Pet the Goat and other cycling adventures

This column was published in the Tri-Valley Herald on April 28, 2009 and a few days later in the Valley Times.

Somewhere ahead of me a couple Saturdays ago, my cycling buddy Bryan Gillette was pedaling his bicycle toward the summit of Mt. Hamilton in 90 degree weather.
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I had dropped back.

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I knew he would finish the 206 mile Devil Mountain Double, but the question was, would I?
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I had an excuse for not keeping up. Two weeks earlier I’d run 50 miles mostly uphill along the American River from Sacramento to Auburn. My legs hadn’t fully recovered, I told myself, and the heat wasn’t helping.

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As I pedaled in pursuit of my friend and a distant finish line that would somehow accomplish something, I wondered how it is I manage to sign up for these ultra endurance events.

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After all, I'm an old guy at 52.

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And yet I’ve been running marathons for decades and going on long bikes rides since I was in high school. There’s something I enjoy in the physical and mental challenge, the often stunning views along marathon and bike routes, the absence of phones and email, the joy of having just one goal instead of the day-to-day multitasking that is my life.

Bryan Gillette (left) with me at the Mines Road aid station, approx 90 miles into the ride. Shortly after this rest stop, Bryan pulled ahead of me and I never caught up to him. Byan is an amazing cyclist, and on the day of this ride, he was feeling symptoms similar to the flu.

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Speaking of physical challenges, the Devil Mountain Double includes 20,000 feet of elevation gain. Approximately 200 riders from as far away as England signed up for this annual event that took place on April 18. The route starts in San Ramon and makes a giant circle, going up and over Mt. Diablo, over Morgan Territory Road, out to Tracy, back up Patterson Pass, out Tesla Road in Livermore to Mines Road, up to the top of Mt. Hamilton, down into San Jose and then back up into the foothills via Sierra Road, down Calaveras Road to Sunol, out Niles Canyon and up and over Palomares to Crow Canyon and Norris Canyon, and then to the finish at the San Ramon Marriott.

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Yes, it’s a long way to ride a bike in one day.

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The first place finisher, in 12 hours and 12 minutes, was Kevin Metcalf of Pleasant Hill.

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Along the route, Bryan and I were joined by fellow cyclists Steve and Jan Sherman and Jerry Pentin, who came out to ride with us for portions of the ride. Their moral support and companionship were invaluable, as was the support provided by more than 80 volunteers.

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As I rode, often alone for hour upon hour and mile after mile, I made mental notes of the various creatures I encountered. I knew I’d be spending the following day with my two teenaged daughters, and I wanted to recount for my 13-year-old the many animals I came upon.

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These included lizards, a snake, a bull in the road, horses, deer, birds, sheep, dogs, and cats.

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And then there was the goat. Our route maps showed a rest stop at mile 160 called “Pet the Goat.” I was never sure during the ride if the stop actually included a goat, let alone whether I would get to pet it.

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As I made my way up Sierra Road, as evening turned to night, I pulled into the rest stop, greeted by volunteers and a hot cup of cocoa. And there he was: the goat.

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“Welcome,” said a volunteer. “Congratulations on getting this far. You may pet the goat.”

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So I did. I petted the goat, took its picture, thanked the volunteers, mentioned that I was almost certain I wouldn’t finish the whole ride, and set off into the chilly darkness.

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Five miles later at 10 p.m., at the top of what we cyclists call the “wall” on Calaveras Road, the most wonderful woman in the world pulled up alongside me in her black Honda Pilot.

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As I climbed into the warm embrace of my wife’s car, I learned that Bryan was certain to finish the entire 206 miles, which he did 47 minutes later.

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For me, 17 hours and 165 miles in one day was enough.
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Then again, maybe next year I’ll make it the whole way.

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To learn more about the Devil Mountain Double, visit http://www.quackcyclists.com/.

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American River 50

The American River 50 Mile Endurance Run on April 4, 2009 took place under awesome skies and perfect weather. Vistas of the river were spectacular. I joined 600 + runners at 6 a.m. in the dark to participate for the second time in this ultramarathon. Last year I finished in 10:39. My goal this year was to beat that time. (My secret goal was to break 10 hours.) But there was one problem: I didn't train anywhere near as much leading up to the race this year. On the other hand, last year I ran the first half with my wife Pam, and we went out very cautiously since we didn't know what to expect.

My initial miles clicked by easily and at mile 18 I was feeling great. By the 26.2 mile mark--the marathon--I was on my way to beating last year's finish time. My marathon split was 4:38, compared to last year's 5:10. I was destined, or so it seemed, to beat my time last year. But remember, I didn't have the endurance miles in my legs this year, and I wasn't sure what was in store in the second half.

Beals Point at 26.77 miles is where last year I ran on ahead of Pam. This year, she met me there and became my pacer to run the second half with me. Pacers are allowed after Beals, and can even take aid at the stations. The second half of the course leaves the paved bike path and heads into rocky trail terrain. So most runners, me included, run the second half slower than the first. Since my split at Beals was 4:45, I figured I had a shot at just under 10 hours if I slowed down only 15 minutes.

As the miles came and went, we both charged the flats, powerwalked with gusto the uphills, passed a lot of people. I continued to take S-caps, eat potatoes dipped in salt, drink coke in the cups at the aid stations, eat handfuls of cheese-its, a few scoops of M&Ms, and drink broth from time to time. I carried one bottle, initially filled with water, then filled with GU20 which they had at the aid stations.

At one point crossing a stream, Pam took a spill and thought she'd sprained her wrist. She got half wet and bruised her hip. Yet she got up and charged on.

In the final 6 miles I started to fade. I really wish I had my secret weapon at that point: an Odwalla. Gels and GU20 weren't doing it, and I was feeling a little queasy. I found myself walking more, even on some flats. My hips and legs felt good (except my left knee), but I was just running out of energy. Soon I realized I wasn't going to break 10 hours.

At mile 47, I paused for a photo. By this point we had embarked on the very steep final hills. These are "in your face" and "kick your butt" miles that are relentlessly uphill. The pay off, though, is the sound of the finish line.

As I neared that final line, I thought about the depths of my own determination I had tapped during this race. I remembered, like last year, that endurance sports are as much about going deep as they are about going long.

As I crossed the line, the clock read 10:14 -- 25 minutes faster than last year.

Thanks to Pam for her support. She was a great pacer and ran an awesome 24 miles herself !

Next endurance event...the Double Mountain Devil on April 18 (206 miles on a bicycle with my buddy Bryan Gillette!)

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