Seven Springs 24 hr. Challenge

I wrote this post on my fourth lap of the day which happened to start around 6 a.m. I was ending the long climb that began at the intersection of the course and County Line Rd. The climb that takes you up a rocky double-track switch-back (three times fast!) and drops you onto some new trails before cresting the way top and descending back down. That's where I wrote this post; or at least the opening.

I had just yelled something or other down the hill to Jason which got me thinking about turkey meatballs. This got me thinking about Mike Friedman whose nickname IS Meatball, which in then got me wishing I had worn my argyle Twin Six jersey instead of my 4.5 laps old ToP jersey. Not only would the clean jersey feel nice and fresh but the blue and white diamonds bring out the gray in my eyes so well. After pondering this for a second or thirty, I started to wish I had my I-Pod so I could listen to some LCD Soundsytem instead of the strange thoughts that run through my brain at 6:30 a.m. This finally got me thinking about computers and this thing you're reading now. Why can't my brain just go from Jason and his terribly popular online presence, to my not so popular online mashup? Few more important questions have ever been asked.

We got fourth; I'm kinda bummed. I had a blast though and would do it all over tomorrow if I could. Highlights, lowlights, and just alrights.

Highlights-

- Lap 1 time of 1:10 after surviving the run which is a miracle in itself.
- Lap 2 time of 1:05.
- Jeremy put down a first lap of 1:20 which got me super excited for him.

Lowlights-

- Completely rolling my front tire off of my rim in the first mile and a half of my third lap. I reached behind my seatpost for the tube that is always taped there but somehow managed to not make the trip with me this time. Whoops. There was Stans everywhere and I was pretty much out of options. One small Co2 cartridge, a couple Hail Marys, and a quick cross later I was able to limp through the lap on 20 pounds. We went to church Sunday night.
- Once again having rear derailleur issues the night before the race; replaced and adjusted lickity split.
- My calf completely seizing at the end of the first lap.
- I felt pretty terrible during my last lap. Don felt left out so he rode it with me which made me happy. It probably would have take me five to ten minutes longer had he not come along for the ride. He was looking really fit after his jaunt at the beach two weeks prior. Lap 5 time of 1:16

Just alrights-

- Lap 3 time of 1:13 with the whole tire debacle.
- Lap 4 time of 1:13 with no tire debacle.
- Last year we did 19 laps and won by two laps. This year we did 19 laps and got fourth. Yikes.

In retrospect, I had a really great time. So many great people that I've come to know over the past year or so were there which made the entire weekend seem like a big party. Sitting by the fire talking to Justin trying to absorb everything he said was my between lap ritual. Super good guy, can't wait to get out with him sometime so he can beat me up a little. Stopping by Jason's site to see the love and passion that he has for this type of masochism while at the same time getting to witness the devotion of a wife helping her husband succeed. Rumor has it that another solo friend was taken to the hospital at some point during the race. Dying to live has never been so literal and so scary. Hopefully everything is ok. Talking to Aaron S and Don P was really cool as they're people that I've seen around, but never really talked to. It's amazing how one day and a venue like a 24 hour race can fast-forward a friendship. Of course all of the usual suspects were there like Anthony, the Brads, MJ, and Chrissy who (I think?) defended her female solo title. Super proud to call all of these people my friends.

And the guys on my team, what can I say? We did all we could and it just wasn't good enough. That doesn't mean I regret it for a second though. They're all such great people and I owe them a lot. Their bringing me along has meant so much to me. So much more than words typed can express.