The Ups and Downs of Keeping it Flat

Less than 3 weeks to go now until this year's Counting Coup, that sadomasochistic mountain bike event covering 44+ miles and 8,000+ feet of climbing through the Santa Ana mountains. In retrospect, I now know that last year I had trained enough to finish, but not more. My time of 8 hours and 9 minutes, while hampered by a broken shifter, was 30-40 minutes slower than I'd hoped to achieve. This year, while not exactly methodical about training, I was laying down a solid base of mileage between September and December. On my birthday, Kevin and I rode from my home to Santiago Peak, which totaled just under 59 miles and 6,200 feet of elevation. In December, I took shorter routes to the peak but did it on two consecutive weekends, with shorter rides in between. On a ride of the Blackstar-Motorway loop, I was as fresh throughout as I've ever been, and was even learning to enjoy that loose, chunky, exposed, rutted singletrack descent. I felt great and couldn't wait for the event.

Then came January. 9 days of illness, followed by 3 weeks of rains.

Then came February, and my old knee pain was back, along with more rain, again limiting my time on the bike.

And tomorrow it will be March. With the Coup on the 20th, I only have 2 weeks left for any training and course familiarization, and I haven't been up Maple Springs in 2+ months. Even worse, I haven't been down Upper and Lower Holy Jim since last year's event! My knee is problematic, so I'm gobbling Advil and Osteo Bi-Flex and icing it when I can. But I've still been forced to limit my rides. Friday it was a 18 mile ride through Peter's Canyon and the surrounding streets, getting a few mild hill climbs in. Today it was 32 miles around the Back Bay of Newport and back. Two rides in three days, totaling 50 miles and around a little under 2000 feet climbed. Not exactly what I had in mind, but I'll make do with what I can do.

I guess this year I'll have to depend on that early-season base, a little experience, and a lot of luck.