Angela Forster Training

Calvin’s 12 hour Bike Challenge
May 3rd, 2008
Springfield Ohio
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The weather the week before the 12hr bike race didn’t look very good. They’d been calling for scattered showers and thunderstorms. I thought for sure Amy would bag out of going with me. I convinced her to do this race with me; after all it’ll be like a training day (12hours??) for us and she could do as much or little as she wanted to do and my ever faithful husband and equipment manager John would come rescue her where ever she decided to quit (provided he could get two little girls out of a swimming pool).

The “race” format was a 50 mile loop, and a 7 mile loop that opened later in the afternoon. You do as many as the 50 miles as you want or can, and then switch to the 7 when you don’t have enough time to finish the 50 miler. You do as many miles as you can in 12 hours and only full laps count. So my “plan” was to try to do 3 loops of the 50 and see what I felt like and Amy would complete 2. My longest ride before this race was only 40 miles (3 hours) so anything past one lap would be a big jump for me, even more so for Amy. So it was a what ever I felt like day, no expectations (yeah right) and no disappointment in a DNF.

So we pack up the van with 4 bikes (2 adults and 2 children’s bikes) and leave for Springfield Ohio 1 ½ hours later than planned. My husband had a nice little Harem for the weekend. How nice of him to take care of 2 women, their bikes, their funky nutritional needs AND take care their daughters!! HE ROCKS!

We got to the planned dinner stop in Columbus pretty late and there was over an hour wait at the Olive Garden so we found another restaurant and only had to wait about 10 minutes. That waitress had us out of there in no time flat. We had to be in Springfield by 10 to pick up race packet. Of course we wanted to be in bed by 10 but that wasn’t going to happen. Luckily, we were staying at the host hotel and that is where pick up was and John had us there in time with a few minutes to spare. So we get all the race info and directions and check into the hotel.

In the morning we wake up the two little sleeping beauties so Daddy can drive us to the race site. The hotel was about 2 -3 miles from the start so we didn’t have to leave too early, all we had to do is stuff nutrition/hydratation on the bike and pump the tires and we are ready to go. The temp was about 50 with a light rain. They were calling for scattered showers which were supposed to stop early afternoon. At the last minute I decided to put on my tights over the bike shorts. It was hard to figure out the wardrobe for the day, but I could always peel off a layer. I had plenty of change of clothes in the van if I needed.

At 7:30am with the wimpiest sounding air horn setting the tone for the day, a sea of yellow/green rain coat clad bikers start out. A few racers seemed to change their minds about their race wardrobe and turned around to get an additional layer. It seemed almost immediately after the turn out of the parking lot that the wind picked up and we looked forward to the first turn for some relief. But as all us bikers know no matter which way you head the wind always seems shift, and it did, accompanied by heavy rain and with 30+ mph wind gusts that kept knocking us out of our aeorbars. I just tried to hang on tight, and it was hard to reach up and shift because each time I did the wind would pick up and just about blow me over. I couldn’t believe we were struggling to do 10 mph, it will take for ever to get 1 lap in, this really sucks. I later found out on some guy’s blog of the race that he was down to 12mph. We persevered on and I just tried to spin a low gear with high cadence and keep at least 10 mph. I’m not a spinner, I usually grind a big gear (except up a hill) and I couldn’t believe how long I was in the smaller chain ring. Each turn the wind just seemed to get stronger and stronger and the head winds made it feel like we were going backwards. Somewhere between 15 and 20 miles I decided this was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, it felt like one continual up hill climb. I thought for sure John would have to come get me at the mile 25 check point.

Somewhere before the check point it stopped raining, and we had very little break from the wind. We arrived at the 25 mile checkpoint after 2:20:, a 10.71mph pace, well it could be worse. The volunteers (who were so nice) punched our number (for verification purposes) and we got some food and more water. I head for the port o potty line but was too late. I was already soaked so it didn’t matter; I just don’t see how I could have pulled up two layers of wet spandex anyway.

The next 25 miles we caught some break on the rain but the wind continued to be relentless. We did catch a few roads where the wind was at our backs and we could crank it up a bit. The roads were really good and you hardly saw a car, just lots of farmland and not even much road kill. About mile 35 Amy decides she needs a break and was very told me to continue on. I was reluctant to do but she was very insistent so I continued on, I figured she just needed some time to her self and probably thought she was holding me up. I knew she’d not be far behind. Along this stretch I could get some really good mph’s out and I was hitting 20mph but was feeling pretty guilty for leaving Amy behind when along comes my husband and the girls. No support vehicles are supposed to be on the road and we hadn’t planned on meeting anywhere either. I had called him at the check point to tell him we were much slower than planned and to not hurry back to transition. I tell him all is well and I don’t need anything and to go back and check on Amy. So I continued on and was able to pick up the pace still feeling guilty but feeling better about it since John was able to check on her. It was going pretty good and then the rain started again, but it was coming down hard and harder this time. Did you know your eyeballs could fill up with water? This wasn’t much fun and the temperature is dropping.

I arrive at the 50 mile check in after 4:10. The second 25 miles took me 1:50 with a 13:63 mph pace. Yippe! I negative split the loop, things are picking up. So the total first loop mph was only 12mph. Okay a little off, but still respectable, after all I wasn’t expecting much over 14 – 15 mph for the day anyway. It was still pouring rain, so after the volunteers punched my number I jumped in my van to wait for Amy to arrive and see what she was going to do. It didn’t look like it was going to let up any time soon. Amy arrived not too far behind me and my husband was running around taking care of us and making sure our bikes didn’t blow away. I try to dry off and changed my shirt, but perhaps it was a wasted cause. Amy was not going back out for this loop and we sat in the van waiting for the rain to let up.

After about 35 minutes I decided to head back out and see what happens, after all I didn’t come here to just do a 50 mile ride. The two ladies from Virginia were taking shelter in their vehicle and had no interest in joining me. They told me I was inspiring, I just thought I was nuts. Amy said she would have John drive her to the 25 mile checkpoint and would re join me for the second part of the loop, so she got a 2 hour rest stop. I wished I hadn’t of waited as I was now shivering and the rain was stinging and the wind wasn’t giving up either. However, I was going faster than the first loop. The rain finally stopped about an hour later and I felt some warmth from the sun which was trying to peak out from behind the gray clouds. I arrived at the 75 mile checkpoint 20 mins ahead of the first loop (12.5mph) and waited on Amy and my husband to show up and I took this opportunity to change my socks, bra and top and get rid of the jacket. The next 25 wasn’t as nice as the first loop as the wind seamed to shift. I think Amy would of enjoyed the first half once the rain quit. So we finished that 25 just under two hours at about 12.71 mph avg.

I’m feeling pretty good after 100 miles but now its 5:00 and there is no way I’d finish a 50 mile loop by 7:30 so its time for the 7 mile loops. John is getting the girls ready to ride. Amy and I planned to let the girls (age 8 and 10) do one family loop with us. We hadn’t checked out the terrain on the loop so we had no idea what kind of hills they would encounter. We told them they had to finish the loop once they started. We were told they would have about 3 miles of head wind and would be okay. They were right, the wind was crazy and the girls had to work hard to push on. They took several water breaks (they were told not to take both hands off the handle bars) and they were encouraged and cheered on as they proceeded. I wasn’t sure they were going to make it, and Daddy was waiting with the van at each mile just incase. My daughter has outgrown her bike so it’s a little small for her and I know its holding her back but she kept going with out complaining. After the third mile she said with a Hugh smile “ gee.. this is so much easier then a 5k!! “

Allie and Hannah did so well in such tough conditions, we all arrived to the checkpoint safely with no whining, no crashes, no tears, and with smiles as big as the moon. Finish time 50 minutes!! Amy and I hang out a few minutes to make sure they eat some goodies and of course to brag to anyone who would listen that this was their first 7 miler!! We are so proud of you girls for hanging tough. They are now in training for next year and I am now in search of a new bike for Hannah (she earned it).

Amy and I head back out for 7 mile wind tunnel training (34 mins). Amy stayed back for a rest and I head out alone picking up the pace a little for the third loop. Third loop 32 min and it’s just before 7 so there’s no time for any pit stop after I get my number punched. I yell at my husband to tell Amy to take off, don’t wait for me to get around the corner and she kept ahead me keeping me moving. I wanted to finish before 7:30. Only full laps counted but they were trying this partial lap rule. At 7:15 they’d place people at each mile marker and at 7:30 they’d flag the racers down and punch their number depending were they were. BUT you had to make it back to finish and turn your number in by 7:45 to count. So if you were at mile 5, you had 15 mins to get back in. This affects those die hards that are out for top points in the race series this was a part of. If you were past mile 6 at 7:30pm you got credit for mile 7, I knew I had it the loop but I wanted to finish strong and I pushed that last lap despite my burning legs in 29 mins.

I was just getting going after 12 hours!! It was nice to finish and thankfully the rain stayed away and the wind only hit us for 3 miles on the 7 mile loop.
1st 7 mile = :50 (family time),
2nd 7 mile = :34
3rd 7 mile = :32
4th 7 mile = :29.

Total mileage was 128 and the total wheel time was 10:33 with an avg mph 12.13, and the total breaks taken was 1:22. I had planned on no breaks but between family (always time for family) and the weather, that is what it was. I think the most miles I would of expected on a perfect day would of been about 171 so this wasn’t bad. Everyone’s mileage was lower than expected and I still took second in my age group. I’m not sure where I was over all women, but based on how many ladies there were and how many we knew only did 50 or 100, I’m somewhere in the top middle, but I’m not sure, results aren’t posted. Amy got 98 miles and third in her age group.

This years race had a new race director and if you didn’t know it, you’d never of been able to tell. This is an excellently ran race with every focus on safety, competiviness and fun. They encourage new riders with a “fun” ride and allow them on the course to do as little or as much as they want. They just can’t draft and they don’t get medals.

After the awards we head back to the hotel, the girls got to swim and my husband went in search of something everyone could eat. He brought back a pizza and some wine and delivered it to Amy in the pool. I climb into bed, grab a couple pieces of pizza and get a little leg massage from my great husband. The news said that the wind was still at 27mph!

Our legs felt much better than we thought they would in the morning. The girls got to swim again before the 11am check out time. John and I got the van all cleaned out and repacked, there were lots of stinky wet clothes and bike gear every where! Before heading home we travel over to Dayton to visit the Air Force Museum where we stretched out our legs for three hours before the girls got too bored. This museum is Hugh and I encourage anyone to visit it when they can, its free.

Thanks to my husband for all the running around and support and to Amy for agreeing to join in on the fun with me. I have no control over the weather; at least there were no Deer.

Below are some of the great pictures John took throughout the day!

“Life is either a daring experience or nothing.” Helen Keller