The course turned into an area called Uruapan. It was characterized by hills and whoops in the hills, and deep silty sections in the low areas. In some conditions it was fun – but not these conditions. At the beginning of the race bikes and ATV’s are clustered together on the course. The ATV’s and faster riders would be coming by me. I was Ironman, and I had a plan. I needed to be the Energizer bunny, not the roadrunner. I had 31 hours ahead of me.
As ATV’s came through and passed me, they’d fill the still air with silt that blinded me. I had to slow to a crawl or just stop and wait to see again. I was a smarter rider and I had a rule – do not ride faster than you can see.
Bikes came by me. Mostly Sportsman teams. There were over 20 of them and on average a rider would go a couple hours and hand the bike off to their teammate. Their dust slowed me down considerably. Then Liz came by. I stuck to my plan – don’t ride into the dust. Sometimes you get away with it, but one crash and my entire year could be over. It was a gamble I did not have to take.
Rick Thornton came by me and a minute later he crashed on rocks. I stopped and asked him if he was ok. His flat black helmet visor was broken. I wondered how scuffed up or injured he really was. About twenty minutes later the visibility again was very bad. A Sportsman rider came by me and as he did he rode into a giant gnarly desert bush and crashed right in front of me. More evidence that my plan was smart.
I pressed on as the sun came up right in my eyes, making visibility even more difficult. I was looking for mile 74 to see my crew. I was happy to see them. I would always be happy to see them. They were always happy to see me. It meant I made it through another section. It meant I was still in the race that half the teams do not finish. It was their race too. The last thing they wanted was for it to be over too soon.
They were ready for me. Each had a job and what they needed in their hand or at the ready. It was a positive sign. It was 7:06 am. I was 7 minutes ahead of my plan.
It was working.
“And the purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.” – Eleanor Roosevelt