2009 6 Hours of Power, Ellicotville NY

This is a popular course, lots of peeps from pgh go up, just an easy 4 hr drive north. Runs a short, fast, smooth ~6mi loop within Holiday Valley Ski Resort, up the mountain, along the ridge and then back down. Ellicotville Bikes is always a cool place to stop by, and so is the Ellicotville Brewing restaurant.

Past years we have crashed on some local floor space, this year we decide to primitive camp near the transition area. Also, different this year....JP and I do Coed Duo. In the past, I have done Womens Duo & Solo here, but never the Coed Duo. Reigning champs Gotch and Bittner, will be the target! Paula and I have battled back & forth constantly over the last few years, so I know our times will be close! We leave the boys race up to them!

There was an awesome turn out from pgh this year on the podium spots! DH took overall Duo and lots of pittsburgh first timers came out to give it a try and made it look fun!

In the end, we got the champs by moments. This is only the second duo JP & I have ever done, our first was 12hr VKnob back in 2002, a race that goes into the night, against all men & we won! Between these Duos & a 24hr Duo with Eric Kriberney in 2007 (got 2nd against all men!), I can say it is pretty stressful to do these with someone WAY faster than yourself! The extra pressure can be a little overwhelming, but both of these guys are super nice good sports about it & made it a great experience to have done! If you ever have to chance to pair up with someone such a different pace than yourself, give it a try & have fun!!

WVMBA-Big Bear Ultra 2009

So, it's a week after the Wilderness 101, I am not sure what I have for a 50 mileish course but this is one I really wanted to do so head on down to Big Bear to see what's up. Unlike the miles of doubletrack and maintenance road I envisioned, Race Director extraordinaire had gotten trail work underway and had miles of brand new very technical singletrack for us to test out! This was super duper, I can really say I think this course rivaled the reputation of the often talked about WVMBA Rattlesnake course in terms of 'toughness' factor!

There is a decent group of women, and right from the start my pace feels great but I am not with the girls I expect to be. I am right behind Betsy on her SS through the first gradual incline, I think about slowing down but decide to just go with it. The course hits the newer technical stuff and even though slippery/damp roots/rocks, I manage to hold my place in the pack without much dabbing and I know I've gained some in that section. The next one, Voo Doo Rocks, is a repeat, I flow about as much as I could in there no dabs although I do jump off to skip over a few 'dangers'. Big climb, I still feel good, strike a few passes of boys near me, and wonder where the other girls are and how they are making in through. I know I am second to Betsy but wonder if that will last all day. Eventually we get to another new technical stretch & to the checkpoint and still no sign of girls. They tell me I am about 5 min back from Betsy, I know she is having some trouble with her chain falling off today, but also know I feel better than usual so just keep going as hard as I can. I won't catch Betsy (!) but I sure hope I don't slack and get caught myself. The last portion of the course is easier terrain, I have eaten/drank all day & still feel good. I finish in 2nd, glad to have held off almost all of the competition for an entire 5.5 hours!!! I spin down the road, get a quick rinse off, pass the next girl finisher on the road and surprised at what she had to say about the course "THAT was hard!". Ironically, that was about the last thing I would have said, I was thinking more like "THAT was a super fun course!"

See iplayoutside.com for full recap/results.

2009 Wilderness 101

coming soon.