I forget, mentioned that he reads my blog 😊.  And then there was Thom, who always is so positive and talkative.  I did apologize for not being as vocal as he, as I was just trying to breathe.

I rolled through the 1/2 way point in 1:53:15.  Not too bad, but the trail was in tip top shape.  And I had many small victories, by cleaning all of the techy bits on the first half.  The Mill Creek climb was a beast, but my mantra "slow is smooth, smooth is fast," kept me focused. As I got further along on the second half, I could tell that I was slowly dying, despite keeping on top of my nutrition.  Now it became a test of my stubbornness and grit. 

I grabbed a banana at the aid station, stuffed it in my pie hole, and motored on the last section of single track.  Trying to pedal, chew, and breathe while being sick, was quite the undertaking.  I finally choked the last bit of banana and was able to get the oxygen I needed.  

The new re-route along Vomit Hill was super spicy.  It was off-camber, loose and rocky, and with switchbacks that required a nose wheelie to maneuver around.  I played it safe and just got off my bike to make a couple of those.  I hope that with time, it will become better, as I think it is more sketch than the original route.

I ended up walking the final few climbs after the fire ring, as I was shelled! I ended up finishing in 4:33:10.  Not bad, as I was expecting a 5 to 5 1/2 hour day.  And I ended up with the fastest time in the 40+ category.  

Totally spent!

So what did I learn from this experience?  That the flu is no friggin' joke!  Perhaps I should have stayed home, but if you know me, I don't shy away from #doinghardthings.  BTW, I am currently on Day 17 of the flu and still have fatigue and a mild cough.  No doubt I extended the time it has had a grip on me by doing the Goggins Challenge and The Snake.  Oh, well ... it didn't kill me, so perhaps my immune system got a big boost out of it.  Here's to staying sick-free the remainder of 2025!

Kudos to Jayden Randall, who currently has the fastest women's time.  She flew by me in the first few miles, leaving me reeling in her wake!

Blaze, the Snake Eater, in his 8th year!