Paris Mud Ancaster

Cloudy, Snow, Mud, Wind, CX bike... lets do this.

Paris to Ancaster 2011. First of all. I didn't place where I wanted to. I didn't break sub 3 hours. I would usually be pissed at myself, but I was totally new to this race. I learned a lot. So much actually. I can't put into words how it felt to cross that line. So with that. Lets recap.

First thing I did that I consider a mistake *lol learning* is started in Wave 3. Not only in Wave 3, but I'm still way too considerate. I should have muscled my way to the front, or as far up as I could. The first 2 waves absolutely demolished the course by the time we got to it. A lot of it was rideable on the cross for the first 20KM of the race. This will change later. After cracking a few jokes with the other Clydes around me *you see we pool together cause we're like that* I set my HRM and we were off.

The start was a bit offsetting. I wasn't used to starting with so many people around me so I was pretty ginger to make sure I didn't bounce off anyone, but I set my pace to start quickly and found myself passing people off the bat. I didn't feel like I was expending a lot of energy off the start so I started to push harder. Into the first rail trail area and I'm actually riding way faster then normal. HRM says I'm good to keep this pace for right now. I caught up to a father and I think 6-7 year old son riding a tandem. They were quick, so I just saddled up beside them and had a quick conversation about how I'm looking forward to my daughter getting old enough to try something like this. Wished them a good race, and paced up a bit to catch the pack ahead.

I had already seen 4 mechanical by the time I caught up the pack.... oh wait;

WRONG, pack ahead was at the first massive rock climb. I WAS TRUCKING UP THAT THING TILL SOMEONE JUST UNCLIPPED IN FRONT OF ME. Forced me to get off the bike, trudge around, get to the top. I don't like getting off my bike, and I was feeling really strong. Got back up, climbed the rest of the hill. At this point I realize I'm not tired, my legs feel great, and I'm passing people. Surprise, Clyde's got lungs, Clydes got legs. The snow starts.

Onto a road section, I get going at a good clip, up hills, more people passed, and I settle behind someone traveling at the same speed I am. Till again we get to a hill. I pass him. I donno, hills just seemed easy. *This will also change*

AAAnd into the first single track section. This is where I start to feel the CX bike was a good choice. I'm still moving up the field, I'm still able to deal with the slop, and I'm still outclimbing people. Skinny people, with 75lbs on me. I'm actually really starting to think that I'm overpacing myself at this point, but HRM says all systems green, giver, so I go.

Out of that, and onto dirt road, its downhill. I CRUSH this section. 57km/h max, 40km/h pace on flat. Into another section of single track. This is where it gets bad.

I still manage to trudge through here, but my rear tire is now slipping on climbs. I make it up but I'm expending a massive load of energy every time I torque that pedal. Not good. Make it out, road, into a 3rd section of single track. Same thing. Still haven't foot downed.

Back onto road.

About 20km in now, and I'm feeling pretty good. I come up to a section with a kid. The famous ramp. NOBODY is taking this thing, and the 5 year old whos standing there excited to see all the bikers looks all sad. Naturally I jump off his ramp. I got a lot of air actually this probably wasn't smart but I landed, no issues felt good, but he got SO excited after seeing someone jump. I felt good after that :)

It was a long road section here, and then we cut into some farmer's field. Its at this point that the CX bike does me in. The ground is so soft I'm sinking into the ground badly and the rolling resistance is up so high that its faster for me to walk. So off the bike, and I trudge through. Its at this point I realize looking at my watch sub 3 hours isn't going to happen. I'm not disappointed though, if things were dryer I'd actually be way ahead of where I was. That and I'm doing better then a lot of other people out there who are much lighter, so right now. I'm already happy with my performance.

Onto some more road. I tuck down behind someone, for a bit, and ride with him at a decent pace. I move to the front, and let him draft for a bit as well. Get to a hill on the road, and I'm still fast there, so I'm okay. 30KM in. Pass the aid station, grab a banana on the fly, eat half. Get to the road and I'm choking on it cause I'm not salivating. I pull out the gatorade bottle, drink, flush it down, and then the bottle slips out of my hand at 35km/h. Guy beside me says "you lost your bottle" I said, I'm not worried, it wasn't the one with beer in it. We both chuckle, share a few experiences, and some banter back and forth, and then party on to some rail trail again. Long  this time, its actually nice cause I catch my bearings here, and I fall into a decent pack and keep a decent pace.

Single track again, its so chewed up, that I have to foot slog it. Its thick gooey mud, and its impossible to ride.

50KM At this point, its back and forth between double track and road. I'm feeling good till one particularly muddy section. I get out on the road after walking. Surprise clyde, there will be no climbing, your quads now are on fire. My first real seize up of my legs that I've ever experienced. This was probably the equivalent of sticking hot coals into the inside of my quads and just blowing on them. I got to the top of this hill at about 7km/h, and got on a down, I gel'd hard, drank what I had left *the bottle i dropped was 75% full :(* and I worked the acid out of my legs. Once it went away I quite literally stated to myself "aaaand he's back".

Legs siezed up again about 6KM from the finish. I worked it out, gelled, watered. Surprise.. the dreaded hill.

At this point, I ride what I can furiously. I climb the last portion not wanting to be off my bike and over the line.... my legs are screaming, my heart is racing and I see 3:15:29. I also hear my aunt and uncle who came out to see the race cheer me across the line.

I am satisfied with my time... I spend about 10 seconds thinking about it, drive through spectators to an open part of the field, get off my bike, lay down and watch the stars. The emotion of finishing the race was intense, so I spent a bit of time collecting myself before going inside to meet up with family, eat, and change.

Things I learned or need to do:

1. Sign up for next years race. It is quite literally the most epic thing I have done outdoors, and will do it again.

2. Train longer distances. My hill climbing is fine, but long distance lactic buildup is not there yet.

3. Swap to egg beaters. SPD pedals work great in the dust and dirt. In the mud, you can pretty much go Eff yourself if you think you can clip in and out without any major issue.

4. More core, arm and chest work. I figured out how to climb on the CX pretty quickly. If I had stronger arms and back, I coulda been faster.

5. I never once thought about quitting or how shitty the ride was. I was having so much fun, and I really felt I was beating this ride the entire time. I didn't question the engine till the leg seizures. Even then, I shut up leg'd pretty hard through it.


I will be back to P2A next year. And I will improve my time considerably. I still have 30-40lbs to drop. Once that's down, and I'm trained up. I should pain train that ride to a better position next year. For what I am and where I started last year, I accept this ride as a testament to what you can do if you put your mind to it.