It was another great year at the Whiskey Off Road in Prescott, Arizona! The town and the race organizers pull out all the stops to be sure it's a weekend full of energy and fun!
Friday night the pros race in the fat-tire crit around downtown Prescott. We climb a hill that is close to 14% grade 10 times! That is exactly where the party is too, the spectators line the street and cheer and there's nothing to do except pedal as hard as you can and smile! I raced my Stan's NoTubes Race Golds with Geax Mezcals at 32 psi for that race. I ended up in 9th. It's always tricky figuring out that race since you are racing 50 miles less than 24 hours later. You have to decide how much to give for the "parade race", but it's so fun that I have a hard time not giving it 100%. Luckily coach Lynda talks me through it and reminds me to pace my energy.
Sunday morning is the big race and I felt more ready to race than I have all year. Despite this race being 2-3 times longer than any other race I participate in all year, I was nervous and thrilled and full of excited emotion. I felt good all the way through mile 30 then started to crack a bit. I finished the main climb up Skull Valley slower than I wanted to. I hit the last 9 miles of single-track expecting to just roll it on home but same as last year I ended up cramping on "cramp hill", how unique! Of course I pedaled through the pain but muscle cramps really "cramp" your style! I was able to finish 12th place with a little last minute sprint with 13th place! I crossed the finish line depleted, tired and happy to be done! I raced my Jamis Dakota D29 Team for this race as well as the crit. For the 50 miler though, I race the Stan's NoTubes Valor Wheels with the Geax Saguaros at 20 psi. My three points of contact, feet, hands and rear were all happy throughout the race. That's how I know I have the best equipment possible! Gaerne shoes, ESI Grips and WTB Valcon saddles!
Dave Rosen, the marketing director for Jamis Bicycles, flew across the country to take pictures of Team Jamis in Prescott on Friday morning. The Whiskey 50 is the only race that all 3 of us will do this year. You can find some of his photos and some of my snapshots from the day here.
My friend Melissa Hartwig of Whole9/Whole30 did my race support, photos of us are here!