Giver8er

What a fun, long, muddy, sloppy, hard, fast, slow, up�s, down�s, painful, exhilarating, and epic day we had yesterday. I struggle every time I do this race to find the appropriate words to adequately describe the experience of the Marathon Enduro Mountain Bike Race we know as the Giver8er!

I rode the racecourse on the Wednesday before the race and was please to see the new sections to the route over last year. I found the trail was in great condition, but I knew that the 40mm of rain expected in the days to come that we still had no idea how it would be. Sure enough the clouds thickened and the rain came in buckets. Tim (the race organizer) even cancelled the MTB race on the Saturday before our big event. Luck would have it that the clouds dissipated and the sun was forecast to come out on race day.

Race Day

After a late night shopping spree to Safeway for race day previsions, I had a short but sweet sleep before an early 6am wake up. With some left over rice pasta in my belly and a coffee in hand, Erin and I went to Canada Olympic Park to set up the Pit area. We got there by 7am and where set up by 7:45. This was a bit early by my taste, but necessary as I think we got one of the best spots. It was nice to have some chill time before the start of the race to get relaxed before a long day on the bike.

Lining up for the start, I positioned myself right next to Ryan Draper because I knew he was going to be one to watch out for. After the gun went off a bunch of Bicysport and RMCC riders shot off like mad men competing for the opening lap preme. All the usual things to expect from the opening lap in a race like this: aggressive elite team riders looking for the fastest lap, over zealous riders the go out way to hard and die on the first hill, lots of mud as no defined track has formed, and lots of shuffling and passing as the field seeds itself out.

For my first 3 laps I tried to keep the heart rate under control but high. My nutrition plan while riding was to have one bottle every two laps and a gel. Through the pit area I had all my food laid out like a buffet so I could just look and grab whenever I wanted. I started to have stomach issues at lap 3 and I didn�t want to eat until it settled down. A lap later I felt a bit better and started straight into the guacamole!! Yeah, that�s right guac straight off the spoon! Delicious!!

From here on in it�s all a blur as the laps all mesh together, so here are a few key points. There was a creek crossing about 7mins into the lap where you could choose one of two lines. You could go over the sharp rock or the slippery rock. For the first 5 or so laps I was running the sharp rock line with a little finesse so not to pinch on the rock. I think it was lap 5 when my finesse over the rock ran out, and I slammed into it a bit too hard. I then heard the terrible sound of air leaking from the tire, spurting Stan�s liquid tire sealant everywhere. I wasn�t the only one to have issues here as almost every lap I�d see someone fixing a flat right after that spot. My finesse might have been gone, but my luck was still running strong as the Stan�s did it�s job and I finished the lap with the last 15psi still in the tire. With a quick pump in the pit I was on my way again.

I found it interesting that as the day wore on the muddy sections at the start of the day got tracked out and got better and better, and then there were other sections that were fine at the start of the day and then turned into crazy mud bogs. Good fun as it keeps you on your toes.

I love this race format because you get to see lots of people every lap and all the riders lend each other good energy. It helps make the day roll by and keep your mood happy.

Here are a few things that went really well for me:
-buffet style pit
-pacing using heart rate
-my amazing Trek (GF) Superfly elite 100 29er
-having my parents out there from time to time
-and it was awesome to have the support of Erin

Things I�d like to improve:
-keep developing my fitness
-catch a glimpse of Travis Hauk
-improve pre race nutrition so my stomach is happier on race day
-learn to ride my 29er the way it was meant to be ridden (scary fast)

At the end of the day, I completed 13 laps in 7hrs 45mins and had a smile on my face for 90% of the day. Thanks to Dead Goat Racing for hosting the event. Thanks to Ridley�s and Tri It for their support. Thanks to Eload for keeping me hydrated and fuelled. Thanks to Mom and Jim for bringing all the intensity and energy of a formula 1 race crew. And thanks to Miss Erin J. Reid for making sure I was on track and for being my pit anchor!!