Day Two: Irazu, Grandfather of Costa Rica
This race has a long history, or curse, of being impossible to win by an outsider. This was almost true. I found out just how hard the Costa Ricans would try to derail any plans from an outsider to win.
On the second day, the Banex team had a green/yellow chain at the front of the race setting an impossible pace toward the base of a 3000-meter (not feet, meters!) climb up the active Irazu Volcano! Some of these Costa Rican guys are juiced up, I can’t say it is all of them, but I know for a fact that some of them cheat and that drives me nuts! Anyway, I kept with the led group until we hit 8000-feet and then started feeling as if I wouldn’t make the final cut. I settled into my pace.
Frischi flatted three times and I flatted worse. My flat was unfixable and I had to ride down the boulder infested jeep road on my carbon rim. OUCH. The miracle is that I didn’t break the wheel - it in fact still works - and I was still in fifth place because I had put 20 minutes on the rider in sixth place during the first stage. We finished at a coffee plantation in village perched on the side of a steep spot of the jungle. I was lucky to get to see it.
Day Three: Triumph
The last day was supposed to be the easiest with only three major climbs and then a lot of flat roads toward the Caribbean. Frichi is one of the few cycling heroes’ I have left, plus he waited for me when I jammed my chain on the first day so... Once I realized that I was in an opportunity to help him come back from an impossible 7:45 deficit going into the flattish non-technical last stage. I said, “Showtime!” I hit it, hit it, hit it...And we pulled back 6 minutes in 40k on the road. OUCH! He was going to set me up for the stage and I was like cooked. I don't sell races. That’ll never happen... but I may play favorites to help great champions who race clean.
La Ruta was a personal growth experience for me as much as it was a race. I knew from racing TransALP, that it would kick in my survival instincts. As we packed up our bikes I could reflect on how different I felt than when I came, my quads are like piano strings and I can once again see my ribs in the mirror. I am determined to get back to the top and I know that I am not that far off.
Fire proves iron, like La Ruta proved, I’ve still got the moves for this. Confidence like this is just what I needed; to taste the struggle, to know how I need to fight for it in the off-season. Now I have memories, of the toughest race I have ever completed, to inspire toughness in the off-season.
What Lies Ahead
Well, the winter smells of burning wood and sound of Styrofoam under my Nordic skis. I expect to log about 100-hours of mountain biking, road riding, loaded hiking, gym work, and hopefully some cross country skiing!
The next goals coming up will be the opening round of the UCI World Cup in Cirucou in the Caribbean. Then comes Sea Otter and the chance to really punch it hard at the first NORBA National at the new venue in LA!
The other big goals of the season include going for wins at the Sugar Mt and Mt Snow NORBAs and top-5 at the World Cup at Mt Saint Anne. For now, it's back home for more training and a taste of the married life!
Memories
I don’t know if I would do La Ruta again. I am sure I will be telling stories about it for the rest of my life and I am thankful for the experience that reminded me it’s not about doing what everyone else does, but to find your personal mark to strive for.
Stats:
Total Distance: 201 miles
Elevation Gain: 32,000 feet
Time Hiking: 1 hour
Total Time: 15 hours, 8 minutes 30 seconds
Starters: 400+
Survivors: 263