I had a bad race at the Wilderness 101 last year due to illness. I woke up not feeling well and never really got over it. I was looking for some redemption on my return trip this season.
Joe and I rode up to Coburn and arrived in plenty of time for a nice pre-ride to spin the tight legs and generally stretch out. Arriving early also meant we had our choice of camping spots. Having a hammock this is always a concern since there are only but so many trees available. We luckily ended up in the same exact spot as last year with a good view of the entire park, not too far away from the port-o-potties in case you had to go in the middle of the night, but far enough away to avoid the stench. The night was uneventful with an early bedtime as usual. The park was fairly quiet which is always nice.
Before long, Chris was ringing the gong signifying it was time to wake up. The normal routine of trying to get down as much breakfast as possible and checking to make sure everything on your bike is perfect was underway. Soon, we were toeing the line and waiting for the rolling start. I couldn’t help but appreciate the calm of this start, exactly the opposite of the XC races that have composed most of my schedule so far this season.
The first climb is always a big sort out and this year was no different. The climb is on some nice, wide fire roads and lasts about 20 minutes. I got dropped from the lead group but was able to catch back on with the help of the small chase group on the fast decent that followed. The first 50 miles of this course is mainly gravel with some climbs, mostly on the shorter side. I got into a good group and we seemed to be making quick work of the fire roads. I found myself feeling great after the first 50 miles as the course suited me with mainly big ring climbing.
The second 50 is where the race really starts. I dropped at mile 40 last year so the rest of the course was all new to me. I completed much of the final 50 miles solo which made it just a touch more difficult. The tough climb out of Aid 3 was just too much and the small group I had been riding with split up. The second half of the course contained the vast majority of the singletrack. The rocks of PA start to show their teeth a bit with the accumulation of singletrack descents really starting to hurt. The rocky singletrack featured in this race is really nice, State College is lucky to have such awesome trails. I was glad to be rolling on my Industry Nine wheels, the 96 points of engagement really help to get through technical rock gardens. The final descent, known as Panther Run, at around mile 95 is brutal. My Scott Spark performed very well through these rocky descents by my hands were still killing me by this point in the race and it was hard to squeeze the brakes. After this descent comes the “Fisherman’s Path”, which is really more of a hiking path through a small boulder field. I was ready to get back on the bike and really push it to the finish after this hike-a-bike.
Overall I’m pretty happy with my results. After a disappointment last weekend, I’m glad to have finally pulled it together. With the focus of my season thus far being on shorter, XC races, I wasn’t sure how my body would react to an effort lasting 8+ hours. A huge thanks to Michael Harlow and Endorphin Fitness for providing the plan that helped me during this race. I’m very glad I went back to seek some redemption on this course.
It was a good time with great friends Joe, Jeff, and Tom. The entire team finished within the top 50, pretty impressive considering this was Tom’s first 100 miler. Joe had some mechanical issues but still managed to finish 16th, I was 23rd, and Jeff posted a huge improvement over last year with his 24th place finish. Tom just made the top 50 with a 48th place. Great job guys, now keep it up as the SM is only a few short weeks away.
Last weekend, Joe, David, and myself all raced in the Mohican 100, located in central Ohio. This race is known for it's awsome 1st 20 miles of singletrack in the Mohican State Forest and is a classic NUE race course. The weather was a bit sketchy on Friday as drove to Loudonville Ohio, host of the Mohican 100.
The weather finally broke later that evenining and we awaoke to a wonderfull day of racing. In the morning, David got some interesting news on his batphone... there was a race store contest for the Cohutta 100 that I had entered and I got second place and won a cool hitch rack. The top 3 stories, incuding my "Cohutta Remixed" are posted online. http://www.trailheadoutdoors.org/newsevents/
Soon, the race was on. I made this video from my GoPro footage, check it out!
Overall we had some great results. Joe and David absolutely killed it and I bettered my previous best Mohican 100 time by a whole bunch of time.
Joe Fish 19th 7:54
David Ried 25th 8:07
Plassman 46th 8:48
Joe, David, and Plassmido headed to the southeast tip of Tennessee for the NUE series opener. This would prove to be a very tough introduction for this year’s NUE series.
Night Before
Around midnight I carefully slipped out of a middle bunk in a cabin full of 16+ racers trying not to disturb anyone. It's been hard to sleep even though I'm exhausted by the drive down from Richmond and the poor sleep from the night before in Asheville. Constant noises have kept me up a bit as well even though I had my ear buds in and the I-pod on low volume. There are at least two folks in the cabin snoring very loudly and the jackasses from Long Island outside are still making a lot of noise. Don’t they know we are all getting up at 4:45am and riding 100 miles starting at 7:00? As I head to the bathhouse for the last time this night, I cast the obnoxious people a searing dirty gaze. I think they finally get the hint and retire as well after turning off their radio, it’s about midnight. Sometime around 1:00am the severe headache I have had relents and I gain a few hours of precious sleep. 4:45am arrives well before the sun and rooster.
Race Day
Soon the Jet Boil is rumbling on the picnic table and oatmeal stands by for a scalding bath. I brew some coffee and David, Joe, and myself each have a cup to get things going. Rolling out of the camp and onto the highway is a bit dodgy because of a thick fog that shrouds the entire area. We arrive at the Whitewater Center where the race starts and I am surprised by just how many people are in the parking lot already.
Prepping for the race start is always a bit chaotic and this morning is no exception for me: Sunscreen, Chamois cream, DP Kit, Shoes, Head Band, Prep all my Bottles... where did I put those gels... dang, not enough mix for the pre-start bottle... pre open the cliff bar... bring 2 or 3 bottles?... Mix up bottles for start... double check the bike... tire pressure... Oh yeah, almost forgot the extra tube... what else am I forgetting?!
OK, car is locked up and we are all ready to go. Riding around, I cross paths with a lot cool folks I've met from all over the place during the previous 3 years of hundred milers and stage racing. Team DP rolls up to where the start line usually is and soon it's obvious that the start has moved. Tooling around the parking lot just before a race is always a bit sketchy and we witness a couple of riders crash into each other and end up as a pretzel on the pavement. Ahead, a huge Kenda banner marks the start line, and soon 3 Design Physics racers roll through and take position.
GO
After a few minutes and more than words, the crack of a start gun rings out! The pack accelerates with no drama, but at an alarmingly fast pace. A few small speed bumps are the catalyst for the day’s first bunny hops. The police escort leads us out onto the main highway climbing to Boyd Gap overlook. I'm hanging with the lead group for about a third of the pavement and then end up with the second group that splits off from the first. Cresting Boyd Gap lessens the demand on the legs and lungs slightly. I shift up to the big ring and accelerate towards the turn off into single track.
Single Track Attack
The group I settle in with is going at a decent pace, not too slow, but I would like to go a little faster. I know from experience that I can save the effort for the single track climb after the riverside trails. Fog hangs eerily along the river as we wind our way down and up the serpentine trails and I notice that the new course has cut out a good bit of the trails that were normally in this section. Eventually the trail skirts the river through a wide, root infested, gravel path, I gain some positions here by charging over the rough lines. After the stream crossing the trail takes a bridge over the river at the whitewater center, and then a left put us on a good single track climb. I trade some paint on the climb and then drop into the next single track section. The riders I am rolling with are a good match and there is not much need for me to pass anyone. Everyone is moving at a good consistent pace and demonstrate good riding skill. All too soon the sweet trails give way to the rolling fire roads heading into Georgia.
Gravel Grind Up
Miles of rolling gravel awaited us as we exited the trail system. A few sections of road had been recently graded and were frustratingly rough. After an extensive series of rolling grades, the 1st major climb started. I was a bit frustrated as my leg power seemed to be lacking a bit and I realized I need to focus more on my morning fueling routine. I was frustrated by the steady stream of riders who were passing me on the climb. Now and then a familiar voice would talk to me as friends from races past shared the climb with me before moving on.
Eventually, I arrived at aid 3/6 where volunteers did an excellent job of helping me with my drop, filling my bottle, and asking me if they could re-fill he bottles I was swapping out so I could grab then when I came back by at mile 70 something… The gravel grind continued and leveled a bit into a long rolling section with some great views of the north Georgia mountains. I just reminded myself to push hard till the lollipop waypoint at mile 60ish.
Here come the Pros
As I neared the end of the major gravel climbing, I heard a shouting voice heralding the presence of the leader of the race. There would be some two way traffic on the course and I soon found out that Jeremiah Bishop was in the lead and calling out when he was entering a blind corner. He absolutely ripped around a corner on the tight inside line as he descended on the opposite side of the hairpin corner I was climbing. Very impressive! A good while later Christian Tanguy came by followed shortly by the dark horse, Kevin Carter. I still had a bit of climbing before beginning the descent into hell.
It’s a Long Way Down to come Back Up
Had Isaac Newton been a 100 mile mountain bike racer, he surely would have stated a law of physics as “what goes down must come up”. Plunging down the fire road descent into hell, I realized how steep the descent was and how rapidly I was consuming it. This could only mean one thing since this was part of the lollipop, hellacious climbing to claw my way back out. While railing down, it was nice to hear Garth give a shout out while we passed head on. The pain I saw on the faces of the rest of the really fast guys coming out of the lollipop was a foreshadowing of my own grimaces to come.
The Ecstasy and the Agony
An unusual reversal of fortune awaited in the lollipop. A major fire road descent had led to aid 4/5. After the rest stop, a bit more downish gravel led to a moderate single track climb where a very cool trail awaited. The single track was tough to motor at first, but a chance to actually carve renewed my spirit substantially. Soon I was racing again and not just finishing. I passed some folks in the single track and finally felt fast again. The end of the reprieve came too soon as the dirt ribbon expunged me onto a grave road. Now began a moderate and unwelcome gravel climb back to aid 4/5. Again the volunteers were extraordinarily help full and had already refilled my water bottles for the upward spiral from the mountain abyss. The climb I later dubbed Mother F... awaited and I settled in for the long haul out.
I was surprised to feel invigorated from the single track snack and refueling at aid 4/5. However, there was no mistaking the effort needed to return to the top. While grinding my way out I am sure some of the racers just beginning their descent into hell were taking stock of the exhausted and agonizing expressions rendered by my taste of the lollipop.
The long road back
With the lollipop out of the way, the return trip awaited. Numerous rolling gravel roads were ridden in reverse and I soon would learn what was in store on the left off the fire road I had see earlier, going the opposite way. It turned out to be a blast. A cool fast grassy double track that funneled to a very fun section of single track was the surprise. Again the trails really lifted my spirit. I just wondered if the climb out would charge the same price as was just paid for the lollipop. There was a stream crossing at the bottom that doused my feet with a welcome cooling slash.
Soon I was pleased to find myself back at aid 3/6 after a fairly short gravel climb. After a quick exchange, I got back on and started dispatching the bobbing fire-road, that seemed to head down more than up in this direction. Eventually this would begin a nice series of gravel down hills, the same ones that seemed so energy sapping on the way up. Eventually, I got back to the freshly graded section and luckily there were some more worn in lines compared with earlier. Motoring along the creek / river was made less pleasant by and an obnoxious head wind. Aid station 2/6 was the next waypoint reached and I scored some coke that was warm (hot almost). The volunteers filled my bottles and sent me out for the 13 more miles to go. Yikes! I thought it would be more like 8… Now a seemingly unending series of gravel rolling gravel roads finally led to a right turn back onto single track.
Happy Trails to You
The single track was climbing more than I cared for at this point, but soon I realized I was on the connector trail. That meant that the annoying single track lollipop from the previous course had been omitted. Now all I had left was a series of connector trails leading to TRE trail. Soon, I came upon some riders that I overtook way to fast and realized they were some of the 65 mile racers trickling in and I was glad I would not have to fight them for position...
Then I saw the tape in the clearing that would guide me into the last bit of trail, Thunder Rock Express. That name had new meaning after riding 97 miles to get here. It was very nice not to have to pedal too hard to flow down at a good clip. I rode within in my reserves, not wanting to have a silly crash this late in the game. Soon I got to the bottom of TRE and it was all gravy rolling the last paved mile I crossed the finish and thought it said 11 something, I was devastated, I felt that the course may have been an hour longer, but surely not 2... I talked with James Burris and dropped my bike, collected my cup... and got ready to soak in the stream. I looked like a freshly born fawn trying to maintain balance as my exhausted legs quivered on the wet mossy rocks. While easing into the water on all fours, I almost floated away at the slightest hint of current in the water. Later I found out my time was 10:11 and that made me feel a bit better.
Thoughts on the new Cohutta 100 course
The old course was more or less a sweetheart, but the new course, with the added lollipop from hell at mile 60, is a raging bitch. Added single track sections break up the monotony of the old courses’ 65 miles of gravel in the middle. However, the extended climbing proved devastating, both physically and mentally. On final analysis, I prefer the new course, but maybe not as the series opener. I’ll be looking forward to another beat down next year.
Joe and I packed up the Mazda and made our way to Pennsylvania for an east coast classic, the Wilderness 101. Driving through Virginia, the temps were hot and bounced off an even hundred, just like the race. This year’s 101 would be a bit hot for sure.
Pre-riding the evening before the race gave me chance to revisit the final abandoned train tunnel that is about 1 mile from the finish. Years of decay have yielded a nice carpeting of rocks with a few choice chunky bits right in the middle where it’s dark and wet. A re-purposed train trestle bridge leading up to the tunnel has very narrow railings that challenged many riders.
The paced road section leading out of town is a great warm up and gets the blood flowing without too much drama. The moderate grade up the 1st climb is enjoyable and gives me a chance to find my groove. Then, pulling some trains and hopping onto others is a great way to keep your speed up during the 1st 20 miles of gravel.
The Romans created cobbled highways that today have weathered into lumpy paths that seem to swallow the wheels of lesser vehicles. The 1st section of single track is a snaking ride that seems to have more cantaloupe sized rocks than dirt. Glad to have my Wagon wheels for sure! In the middle, there is a nice little techy section with a couple of small bridges and a rock garden with cheering fans waiting for the carnage.
Long climbs are rewarded with extended sections of very straight single track chutes that you can ride with no brakes like a cruise missile! Whoooosh!!!
Frequently, I stuffed my cheeks like a chipmunk to keep the motor running. Energy drinks and a sip at the "Beer Station" kept me cool.
The climbs got bigger and the trails got certain as we ripped down some serious single-track. Old school east coast riding provides really challenging rock features and lets you know how close you are to cramping up.
The last big descent down Panther Hollow nearly rattled the teeth out of my head and I gave it a sharp cussing, Panther don't care.
A splash of Coke at the last aid station was the perfect set up for the final stab of a climb that leads up and down to the deceptively pleasant sounding "Fisherman’s Path" that makes up the last bit of single track. It's more of a rock-n-roll hike a bike. I was able to ride out the last section and put a nice gap on some fellow racers. The "path" would have the last laugh as my calf locked on the rails to trail leading to the final tunnel. A dozen awkward pedals later and my right leg was turning circles instead of squares...soon I was cooking with gas again and steamed my way to the finish.
Joe and I had some great results:
Joe - 7:47 (20th place - open men - out of 189) Jeff - 8:48 (61st place - open men)
Joe was truly smokin and I set a new personal best, I'm really stoked on the Wilderness 101!
This year’s National Ultra Endurance races have been a tough bunch and you never quite know what adventure awaits when rolling out from the start. The weather has often been quite bad and I’ve had a few hard spills. One thing is for sure, every hundred mile MTB race is an adventure in itself. Epic conditions and intense days on the bike have helped to forge a stronger rider in me. The Cohutta 100 - April 24th Rain the night before the race had made the trails nice and tacky. A long paved climb at the start crested and tuned right into fun and flowing single track. I surged around a group to make up some lost time and pinned it on a paved section approaching a wooden bridge. My brain did not compute how slippery it would be and I tossed myself and the bike across the bridge at about 20mph. Later, I noticed my rear brake dragging and was getting quite annoyed with the squeal of the disk rubbing on every revolution of my rear wheel up the big climbs. I would find out later that it was more than just a pad out of adjustment...
After more single track and the start of the 65 mile forest road section, it became soul crushing when a thunderstorm engulfed myself and others midway up the longest climb at about 45 miles into the race. The torrential sheets of water mocked me as I rolled into the aid station and paused before continuing up the rest of the major climb. Rain washed stinging sweat into my eyes as I approached. For extended moments I was essentially riding blind. At the aid station, I fished my bottles and gels from my drop bag as I shivered in the downpour that was relentlessly stripping any body heat I had left as it washed over my skin. Struggling with my rain shell, my arms cramped and my upper body pretzel’ed. Things seemed very bleak.
This single moment is the only time I have seriously debated dropping out of a MTB Century. But, I decided I had come with a purpose and I was going to get my hundred miles. I pushed through the rest of the big climb, riding way off the beaten tire tracks on the fire road. At this point the road had two rivers running down the double tracks. I looked forward to hard pedaling because I desperately needed the warmth. 50 deg F and pouring rain will drain you down fast if you don’t generate some serious body heat.
Riding in those demoralizing conditions with another 50 miles to go seemed to unearth the dark corners of my mind, and bring them sharply into focus. I felt anguished while remembering my cat and friend Lemmy, whom I had just lost to an illness that starved the life from him. I recollected all to vividly how he struggled to stay alive as the long night refused him another dawn. In that moment I became intimately reacquainted with the sense of helplessness I had tried to forget. Struggling to crest the mountain and escape down the other side, the realization that I was not helpless to finish what I had started became clear. That’s when I knew there were 50 more miles I would ride, no matter what.
While I rode the last mile of paved path to the finish, a fresh thunderstorm kicked up and gusts of gale force winds and rain tried to blow me back to the mountain. I pressed on cursing the rain and laughing madly back at the storm like King Lear. For sure, this was one of the toughest days I've had on a bike. 132 Finished open men, I placed 109th in 10:52, almost an hour off last years finish
Mohican 100 - June 5th I love the Mohican 100. It’s one of my favorite races and has loads of fun single track. The forecast was for partly sunny skies and I could only hope for a bit drier race. I woke up at about 4:00AM as multiple waves of thunderstorms rolled through and dumped all over our campsite and the Mohican wilderness. As I got dressed I just hoped that it would not be raining when we started the climb out of Loudonville. As fate would have it, conditions cleared up nicely for our start on the road and gravel. Plunging into the single track, it quickly became clear just how muddy the day would be. Slithering back to the campground via single track muddied us all considerably and proved slower than usual. The next fun and flowing 15 miles in the Mohican State Park were great, and not in too bad of shape. There was a long wood bridge with a turn in the middle that was covered in rain, and a thin coating of muck from the racers that came before me. The folks helping and taking pictures cautioned us to slow and watch out for the Death Bridge…I slowed and let out a “Yee-Haw” for the photographers… and then promptly crashed on the wet planks.
The remaining 80 mile of the race was very challenging because of all the peanut butter mud sections that required extra strength from all corners of the body. Also, a pretty nasty storm kicked up and I was again caught out riding in a tempest. I found out later that the storm system spawned tornados nearby. At the last section of the course, I was glad that a really nasty short wall of a climb had been re-routed at the campground where the race ended. There was however a very full stream to negotiate while hoisting my bike overhead. Crossing the finish line, I collected my pint glass and washed away some of the mud… then swapped war stories and recollected the challenges of the day. 190 started open men, I finished 64th in 11:06 There were 90 DNFs in open men.
Wilderness 101 - August 3rd Ah… Pennsylvania trails. You had better like rocks, cause that’s what your gonna get. They are not the insurmountable hike a bike type of rocks, but rather a carpet of smaller pummeling instruments. The weather forecast looked good, maybe a 100 miler this year for me without all the epic thunderstorms and rain.
The race rolled out of Coburn park at controlled pace behind a lead out vehicle. This was a nice section to get the legs warmed up before pulling the trigger on the 1st gravel climb. Sure enough this day was starting beautiful and the weather would remain that way.
My friend Clarke has a nickname for me, it’s the “Cro” as in “Cro Magnon”. You see, at times I am like those prehistoric ancestor of man who probably approached some things in an adrenaline fueled, fight or flight responses. I like to go fast in single track. I’m better at killing trails than speeding up long gravel climbs. So, when we got to the entrance of the first section of trail, I should have heeded the warning a couple of cheerleaders were chanting… something… something…”watch the rocks, watch the rocks!”
I was feeling my oats and quickly overtaking riders in front of me so I decided to pass. “On your left” as I tried to weave around a rider in the grass next to the rocky trail. Just then, a strange and sudden feeling filled my senses. There was that sickening violent fling and moment of weightlessness as I arced over the bars and into the rocks my front tire had just met. Ouch! My limp carcass littered the trail and I lamely pulled my bike to me so other racers would not run into it. It was going to be a long day and Pennsylvania had just let me know where I was.
The rest of the race unfolded with out too much drama for me, just a few folks who felt they should point out I was a little dusty, thanks guys… The last abandoned train tunnel you go through is full of rocks and the line is on the right. Some how I ended up NOT on the right… and then my front tire found another big rock and I spewed some profanity as I met the rocks once again. My calf seized in a cramp as I tried to pick myself up, and I must have looked strange as a collapsed pretzel of man and bike. Ah… Pennsylvania.
Overall I finished a bit bruised, but not broken and with my best time yet of 9:52. 205 open men started, I placed 96th
Next up - Shenandoah Mountain 100 ! Cheers, Jeff Plassman
Kits are in - schedule time to pickup. Team orders open for Industry Nine Team orders open for Schwalbe Taking T-shirt orders
BTS #1 - 1/8 Bonus Ride BTS #2 - 1/10 Poco 8am BTS #3 - 1/11 Poco 10:30am BTS #4 - 1/17JRPS 9amTrail work & ride to follow BTS #5 - 1/17 Rocketts 2pm Road Ride BTS #6 - 1/19 MLK Bonus - Any ride 50pts BTS #7 - 1/21 Bonus Ride BTS#8 - 1/24 JRPS 9amTrail work & ride to follow
BTS Standings
J-Hop - 375 Toddy G- 355 Plassmido - 230 Ryan - 150 Erik- 150 Thom F.- 140 Dave H. - 125 Tom H. - 100 Jay - 100 Blue Sky - 100 River - 100 Kate - 90 Tom R. - 90 Sonya - 70 Jon G. - 70 Kylan- 60 Jimmy - 50 Roger - 50 Paulito- 50 Brandy - 20 Jason B. -
It was a good time with great friends Joe, Jeff, and Tom. The entire team finished within the top 50, pretty impressive considering this was Tom’s first 100 miler. Joe had some mechanical issues but still managed to finish 16th, I was 23rd, and Jeff posted a huge improvement over last year with his 24th place finish. Tom just made the top 50 with a 48th place. Great job guys, now keep it up as the SM is only a few short weeks away.
It was a good time with great friends Joe, Jeff, and Tom. The entire team finished within the top 50, pretty impressive considering this was Tom’s first 100 miler. Joe had some mechanical issues but still managed to finish 16th, I was 23rd, and Jeff posted a huge improvement over last year with his 24th place finish. Tom just made the top 50 with a 48th place. Great job guys, now keep it up as the SM is only a few short weeks away. 
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