Started towards the back and sat in the group for the first few km's then rode up the lead group and hung with them for a while. Got dropped on the first hill.

From there the field opened up quite a bit but I was able to work with a pair that were riding well. I would break from them 3x but there was no one even in sight to catch up too and they would real me back in.

At 3/4 mark the farm section was brutal - steep down hill in thick sticky soul crushing mud, almost wiped out and had to dismount carrying the bike so it didnt get packed with mud. Got back on past the worst of the mud and came to the first bridge over a water filled ditch - only I didnt see the narrow wood bridge so I charged into the ditch and soaked my feet in about a foot of water, Had to dismount but saw the next bridge up ahead and ran across that one. Things went bad here - SPD's were balls of ice and shoes were jammed with mud and ice. Sticks weren't up to the task of clearing mud and ice from shoes or pedals. Ran most of the 1 - 2km around the farm (mud and grass) which probably wasnt any slower than riding. I ran up the final steep muddy hill slipping backwards with each step with the bike on my shoulder. Once back on the gravel farm road I got my car keys out and attempted to remove ice from the cleats and pedals which sort of worked. Thankfully this was towards the end of the race so not being able to get clipped in all the time only cost me a little time and effort.

While I was trying to clear my SPD;s the pair I was riding with made a break and put an easy 1km gap on me. I had to work hard to catch up over the next 10 minutes, I did catch up and after riding with them for a few minutes I made my final break at about the 34km mark on an icy farm road. Almost lost it in a corner but pushed on at the same pace - I think this is where the other 2 backed down a bit and took it easy in an effort to keep upright. Hit a short road section and really pushed it to widen the gap. Arrived at the last rail trail section and pushed on at a decent pace despite mushy conditions as I knew the end was near. Ran up 3 or 4 flights of stairs up to the park then a super mushy grassy section (thankfully short) and across the line.

Oh - water bottle froze 10minute in so I had no fluids all ride. There was an aid station at the 20km mark but there was no way in hell I was stopping.

Feet still cold. Loose weight and learn how to climb hills

rode back to car thats it.


power to weight ratio. Need to weigh less and make more power.


crossed the line and there was absolutely no one there. I dont even know if my time registered. Others made the same comment. Very odd, never seen that before.

Quite happy I elected the short route as it was pretty cold out.