2011 Vision Quest Recap

Back in October, I was dreading the morning of April 2nd, 2011.  I kept thinking of the pain, suffering, and not to mention the lack of sleep to come.  As the date drew closer, I felt physically and mentally unprepared for one of the toughest mountain bike events in the nation in that being the Vision Quest.  The week leading up to April 2nd, I began to feel burned out on racing as a whole and even contemplating a new approach to the sport I fell in love with.  I haven't exactly been overly excited about my performance at the early season XC races here in SoCal.  This all changed 2 days prior to April 2nd.  This event will always be dear to me.  VQ 2008 marked my first ever organized Mountain Biking event, which has made me into the competitive athlete I am today.  Of course my goals were much simpler back then.  Finish before my training buddies and to enjoy the ride.  That first event would also remind me how fragile our bodies are especially when travelling at 20+MPH on dirt.  I took a nasty spill on Main Divide between Beeks and Motorway.  Bruised and bloodied up, I was determined to fight through the agony and finish the race.  That I did, but my buddies got the best of me.  I realized that drive and determination has been lacking lately.  Those are the qualities that have encouraged me to conquer the VQ each year after.  Remembering that year charged me back up for 2011 just 2 days prior to the start.  I suddenly became mentally prepared and ready to give it my best.

VQ2008 - Bloody yet smiling.  I think I was 15lbs lighter too.

I still wish my goals were as simple back then, but there would be no challenge in that for me.  The challenge is what I need to stay motivated to ride hard.  We always want to better ourselves as athletes.  We want to measure improvement and I've found that VQ is the best thing for myself to measure against.  Not just with a stop watch either, but mentally.  Each year brings new and different challenges for the mind and body to conquer.  Adaptation is what makes us better cyclists.  After finishing in the Top 10 (9th) last year and just shy of my "unreal" goal of under 6 hours (6:02), I knew 2011 would be my toughest yet.  The first and obvious goal was to break into the 5 hour mark.  My "unreal" goal would be to break the 5 1/2 hour barrier.  Those type of times are usually reserved for the top 5 and consist of some fast local pros.  With all the rain we got this season, I didn't know what to expect in regards to the trail conditions.  This also meant less training in the Santa Ana's.  In fact, this year was the least amount of training I did out there due to the weather.  I despise the cold now...call me a wussy, but I have nothing to prove after years of doing it.  :-)

El Juan's jealous of #7.  I felt the pressure of the single digit number plate

Race day started out at the crack of somewhere way too early to be awake.  It was 3:30am in my case.  For once, I actually didn't feel sleep deprived for not really getting any sleep.  I never can sleep the day before a race knowing I have to be up before my internal clock.  CeeDubb met me at my house around 4:15am and we carpooled from there.  The morning was a nice 55+ degrees.  Probably the warmest it has been for me at a VQ event.  The forecast was calling for great temps during the event.  I was also excited that my buddy Matt Vaughan would be able to support me, amongst others, at each aid station.  This is always so helpful and much appreciated.  It didn't take long to get suited up and chug down my PreRace bottle.  I lined up next to heavy hitter Dana Weber at the front of the start line.  The other notables in Manny Prado, Tinker Juarez, Doug Andrews, Nate Whitman, Gerry Cody, Danny Munoz, and the BozBros were out as well.  This lineup was going to make for some good racing.  It was also good to see James and Bang Bang just before the start although I didn't say much since I was focused for the dirt ahead.

Staging.  Photo by Keith B.

The countdown began...3...2...1...and off all 300 and something of us went.  The start went well and there were no mishaps.  My plan was to stay with the front group until the real climbing began on Blackstar.  I got off line just a bit and slide into a mud pit on the way out to Blackstar putting a foot down in the slimy mess.  Oh well, it would just get worse throughout the day.  I slipped back a bit, but caught back up to the lead pack.  We got to the hard left switchback and the leaders picked up the pace.  I settled into a good pace with Eric Bostrom and another rider up towards hidden valley.  I was able to get in a small gap ahead of Eric and made my way to the Beek's gate in 42mins.  I didn't know it at the time, but that was 2 mins faster than last year.  Was I going too hard?  Probably, but I was hoped up PreRace.  That stuff really gets your blood moving.  Eric and I would pass each other a couple more times along the way to Motorway.  Tim Z, Danny M, and Bierman made there way up to us and we had a small pace line going.  Eventually, they gaped me before Motorway, but I put a small gap on Eric.  Motorway was a blast as usual.  I was able to pick clean lines and keep my tires afloat while many others didn't have such luck.  I will take that as a success!  I got to the first aid station 4 mins faster than I did last year.  Didn't know that either at the time.  I found Matt and his ever bright orange jacket and I took off my light as he swapped out my bottles.  They would consist of EFS and another shot of PreRace.  I also chugged down a flask of EFS Liquid Shot before I pedaled off.

Amazing Sunrise on Main Divide.  Photo by Gene.

Dismounting at the Motorway trail head.  Photo by Gene.

The way down Motorway.

Reaching back for an EFS Liquid shot as I grind up Maple Springs

The climb up Maple Springs started out well.  I felt strong, but started to fade halfway up the pavement.  Things would get better once on the dirt, but I was not moving as fast as I wanted to be.  I was starting to get worried, but I didn't panic and stayed focused.  I backed my pace off a little and to my amazement I was 2 mins faster than last year.  Eric Bostrom caught back up and slipped away from me at this junction.  Nate Whitman came blowing by me on my way to Modjeska peak.  He had a couple of flats.  I was now in no man's land.  Eventually, I could no longer see anyone in front of or behind me.  I gave a little extra push on the final stretch to Santiago Peak knowing I could recover on the way down.  The descent down from the peak was fast and furious.  The conditions were in great shape and I just let the Santa Cruz Tallboy breathe.  On the way to Upper Holy Jim, I passed Eric as he was pulled off to the side with a flat.  Once to the trailhead, Chanson was there to greet the passing riders.  I said to him, "I'm fading fast!"  Of course I would be teased about this afterwards, but that's what friends are for.  UHJ was tough for me this year.  I've cleared the trail in the past, but not this year.  I dabbed on a couple of switchbacks and bailed out on a rockier section.  I had no confidence in the traction of my tires on UHJ.  Maybe it's just too much saddle time on the road bike?  Me thinks yes.  I approached Lower Holy Jim and was told I was in the top 10.  Really!?  Came as a surprise to me.  I ripped down Holy Jim while avoiding the occasional hikers and bikers.  It still amazes me that these people continue to hike/bike when they know there's a race going on.  I would just choose another day to get out there.  The water crossings were deep, some rideable while others not.  They felt quite refreshing as the temps were starting to warm up.  It started to feel humid and the flies were hovering if you weren't moving.  I got to the 2nd aid station before 9:30am and was on pace to break 6 hours.  Matt lube up my chain, I swapped bottles, and stole some of James' coke in his cooler before the final push up Trabuco and West Horse Thief.

John Early capturing the moment as I reach WHT.

As I pedaled up Trabuco, I started to feel a 2nd wind come.  I was able to pedal most of Trabuco and was happy with that.  I got to WHT in 26 which was 2 mins faster than last year.  Pua and Guy caught up to me and made their pass just before the WHT trailhead.  Pua is one strong competitor.  I was amazed watching her pedal up WHT making it her bitch while I'm HAB'ing it.  Totally wanted a 2X10 setup for WHT at that moment in time.  Still love my 1X9 setup though.  :-)  I got to the top of WHT 3 mins faster than I did last year and was told I was in 11th.  WHT will always suck, but it sure didn't seem that bad from years past.  I pedaled to the Trabuco Trailhead and was on track to break 6 hours.  I really let it fly down Trabuco.  This is my favorite trail of the whole race.  The Tallboy was feeling great and the suspension was dialed in.  I had so much fun carving through the shale rock.  Once back to the WHT junction, all I had to do was to keep the rubber side down and pass the other competitors safely.  Everyone was very courteous and yielded to me.  I tried to give encouraging words to those struggling.  I even saw a rider fallen over in the bushes and I should have said something, but was too focused on the mission at hand.  Turned out it was a friend by the name of Eric Hull.  We had a good laugh about it after the race.  Once back to Trabuco Creek Road, I just kept the pedals moving while spinning out here and there.  I came to the old finish line from last year and I didn't exactly know where it was this year.  We were routed into the creek bed with no actual trail to ride.  "WTF!?" I said to myself as I tried to navigate by orange cone through the rocks and water.  Then guess what?...we had to hike-a-bike out of the creek bed to get to the road and finally to the finish line.  I coined that section the 2 minute VQ.  As I got back on my bike after the mini HAB, I looked back and saw another VQ guy starting the creek bed HAB.  "Where did he just come from?"  I turned on the jets and finished just seconds ahead of him.

Stop that Garmin...and...done!  Photo by Jordan

I crossed the line at 5:54:12 which put me in 10th place overall!  Less than a minute behind Pua.  I was very much surprised to pull off another Top 10 placing.  In summary, I really really enjoy this year's VQ.  Probably more so than the previous 3 times.  I'm ecstatic to have broken the 6 hour barrier and I'm actually more motivated to hit the 5 1/2 barrier next year.  We'll see if VQ will make my calendar for 2012.  This is the first time I've felt like this right after a race.  Maybe endurance racing is more my thing than the short XC stuff?  I'd like to give a shout out to Matt Vaughan for the awesome support.  He made my life so much easier at the aid stations.  I'd also like to thank Santa Cruz Bicycles, 1st Endurance, ESI Grips, The Hive, and Rock 'n Road Cyclery for the additional support with equipment and nutrition.

Filling up the last spot on the board.

Come at me bro.

CeeDubb and I post race.

Matt "Hermit" Vaughan the support guy!  :-)

Well deserved post race froyo...I <3 these guys.