It took almost 5 years, but my friends finally cracked me and talked me into coming back to Ohio for a visit.
Race day I had enough time to ride the course backwards, out and back for the last 6 miles and scope out the Headwaters trail. I counted 3 wet/mushy spots but more importantly it was down hill to the finish.
I found Joe and Tom at the start and they reassured me they weren't going out at a crazy pace (Joe mentioned something about "patty cake pace") but I had my reservations. They were riding the 25 and I was doing 50. It would be a long day if I blew up early. We lined up about 1/4 of the way back and whoa was it a fast start. I didn't even bother to look at my HR because I already had that metallic taste before I vomit in my mouth. The first climb was less than 2 miles in and that immediately separated the front group from the rest of the field. I started to fall off Tom and Joe's wheels on the climb and I looked back, but no one was on my wheel. That forced me to burn a match to catch back up to them so I wasn't in no man's land. The down hill allowed some of us to regroup a little and for the next 6 miles I held onto Joe and Tom before Tom's chain dropped and Joe slowed to check on him.
Not sure what my next move was going to be, but then a woman who I later learned was from Pittsburgh and her name was Robyn came by putting down just enough power to go after a group ahead. I hung on her wheel thinking maybe I would have to hitch rides to the finish from here on out. We closed on the group and I was relieved.
Unfortunately, it was short lived. It was her and I with a bunch of guys and one of the guys tried to break away and a few gave chase and the group exploded. This proceeded to be the case for the next 5 miles or so and then I realized Robyn and I were pretty much on our own. The men were not going to help us. We started taking pulls and waiting for each other if one dropped off. We turned onto Hosmer and the headwind was brutal. I just kept shaking my head dropping the F bomb and pedaling. We managed to pass a couple men and when we finally turned out of that God forsaken headwind and it turned into a crosswind, I stopped dropping internal F bombs for a bit.
With about 15 miles to go we hit a gravel road called Agler. Again there were a handful of guys around us, but the group blew itself up. I was kind of surprised no one was working together and it was every man for himself for places that didn't matter. Then one of her teammates/friends also riding the 50 had caught up to us and did work with us. I was so thankful for all the pulls he took. I was tired and I just wanted it to be over. I had only taken 1 gel which I'd eaten about 20-25 miles in and drank about a bottle and a half of fluids which had 0 calories in it.
The skies had darkened and light rain had started intermittenty. We heard sirens as we we hit the steepest climb of the day up Alpha and thought "Is that a tornado siren?" The siren was getting closer and we realized it was an emergency vehicle and a tornado was not yet part of the day thankfully.
Rolling down the last few miles I finally recognized Asbury and a spark reignited my legs. I yelled to Robyn as we turned onto the Headwaters Trail "it's all down hill from here ... WOOOOO HOOOO!!" I went into my drops and just started pedaling with everything I had. The trail had definitely gotten more rain since the warm-up. There was more and more wet soft sections but I didn't care I just kept pedaling and stayed in the middle. Robyn decided to go left on the moss/grass at one point to test it, but I knew it was even slower from the morning warm-up. We regrouped and kept hammering for the finish. We crossed the last road section and I told her I was getting tired and asked if she didn't mind taking us in. I'd watch this woman fight hard and work with me all day, she deserved to take us in and cross that finish.
I peeled off and that's when the skies opened up and I shook my head and dropped probably the 50th internal "motherf*cker" of the day in my head. We were soaked within seconds but she kept pedaling, towing me to the end, not slowing for the downpour. There was no backing down that close to the finish. We crossed the line together and high fived - 3:12:46. (5/18 Women - 80/190 OA)
I was disgusting as was my bike so we stopped at the bike wash and I sprayed not only my bike off but myself. We headed to our cars to change and regroup. Not having raced for almost 5 years I was mentally and physically exhausted. I sat in my car for 20 minutes trying to get dry, change clothes and get it together for the after party.
Walking into the bar I heard my best friend on the mic calling women up for the plank challenge and heard her say my name, but my legs were toasted and I had an 8.5 drive home in 2 days I wasn't about to destroy my arms too! ;) I found Robyn and we switched numbers in hopes of riding in WNC soon.
I then started self medicating with some wine and braved the foot down contest with the men's class and the women's. I won women's and then in the finals against the guy who had won the men’s final the judge had ruled the guy the winner. I did have a few people come up and say they thought he fell first or it was at worst a tie. I was just happy to be able to do something that didn't require me to breathe through my eyes.
I managed to make it unitl 5:30p before I headed back to Janet and Joe's to check on Cash. I took some of the race necessities back to the house and unloaded and took a nice long satisfying shower.
Joe and Janet came home a little after me and decided the trailer unload was going to wait until tomorrow. Joey laid down on the couch and I said to him "How did we ever stay up unitl midnight back in the day?" to which he replied "I have no idea Beth." He then fell asleep... it wasn't even 8:00pm.
Overall I had a blast and making a new riding friend was just icing on the cake! It's hard to go up to Ohio with the warmer temps and tan lines WNC provides. The mountains are my home. I said I'd never come back but after seeing many familiar faces and spending the weekend with my best friend, I'd say I am 50/50 for next year. The Road Apple Roubaix is a must do for gravel lovers. The course, the schwag, the after party... My friends don’t threaten you with a good time... they show you!
