Back in January, Jen had this crazy idea, let’s sign up for the Dirty Kanza lottery as a team. What is the Dirty Kanza? It is a 200-mile gravel race in Kansas in the beginning of June. It is said to be the world’s premier gravel race. Our home turf is the Capitol Forest, why not give it a try? We probably won’t get in. Funny thing is, a few weeks later, we did.
Months went by and bit by bit we realized the day of the event was drawing closer and closer. Other commitments meant we really had to save the bulk of our training for the few weeks leading up to the event. We wondered if you really could train yourself for 200 miles of gravel. We did our best and managed a few gravel and road rides close to or a bit over 100 miles and felt like we were ready.
In the weeks leading up to the race, Kansas was getting hammered with more rain than Washington. Mix in a few tornadoes here and there, and we were a bit apprehensive to say the least.
We arrived in Kansas with just enough time to drive to the start in Emporia, put together our bikes, pick up our race packets, eat dinner and settle in for the night only to get up early for the big day.
With a start at 6 am, it meant an early wake up and dark commute to the start. The streets were full of racers, 1200 or so people were lining up to roll out. Temps were cool in the morning, but we knew that would not last. It is quite different hitting gravel roads with that many people, so we kept our cool and stuck together - that was the plan all along. No matter what, we were in this together.
We figured out that the gravel in Kansas is nothing like home. If you stayed in the tracks that cars had carved out, it is practically like riding on the road, which is why the pace was quick. It was cool to watch Jen weave in and out of crowds and even have strings of people line up behind her to follow the excellent lines she was carving. We made it to Aid Station 1 averaging a pretty good pace. We felt confident, but apprehensive too. The next stretch was over 90 miles with only a water stop in between. Riders were responsible for all their own food. Temperatures were starting to rise into the 90’s at this point.
Months went by and bit by bit we realized the day of the event was drawing closer and closer. Other commitments meant we really had to save the bulk of our training for the few weeks leading up to the event. We wondered if you really could train yourself for 200 miles of gravel. We did our best and managed a few gravel and road rides close to or a bit over 100 miles and felt like we were ready.
In the weeks leading up to the race, Kansas was getting hammered with more rain than Washington. Mix in a few tornadoes here and there, and we were a bit apprehensive to say the least.
We arrived in Kansas with just enough time to drive to the start in Emporia, put together our bikes, pick up our race packets, eat dinner and settle in for the night only to get up early for the big day.
With a start at 6 am, it meant an early wake up and dark commute to the start. The streets were full of racers, 1200 or so people were lining up to roll out. Temps were cool in the morning, but we knew that would not last. It is quite different hitting gravel roads with that many people, so we kept our cool and stuck together - that was the plan all along. No matter what, we were in this together.
We figured out that the gravel in Kansas is nothing like home. If you stayed in the tracks that cars had carved out, it is practically like riding on the road, which is why the pace was quick. It was cool to watch Jen weave in and out of crowds and even have strings of people line up behind her to follow the excellent lines she was carving. We made it to Aid Station 1 averaging a pretty good pace. We felt confident, but apprehensive too. The next stretch was over 90 miles with only a water stop in between. Riders were responsible for all their own food. Temperatures were starting to rise into the 90’s at this point.
Somewhere along the next stretch, I thought I heard something come out of my jersey pocket. It was my gel chews which were my sugar source for this stretch. Luckily a surprise water stop greeted us a mile 100. That was so nice, but it was at that point that I could tell the heat and lack of sugar was starting to hit me. Somewhere in the next 20 miles to the official water stop on this leg, the heat really hit me. We rolled into the water stop and topped off on water, but it didn’t help, I was cooked. We finally found a Pepsi machine in the small town of Alta Vista and I laid on a gas station floor for the better part of an hour wondering why we had signed up for this thing while I was panting like a dog trying to bring my core temperature down. After a liter or so of Pepsi, I managed to get back on my bike and sort of pedal on. Five miles later, some random Dirty Kanza supporters had a tent and chairs with lots of refreshments. I stopped again and downed 2 or 3 more Cokes and placed ice in my hat and jersey. The supporters kept telling me I looked horrible, but to keep drinking Coke, and that once I start burping, I’d be ready to go. Sure enough, somewhere after 2 liters of pop, I was ready to roll.
By mile 150, where Aid Station 2 was, I was rolling steady again, I still don’t know how. Actually, it was Jen’s encouragement and sticking with me that allowed me to recover. I just stared at her rear wheel and followed every line she took as I was in a state of semi-consciousness for the better part of an hour or two.
But just before that stop is where Jen started to fall victim to the heat. I was turning the corner of heat exhaustion, but it felt like I had only handed it over to her. When we arrived at the 2nd official Aid Station at mile 150, the volunteers were fantastic, rushing around to bring us whatever we wanted. Coke, pickle juice, sandwiches, Snickers, bottle refills, chain lube, you name it, they had it. After an hour or so, as sunset was fast approaching, Jen was ready to give the last 50 miles a go. We strapped on our lights and tried to mentally prepare ourselves for what we knew was going to be a hard push to the finish, most of which was going to be in the dark.
But just before that stop is where Jen started to fall victim to the heat. I was turning the corner of heat exhaustion, but it felt like I had only handed it over to her. When we arrived at the 2nd official Aid Station at mile 150, the volunteers were fantastic, rushing around to bring us whatever we wanted. Coke, pickle juice, sandwiches, Snickers, bottle refills, chain lube, you name it, they had it. After an hour or so, as sunset was fast approaching, Jen was ready to give the last 50 miles a go. We strapped on our lights and tried to mentally prepare ourselves for what we knew was going to be a hard push to the finish, most of which was going to be in the dark.
Sunset greeted us and let us know we had already endured the high temperatures throughout the day. We just had to soldier on to the finish. A brilliant sunset soon traded places with darkness. Gravel in the dark in Kansas, this was where it was at. So many riders no doubt had unseen mental battles going unnoticed in the darkness. Little red taillights of riders dotted the horizon as far as we could see. We did what we could to keep each other’s spirits up. Lots of gummy bears were consumed as we rolled on in the night.
Soon, with 20 miles to go, we arrived at the Salsa Chase the Chaise lounger where we gladly stopped and posed on the chair. This is fun right? Let’s prove it--anything for a laugh helped. I tried to use my second wind to keep a steady pace to get us to the line before midnight, so we could be members of the (before) Midnight Club. We rolled on and could tell when we were getting closer to Emporia, as townspeople were still out on their front lawns cheering riders on. It was surreal, but we were going to finish this thing. We rolled across the line 3 minutes before midnight, nearly 18 hours after we had started.
Soon, with 20 miles to go, we arrived at the Salsa Chase the Chaise lounger where we gladly stopped and posed on the chair. This is fun right? Let’s prove it--anything for a laugh helped. I tried to use my second wind to keep a steady pace to get us to the line before midnight, so we could be members of the (before) Midnight Club. We rolled on and could tell when we were getting closer to Emporia, as townspeople were still out on their front lawns cheering riders on. It was surreal, but we were going to finish this thing. We rolled across the line 3 minutes before midnight, nearly 18 hours after we had started.
It had to be one of the hardest things we have done on the bike. But the great thing was, we did it and we did it as a team. Riding bikes is cool, going fast is fun, but finishing something like this event together as a team and getting each other through some extremely dark moments on the bike was a great feeling. We were tired, covered in dust and ready to sleep. Will we do it again? What do you think? Anyone else want to join us?
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