I am a slow walker, but I never walk backwards: Abraham Lincoln.


Well this past weekend was the Whiskey Off Road 50, in Prescott, AZ. This race is like a mini Leadville 100. The Whiskey 50 is, as you would guess, a 50 mile mountain bike race. Well it’s more like a 50 mile torture fest that will test every facet of your mountain bike skills and intestinal fortitude. This was my first year racing at the Whiskey 50 so I did not completely know what I was getting myself into. I had heard the rumors and the horror stories but until you actually race the 50, you cannot completely grasp the difficulty of it.

I started off in the middle of the pack of over 300 riders and as we navigated our way through the back neighborhoods towards copper basin road I worked my way up into the lead group. I must say I was rather surprised on how well I felt. I kept telling myself “back off, it’s a long race” but according to my heart rate I was not working that hard. The pace was steady but as soon as we hit that steep section of pavement the boys got separated from the men. By the time we hit the dirt I got passed by about 5 guys or so, but as we hit the single track the order was pretty well sorted out. To my surprise though, on trail 48 I was climbing like a goat. I never felt like I was working that hard and as we hit the water bars I was passing rider after rider who were having fits trying to negotiate all the water bars and rocks that were riddled throughout the climb. I did manage to clean all but one water bar.

As we crested the top and the trail turned to the downhill section, at that point I felt like I had wings. I was in my element at that point. I was jumping every water bar and trying to double every whoop that I could. I managed to pass another 8-9 guys before I got to the bottom of the climb and then had to repay the mountain bike gods for that great DH section. As I climb up FR53 towards the Skull Valley out and back interchange, I still felt good even though I got passed by 2-3 guys.

The descent into skull Valley is awesome, there is nothing like doing 30-40 mph on a fire road. As the lead riders were coming back up the road I was able to determine that I was somewhere in the top 50. At the turn around I was still feeling good and I had a nice conversation with myself in which I told myself just it’s a long way back up, so just settle into a nice easy pace. Unfortunately that was the last civil conversation I had with myself from that point on. At approximately mile 28, I started to feel like I had no power left in my legs. My stomach and legs started to cramp and my mental stability was starting to waiver. I struggled to try and keep the pace up and the harder I tried the more I faded. The worst part was that I was so far ahead, all I was able to see was strong riders go by and it appeared to me that the only one, who was suffering WAS ME!!!

Somehow I was able to drag my sorry carcass back up to the aid station where I tried to put as much food into my body as a fat guy at the all you can eat Sizzler. I was hoping I could come back from the dead and salvage what dignity that I had, but I was done! I left the aid station and felt like I was on a death march to the top of the mountain. The entire way I had to stop every 2-3 hundred yards because I cramping so bad. At the top I started the downhill push into Prescott. This was not a fun descent. I was so tired that I could barley hold onto the bars. What made matters worse at one point towards the bottom the trail parallels the fire road. It was torture I wanted off the trail and off my bike so bad and to know the road was just to my left was torture!!! I will say though once you actually get onto the road it was like a fresh breath of air.

The road winds its self aback into town and you think “is this thing going to ever end?” BUT then you make the turn onto the finishing straight and you are able to look down the road and see the enormous finishing stage and as you make you way across the finishing line you are greeted by the overwhelming cheers from friends and family who have all been waiting to see their favorite rider(s) come across the line. It is one of the truest feelings of emotions one could ever feel.

So how did I fair? Well…..for the first 28 miles I ran in the top 50 and for the remaining 22 miles….. Well let’s just say I found out what I was made of inside. For that last 22 miles I felt like I had nothing. I felt like I had no energy, no strength, and no motivation. Maybe….Maybe, BUT what I did have was pride, will power, and determination and in the end that is why we go out and suffer in a race like this.

Prescott Punisher

Last week was the Prescott Punisher, and it did just that “Punish”. This was only a “C” race for me so all week I was hitting it pretty hard. I was not expecting to do very well especially with 2300ft of climbing, but I still hoped I could break the top 10.

As the race started I made it into the top 5 and about half way up the first climb I received the call.

RING…RING!!!

Me: Hello

Legs: Sorry for the short notice but we are calling in sick today.

Me: Well couldn’t you have told me that yesterday!!!!!!!

I tried to rally, but I had no upper-end intensity. So there I was, stuck alone with only my pride and a large helping of suffering to chew on for the next hour and a half. The remaining three laps of the 15-mile course were focused on just finishing.

In the end I was able to pass a couple of guys and I finished 10th… Well at least I was able to salvage a top 10 spot.

BTW I was able to get a great photo in the new 29er Kit!!!!!

Fontana National-the motivator

If we all did the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves. ~Thomas Alva Edison

The Fontana City National was a keystone race on the 2010 schedule for me, because I wanted to know where I stacked up against the better riders. I will have to say, I was not looking forward to this race as of late. I have been struggling with my fitness do to mental breakdowns and life’s tragedies.

I arrived in Fontana on Friday and after unpacking the truck I headed out for a pre-ride with some friends. Within 15 minutes I had a sinking feeling that I was in for a rough race. The course was extremely difficult, and in my opinion it did not fit me in any shape or form. I do not generally do well on courses with lots of climbing and in Fontana, there is a lot of climbing! On the other hand, I generally like to go downhill, but this course it not exactly my style either. It was steep, tight, and extremely sandy in the corners. As I continued through my pre-ride my confidence was going down by the minute. In my mind I was thinking, “Why did I come out here? This race could demoralize you for the rest of the season!”

Well, Sunday came and I decided I would go as hard as I could and just let the chips fall where they may. I didn’t have the best start and I decided to let the leaders go and conserve energy for the later laps. I was hoping the leaders would slow down as the race went on, so I could get back in contact, but it didn’t happen. I settled into my own groove and kept pushing as hard as I could. The surprising part to me was how strong I felt. Yes, I was slow on the climbs but I was shredding the down hills on my 29er Superfly and I felt like I had all the power in the world on the flats.

When it was all said and done, to my surprise, I was able to make it to the podium with a 5th place finish. I guess if you’re going to have the best finish of the season, a National is a great place to do it.

I think this race set a bench mark for the rest of my season. I know my fitness is coming around and the confidence I gained this last weekend will help me through the rest of the season.

BTW— I was rocking the 747 plate again….This one was for you Schu.

What inspires you?

What inspires you?

“When the spirits are low, when the day appears dark, when work becomes monotonous, when hope hardly seems worth having, just mount a bicycle and go out for a spin down the road, without thought on anything but the ride you are taking.” — Sherlock Holmes, 1896

We all know that there have been times when we need nothing more than to get on our bikes and ride, ride to clear the mind, ride to clear the soul and sometimes we ride to just make the pain go away.

On January 30th 2010, I lined up for the 2nd race of the season to do just that, ride to make the pain go away. Let me take you back 2 days so you can truly understand my last statement.

On Thursday January 28th I was filling in on my day off so that I could then flex off on the following Saturday, for what would be the second race of the season. As I clocked out and was leaving, I had a conversation with a friend who asked why I was working. I explained to him the reason and just as he had done many times before, he asked how racing was going and wished me luck. This was a conversation that from now until the end of my days, will echo in my mind “Is a meaningless conversation ever meaningless”. Why you ask? Well, that conversation took place at 10:05 pm and at approximately 11:00 pm that friend, Lieutenant Eric Shuhandler, was shot and killed in the line of duty.

As it turns out, that meaningless conversation is one of the most meaningful conversations I may have ever had.

As you could expect the next day was filled with emotion. I was called into work to help cover shifts and then worked my own regular shift as well. I ended up being awake for 35 hrs straight and of that 35 hrs I worked 30.

I was sleep deprived and in a zombie like state as I was trying to make sense of the whole thing. As I talked to friends, family and coworkers about whether or not I should race, the general consensus was…..RACE!!!! If anything, race to clear the mind, race to clear the soul, race to just make the pain go away. As I lined up I was unsure how this was going to work out, I truly did not want to be there racing, yet I also felt like that was the best place for me at that time.

As you could expect I did not do all that well. I ended up 14th in my class of cat 2 30-39 men. To me though, I did not care what place I was, this race was about healing. I left a lot on the trail that day. I left my fear, my pain, and my broken heart somewhere on the trail.

Now that a few months have gone by I am able to share this experience with you all. I have came out of this with a new look on life and a better since of direction. I don’t know how this season will completely unravel but I know one thing, as I line up to each race everyone who knows me and those who are reading this story will know one thing, “I am racing for Schu”. And if you have any doubt, look at my number plate, 747… was Lieutenant Eric Shuhandler’s badge number.

So now I ask you….what motivates you, what purpose are you racing for? Where are you drawing your inspiration from?