We did this race in 2010, and I loved every second of it. I had hoped to ride it again last year, but I just didn't have the time and energy to train for it. This year I was doubly committed to the race because I wanted to both visit Tucson to see my friends there, and also to get my revenge on El Tour.
Josh and I left Albuquerque midday Thursday to travel to Tucson for the race weekend. After staying up late at the bar with our friends on Thursday night, and then having an incredibly stressful, not-relaxing-at-all day on Friday that ended with a proposal... well, let's just say I was less than rested when we woke up at 4:30am Saturday morning for the race. We both slammed our energy drinks, pulled on our arm warmers, and after finding a parking spot about a mile from the start line, rode up to our spots in the middle of the Silver category (El Tour corrals riders based on your expected finish time; Silver is between 6.5 hours and 9 hours). One of the higher-ups from my company, Richard, was also riding and found us at the start line. We chatted and tried to stay warm for the hour prior to the race.
Last time I rode El Tour, I finished with a time of 7:42. This year, I knew I would be a lot faster. My goal time was to beat 7 hours. I wasn't entirely sure that I could do it, but I knew that I'd be completely thrilled to break 7. Bottom line, I was going to happy with any improvement over my previous time.
Like every El Tour, there were thousands of riders tackling the 111-miles course that day. We were probably about in the middle of the pack, so it took us a couple of minutes to get across the start line after they blew the horn, but soon enough we were off and rolling along. It was just as I remembered from the last time- a little bit frantic, very crowded, and super thrilling. I just love big huge races! About 7 miles into the race, everybody has to dismount their bikes and walk down and up a big, sandy wash. After this point, Josh and I lost track of Richard and he went on ahead of us. I had a finish time goal for this race, but I wasn't about to push too hard at the beginning and ruin my chances of making that goal. Moderately-paced and steady, that was my plan.
Josh and I managed to ride together for this entire course, to my surprise. We would get separated for stretches, but then would catch up to each other at the aid stations. I felt great for the entire race, and I think I can attribute part of my strength to the fact that I've been training at much higher elevations in Albuquerque this year. I made sure to eat and drink at regular intervals and I even managed to go pee at one of the water stops! (This is kind of a big deal, since I very rarely can pee in the middle of a long bike ride since I apparently do not usually drink enough fluids.) So, all-in-all, it was a happily uneventful, strong ride.
I waited so long to write about the race that I don't really have a lot of specific anecdotes about the day to recount; it was a great ride, but I don't have a lot of specific memorable moments to tell about. I smiled for all the photographers, I chatted with lots of other riders, I thanked all the police officers helping to direct traffic, and I cheered along with some of the roadside spectators. Last time I did this route, I remember reaching mile 80 and thinking, 'I have 30 more miles? How am I going to do that?!'... this time, at mile 80, my thoughts were, 'Only 30 more miles? Man, this is cake!'. I guess a couple of years can really make a big difference.
With about 20 miles left to go in the ride, Josh and I realized that we could finish in less than 7 hours if we just rode the remainder of the course at a steady, comfortable pace. I was ecstatic. We took off with purpose and were ready to knock out the rest of the 111 miles. Then, the inevitable happened. Josh, Mr. King-of-flat-tires, got a flat tire. ARGH! I wasn't going to leave him on the side of the road after we'd ridden 90 miles together already, so I stopped and waited for him to change his tube. He changed the tube and inflated it, and realized that the spare was also flat. So then he took my spare tube and had to change it all out again. This whole thing took almost 20 minutes. Twenty minutes! I quickly realized that my chances of beating 7 hours were now out the window, but oh well.
In the end, we crossed the finished line in 7 hours, 18 minutes. You do that math. I felt great after the finish line, and although I didn't beat my goal time, I knew that I would have if not for the mechanical difficulties, and knowing that was just as good. Next year, 6:30. It's on! El Tour is one of the best events I've done, and there's no wonder it's such a hugely popular event. Everything is run seamlessly, the people of Tucson are so supportive and awesome throughout the ride, and you just cannot beat the weather. Having good friends to visit in Tucson makes the whole thing even better for me, and I plan to continue the tradition.
Now it's December, and I'm giving Gustavo a little break for a while. Bring on the snow!!
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