Nuts and bolts of it.....

So 100 miles on a MTB.... Hmmm never thought I would say that.  But been saying it more these days and I seem to really dig it.  Makes all the travel seem worth while to me and I guess it puts my body into such a calorie deficit that I get to eat what ever I want!  Not that it has stopped me in the past. Gaining weight, diet? Nope, ride my bike more!  6100 Kjs this past go round at the Mohican 100.  I was actually shocked by the numbers for this past weekend that I received thanks to my Quarq powermeter. 

So do you want to know what it takes for me to finish in the top 5 at a 100 mile race.  I say me cause it would be so different for everyone.  I know people that have the same numbers that I do and cause of difference in powermeters and more so mental state while racing they will beat me everytime.  It could have something to do with me talking to much on the course?? Sorry to anyone who has ever ridden with me and been annoyed by that, but we are supposed to be out there having fun! Which I do, cause I love to ride my bike! 

So the numbers....

I will start with the typical, you know you are on the gas when the KJs are ticking away at 1000KJs/hr!  Especially at my weight! Thats when you know the hinges will be worn out on the pantry door cause you cannot keep up with the jet powered metabolism you have kicked started.  Well, that is where I was at the 4hr mark.  No wonder I was getting tired and was starting to think about the 3 hrs left to go:

Now during the 100's, this is usually the way I break it down in my head.  I pay no attention to my garmin till I am at least 4 hrs in.  This is usually over the half way point and in my mind I like to think it is downhill from there.  Usually works for me and it keeps me motivated.  That doesn't mean that the demons never talk to me telling me to get off the bike and just take a nap in the ditch till someone comes to pick me up.  The 7AM start does not help that much either! 

So now the 2nd half??  Survival, that is the only way to sum it up.  You have already either made the selection or which usually seems to be my case..... chasing.  It is always weird cause the fatigue sets in the thoughts of the post race bad food spree that is going to happen as you reward your mind with burgers, ice cream, and beer.   Once those thoughts hit, you just push to get the race over with.  So the 2nd half numbers always seem to look worse than the first:

I usually get a bit of a spike towards the end as the moral improves and the finish line seems to be within reach. 

So the overall numbers:  Ouch!  A Tss of 512 and 6106KJs.  As Ryan would say, that is getting right after it.