2010 Leadville 100 Race Report, Part 2

08.17.2010 | 10:23 am

A Note from Fatty: This is part 2 of my 2010 Leadville 100 Race Report. Click here for part 1.

The first time I enter the Twin Lakes Dam aid station as I race the Leadville 100, I always get a little sense of foreboding. Up until now, the race is relatively easy. Sure, there are a couple of climbs, but you’re fresh for them; all they’ve really done is soften you up for the first of the two defining features of the Leadville 100: The climb to Columbine Mine.

The Runner’s and my crew — Scott and the IT Guy — had set up before the actual aid station (and had, I should emphasize, done an incredible job of taking care of me), so by the time I got to the aid station, I was all set and could just roll through.

The crowd at the aid station was huge. Hundreds of people. Hundreds of cowbells. I daresay, for the first time ever, that no more cowbell was needed.

And then, right in front of me, a spectator lunged from the left side of the crowd to the right.

And fell down.

Yaaaaah!” I yelled, intelligently, and with italics. There was nowhere to swerve, so I just grabbed brake and hoped.

The spectator rolled out of the way so I missed him by inches, barely saving himself and me from a painful pileup.

Disaster averted. Time to climb. I looked at my timer. 3:07. That seemed . . . too good.

I had not been killing myself. I had not been wanting to set a personal best time. I had even thought that I had been slowed down by the crowded field during the climbs and had expected my time to be slow.

Was I going to somehow get my first sub-9 finish at Leadville, after all these years, by not even trying?

Nah.

I resolved to stick to my plan: have fun and be careful on the flats and descents; hit the climbs hard.

Tick Tick Tick Tick

The difference between singlespeeds and geared mountain bikes is most obvious at one particular moment: when the trail turns upward. This obviousness is manifested in two specific ways:

  • All the geared bikes make shifting noises. If there are a lot of geared bikes turning uphill together, there’s an audible concert of derailleur sounds. This is in fact one of my favorite sounds in the world. It’s beautiful, and I feel a little bit bad that when I’m on a singlespeed, I don’t contribute to that sound.
  • The singlespeed changes position relative to the group. The singlespeed is either going to shoot way out in front, or if the grade is steep enough, going to fall way off the back. One thing is certain: the singlespeed is not going to stay with the geared bikes.

Now, the first part — five miles of climbing, about 3000 feet of altitude gained — of the Columbine Mine climb is always one of my favorite parts of the Leadville 100, because this kind of climbing suits me. I’m good at getting into a climbing groove and then holding it almost indefinitely. On this part of the course, I almost always pass more than I am passed.

But something special happened last Saturday: I felt limitless.

I stood up — with 34 x 20 gearing, almost all climbing is in the standing position — and just went. I passed people constantly, and that is no exaggeration, thanks to a huge crowd of racers. For five miles, I passed someone every 10 to 30 seconds. And during this part of the course, not a single person passed me.

I was like a machine, turning the cranks steadily and easily. Tick tick tick tick.

I know this comes off as boastful; you’ll have to forgive me for that. The fact is it was an incredible, rare moment for me. To be the fast guy, the guy who drops everyone. To be, in my head, briefly, Andy Schleck.

I have never felt quite so strong.

Later, I would look my stats for the day. For the Columbine Mine section (and only for this section), the way I felt while climbing would be confirmed by the numbers (Columbine section highlighted in yellow; click image for larger version):

201008170753.jpg

Out of everyone who raced — all 1022 finishers — I had the 42nd best time for the climb from Twin Lakes Dam to the summit of Columbine Mine.

1:31:54. I’m kinda proud of that.

Zoom

Now I’m done thumping my chest. I promise. And the truth is, my very best day on the bike is still nothing to what the fast guys were doing.

Due to the out-and-back nature of the Leadville 100, everyone who is a racer is also a spectator, getting to see and cheer on the racers go in the opposite direction. One of my very favorite parts of the race is, as I climb the Columbine Mine section, anticipating the moment when the race leaders will come bombing down the road. Much, much, much faster than I could have ever imagined possible.

This year, though, I didn’t get to have that anticipation, because the race leaders bombed by me so early in the cliimb.

Zoooom. There goes JHK, leading the race. Yelling “Rider up! Rider up! Rider up!” as he comes down, looking for a clear line because he has caught everyone by surprise. We hadn’t expected people bombing down the road so soon and so had not crowded over to the right side of the road yet.

Zoooom. There goes Levi Leipheimer, just a few seconds behind.

Zoom. Zoom. Todd Wells and Dave Wiens.

“Those fast guys are fast,” I think to myself. Then the obviousness of my reflexive statement strikes me as hilarious and I want to share it.

“Those fast guys are fast,” I say to whoever is close to me whenever someone comes screaming down the mountain for the rest of the Columbine Mine climb.

Nobody else thinks this is as funny as I do.

No Thanks, I’m Not Hungry Right Now

The Columbine Mine climb is divided up — in my head, at least — into two sections. The first five miles are the “easy” section, where you’re climbing up a groomed dirt road. Its difficulty comes from the altitude; you’re at around 12,000 feet by the time you get to the end of this section.

The “hard” section is the final three miles, where the trail gets narrower, looser, steeper, and very, very (very) rocky.

I walk a lot of this section. Lots of people do. It’s a sufferfest, and there’s nothing to do but put your head down and try to concentrate on at least walking it quickly.

Or if not quickly, at least not lethargically.

I try, in short, to not stand still.

As people zoomed down, calling out encouragement, I looked for faces I recognized. There goes Nate! And Chuck! And Mike! And Kenny! I shout out their names. None of them recognize me in time to shout mine back. I understand why. When you’re descending, you’ve gotta focus on the trail. Though Kenny would later say he simply did not believe it could be me up that high that soon. Nice of him.

And then, as I continue pushing, I see the oddest thing: A sign — “Hot Dogs and Beer.”

And it gets weirder. A guy, in a high-class maitre d’ outfit, with a platter containing little slices of hot dogs. Energetically offering hot dogs to everyone as they go by.

Nobody takes one. Right now, nothing in the world sounds quite so awful as a hot dog.

The maitre d’ sees me. Singles me out.

“Hi, Fatty, you of all people must want a hot dog!”

“The very thought,” I pant, “makes me want…to…hurl.”

“At least have one on the way down, OK?”

“Sure. On the way down,” I lie. Knowing, already, that when I come down I will not slow down. I will look the other way and not make eye contact.

Hot dogs for racers at their very limit, at 12,000 feet. It’s the wackiest, most awful idea I’ve ever heard of.

I hope they’re there again next year.

I. Want. Cantaloupe.

Eventually, I made it to the top of Columbine. My time shows I’ve got there in 4:39. I’m a little disappointed, knowing that I am not prone to negative splits in this race. A curious thing about the Leadville course is that it takes me almost exactly the same amount of time to get back to the start/finish as it does to get to the turnaround spot. So 4:39 means I’m probably going to finish in about 9:18.

Oh well. The sub-9 dream was fun to consider for a while.

But there are more important things on my mind than a fast finish time. Specifically, there is something I have been thinking of for the past half hour.

Cantaloupe. There is cantaloupe at the Columbine Mine aid station.

While most of the other racers simply hit this aid station and turn around, I pull to a stop, shouting, as I do, “bring me cantaloupe, and lots of it!”

This, to my delight, draws a cheer from the aid station volunteers, most of which don’t have anything to do (they’ll all be much busier in a little while; most racers further down the field will relish the chance to stop and eat).

No fewer than three volunteers sprint to the food table, each bringing me a handful of cantaloupe slices.

I eat three, maybe four slices. Okay, maybe five. It is so delicious.

As I finish the last one, I see a young volunteer — maybe nine years old — who has gone back to the table to bring me a double handful of more cantaloupe. He’s holding maybe six or eight slices. All for me.

I eat two. It’s the least (and also the most) I could do.

I then down a cup full of Coke (I love that they have Coke available at the aid stations; that’s new, I think), thank the volunteers for their outrageous awesomeness, and get started on the descent.

Where’s The Runner?

I have a love / hate relationship with the first three miles of the Columbine Mine descent. On the “hate” side of the equation, it’s rocky and technical, and there are a lot of people marching up the good line. And I’m tired.

On the “love” side of the equation, however, this is where I get to see and shout encouragement to friends and family who are making their way to the top.

I yell out to Jilene. Bry. Dave. Another Dave. Ryan. Cory. Heather. And more. And even more people yell out “Go Fatty!” to me.

It’s incredibly encouraging.

But there’s a problem. I do not see The Runner. And I do not hear her shout out to me.

So I start worrying. Has she had a mechanical? An accident? A bad day on the bike? Has she gotten sick?

All the way down, I worry. I worry so much, in fact, that I forget to be frustrated with myself for the fact that now on the descent, I am being passed just as often as I was passing others on the climb. That just as I never got passed while climbing, I never passed a single person while descending.

Forty minutes (about five or six minutes slower than most people around me), I pull into the Twin Lakes Dam aid station. Before I eat or drink anything, I ask, “Is Lisa OK?”

“She’s great,” the IT Guy reassures me. “She came into the aid station just a few minutes behind you. She was riding strong and was happy.”

A huge relief. I had just missed seeing her. And, as I learned later, she had just missed seeing me until it was too late to call out.

I swapped a bottle — once again, I had only drank one bottle between aid stations — and ate what is becoming my new favorite riding food: a Pro Bar Fruition. I doubt my reasons for liking them will ever make it into the marketing material but still, they’re ideal for racing cyclists for a few good reasons:

  • They’re really moist. Unlike most bars that you have to chew and chew and chew and then take a drink and then chew some more, these bars are very soft and moist; you can get them down very quickly when you need to.
  • They’re small enough to cram the whole thing into your mouth at once. It’s nice to get your hands back on your handle bars quickly.
  • They’re tasty. The thing I like about all Pro Bars is that they taste like real food instead of something from a lab. The Fruition bars are heavy on the fruit, and are a great change from the energy bar taste.

No, You Go On

The next fifteen miles went slowly. Mostly because I didn’t pedal very fast. At least, not compared to the people who were passing me on a regular basis. If you look at my standings, you’ll see that I was the 375th fastest person on this section — a far cry from my placing going up to the top of Columbine Mine.

Then, on the paved section leading up to the hardest climb of the day — the Powerline — I met Charlie, another singlespeeder I had met and ridden with earlier in the day. It was nice to have someone to ride alongside with as geared cyclists zoomed by, hollering at us to hop on and draft. “Can’t do it!” we’d yell, wishing we could.

And then it was time for the Powerline. I — along with everyone else — hopped off my bike (OK, I didn’t really “hop;” I actually “very slowly dismounted”) and started the slow march.

And then I heard a bell ding.

Looking behind me, I saw a guy in a Specialized jersey, riding the steepest part of the Powerline.

The sheer amazingness of this will only register with those of you who have marched this trail.

I stood aside and yelled forward, “Everyone off the trail! Someone’s riding this sucker!”

Others looked back and moved aside. Some of us clapped.

Once I got to (what was for most of us) the hike-a-bike section, I got back on my bike and eventually got this guy. I asked, “Did you really just ride all of Powerline without putting a foot down?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s a hell of a thing you just did,” I said. I would have said more, but that was all the breath I had. Still, an awesome climb like that has to be acknowledged.

Your Results May Vary

I finished the Powerline climb, staying on my bike for everything but the initial hike-a-bike section, then gingerly descended Sugar Loaf. Once again, all the people I had just spent half an hour passing zoomed by me.

Really, I should learn to descend faster.

Next up was the St. Kevins paved climb. As I rode up, I once again looked for where I had shot off the road last year. Couldn’t find it, at least not for sure. But I’ve at least now lost my terror of that road. It’s no more curvy or steep than anything I ride regularly.

Nice to have that bugaboo behind me.

I got to the dirt and the final mile of serious climbing in the race. Once again I started passing people, still feeling strong even this late in the race. I was having a good day.

Then someone asked me a question as I went by. “Do we have a chance at sub-9?”

“No,” I said. “We’re 8:20 into the race. We’re about an hour from the finish line. We’re a good sub-9:30 bet, but 9:00 isn’t going to happen.”

“Don’t tell me that,” he said.

“OK, all of that just applies to me,” I amended. “If you’re a great downhiller, you might still make it under 9.”

I hope he did.

Most Awesome Friend of Fatty Ever

Finally: the last hard pitch in the last hard mile of the Leadville 100. I started churning up it. Weary. Glad it was nearly over. Pleased to note that I was riding up a pitch on my singlespeed that people on their geared bikes were choosing to walk.

And then a guy jumped out beside me.

Fatty! You’re doing it man! You’re almost there! You’re spanking the guys on geared bikes!”

He ran / walked / sauntered up the whole pitch with me. Cheering me on like I was some kind of superhero. I swear, I have never seen so much energy in one person at one time, and it was infectious. Encouraged by this guy’s energy, I went faster and crested that last pitch.

To whoever it was who did that: thanks. Your energy got me up a really tough hill.

[Update: The Friend of Fatty I'm talking about is named Tom E (he commented first today), and he sent me a terrific photo of me working on that climb. Check it out:

IMG_4659.JPG

Thanks, Tom! - FC]

Small Finish

The nine hour mark slipped by unnoticed by me, some time as I was riding along the railroad track that leads to The Boulevard — the final climb in the Leadville 100, and a real demoralizer for people who don’t know it’s part of the race. You see The Boulevard is a two-mile dirt road climb that starts at mile 100. Which means the Leadville 100 is really more like the Leadville 103. Since you don’t go down The Boulevard on the way out, you don’t expect it on the way in the first time you do this course.

Nowadays, all The Boulevard means to me is that I’m home free. I’m going to finish the race.

I crossed the line at 9:17 — not a personal best (9:13 is my fastest time on this course), but certainly a best effort.

Afterward

I went and took a quick shower and then came back down to the finish line to catch The Runner when she finished, which she did in 10:29. A strong finish, and she said she had fun talking with all the people who recognized her from this blog, not to mention the admiring comments from everyone who noticed she was riding with a daisy on her handlebars.

Then, at the award ceremony the next day, I got a chance to see how awesome the really fast guys are, even off the bike. I chatted with Dave Wiens, kazillion-time winner of the Leadville 100 and quite possibly the nicest person alive. I talked with JHK and Heather Irmiger, and started my campaign to get the two of them racing the Leadville 100 on a tandem. They say they’re not interested. Pfff.

And then, JHK and I chatted with Levi Leipheimer.

Seriously.

201008171012.jpg

It was great to tell Levi firsthand that I thought his reply to my open letter to him was hilarious.

Then I showed him how awesome I am at playing Yahtzee on the iPhone:

201008171021.jpg

As you can see, Levi was impressed.

Kenny got his award for taking 2nd in the men’s singlespeed category; Heather got her award for taking 2nd in the women’s singlespeed category.

201008171022.jpg

The symmetry was exquisite.

And, finally, The Runner and I got what we had been waiting for: our finisher’s sweatshirts, complete with our finishing time.

201008171017.jpg

It was a good race.

Really, really good.

PS: Tomorrow I kick off a contest for a brand new mountain bike. I won’t tell you what it is yet, but I will tell you it is a very high end bike, tricked out with the new Shimano XTR group, and is worth more than $6,000.00!

60 Comments

  1. Comment by TomE | 08.17.2010 | 10:33 am

    Yo Fatty….that guy (FOF) at the last steep pitch was me (and my dad). When I did Leadville I wished I had someone at this point to cheer me on. You were a ROCK STAR!!!! So glad that I could get a smile out of you. Have some pictures that I will share soon.

  2. Comment by cece | 08.17.2010 | 10:43 am

    Fantastic! What a great race! Congrats! YOU ROCK! It is nice to see Lisa without her helmet on!
    Cece

  3. Comment by Paige | 08.17.2010 | 10:49 am

    I don’t know why, but I just teared up when reading about the guy who helped you up that hill and then to start reading comments and the very first comment was that guy….whoa!

    Very cool they give out sweatshirts with your times on them.

  4. Comment by Cyclin' Missy | 08.17.2010 | 10:52 am

    Awesome report! How great is it to just thoroughly enjoy a ride? Congrats to both of you on finishing in great time!

  5. Comment by MattC | 08.17.2010 | 11:06 am

    Excellent writeup Fatty…so glad you and the Runner, (should we start calling “the rider”?) finished strong, safe and with a phenomenal times (if you ask me…you on a rigid SS? Are you friggin NUTS??)

    I’m just curious to hear if you are taking Levi up on his gracious invite to his Gran Fondo in October. I had a place paid for, but gave it away to a friend (my work is about to get ugly for the forseeable future). Also anxious to hear about the new mt bike giveaway. Rock on! And TomE…you da MAN!

  6. Comment by Daisy @ 3pinkdrinks | 08.17.2010 | 11:12 am

    Fatty, I can’t imagine completing 100 miles with anything other than a car… certainly, undoubtedly, absolutely never on a single speed! I can barely make 25 miles on Mid-Mountain trail… with lots of gears.

    Mad props to you and The Runner!

    But really, what I’m most interested in, is the daisy on The Runner’s handlebars. I had no idea she pimped her ride, too. Well done! We need to ride together sometime.

    http://www.3pinkdrinks.com/3pinkdrinks/2010/08/jen-a-beginners-guide-to-pimping-your-ride.html

  7. Comment by skippy | 08.17.2010 | 11:23 am

    EASILY one of the most impressive race reports that i have ever read, worth waiting for and certainly better than anticipated !
    Can see where Horny’s efforts are overshadowed and why you have such a large following.
    Hope you go to LL’s Gran Fondo as the report will make me feel as if i am there and if i had the resources i would be tempted.
    Remember skiing the Zermatt glacier which is seriously high and having to push on the stocks to get a little speed going, pushing a bike uphill i think would be a little too much for me.

    Congrats to both of you on your physical effort and the great indepth atmospheric report and chapeau to the “volunteers that supported the event !

  8. Comment by 100poundsago | 08.17.2010 | 11:43 am

    You can ride and do math…like estimating your finish time? I cant even do math standing still!

  9. Comment by orangekathy | 08.17.2010 | 11:52 am

    Wow! You guys rock. You are tough as nails!

    But shhhhhhsh. Do not let Will Ferrell and Christopher Walken know of your blasphemy. ‘No more cowbell was needed.’ ducks! :D

  10. Comment by Ethan | 08.17.2010 | 12:09 pm

    Alright Fatty, I’m calling you out. You’ve slipped into a familiar formula. It goes something like this:

    1. Announce your participation in [insert race or event name here].
    2. Detail how little training/preparation you’ve done.
    3. Go into great detail about how you are just going to do it for fun. No expectations. You suck. Etc.
    4. Write a post-race report about how you did SO MUCH BETTER than you expected/deserved/etc.

    I love you, man, but here’s my challenge: Pick a race and set a very ambitious goal. A Sub-9 Leadville seems reasonable, for example. And then train. Or don’t train. But just don’t make excuses. Then go out and try hard to achieve your goal. It’s okay to occasionally do a race with expectations.

    You can do it!

    I dunno man. I kinda like my pattern. – FC

  11. Comment by charlie | 08.17.2010 | 12:13 pm

    Great job, buddy!

  12. Comment by charlie | 08.17.2010 | 12:14 pm

    http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=643430

    Oh, and here is a link to the hot dog and PBR guys…

    That is awesome. And they are awesome. Thanks for that link! – FC

  13. Comment by DavidV | 08.17.2010 | 12:16 pm

    Damn I’d love to ride this race. Physically I wouldn’t be able to do it, but reading your posts makes me feel like I am doing it (without the pain).

  14. Comment by TomE | 08.17.2010 | 12:19 pm

    @ Paige and @ MattC – yup…big fatty fan!!

    My dad had a cowbell…sorry Fatty and my mom had some of those ridiculously large “clappy” hands. To all that passed by us on that last steep section and said “Thanks for being out here….”, it was US that should be thanking you for racing and suffering so hard!! True inspiration.

  15. Comment by G | 08.17.2010 | 12:38 pm

    Such an awesome write-up, Fatty! Congrats on a great race.

  16. Comment by Metric Jason | 08.17.2010 | 12:50 pm

    Fatty,

    Every single time I read one of your Leadville (and other ride) reports it makes me want to be a better rider and writer. And of course to ride Leadville someday when I’m ready. Thanks for continuing to entertain and inspire on so many levels!

  17. Comment by Jai | 08.17.2010 | 1:10 pm

    Sounds like a great ride – I’ve got another race for you though. Come up to Squamish BC in June for the Test of Metal, 800 rider mass start 67K epic BC singletrack race. Registration New Year’s Day, sells out in hours. You’d love it!

  18. Comment by Bryan | 08.17.2010 | 1:23 pm

    Great ride fatty! Awesome day for both you and the runner.

  19. Comment by rad | 08.17.2010 | 1:24 pm

    Hey Fatty – just curious – what did Levi have in his hand?

  20. Comment by Bryan (not that one) | 08.17.2010 | 1:30 pm

    Great job, Fatty! I love reading your ride/race reports.

  21. Comment by Bill | 08.17.2010 | 1:37 pm

    Thanks for the write up. I too loved the guys handing out dogs and beer! Question, where did you find your placing information in the race?

    Milliseconds.com has all the racers’ info up now. Click here. – FC

  22. Comment by Mark | 08.17.2010 | 2:11 pm

    Great job – ride and writeup both! In a previous life I lived in Colorado and climbed all the 14ers (on foot). Even did Mt. Evans on a bike once, but I don’t think I ever had as much fun being in pain as you describe! Super!

  23. Comment by Brewinman | 08.17.2010 | 2:12 pm

    Once again, you give us an excellent race report. I really do feel like I’m there when I’m reading your writing. I enjoy every year’s tale of the sufferfest that is the Leadville 10(3)0. Glad to read this year’s and find that it was so enjoyable for you. Congrats on ridding yourself of the bugaboo. Keep up the great work! I read this blog every day! (Sshhh, don’t tell my boss)

  24. Comment by Accident Prone | 08.17.2010 | 2:44 pm

    Awesome. What a fantastic ride! You do such a great job at your ride reports I can almost picture it all, even though I’ve never been. Makes me want to go to Leadville just to be a spectator. So glad you had such a good ride!

  25. Comment by Keenedge | 08.17.2010 | 3:06 pm

    Great read Fatty! Glad that you and the “Rider” both survived the suffer fest. Thanks for keeping me inspired and entertained. Look forward to every post!

  26. Comment by bubbaseadog | 08.17.2010 | 3:08 pm

    where was lance did he not race because levi was entered what gos on go for the fondo or fondue

  27. Comment by Haven (KT) | 08.17.2010 | 3:14 pm

    Rad: Looks like a bottle of wine to me. I’m an expert on bottles of wine. :)

    Fatty, great write-up! Glad to hear you finished well, as did the Runner. I loved Levi’s response to your letter, and I think you should totally take him up on his invite– and his challenge.

  28. Comment by Adventure Monkey | 08.17.2010 | 3:24 pm

    Great job Fatty!

  29. Comment by Kathleen@ForgingAhead | 08.17.2010 | 3:24 pm

    Awesome race report and even better race! Sorry you didn’t break the 9 hour barrier but really it sounds like it was a great day! Congrats to Lisa too!!

  30. Comment by sunny d | 08.17.2010 | 4:18 pm

    i’m not a competive cyclist, just started the sport at age 60. i’m hooked on your site and love the comaraderie i feel you all have. wish i were younger and getting started. thanks for the laughs and sometimes tears.

    There are lots of 60+ men doing the LT100. They are all heroic to the rest of us. Maybe think about making this a goal? – FC

  31. Comment by Yukirin Boy | 08.17.2010 | 4:28 pm

    Magnificent! Congratulations to you both.
    Sometimes, just occasionally, I wish I could take part in the Leadville with you, then reality pulls me back and thinks 103miles!! are you crazy! Uphill too – you are definitely crazy!

  32. Comment by Steve | 08.17.2010 | 4:48 pm

    Awesome. There are no other words for it. Okay, there are, but I don’t know ‘em…

    Congratulations to both you and Lisa!

  33. Comment by G | 08.17.2010 | 4:51 pm

    Rad.

  34. Comment by Heber Chad | 08.17.2010 | 4:52 pm

    Way to go! Is are there any Team Fatty members doing the Park City Point to Point?

  35. Comment by sunny d | 08.17.2010 | 6:05 pm

    Thanks FC for the encouragement. I’m a gal and I’ll keep plugging along. I gotta get through Lambert Park first without screaming and crashing! Do they have biking teachers! lol

  36. Comment by HotDog Guy | 08.17.2010 | 7:30 pm

    Fatty, thanks for lying to the maitre’d of the hotdog stand. Sad face….

    Actually it was super fun running that little surprise on Columbine and I had a pretty good idea that everyone would love the idea but would pass on eating and/or drinking. No worries, there were a few that came back by and supped with us.

    Rad, it looks like Levi is holding a bottle of Stranahans Whiskey. A fine Colorado spirit brewed just a stones throw from my house.

  37. Comment by Geb Souhan | 08.17.2010 | 8:04 pm

    Fatty-
    Great ride for you and The Runner.
    Thanks for taking a few minutes to chat while you were waiting for your sweatshirts. (and for the photo as well)
    After getting my first belt buckle with less than 5 minutes to spare, I was never coming back to Leadville. As I write this on Tuesday night, my position has now softened a bit, and I am hoping to recruit someone to come and give it a try next year.
    Keep up the good work!

    p.s. to the HotDogGuy- I did eat a dog, but didn’t have a beer- great set up though!!

  38. Comment by Nurse Betsy | 08.17.2010 | 8:28 pm

    Congrats to you and Runner for a great race. I too think I’m really funny. I’m usually the only one laughing at the joke. OH well, I’m happy.

  39. Comment by vito | 08.17.2010 | 9:02 pm

    Very awesome and inspiring. I’m still hoping to get a chance sometime soon. Father time is ticking.

  40. Comment by Born 4Lycra | 08.17.2010 | 9:42 pm

    I think it’s brilliant that people you mention in the race actually get on here and fill in the detail. I really hope the guy hoping for a sub 9 also lets us know his fate. Brilliant immediate response to his reaction by the way.
    As usual the race report was first class – just like being there.
    Also well done runner.

  41. Comment by Dobovedo | 08.17.2010 | 9:57 pm

    I’m sure you already worked the math on this, Fatty, but you did, in fact, get your negative split. The second half was 4:38:19, a whopping 49 seconds faster! Woohoo!

  42. Comment by Dan O | 08.17.2010 | 11:27 pm

    Great ride and write up. Awesome job on both. Enjoyed it.

  43. Comment by AngieG | 08.17.2010 | 11:43 pm

    Fatty- you and The Runner are amazing.

    Hope you take Levi up on his offer. The Sonoma Coast beckens. I can personally guarantee you will both have a truly wonderful time.(Ha Ha its and “insider” thing) The King Ridge Gran Fondo is a class ride that is truly EPIC!!
    I can’t believe @MattC is bailing on me. :-( I’ll have to find another time to catch up with my adopted Bro. But GregC and team will be there to lead you out.
    Come to Cali, Come to Cali. ( my pathetic attempt at internet subliminal messaging) :-)

  44. Comment by AK_Chick | 08.17.2010 | 11:51 pm

    Love it! Love the report. Love the photos! Love the hot dog guys! That is SO awesome. They should come to Alaska for our big bike ride – the Fireweed 400 (actually a series of rides 50 miler, 100 miler, 200 miler, 300 miler [over 2 days], and a 400 miler which is a 24 hour ride). :)

    Personally, I like your blogs and I like how you set them up. I would be very upset if you changed your formula. So please don’t. If people don’t like it, they can go find another blog. I can’t believe some people have the audacity to tell someone what to write on their blog. Ridiculous!

    Congratulations on your awesome finish and The Runner’s awesome finish (she’s so stinkin’ cute). It almost makes me want to do it. Except I live about 130 feet above sea level. I hate hills. As in, when I see a hill I tend to drop a lot of unladylike f-bombs and a lot of “UNBELIEVABLEs!” So climbing something like Columbine Mine or the other one where you have to hike given my wimpy sealevel lungs? Probably not a good move on my part. So I’ll continue to live vicariously through you.

    Awesome job to all that participated! I’m in awe!

  45. Comment by Phil Piserchio | 08.18.2010 | 12:20 am

    I absolutely loved your description of this ride. I’m 5 weeks into hip resurfacing surgery recovery, and I hope I’m one day able to try such an epic event.

  46. Comment by Patrick | 08.18.2010 | 3:01 am

    Great race report Fatty! If I was any good at MTBing it would be an honour and a priviledge to pace you to a sub-9, until then I’ll cheer on from afar!

  47. Comment by James | 08.18.2010 | 3:45 am

    Fatty

    Do you reaslise you lost to 8 girls!!!

    but to be fair you did awesome!

    i enjoy your blogs keep going

    James

  48. Comment by Susan with a bum knee | 08.18.2010 | 5:07 am

    Oh Fatty your stories, like the sagas of old
    Leave me on pins and needles as the race unfolds.
    They also drive me to get on the bike
    Though my knee says, ‘for now, inside’s what I like”
    So I’m off on a mission to find a road steed
    And I’ll put it on a trainer since that’s what I need.
    But I’ll be thinking of you and the Runner
    for my miles of nowhere at the end of the summer.

  49. Comment by Theresa | 08.18.2010 | 6:33 am

    The part of the report I identified with the most was your fixation on the cantaloupe. I don’t ride, but the first time I ran a half marathon, that was all I could think about for the last 3 miles. They had cantaloupe and watermelon at the finish…or as I like to refer to them, Sweet Nectar From Heaven.

  50. Comment by D. | 08.18.2010 | 10:50 am

    _DSC0147.jpg

  51. Comment by D. | 08.18.2010 | 10:52 am

    Kenny flying the flag. Saw him first thru Twin Lakes. Not sure where Alfred got around him for the W. You weren’t too far behind KJ either Elden.

  52. Comment by Brian | 08.18.2010 | 10:59 am

    Been reading you for a while and enjoy very much your writing. Found out lately I have Myeloma which is a major bummer as it has slowed down my running and biking quite a bit. I’ve been looking forward to your a/c of Leadville and you had me laughing out loud today which is a rarity at the moment. Your mix of honesty humour and biking is quite the tonic. Thank you.

  53. Comment by Scott | 08.18.2010 | 11:57 am

    its true, Dave Wiens is the nicest guy ever. He chatted me for at least 20 minutes at the Ride4Yellow in Steamboat Springs just a week earlier. Nicest dude ever, but impossible to follow him on any singletrack. He takes Superman lines.

  54. Comment by judi | 08.18.2010 | 7:35 pm

    your wife is my freaking hero fatty. please tell her that for me. i am inspired to try the mohican 100 and get the heck away from mdot stuff.

  55. Comment by Carl | 08.18.2010 | 8:26 pm

    Great job you two!!! Do you find it suspicious that Lance backed out and “some guy” fell in front of you? Maybe those Radio Shack guys were trying to take you out? Do we know where Lance was that day?

  56. Comment by Susie | 08.19.2010 | 10:56 am

    another amazing couple of posts! was thinking about you and your runner all weekend, and then totally forgot to check your race report. what’s wrong with me…ah, but the good news is i’m enjoying it right now! keep it up, and hey, maybe i’ll see you in santa rosa in october? :)

  57. Comment by ricky | 08.20.2010 | 12:23 pm

    elden,
    it was a pleasure to see you ride past me and my wife debbie at the top of that last hill on your way to your proud finish! my gosh, i thought fatty was flying!…gone are the days of the hometown LT100 we grew to love, but we have those memories… chatting all the way up columbine several years ago, starting together in the corral, enduring the loss of loved ones…i talked about you and i when the people from citizen pictures interviewed me, i am honored to call you friend!
    ricky

  58. Comment by Fat Chick on a Bike | 08.20.2010 | 7:39 pm

    Why did the Runner have the Rawrod “last person” Daisy on her bike?

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  60. Pingback by Fat Cyclist » Blog Archive » 2011 Leadville 100 Race Report: Part 2 | 08.16.2011 | 9:26 am

    [...] Last year, my best section of the race was, without question, the Columbine Climb; I did this section in 1:31. This year, I held back a little, resolved not to worry about being as fast to the top. Instead, I’d hold something in reserve so that I wouldn’t implode for the second half of the race. [...]

 

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