Breck Epic -- overall results

here's the link again: http://www.cjtiming.com/BreckEpic/2009%20Breckenridge%20Epic%20-%20General%205.html

Congrats to Dubba, Travis, Yuki and Jeff K. Amazing work.

Stage 6 -- Gold Dust Trail

The last stage of the Breck Epic!!! 33 mi. 5500k of climbing up to 11,500, twice. The first climb was up Boreas Pass to part of the Firecracker route. I was in the top 50 or so going into the single track -- a position I hadn't found myself in at all this week. I saw my competitor for 3rd pull off the course and play w/his cycle computer. I figured I had only one strategy -- hit him hard right now, on the first climb, and hope he blew spectacularly trying to follow. How else, other than him crashing, was I to claw back the 15mins?? So I played my card. There was a spectacular blow up for sure, but it was me that blew, not him! I tried to recover and keep him in my sights as he started to pull away on some flat dirt sections, but to no avail. Never saw him again. Rode tempo on the long road climb back up to 11,500 and had a super fun descent back to the hockey rink. Finished in 4th, again, and 4th overall.

The Breck Epic was epic. My hats off to Mike Mac and his crew. It was obvious that a lot of work and care went into the event, particularly the race routes. I found there is a mtb racing subculture in endurance events. Many people I met I have never seen before in XC races, and they were fast, talented and fun to hang out with. Everyone was very supportive of each other and offered encouragement and congrats all along the way. Not what I'm used to seeing in XC races. I actually had several people offer wheels to me on some of the long road sections, hoping to help me get to 3rd. It was cool they offered; it was amazing they even knew about my little race w/in the race. I tried, but I simply had no legs on the long second climb. The brain said, "Push!". The legs said, "F you!!"... To all of you, Sonya, Jeff, Stewart, Steve and others, thanks! Sorry I couldn't pull it off... Next time. And to Bruce, who took 3rd overall, congrats, you were clearly the stronger...

j

Stage 5 -- Wheeler Pass

Going into this stage, I was 4th on GC and needed to take back 35mins from the current 3rd place rider. I felt I had the best legs of the week so far. I caught and attacked the 3rd place rider on some single track leading to a long dirt climb. I got a gap and kept pushing on. He reeled me in on the hike-a-bike up to the summit of 12k Wheeler Pass. He literally walked by me and I couldn't keep pace w/him! I was so gassed, that I was reduced to counting 40 steps, then stopping to breath, and repeating the process for 45 mins or so. The view at the top was spectacular -- on the ridge of the Breck Universe. Awesome descending. I finished and heard the announcer say, "And John Bliss riding in the 50+ solo division for Chipotle Titus has moved into 3rd." What? What happened to the dude? He came in 20 mins later, looking very frustrated and tired. He told me he took a wrong turn somewhere and headed down a long road. So, now, that puts me still 15mins in the hole to get the 3rd place GC position. I'm heading for a massage now to work out the screaming QL muscles frm the long hike a bike effort... All for now.

p.s. to today's stage

Devon Balet, photographer for Mountain Flyer, has been doing some writing and shooting of the race on Mountain Flyer's site. Devon told me he got a nice shot of the only Chipotle/Titus rider out there ...

http://www.mountainflyer.com/news.cfm?itemid=237

Breck Epic Prologue

Day 1 of my first-ever stage race started up the switchbacks from Carter Park (the final descent of the Firecracker 50). We got Boulder's storm. Rained hard throughout the day. I had a 3:32 start and it had just started to subside at the base, so I threw Drew's Vaude jacket into the jersey pocket (but it came in really handy, Drew, on the chilly, low 40's road descent). Everything was going pretty well until that long, straight, uphill slog. I started getting that "feeling". Oh crap, am I really going to hurl? Got off my bike, walked a bit, then saw Mike Mac, who said, "Hey, we cut the course short due to really bad weather above us. You've got 1/8 of a mile of flat and you're done." Couldn't have come at a better time! Hopefully, I've blown out the carburetor, and my altitude sickness is behind me... I finished 4th, and I think about a minute back from 3rd.

Tomorrow is supposed to be about 44 miles and 5k of climbing. It starts out w/a police escort neutral start on road, then some more road section to thin everbody out.

It's 9pm and we just got back from dinner. We were required to listen through a pretty long-winded discussion of Breck Epic philosophy, history of the trails, an almost turn by turn description of tomorrow's course, etc. There was a fairly spirited discussion about whether people should be allowed to accept hand-ups at any point of the course. The crowd voted that down. Also voted down was a requirement to carry first aid kit and survival blanket, opting instead for placing it at the aid station of your choice. Let's hope the serious crashes occur close to the aid stations! Not sure about the wisdom of that choice.... Well, have to go prepare for tomorrow. Good night all.