Lost and Found 2023 otherwise known as the confident booster that I needed.
After struggling with my health and fitness over the past 6 weeks and scratching 4 spring races from my schedule. I really wanted to be able to complete the Lost and Found Gravel Race. It was on my original 2023 schedule to complete the 100 miler. However, I had very little confidence leading up to the race that things would go according to my original plan. The race had did have shorter options of 60 and 35 miles that I could choose from if I really felt 100 miles was out of reach for me.
I was unsure if I was going to be able to have enough stamina for the 100. However, over the past few weeks leading up to the race I was gradually able to build up my long rides. The week prior I was able to ride 5hr without incident. So I was sure I could complete the 100 but had some questions as to how hard of a struggle the last few hours would be for me.
I waited until the night before to register and commit to the 100 miler, as I was unsure how my respiratory system would react a higher elevation. But once we got to town, my energy level was good and no issues with breathing. So 100 miles it was.
The race was in the Sierra mountains of California and rode through parts of Plumas National Forest. I was excited to be out of the Bay Area. Camp for the weekend, enjoy the weather, and have a nice hard all day adventure.
The weather was perfect the morning of the race. I enjoyed coffee and breakfast at camp. Then rolled to the start from my campsite.
I lined up towards the back on the pack. Since I didn’t see myself pushing overly hard in the first 30 minutes of the race. The first 8.5 miles was a gradual 1200ft pavement climb with some rolling hills getting into the backcountry of the Sierras.
Let me pause here and tell you I had no expectations of outcomes except to survive out there. Last year’s race took me 8 hours to complete. I planned that would be the case again for me. The course this year was easier and less climbing then last year. I planned with my current fitness and lack of racing for about an 8hr race/ride. Also, I don’t have a gravel bike, and I was riding my hardtail mountain bike. I was unsure how much more of a disadvantage the course this year would be on a mountain bike since the roads were much smoother and less climbing.
Immediately, once the race started and the climb out of town began, I had to let my ego go and climb within my limit of what my body was allowing for a long day. This was not the race for me to take chances, go out hard and risk bonking or blowing up later.
It took about 45 min into the race to hit the dirt and I was ready for it. Slightly disappointed at the carpet smooth gravel roads, it was clearly an advantage to be on a gravel bike. But knowing I can hold my own on my hardtail, it was simply a fleeting thought, as a gravel bike simply isn’t in the cards for me.
From there things went seemingly well. A couple of times I was able to catch onto a paceline and we cruised through miles at a great pace. I eventually dropped off one of the pacelines when I was overdue for calories and needed to refuel myself. Sad to see the group go, but new I’d blow up in a bigger manner if I didn’t stay on my nutrition.
About 3 hours in I did hit a low point, which my mind immediately went to discouragement, thinking how far I had left to go. But then I reminded myself, this is 100 miles and a long day. It’s normal to hit a low point and you’ll get out of it. And I did.
Then about 4 hours in, I started gagging on my Maurten gels. What!?! This has never happened before. I was baffled. Every 45 minutes I’d take a gel and my gag reflex was so strong I was afraid I was going to vomit all my stomach contents. Thankfully, once I was able to swallow the gel, it stayed down. But I went through 3 cycles of this then realized this was not going to resolve itself and at some point I may end up emptying my stomach contents all over myself and my bike. Luckily I had 1 pack of Clif Blocks that I was able to substitute until I was able to grab some extra Gu Gummies at an aid station.
Hours 4-6 flew by the scenery of the Sierras was absolutely gorgeous. A rainbow of colored wildflowers covered the landscape everywhere. And the views were magnificent. I was basking in the moment of being there in the beauty of the wilderness, in what feels like home to me.
Once I hit hour 6 my stoke was high. I was 80 miles in and realized there was only about 10 miles until the descent back towards town. At mile 90 there was a chunky descent and I was loving it, my bike can handle chunk much better then the gravel bikes out there so I flew down that section.
At this moment, I was also filled with emotions of relief and happiness and started to get tears in my eyes realizing the past 6 weeks of struggle and illness seemed to be coming to an end and I was going to complete this 100 mile race and well under 8 hours.
Once the descent was over I had a fabulous tailwind that pushed me all the way to end.
I was done and I felt great! My energy level sustained throughout the race and I felt strong. I thought “yes! I’m back”
Once I checked my result I was elated to see I had finished 12th overall female and 3rd in my AG. This was my exact finish placing as last year. And this was on a hardtail where a gravel bike was a clear advantage except on that last descent.
I felt so relieved and happy. I didn’t do anything outstanding performance wise. Nor did I pull any big power numbers, but I just stayed consistent and patient and executed the plan. Doing so made me realize my trajectory into future fitness was hopeful for my remaining season.
After a data analysis of this years performance compared to last year. I was stoked to see my avg normalized power was only 2 watts lower then last years numbers.
A realization that Lost and Found lives up to it’s name. I felt lost and unsure going into this race, but I found myself.
As I always seem to do, in the wilderness of the mountains. My happy place.
Fueled By TheFeed.
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