Emporia, Kansas

I’ve been riding/racing since 1974 and this race was by far the toughest. Over 200 miles of gravel, dirt, mud, suffering and pain. With steady winds, heat (over 97d) and no cover Kansas can be sooo unforgiving. Perhaps that’s why the early pioneers preferred to continue past Kansas and seek more humane conditions to live in. Though I loved Kansas State University and the four years living in Manhattan, I did practically give up cycling. It was only the occasional ride to campus or grocery shopping. Now I remember why.
The 2010 edition of this race, if you can call it that, started out at 6 AM with 70d temps, a light breeze out of the south, and a determined pack of 200 idiots ready for the ridiculous. I though it would at least start out at a reasonable pace, but I was dead wrong. Police escort to the end of town and a right turn on the first gravel road and all hell broke loose. No matter how I might preach to the Juniors that position at the front end is “everything”, the thought of fighting for position was just plain “crazy”. After a mile or so I was caught at the end of the first group working hard to bridge the gaps caused by the carnage coming back. Carnage is the appropriate word, and it won’t be the last time you’ll hear it.
I’ve done enough endurance events to know I can’t handle that kind of pace for 200 miles so I dropped back to the second group. Good thing cause we came upon the first group in a heap in the middle of the gravel. Crashing in the rain is one thing, crashing on dry pave’ is another, but a gravel road crash is the worst. Did I say CARNAGE? Thank GOD I was not on the tail end of that!
The first 60 miles from Emporia to Cottonwood Falls was 15-20 mph steady headwind so it was important to stay with the group until the first checkpoint. Most of the roads were just your run-of-the-mill gravel, hard pack with a few sections of looser stuff in the valleys. I found out early that the bigger chunks of gravel were at the bottom of descents. How did I know? Cause you’d see at least 5-10 guys just up the road from the bottom with flats. I have to thank John Farinella for my tire choice. The cross bike looked like a truck but it worked like a charm. Thanks John, I never stopped thinking how friends like those at MESA make the difference.
Did I say this was an UNSUPPORTED ride? Yeah, could not find anyone to provide support so I went it ALONE. Upon checking in and asking for water I understood why everyone had family, friends or significant others for support. NO WATER? WHAT KIND OF #$*&! RACE IS THIS? I had just found out. All those years of telling newbies to rely on none but yourself paid off for me. Enter the multiply friendly “CONVENIENCE STORE”. My salvation was that at least four of these babies were strategically placed along the route (about every 50 miles) and I had $60 in cash and a credit card with a $10,000 limit. Either way I was going to either finish or get a very expensive cab ride back.
Seventy oz more water, bag of ice, a coke, 2 bottles of 32oz Gatorade, salty snack and some 10-15 minutes of AC I was good again. By now the temps had risen into the upper 80’s and I was only a quarter way there. Back on the road and alone now I had at least turned north and to my delight a tailwind. SWEEEET! After being passed by what seemed like most of the 250 participants, I began to turn the tables. Catching, then passing others. Chalk it up to multiple ultra-distance races and a bit of smarts, the miles and temps started to take their toll on those that had gone out too fast. It was apparent not all had done their homework or simply got caught up in the competition.
Within the next few miles I caught and talked with the lead women or so she was told at the last checkpoint. I was stoked cause it told me something about what my position overall was. I had to be in the top 50. Most of the women I have known are stellar athletes and can hang with the best guys. I was elated to be where I was and it motivated me. We rode together for a while until I got a bit ahead of her and decided not to wait. Wish I had stuck with her.
My only mistake for the day was getting lost in the beauty of the Flint Hills of Kansas and missing a turn. Darn-it, I missed a right turn to what looked like nowhere and went about 2-4 extra miles. After back-tracking I got a bit more alert for the markers. Got my first taste of what was to come. Most of the roads had been wide-open hard-pack gravel but no more. This was a rutted, dirt, cow-patty infested grassy excuse for a farm tractor road. Did I call this a ROAD? I had just lost a half hour finding this road and was looking to give it back. Little did I know but the race was taking its toll on everyone. It took me another hour but caught the five people who I passed before. Unfortunately I could not catch a distant rider in front of me and “she” took a wrong turn.
Check-point #2 Council Grove and I loaded up again at the local C-Store. More of the same drink, some more salty snacks, various other “junk” foods and I was back on the road. It was important that I keep the breaks short (15 minutes max) knowing that it’s a time killer. The roads got worse and the temps were in the mid to upper 90’s by now. Humidity was as bad as St Lou but there’s almost no shade and no help for miles. I’ve always prided myself on finishing every event I participate regardless of conditions (without suffering the indignity of getting pulled) but it was “RE-THINK” time. I guess in a way not having support was somewhat a blessing cause no ride back even if I wanted. Actually was tempted on a few occasions when hearing someone ask “do you wanna ride back?”.
From mile 100 (Council Grove) to 140 (Alma, KS) was by far the worst. The few trees that were in the valleys were populated by fallen riders sitting, laying or standing under the little shade provided. Passing and asking a few “Are you OK?”, it became necessary to join them. Hydrate, force feed myself, and hydrate again. Ten minutes and back on the gravel till I found the next tree. Carnage under what seemed like every tree and believe it or not the buzzards turning circles above us. NOT KIDDING! There was no way of telling where I was placed and actually I didn’t care. It was now a matter of surviving/finishing.
Recently had a fellow USA cycling racer discussing how tri-athletes talk about simply finishing events and not talking about “Winning”. That kind of talk is appreciated here and more likely becomes “surviving” the race. Riders dropped like flies and most I talked with had already planned on calling it a day in Alma if they could make it. One guy looked at me strangely and said “you look in good spirits” like I was crazy. It’s ALL about attitude.
Making it to Alma it was back to loading up on fluids, more ice and a healthy dose of salt. According to my Garmin almost 8,000 calories had been lost from my body. No way to replace that much but gave it the proverbial college try. The C-Store had tables, chairs, seating booths and lots of company. One guy told me it was his third try and his third time to abandon. He was not alone. The guy next to him was wearing a tattered jersey and shorts obviously from a fall to the gravel. Told me he had lost control at the bottom of 25 mph decent and hit the gravel. OUCH!
Was on the gravel 20 minutes later feeling refreshed, but in 97d temps it didn’t last long. Saw fewer riders as I went on. Most were on the side in the shade or waiting for their ride. Its 6PM and no sign of relief, and I started to do the math. According to my average speed (12 MPH), the distance left and the conditions that would put me in at 11PM. OH CRAP! Worst yet only one more C-Store, it closes at 8PM and I’m 2.5 hours away. That may require begging at someone’s doorstep or a “break-in” at the c-store. One commodity that doesn’t lack in Kansas is nice people. Thank GOD they decided to stay open for longer. At least 10 more people dropped and once again asked me, “you wanna ride?”. NO THANKS.
Setting off for the last leg was no joy. Though that 20 MPH tailwind (the wind shifted from south to northerly) really helped and my speed on the good gravel was close to 25 MPH without pedaling, it was not clear sailing yet. By 9 PM it was dark, no moon but a hell of a lot of stars and a nasty looking thunderstorm to the east. Little did I know but there were tornados out that way too. The bike lights went on and my speed dropped. Oh yeah, at 10 PM I got my first/only flat. Five to ten minutes later it was back on the gravel but slow going at about 6-10 MPH.
This is not humane in any way shape or form. Thought maybe these last 20 would be the wide open gravel but boy was I wrong. It’s hard enough to ride 20-30 MPH on the descents but in the dark? That’s why I got one flat in the dark. Came upon a few more of those crappy farm implement roads and was just swearing my way through them. Lord I hope I didn’t miss any turn markers? Actually didn’t.
In the distance was the glow of Emporia and that nasty thunderstorm to my left. Just let me continue straight toward the glow and not the storm. Uhhhhhh, left turn followed by right, by another left toward the storm. Certainly luck was not failing me and driving me straight into that weather craziness? Also, if you’ve ever driven on the highway at night and seen the distant glow of a city you’d swear you were awfully close to arriving. NO SUCH LUCK!
Eventually Emporia got closer and the roads got better. Ended up on the east side of town and took various streets with flashing light markers. What a relief. Riding in the dark, scared and running on adrenaline the last 10 miles it was good to be back. The finish was confusing and to my delight still had at least 50-75 people cheering. It was 12 midnight and as usually my brain had stopped working at least three hours ago (bedtime is 9 PM for me when I can get it). Got my handshake, complimentary beer-drinking glass and told the promoter I would not be back.
Searching for the car in a strange place is hard enough, but I was very disoriented and it took another 15 min to find. After opening the doors it became evident my brain was no longer functioning. Asking questions like which shoe do I take off first and how do I pull this full zip jersey off became very complicated. In the car driving to the hotel swear to god my legs were still pedaling. Shower, eat a sandwich/chips, lots of water and time to turn in. Unfortunately the gravel was in the brain and the ride continued in my dreams till about 4 AM. The sun still comes up, even if you’re not ready to welcome it. The deluxe Motel 8 breakfast at 9 AM with a few riders sleepily joining me. Those who did and didn’t finish commiserated for one last time. At 10 AM it was on the road again back to the Lou.
Where did I finish you ask? Unbelievably, 5th place in the 50-plus and 43rd overall. Don’t really care, just glad to be alive and say I finished. If anyone is interested in doing this crazy off-road ride next year I’ll just do support.
Cheers,
Coach





