Stewart Six Pack

Last weekend Monkey and I traveled to New Windsor New York to compete in the Stewart Six Pack six hour race at the famed Stewart State Forrest. The trip was fun and racing was great.

Sunset the night before the race..

After just over 6 hours of really hard racing, we ended up 2nd place to our fellow Newark/Fairhill locals Randal and Laura, who ended up winning by 12 minutes. good on them.

here's how it went down from my perspective:

Pit Row...

Initially, I was disappointed to hear that they would be sending us off in waves. I generally start pretty well, and in a mass start, I figured I could get Diane out in the top 10-15 overall. But the course, being very tight and twisty, the best option was to start in waves. All teams started in the 4th wave, with one minute gaps to the groups in front of them (solo men, solo single speed, solo women, Solo 45+, Teams, Sport solo). So I'll admit I was extra nervous about the start, knowing we would be flying into the back of 100+ solo riders. I turned to Travis just before the start and said, "this is probably no surprise, but I'm gonna go hard from the gun..." He laughed and said, "I would have never guessed".

Me: "Travis,  I'm gonna start.."Trav,"Yeah I know Eff- you"

waiting to stage..

Gun went off, and I took the holeshot, first to the single track, and maybe 3 minutes in slammed into the back of the 45+ field. I was aggressive about passing cleanLY, but there were also sections where you just had to sit and be patient, because frankly there was no where to go.

The course was excellent. I have heard about the Stewart State Forrest trails for years, and they did not disappoint. I'm pretty sure that it would not be possible to make a course more tailored to my strengths. Fast, twisty, technical bits super rad. The biggest challenge today was the heat. It was stinkin' hot. So much so, that as the first lap ended, I was covered with goosebumps, and had chills. This was not good. I sat up on a fire-road, trying to take down some water and get the heartrate down a bit, a couple of guys flew around me. "I hope the weren't in the co-ed class." I thought we were getting to the end of the lap, but I couldn't be sure as we hadn't pre-ridden. Sure enough around the corner and there was the finish. I handed off to Diane.

Monkey went out and put down a solid lap.She came back with a smile and said, "it's really hot" sending me out for a second lap.

My second lap was probably my best mentally, I knew the course, was a little more conservative off the blocks and rolled into a good lap. I think the top 5-6 co-ed teams were all very close at this point still. I picked up a spot or too and happily handed off to Diane...

if you want to destroy my sweater, pull this thread as I walk away...

I sat down, drank water, and coke and fell a sleep. I woke up with 10 minutes to meet Diane. When I stood up, everything cramped. My quads felt like they were jumping off my legs. My hamstrin- hamstrung. Blake handed me a handful of electolytes, but it was little it was going to be too late. I met Diane who came in, with her best lap all in smiles. I told her I have having some Bio-mechanicals.

My third lap was ugly. I struggled with cramps the entire lap. If I stood up, my calves cramped, If I sat and spun up, my quads hurt. It was brutal. Luckily the course had flow, and I punched it when I could and rolled when I couldn't . I made it around the course with my worst lap. I came in and said, "I'm not sure I have another. Monkey said, "If I get back by 3, you'll have another..."

our pit

So I took more electrolytes, drank Gatorade, ate watermelon, and beefy jerky and I got my shit together.
As I waited at the transition area, I watched Randal come through. They had the lead and he attacked starting his teams final rotation. They have a pretty solid lead, I'm not gonna get them. Good on them. Second  place comes in. It was Scott from  team no time to train. We had gone back and forth with them and a few other teams all day. " I passed the Twenty 20 woman a bit back..." he said to his teammate Missy. 6 minutes later Monkey came in, before 3.. I was out on course.

monkey half way through

Earlier in the day, I had caught Missy in an early section. I had hoped to get her quickly. I wasn't sure how this lap would play out. I was not cramping as much, but I was going faster than I wanted. Around twisty turn after twisty turn, I didn't see her. Past the half way point, I'm still going, but I thought I'd have her by now. Maybe, it's not gonna happen. doubt creeps in. stay cool, just keep rolling. Into a tight another tight and twisty section, I can;t see around the corner. "WHOA! there she is!" Quiet pass. Wish her luck, turn onto a fire-road, stand on it.

Blake stacked it on her first lap and jacked up her knees, but still put in 2 more laps

Travis also stacked it and has an awesome hipper... Rumor is they staked on the  rock drop down...

Get a small gap, ride steady, take second place. Dive in  the singletrack, hook bar end on tree and yard sale. I find myself laying on my stomach on the ground. "oh shit, that wasn't the plan..." I pick myself up, look around, she's not there...  Okay dude, be cool... just get across the line... I get rolling again, this time much more conservatively, no more yardsales, and I finish up my fourth lap destroyed, but happy. 2nd place Co-ed after a hot, super sweaty, crampy hard fought day.

Podium Shot- roles of Laura and Randal played by the NJMTB kids..

I got a sweet NJMTB Coffee mug...

It is at this point that I must apologize to the Promoters of the Cranky Monkey. While I have always said they put on a great race in the 12 hours of cranky monkey is well promoted, well run but the course kinda was fatmarc kryptonite and not that fun. While in my mind, I think that course is kinda vanilla, I have to say it is far more me, than Quantico. I am no so great when it's really hot. I can't feed, I can't recover, and I just don't enjoy racing in July and the 90+degree days. Which last weekend the Stewart Six Pack was on a course that I couldn't have made better for myself. Quantico, which I have told many I hate, but I'm big enough to realize it's  probably much more me than your race course. I'm sorry for tell people I hate that course.

thanks to our great friends Blake and Travis for camping and listening to Monk and I whine all day. Thanks to Randall and Laura for a great dinner the night before the race.

Dinner with Randal and Laura

Most of all thanks to the MTBNJ team and Norm who put on a kick ass event, so much fun, and a great day to boot. Thanks for all your hard work. How about for next year you dial back the heat a couple of degrees? 

best trophy ever 

sorry for the long report, it was that kinda day.

respect
Vanderbacon