"Finally! Some nice single track! Here we go, time to have some muddy fun!" After a pretty solid transition from the trail run, and knocking out the first couple of miles on the pavement, I was at the trail head. Time to give my new bike a good workout. The single track started mostly flat as it wound through the trees. XDog Events knows how to do these things right. They are the best at putting on extreme events, races that really test your physical and psychological resolve. The running portion of the Dirty Duathlon - Event 14 in my 50@50 Project - was a muddy, filthy, wet, fun mess. The bike ride was sure to be the same. Check them at www.xdogevents.com and tell Kevin that David and Bex! sent you!
I came around a slight left turn and there it was before me - the first big puddle. Up to this point the trail had been wet and a little slimy, spraying me and the bike with mud. But it had been pretty easy going. As I approached the puddle, I sized it up. Big, about 4 feet in diameter. Covered the entire width of the trail, so there was no going around it. I thought to myself "Well, I guess I'm going through it!" I pedaled harder to pick up some speed, the 29 inch tires on my Trek Rumblefish One mountain bike slipping a little as I applied more torque, but still allowing me to get my speed up.
I had a big smile on my face as I charged into the puddle and...
(flash back)
I'll be honest with you - I was pretty sure I had bitten off way more than I could chew by committing to doing the duathlon. As everyone knows, Camera Crew is the brains of our operation - she chose to do just the trail run. Me, I decided to tackle the entire thing. Yeah, I did the Spring Classic a few weeks prior but this promised to be different. XDog Events Dirty Du, held out at Hagg Lake, was guaranteed to be a filth fest. With light but steady rain in the days leading up to Sunday, conditions were prime for the 'Dirty' part of this duathlon. This was a two leg event - a 5.2 mile trail run followed by a 15.something mile ride around the lake. My trepidation was in the fact that my skills at mountain biking are average on a good day and that I'm fairly new to this bike, not quite used to how it handles and not so sure I have everything set, adjusted, tweaked the way I want it. I figured this event was as good a time as any to check it out and see how it handled.
We got up early Sunday morning, gathered our race gear, put the bike rack on the SUV and loaded up. Thoughts of 'loosely attaching the tie downs for the bike' went through my head as I gave in and cinched it all down tight. I was determined to make the best of this, even as the knot in my stomach grew. The drive out to Forest Grove and on to Hagg Lake was nice. It's really pretty and the roads were empty. It rained off and on during the drive, more frequently as we got closer to the lake. It was going to be slimy for sure.
Learn more about Hagg Lake here. It's a great recreation area and very close to the city.
We made our way around the lake to Recreation Area C, on the west end of the lake. One of the large covered picnic areas would act as Event HQ, the start and finish for the race. XDog's trailer was all set up, music was playing, volunteers were setting up the finish chute, and the hard core duathletes were setting up their transitions, double checking their bikes, jogging around to get warmed up. After a little walk about and getting checked in, I unloaded the bike (which had stayed on the car after all) and rode it around to the bike racks to set up my switcheroo from run to bike. Since rain threatened, this setup consisted of me placing the garbage bag with my bike gear on the piece of cardboard in the hopes of it staying dry long enough for me to get back from the run. Once that was done, we hung out til race time, praying the rain would hold off at least until the start.
The 5.2 mile run course was set in a figure 8 - a loop out one direction, then a pass back by HQ and another loop out the other direction. The first loop was about two miles, the second (obviously) the other 3+. Us weekend warriors doing the duathlon started at 10; the smart folks doing the trail run only were set to go off at 10:30 - this staggered start designed to allow the duathletes a clearer course so we could get back to our bikes for transition.
Standing around before start time is always hard because ya just want the damn race to start already. I stood with Camera Crew and stretched a little, getting ansty to get this thing started. My mind was already past the run and thinking about the bike ride. I was trying not to freak out. Oh well - what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right? In true XDog fashion, our race started with a guy sounding a conch shell, which was pretty sweet. I waved bye to Camera Crew and I was off!
The first mile or so was on the road, which was kinda nice because it gave me time to get warmed up and the legs loose. We cut off the road and hit a short section of flat single track, then it dropped down to the lake. With my feet sliding around in the slimy mud, just trying to stay upright was a challenge at times. I love trail running - it's a full body and mind workout. This run was even more so because of the mud and water. There were sections that were completely under water, so you just run through it as best you can. In anticipation of this, I had tied my shoes pretty snug and was glad I did! Some parts of the trail were that deep shoe eating mud, the kind that makes the sucking sound when you full your foot out. SSSQUAAAALLLLCCCCHHHH!!! Yeah, so keeping the shoes on the feet seemed important. I stopped and quickly tied 'em up even tighter.
After slipping and sliding my way around the first loop, I was pleased to see the runners hadn't left yet. I was looking in the crowd for my cohort, when I saw her standing out to the side waiting for me! I passed through, blew her a kiss, mentioned that she should snug her shoes up. She shouted encouragement as I passed, which always picks me up. I heard their run start as I headed into the woods for the back half. This part didn't have as much mud - still had plenty, mind you - but it had some nice XDog touches. Climbing over and under some logs, through some brush, things like that. They do an awesome job of making the route interesting. Yeah - 'interesting'. Let's go with that.
As I was nearing the end of leg one of my du, I came out of the woods and there was Camera Crew. By the smile on her face, she was having the time of her life! I wished her luck and gave her a quick hug, then we went our separate ways. I headed into the transition area to change gear and start my bike ride. Little did I know at that time, it would be over three hours before I saw Camera Crew again...
(flash forward)
... "AAAAAGH!" I hit the puddle and my front tire sunk into the bog almost all the way to the hub. Twenty-nine inch wheels, remember, so almost half that. I was going fast enough that when the tire stuck, the back wheel came off the ground and I thought for sure I was going endo. I unclipped my left foot from the pedals and was heading left. The back end came down (whew!) but I was falling left so I put my foot down to catch myself. Of course, putting that foot down meant winding up about mid-shin in mud and water. After laughing (nervously) and taking a deep breath, I got off the bike. I got my right (dry) foot onto semi-solid ground, pulled my left foot out of the mire, almost losing the shoe in the process. Then I pulled the bike out, knocked the mud off so it would spin in the fork, remounted and took off.
After tightening my shoes, that is.
What can I say - for me, the ride was extremely difficult. The mud was slimy yet clay-like, so it packed the tread on the tires, meaning very little traction was to be had. I'd push down on the pedal and the back tire would spin out and the bike would slide sideways. I'm not a good enough rider (yet) to know how to handle the bike in that situation. I'll get there, though. The only time the tread cleared was on those rare stretches that were somewhat dry or where the grass had grown over. Then the chunks just peppered my chest and face. Meh, whatcha gonna do. The other hard part for me to ride was in the areas where the ruts were so deep. Imagine riding in a trench that is 3-4 inches (or more) deep as the trail winds through the woods. If you don't stay centered, if you deviate even a little, you're going down quick.
As I've said before, I ain't ever gonna win any of these events. So, needless to say, I was at the back of the pack which means the trails were already chewed up by everyone who had gone before me. Which was pretty much EVERYONE. There were several times that I thought "If I had my cell phone with me, I think I'll just call Camera Crew and have her come get me. I'll make my way up to the road and wait." In hindsight, I'm glad I didn't have my phone. I'm glad I stuck it out.
My first goal was to just make the dam. if I could get to the dam, I knew I'd be over halfway done and then I knew I could make it. Well, getting to the dam seemed to take forever. Hagg Lake is mostly a big oval-ish body of water but it also has all these inlets that shoot off to the sides. And of course the trail has to follow the contour of that. So even when I got to the point where I could SEE the dam, I'd hit another blankety-blank inlet, and the trail would shoot off AWAY from the damn dam. Aaaargh. But finally...
The dam. Thank goodness. People who participate in the events we do are, by and large, a great group. But what we've found is that the people who do the dirt events - the trail runs, the mountain biking races, the scrambles, etc - are exceptionally cool and supportive. I'm not knocking the road runners/bikers, but there are way more of them and there can be a bit of an elitist attitude with some of them.
But I am here to tell you - XDog Nation rocks! As I rode over the dam, with a firm grip on last place, people were honking, waving, shouting encouragement. One guy saw me coming, pulled over, got out of his car and asked me if I needed anything (water, food, a beer). It really is a fine group, and if I have to be last place within that class of people, well, I'll gladly take it.
The rest of the ride was more of the same - slippery, slimy mud, up and down single track. Mud bogs, slop, etc etc. I MUDdled through it (get it?) and finally saw the finish area. Over the last couple of miles, and knowing I had been on the course a loooong time, I was 100% sure that the only one who would be waiting for me was Camera Crew. At least, I hoped she would still be there! I assumed Kevin and his XDog trailer and the beer and the music would all be gone. I have to say I was a bit shocked when I came around the last corner. Yes, Camera Crew was there, beaming and clapping. The finish line was still there. The finish chute and the flags were there. Kevin and his great XDog volunteers were there. The music played. Seriously, I was so exhausted and mentally destroyed, I think I almost started crying.
I made the finish line, one of the volunteers tore off my bib number tag so they could record my time, Bex! hugged me and Kevin handed me a PBR and some pretzels. All I can say is - WOW! Class act, XDog! I was amazed they stuck around for me. I had it in my head that they would be gone and that I would have a DNF for the event. Yeah, I had my own watch running but it wouldn't be the same. I was wrong - they stayed and waited for me to complete the race! I see it like this: I made the effort, so they made the effort. Truly grateful.
You'll see in the wrap up video that I am completely wiped out. I could hardly string words together and almost opted to forgo filming. For me, part of this journey, this goal we have is for me to share the good and the bad, the ups and the downs. I was elated that I even finished - I placed 34th out of 34. Yep, small crowd, huh? I was exhausted and happy at the same time. I decided to do the video because I want to share with you and I want to record the event so when I look back at it later, I'll get to relive the experience.
it's been a great trip so far! What's up next? Since you asked...
Tomorrow, we are heading south to Albany, OR for the Dirty Dozen, a 5k with twelve obstacles, many of them mud related. This is why I didn't bother scrubbing the trail shoes! Check this one out at www.runwildadventures.com
These are the same folks who put on the Buck Mountain 6.5 Miler I did a while back.
And Sunday we are doing the Earth Day 5 Miler in Tigard. www.energyevents.com/earthdayrun
No rest for the wicked, they say. They must be talking about me!
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