Two Wheel Blogs

Countdown to the Tracks 'n Treads Biathalon: 1 day

I can't believe it. It's finally here. Since I first read about the Tracks 'n Treads biathalon -- and after signing up for it immediately -- preparing for it has been my sole focus. I have run or ridden or done both every day I could, often doing so in conditions when, if I were not training for a biathalon, I would not choose to be running or riding. But I did it. And tomorrow, I find out how much it will pay off.

As I posted earlier, it had not been decided whether the bike ride would be on the single-track trails, as intended, or on an alternate route if the single-tracks were too muddy. Last week, I rode a close approximation of the alternate route, and I liked it. It was all the same routes I rode when I did my cyclocross training last season. Also, while I've ridden the single-track trails a few times, I've not done so very often. In truth, I'm not much of a mountain biker. As I need every advantage I can get, I was really hoping the single-tracks would be too muddy and we'd be riding the alternate route tomorrow. My heart leapt with glee when it rained yesterday. "That's it!" I thought. "That's got to be it. The single-tracks will have to be too muddy. Alernate route, here I come."

After work today, I hopped on my cyclocross bike and rode out to the course. I expected to see the volunteers marking the alternate route. Then I planned to ride it once before heading home for dinner and race preparation. When I saw Mike Weaver, a member of Team Godzilla, the sponsoring organization, I asked "Where are we riding?", expecting "The alternate route" to be the answer. When he said, "We're using the single-track trails," I nearly fell off my bike. "How could that be possible?" I wondered, almost out loud? "What about all the rain yesterday? Surely the trails must be unrideable!" In disbelieft, I pedaled off to see what shape they were in and, more important, how my cyclocross bike liked them.

To my surprise, the trails were in remarkably good shape. Sure, the surface was damp, and they were muddy in patches -- and very muddy in a couple of places -- but they were definitely rideable. So I did a loop around most of the course. Eventually, I passed the team of volunteers who were flagging the course, and once I did, I did not know exactly where to go. But by that point, I had ridden most of the course, and that part I didn't ride, well, we'll figure that part out tomorrow.

I had one more task to take care of before heading home. I need to try running in my son's cross country spikes. I've never run in spikes before. All the running I've done has been in trainers. I always wondered what it was like for him to run in those light shoes with almost no cushion -- and the spikes for traction. As I posted earlier, I climb about as good as a bowling ball going up and escalator. I need all the help I can get getting up the hills. I'd planned to run in my trainers. Then I remembered: my son's old cross country spikes were in the basement. So I got them out, cleaned last year's dirt off them, and took them out to the course with me. I put them on and did a short test run to see how they felt, how they handled. I believe they will help me negotiate the muddier parts of the course, and I really think they'll help my with the climbs. So tomorrow, they're getting in the game.

Now, all that's left is a few preparations -- namely, trying to decide the right combination of gear. It's supposed to be cloudy and warm to 60 by mid-afternoon, but race time is 9:00 a.m., so it will probably be chilly at the start. I'll figure it out. I just hope I can sleep tonight. Now, three of the sweetest words in the English language...

Tomorrow: Race Day