Started out hard to stay with a strong pack and take advantage of the draft since the bottom half is flatter and more exposed to the wind...meaning the draft has more effect. So my plan was to hang on as long as possible...then time trial the rest of the race. Plan worked pretty well. Started out with a pack of 6, which soon became 12, then dwindled down to about 3 of us as people dropped off. At the park entrance, I let the last 2 guys go and my time trial began.

I was pretty much riding on my own for the next hour. I stood up every 3-5 minutes just to stretch out my lower back and my legs. Going to need to work on that for next year...more lower back strength.

At about 6500 feet, I caught up to Robery Patey...a Hilo guy who did Sea to Stars last week. He jumped on my wheel, then started working for me...which was interesting because the few people I passed, I passed them and dropped them pretty easily. He was clearly pushing himself to work for me...even when I told him I couldn't pull through at the current pace he was going. He told me not to worry, and that I would eventually drop him. Well, turns out I did...unintentionally at the last aid station at 8000 feet. I slowed up and looked back, and he gave me a look like I should just go on. What a nice guy...pretty much did a Jens Voit for me.

At this point, I'm feeling good. I know the end is near and my legs feel great. I start to open it up just a hair...but still cautious that the altitude might get to me at the 9000 foot mark, and that the steepest part of the race is at the end. I heard a lot of stories about the end being brutal, so I wanted to make sure I didn't cook myself before then. I'm doing all kinds of math in my head, trying to figure project what my time might be. I was calculating anywhere from low 3:30 to 3:35...which was way faster than my sub 4 hour goal.

Well, turns out at 8500 feet I start to lock up my left inside quad. I back off immediately and try to down some water and salt. It quickly releases, but I decide to back off for 10+ minutes. Still feeling good...just a bit scared that my race may somehow fall apart with all the unknowns still ahead.

At about 9200 feet, I realize that the altitude is not really bothering me at all. I can tell that there is less oxygen in the air, but not nearly like the stories I was hearing. My legs haven't had any signs of cramping again, so I decide to push on with the observatory in sight. I finally hit the last steep part of the race...but have no idea how long it lasts. It's actually about half a mile at 9-10% avergae, with portions over 14%...but I wasn't sure if it was closer to a mile. I can't see the finish line, so I can't assume anything. So while I could have attacked the hill, I held back a little...which may have been just as hard trying to go up at 5-6 mph.

I finally see the finish line 100 yards ahead...almost shocked to see it so close, and I still had more than enough kick left. So I pop down on my cassette and "sprint" to the finish just under 3:38. Overall, I was estatic with my time. If you gave me 10:1 odds that I would break 3:40, I wouldn't take the bet.

Ideally, I would have liked to gone easier in the beginning. But it was a trade off with the draft. My cramp near the end (and slower last 3 miles as a result) was most likely due to my effort at the beginning. But I saved a lot of time following that back in the draft, so it's hard to say I would have been faster if I backed off earlier.

Knowing the finish would have been really helpful...but I wouldn't have caught the guy ahead of me anyway.

Would have also liked to have been 10 pounds lighter...but oh well.

Stretched a little, ate, drank, and waited for the others to finish. Lower back was really stiff, but slowly loosened up over time. The post race party had free massages, which really helped.


The only thing I was really dissapointed in was my race weight. I really wanted to be down to 150 by this time of the year.


Just an awesome race. Really a must do for any avid bike racer. It's a perfect all around race. There is some road racing and strategy involved in the beginning of the race. THERE'S CLIMBING!!! There's a time trial aspect to it as you'll likely be on your own eventually. The view is absolutely amazing. And the sense of accomplishment at the end is unbelievable when you look back down at the horizon of clouds BELOW you.

Not to mention the post race party with free beer doesn't hurt. I'm hooked...I'll be back next year.