My Experience After Riding My First Bikepacking Endurance Race

I wanted to feel accomplished.

There was a voice in my head always saying,

you could do this, give it a try.

“My goal is to finish it within 2 days”

I would say to anyone who asked, oozing confidence.

Had I done any mountain bike, multi-day races before? nope.

With no pressure of a sign-up fee, all I had to do was pack up some gear and get to the starting line before they shot the gun. Easy.

As the race date got closer, I was able to stay consistent with training rides.

Putting in the hours and figuring out what I can eat that won’t upset my stomach and keep me fueled.

(fast food chicken sandwiches and gas station ramen noodles were in the top favorites).

The night before the start,

I collected my satellite phone. Looked over all the mechanicals of the bike. Meticulously placed each piece of equipment in its specific pocket. Filled all the water bottles and bladders. Took a CBD gummy to make sure I got sleep.

At 4am, all the participants collected in the motel parking lot and loaded their bikes to get hauled to the starting line.

15 minutes after the starting gun went off, I trailed behind the friends I had made the night before.

I got lost and it started pouring rain.

“I am in over my head” I thought as I started to realize the consequences of not having a plan B if my Garmin didn’t keep up.

I re-started the maps and re-tracked the trail until I saw a cyclist in an orange shirt turn into the forest where I had missed my turn.

“How could you have missed that?” I thought to myself as I looked down and saw 20 tire marks showing me the way.

I rode until about 11pm that night, found a church with shelter and set up my bivvy for a couple hours.

I woke up 4 hours later and a couple cyclists had already started packing. I packed up my bike and rolled out right behind them.

I met up with that rider from 2 days prior and we ended up riding the same pace. Eventually we started talking and introduced ourselves. Tom lives in the area and rides the trails often.

We get into a rhythm of riding about 70miles / day and sleeping for about 4 hours every night.

Refueled snacks at select gas stations, refilled all the bottles and bladders at every stream crossing. (I used the Sawyer SP181 system).

I bonked hard

We were coming up to the halfway point and I got so excited I forgot to eat and drink for 3 hours.

I didn’t know how far away we were; I just knew we were close!

The group I was riding with picked up the pace.

I start to freak out because I can’t catch up! My legs are burning, I’m almost out of water, and I am SO ready for a break.

We finally reached Mulberry Gap.

200+ miles in and this is my first real shower and my clothes needed washed. (I only packed one extra pair of padded shorts).

The stinging of the water rinsing my saddle sores and blisters on my feet brings me to tears. I think I stood there for 10 minutes before adding soap.

I was over everything about this race.

‘You’re in the thick of it. Finish it out.’ I would say to myself.

After the torturous shower, eating freshly made hot food (and an ice cream shake), and watching the volunteer mechanics (who generously volunteered their time) install new brake pads and make sure everything still looks good, I lay down in a real bed.

Of course I can’t sleep.

After 2 hours of rolling around I decided to get back on the saddle.

Just keep pedaling. Your legs will continue, its your brain that will tell you to stop.’ I kept telling myself.

My new goal:

To cross the finish line, no matter how long it took me.

Keep eating, keep pedaling, keep the water bottles full, stop for some fresh food, just keep going.

I remember…

Mile long gravel climbs,

Riding down a river made of boulders.

Misty, rainy, mornings. Hot muggy afternoons. Spider web filled evenings.

Hiking the bike up steep single track.

Smiling on the downhill runs (no brakes!).

Riding next to a friendly k-9 for 2 miles.

Hornets’ nests, snakes, and the shooting range.

River crossings and blisters.

Beautiful scenery and single track.

There were many points where I wanted to quit.

To travel all the way to GA, to get this far into the race, I couldn’t quit unless something medically stopped me.

The Pinhoti trail will always have a special place in my heart.

This was the hardest race I’ve pushed myself through.

I finished the TNGA trail in under 5 days. I slept the rest of that night and took all the naps the following day. Grabbed some ice cream and slowly walked around town, waded in the cold creek, otherwise my legs would have grown roots into the ground.

tldr; do the hard thing. but do if for yourself.