In 2015 I had my first experience with the Mohican 100. I had heard about the 100 before and I was excited for the opportunity to go and cheer on my husband as well as the rest of my Knobby Side Down teammates. I brought my dad along with me that day. We had a great time watching everyone from start to finish. At one point in time my dad said to me, "I suppose you will do this crazy race next year". After observing many riders come through the aid stations with the look of pain and fatigue on their faces I said, "no, this type of race is not my thing". Also, in the back of my mind I thought I am not physically fit to even consider doing something like this.
As the year went on I thought more and more about doing that race. Yes, initially I remember seeing the faces of riders that were mentally beat down and physically fatigued, but the more I thought about it there was a ton of excitement associated with the race. Several people were also very high spirited and had a real sense of accomplishment as they rolled through the aid stations and across the finish line.
In late fall I broke the news to my husband that I was contemplating the race. Initially he looked at me like I was crazy, which is a fair assessment. After some discussion he said if I wanted to do it he would support me and help me train. I am pretty sure he thought this might be another one of my hair brained ideas that I would possibly forget about after a few weeks.
I am not a strong rider. I have come a long way over the last few years, but I knew if I wanted to finish this race I would need to really need to step things up and I would have to mentally commit - all in 100%.
Over the winter word was out that I was contemplating doing the race for the first time. At first there was fear, "OMG they are really going to think I am crazy?" But with this team, crazy is normal. I had a few initial conversations with some of the ladies on the team (Angie, Corianne and Lisa) about doing the race and my excitement grew. By the beginning of the year I was set on doing the race. I was also celebrating a milestone birthday in 2016, which gave me more motivation to prove to myself, you can do this.
As the year went on I thought more and more about doing that race. Yes, initially I remember seeing the faces of riders that were mentally beat down and physically fatigued, but the more I thought about it there was a ton of excitement associated with the race. Several people were also very high spirited and had a real sense of accomplishment as they rolled through the aid stations and across the finish line.
In late fall I broke the news to my husband that I was contemplating the race. Initially he looked at me like I was crazy, which is a fair assessment. After some discussion he said if I wanted to do it he would support me and help me train. I am pretty sure he thought this might be another one of my hair brained ideas that I would possibly forget about after a few weeks.
I am not a strong rider. I have come a long way over the last few years, but I knew if I wanted to finish this race I would need to really need to step things up and I would have to mentally commit - all in 100%.
Over the winter word was out that I was contemplating doing the race for the first time. At first there was fear, "OMG they are really going to think I am crazy?" But with this team, crazy is normal. I had a few initial conversations with some of the ladies on the team (Angie, Corianne and Lisa) about doing the race and my excitement grew. By the beginning of the year I was set on doing the race. I was also celebrating a milestone birthday in 2016, which gave me more motivation to prove to myself, you can do this.
Lisa, Corianne, Me after a training ride in Funk Bottoms Let the training begin... I had to put the miles in so I could make sure I could get across the finish line. As many of the other team members do, there were endless miles on the indoor trainer over the winter months, thank you Sufferfest and Trainer Road. There were countless mornings of getting up way too early in the morning to be the first one to get that training ride complete and uploaded to Strava in for the day. It seemed at times that Lisa Costello, Michael Canterbury and I had an unofficial early morning competition going on. In reality that is just when it fit into our family and work schedules for the day. Then there were the countless rides outdoors as the Ohio winter and spring weather would allow. Mike and I are lucky enough to have the hills of T-County all around us so he made sure I did my fair share of miles outside. At the end of February, I did the Funk Bottom Gravel Grind ride hosted by Josh Kunz. It was a good test to see where I was at physically. It was awesome!
February Funk bottoms adventure! The closer it came to race day the more nervous and excited I became. Shout out to my KSD team mates in that last month. The ladies kept me energized with their encouraging text messages. Mike started helping me look at some of my training rides as well as times for some of the women that did the race in previous years. We really started talking about what goals I should set for my times. This is the first I really thought about my time seriously. Up to that point my goal was to just get across the line, I figured I'm not fast so who cares about my time. He stressed the importance of setting some basic goals for my time to keep me motivated during the race. Kenny and Corianne Kocarek as well as Kevin Burgess sent me sample spreadsheets that they had used in the past to set targets for the race. Kenny analyzed my Strava rides and gave me some overall averages based on my previous ride data. The spreadsheet that Tim Portman created with target times based on your overall goal was just what I needed. Over those final weeks leading up to the race I set my target times. My excitement grew even more.
How about that nutrition? Ugg...race day nutrition...this is something I had been putting off, which I know is the worst thing you can do before a big race. I had tried different foods during training rides over the winter and spring. I found things my body would tolerate. My big issue is that generally I have NO desire to eat while I am riding. I like to drink plenty of fluids, but the thought of eating any type of food makes me sick, especially on longer rides. I was getting pretty nervous about what to do for race day. Some of the team members were using Infinit Nutrition, so I checked it out. I answered the questions online, a few days later my first custom order came in and I had the opportunity to try it out on a few long rides before the race. My body responded quite well. I know you should not try new things like this a few weeks before a big race, but it all worked out. It was just what I needed. #IAMINFINIT
How about that nutrition? Ugg...race day nutrition...this is something I had been putting off, which I know is the worst thing you can do before a big race. I had tried different foods during training rides over the winter and spring. I found things my body would tolerate. My big issue is that generally I have NO desire to eat while I am riding. I like to drink plenty of fluids, but the thought of eating any type of food makes me sick, especially on longer rides. I was getting pretty nervous about what to do for race day. Some of the team members were using Infinit Nutrition, so I checked it out. I answered the questions online, a few days later my first custom order came in and I had the opportunity to try it out on a few long rides before the race. My body responded quite well. I know you should not try new things like this a few weeks before a big race, but it all worked out. It was just what I needed. #IAMINFINIT
These gravel road climbs seem pretty easy in the Jeep! :)
The day before.... I was so pumped and excited for the race. Mentally I was all in and I felt pretty confident with my fitness level as well. Mike and I took the day off of work. We headed over to Loudonville and drove all the roads that were on the race course. I had ridden the trails (except for Mohican Wilderness), so this was the last piece of the puzzle for the race. As we drove through town where the race would begin I remember the excitement from the start of the race last year. I thought to myself, last year I was a spectator, this year I am really going to be part of this! Later that evening we hooked up with some of our teammates for dinner. It was just what I needed to shake off those last minute race jitters. At dinner Lisa and Corianne laid out what I call "Operation Jones" (AKA do anything to get Amie across the finish line). They planned to be at each of the aid stations and they were going to be at the finish line with me. I couldn't have come up with a better plan myself!
Flexing my split times! RACE DAY IS HERE! As I was getting ready in the morning I was so set on making sure I hit my target times at the aid stations. My times may not be fast like others, but they are my goals and it is what I needed to keep me motivated. I pondered where to stash the split times so I could make sure I stayed on track. I had a card all folded up ready to go in my jersey pocket, then I came up with it. I approached Mike with a Sharpie and I told him to scribble my split times on my right bicep. At any point in time in the race I could glance at my arm and see my split times. Yep, he gave me the puzzled look I had expected but he proceeded to help me out.
As Mike and I drove to the race we gave each other the last minute pep talks. He then told me that he was going to do the race with me. Up to this point in time I was mentally prepared to just do this myself. At first it made me a little more nervous. I knew I would hold him back, but honestly I was so reassured to know we would be doing this together and I would have someone out there with me.
When we got into town, we hooked up with the rest of the KSD crew. I was once again relaxed to see some of my KSD ladies. Angie Burgess, Corianne Kocarek and Lisa Costello gave me the last minute pep talk and high fives that I needed.
Getting to the starting line was a bit of a whirlwind. So much excitement was going on. I really could not believe that this was really going to happen. All of the training and preparation came down to this. I remember standing beside Mike at the starting line filling up with an amazing amount of emotion. The race began and it was everything I had anticipated and more. I loved every minute of it.
As Mike and I drove to the race we gave each other the last minute pep talks. He then told me that he was going to do the race with me. Up to this point in time I was mentally prepared to just do this myself. At first it made me a little more nervous. I knew I would hold him back, but honestly I was so reassured to know we would be doing this together and I would have someone out there with me.
When we got into town, we hooked up with the rest of the KSD crew. I was once again relaxed to see some of my KSD ladies. Angie Burgess, Corianne Kocarek and Lisa Costello gave me the last minute pep talk and high fives that I needed.
Getting to the starting line was a bit of a whirlwind. So much excitement was going on. I really could not believe that this was really going to happen. All of the training and preparation came down to this. I remember standing beside Mike at the starting line filling up with an amazing amount of emotion. The race began and it was everything I had anticipated and more. I loved every minute of it.
Pschyed up at the start line with our Hand-up gloves!
Before the covered bridge in State Park I rolled in to Aid Station 1 (Mile 20), it was the biggest whirlwind. As we approached I felt pretty good. I was excited to see the KSD support team. Corianne, Lisa, Angie and Pat were all there. All I can remember is rolling in, someone grabbed my Camelback, water bottle and bike. I went to the bathroom and when I came back everything was topped off and I was ready to go again. They gave me some words of encouragement and shoved me out on the trail again. They gave Mike and I some pointers so we could get in and out of Aid Station 2 quickly. That one is off limits to spectators. They did not want us to spend too much time lingering there and lose our momentum. As I left the station I glanced over at my arm and I came through 15 minutes ahead of my target time.
Aid Station 2 (Mile 34), yep encountered some weird, I mean unique, riders there. Riders around us were starting to drop out of the race. We got in and out quickly. I was keeping a close eye on my target times and I was just a few minutes over my target time. I started to get anxious about staying on track. I knew I was losing ground with my time and I still had the hardest part of the race ahead of me. All I could think of is I have to get through Mohican Wilderness. This was the one part of the race I had heard so much about but I had not had the opportunity to pre-ride. Kenny was kind enough to email me a summary of the wilderness a few days prior to the race. By the time I got there I could only remember something about a round building with a coned shaped roof being close to the end. I kept looking for that #$%& building…it was there.
Aid Station 3 (Mile 46), my girls were there again to greet me and get me in and out. Just what I needed, some familiar faces. I was still feeling pretty good but my time had slipped more. I was 15 minutes over my target time, which left me feeling frustrated. I left the aid station with the support of the KSD girls (and Pat). Shortly after Aid Station 3 Mike was starting to suffer. This is the part of the race that really messes with your mind. I knew that each time he stopped to wait for me it was taking a toll on him. It is so important to keep moving. I told him to just go. I really wanted to finish the race together but I knew he needed to keep moving.
Aid Station 5 (Mile 56), based on the advice of my team mates, I rolled right through. No stopping for this one. Stopping this late in the race for a breather would just mess with my mind. All I could think of was getting across that finish line. I kept looking at my time. Why was my times so important to me? Because those were the goals I had set for myself for that day and I needed to hit them. As I rolled through Station 5, I noticed I had made up some ground and I was back on track.
Aid Station 2 (Mile 34), yep encountered some weird, I mean unique, riders there. Riders around us were starting to drop out of the race. We got in and out quickly. I was keeping a close eye on my target times and I was just a few minutes over my target time. I started to get anxious about staying on track. I knew I was losing ground with my time and I still had the hardest part of the race ahead of me. All I could think of is I have to get through Mohican Wilderness. This was the one part of the race I had heard so much about but I had not had the opportunity to pre-ride. Kenny was kind enough to email me a summary of the wilderness a few days prior to the race. By the time I got there I could only remember something about a round building with a coned shaped roof being close to the end. I kept looking for that #$%& building…it was there.
Aid Station 3 (Mile 46), my girls were there again to greet me and get me in and out. Just what I needed, some familiar faces. I was still feeling pretty good but my time had slipped more. I was 15 minutes over my target time, which left me feeling frustrated. I left the aid station with the support of the KSD girls (and Pat). Shortly after Aid Station 3 Mike was starting to suffer. This is the part of the race that really messes with your mind. I knew that each time he stopped to wait for me it was taking a toll on him. It is so important to keep moving. I told him to just go. I really wanted to finish the race together but I knew he needed to keep moving.
Aid Station 5 (Mile 56), based on the advice of my team mates, I rolled right through. No stopping for this one. Stopping this late in the race for a breather would just mess with my mind. All I could think of was getting across that finish line. I kept looking at my time. Why was my times so important to me? Because those were the goals I had set for myself for that day and I needed to hit them. As I rolled through Station 5, I noticed I had made up some ground and I was back on track.
Mike and I at the finish line!!
And now for the moment I had day dreamed about for months. THE FINISH LINE! It was all I had hoped for and more. As I got closer I could hear the music blaring. My Knobby Side Down team mates were screaming as I rolled down the hill to the home stretch. I was greeted with hugs and high fives after I crossed the line. It sounds cheesy but it was truly a fairy tale ending for me.
PS – I beat my goal by 25 minutes.
PS – I beat my goal by 25 minutes.
Corianne, Lisa, Me, Angie They all rode from aid station to aid station, then from aid station 5 to the finish to cheer me on.
A little love from my daughter, Lauren
This day was all about goals and sharing in the moment with my KSD team mates. A few days after the race I asked my team mates about their goals that they had for the day. We all have them. They are different things for different people.
- Michael Gottfried – Top 40 finish and a completion time of 8:30 for the 100 mile
- Kenny Kocarek – Under 6 hours on the SS and not have complete body failure trying to do so
- Vanessa Marts – Faster than last year – she beat her time by 30 minutes
- Tim Shepherd – 8 hours 12 minutes for the 100k
- Jim Costello – He climbed all the roads (last year he did not) and he did not doubt his abilities to ride a bike after Wilderness (last year he did)
- Tim Portman – Goal finish under 8 hours – finished in 6:31!! He also climbed the majority of the roads and everything in the state park. Most importantly he felt better and had more fun than in the past.
- Kevin Burgess – Goal 8 hours – beat it by 20 minutes and finished 2 hours faster than last year
- Rodney Lucketti – His goal was to show up this year, he did not. #wheresrodney #epicfail
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