Back again to
Great Glenn for the third time at this event for the Nankmans. Everything about
this race makes it worth returning back to numerous times. The course is a good
ride- fun yet challenging. The venue is a great place for camping for the
weekend. Fellow riders are friendly and make for a pleasant time out on
course.The race organizers put on a
good event- food, a circus tent as race headquarters, award ceremony, beer- all run smoothly and
efficiently.Bonus: the floating bridge. Adds fun and I admit a bit of fear to each lap.
I am writing
this almost six months post event so I can’t remember details. Thus this is a short and sweet blog post; hits upon the important details.But, having done this race numerous times, all the fine details and
event specifics can be found on previous blog posts: 2021 event click here, 2022 raced but no blog post.Both Joël
and I entered solo 24 hour; myself women over 40 and Joël single speed.It had already been a full year of long
distance races for both Nankmans; many 12 hour solo mountain bike events, ultra
endurance gravel races (UNBOUND XL and GRUSK 270 just to put it in perspective), and 24 hour mountain bike races.We arrived at Great Glenn feeling a bit
haggard and uncertain of how things would go; have we raced ourselves into
fitness or were we tired and unrecovered? Only way to find out was to ride.
The event started well for both of us.Feeling
strong and enjoying the ride.The
weather was hot but beautiful, no rain in the forecast and the sun was
shining.Both Joël and I were pedaling along
doing what we need to do- eating, drinking, chatting with others, pedaling along in our long-term comfort zones.The sun
set and night riding started. My favorite part of these 24 hour events.Animals come out, the temperature cools off a
bit.People slow down and the riding
seems to be more low-key and we are all out there together just to endure and enjoy. Both Nankmans
were still feeling good. Until all of a sudden we weren’t.
Bonus during the dusk laps: "Temptation Corner"- bacon and beer hand-ups! Kept us going through the next few laps.
Just a few
hours into the night riding I was already feeling lackluster, just not wanting
to be out there but still pedaling.I
came to the van and there was Joël putting his bike away and
cleaning-up.He said he was done. The
prior months of long rides, hard training, and busy life and work schedule had
caught up with him.Nine hours in and he
decided he was finished.Being that I
was on the verge of not wanting to ride it made choices more challenging for me
about what to do. I was currently the top place in my category and either first
or second female overall.I really
didn’t want to loose my position but both my mind and body were shutting down
and seeing my husband call it quits made things uncertain for me.I decided to continue on, slowly just to keep
moving but yet still uncertain about how the next few hours would unfold.I also was feeling the past few months of both physical and mental fatigue and it was catching up to me quickly.
Another lap
or two in and I suffered the same fate as Joël.I arrived at the van and that was it, I
decided to stop, I was depleted. However, I was not sure if I was completely
depleted or just to the point where I needed a break.I ate and drank enough to replenish and
restock calories and hydration.I put on
extra layers to stay warm but did not take off my current kit and clothing. I
wanted to be able to rest and restore my body but I didn’t want to get too
comfortable that I would not want to possibly go out again. I was still uncertain if I would take a nap and then keep riding
or if I would call it quits completely. I was not going to make that decision
until later.
I laid on the
floor of the van and immediately feel asleep.A few hours later I awoke and felt better. Not great but not ready to
stop.I decided to start pedaling again
and see what happens. During my nap time I had relinquished the top spot but
was not far behind and in addition the third place women was now not far behind
me. It was race on! I was feeling better and better each
lap and all of us top ladies knew it was now game on; we all had to keep riding
to not loose our positions.
Fast forward a
few hours. The sun came up.It was
invigorating to know the last few laps of riding were upon us.All ladies were still pedaling strong and we
kept going until the end. It truly was a race to the finish.
By the 24 hours
mark I finished second in the women over 40 and third overall women.My time sleeping was the key factor in my
personal results. I rarely if ever sleep during these long events, and if I do
it’s a just a 30 min quick nap. Rarely do I sleep for hours and hours. But this
time it was needed.And the same goes
for Joël.Sometimes our physical and mental fortitude
is just not there. Too much racing, too much going on in life…physical and
mental stress takes it toll. And that is what happened and Great Glenn. But, we
each made the decision that was needed for each of us, what we needed, and what
was right for us at that time.
As the saying goes “you need to know that sometimes you need to hold and
sometimes you need to fold."
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Another year of
Great Glenn.Despite not going exactly
how we wanted still a good time for the Nankmans.Riding was wonderful with a great course and
beautiful mountain and forest.The
people and friends we connected with made for a good time.Beer and food at the event along with the pre
and post race festivities made for a fun time.Camping at the race site and treating ourselves to dinner at the Glenn House (a local mountainside hotel) completed the weekend.Certainly a recommended event and one we will
be back to.
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Another year of
Great Glenn. Despite not going exactly
how we wanted still a good time for the Nankmans. Riding was wonderful with a great course and
beautiful mountain and forest. The
people and friends we connected with made for a good time. Beer and food at the event along with the pre
and post race festivities made for a fun time.
Camping at the race site and treating ourselves to dinner at the Glenn House (a local mountainside hotel) completed the weekend. Certainly a recommended event and one we will
be back to.
Bonus learned when camping on the way home- the T-shirts glow!