26th
A few thoughts before I leave…
The Furnace Creek 508 Invitational ultra cycling race is in less than 7 days.
Tomorrow morning, I will get on a plane with my bicycles, gear and the knowledge that I’ve done what I can take fully prepare for this awesome event.
How awesome is it you ask?
Well, for one, this will be the longest ride I’ve ever done - by a full 6 miles. My ride across Ontario in May was just over 502 miles, this one is at least 508.
There are also a few hills on this ride - some 35,000 feet of climbing overall. They say that it is the equivalent of riding 4 mountain stages of the Tour de France without stopping.
Then there’s the heat. The forecast for next weekend on the course ranges between 33c (94f) and 42c (107f) degrees - some parts of the course will be hotter than others. The weather overnight will dip down to a cool 16 degrees celsius.
It is going to take a concerted effort to minimize the effects of the sun. I will be cycling in long shorts with full arm and head coverings. I’m persuaded that using fabric to keep the sun away will be much more effective than any chemical lotion. If it works for the desert nomads, it should work for me.
Thankfully, we’re going to have a full moon and a long night, so I will have a long cool reprieve during the dark hours. My strategy will be to drink as much as I can during the overnight to replenish any fluid lost to the heat of the day. I will also seek to “make time” during the overnight hours while it is cool.
I’m feeling great about my prospects. More so than any of my other races this year. I’m most looking forward to the experience of this event - I don’t have a strong feeling that I need to prove myself as I did in the earlier rides. My main priority is to have fun and finish safely.
I’m also quite excited that I will be racing against David Goggins. He is an amazing ultra athlete and I will definitely be keeping a close eye on him.
All of my bags are packed, my reservations are made, cars arranged, etc., etc., etc. A thousand details have been attended to, and hopefully none missed. We will need to still buy a few things while we are down there. Some bike supplies, water containers, that sort of thing. Nothing too expensive or involved - hopefully.
I will post more when I arrive and throughout the week. Now its just time to go to bed and wait for the morning to come.
Posted at 22:02 - Comments (View)
