SBTGRVL

Go. Or don’t, because it was perfect just how it was. As I’ve said before, I’m a big fan of inaugural events. The promoters and vendors are stoked to be there. The racers have a nervous anticipation about what’s ahead. Yeah there are course previews, and videos, and a lot of social media hype. But you can’t feel the emotion of an event by watching from afar. You feel it just before the gun goes off. Standing in the middle of it.

I was lucky enough to get a slot to this race with my The Meteor // Intelligentsia teammates. We booked a condo right on the edge of town. With a challenging 16% driveway, we were treated with an insane view of this gorgeous mountain town. I flew into Denver and spent some time with my aunt and cousin before catching a ride out to Steamboat Springs with my old San Diego pal, Jake.

We took a dip in the Strawberry hot springs, which I’d highly recommend. (Remember a towel!)

It was fun to reconnect with my teammates. I saw Leigh in July for Intelli and Cynthia at DK, but it was way back in April at (the frozen land of) Rasputitsa since we were all together! I grilled chicken and Sarah and Ellen cooked up the rest of our pre-race dinner and before we knew it our alarms were going off on race morning.

As cold as the morning was, being corralled up with 900 gravel friends sure makes it feel warmer. Shaking from nerves more than the chill, you could feel the anticipation of a fast race ahead. I love start lines. This is where the emotion of an event lies. The national anthem. Futzing with your computer. Big deep breaths. The early morning light. Smiles. The excitement and fear that comes through in the race directors last minute instruction voice.

I was nervous to sign up for the 140 mile Black Course. Not because I didn’t think I could do it. But because I knew I’d want to really race it and wasn’t sure my body would agree. I had executed and achieved my goal at Dirty Kanza, my “A” race. Then I had surgery and took a significant amount of time off. In the middle of the season for most everyone else. My prep for SBT wasn’t worthy of a racing performance, but just that of completing it. With a smile? Hopefully.

Before the race, Cynthia said she was sticking with me all day. Really? You know I’m slow, right? She’d been crushing her training {on actual mountains in Virginia} meanwhile, I’d been at home in flatlander Chicago, doing coffee rides all summer. Don’t get me wrong, I was stoked to have a riding buddy all day, but I didn’t want to feel bad about holding her back.

I suppose I spared her from much pain and suffering. And so she spared me. We had a blast. We surfed with different groups all day long. We stopped at every aid station. We chatted, rode in silence, soaked in the views, and giggled like school girls descending down those actual Rocky Mountains. She pulled and pulled. All damn day.

We battled headwinds, heat, and {up}hills. We soaked in the water from a child’s super soaker. We tried to spread positivity and joy to the racers around us. Our “cute kits” and cheery smiles got comments all day long. We ate popsicles at the top of the last QOM while I massaged her side stitch.

140 miles later, we crossed the finish line, hand in hand. She knew what I battled to get there. For her, I am thankful.

And yes, that stream was magical. Had I not been offered a ride back up the hill, I may have stayed there all afternoon.

SBTGRVL – Go. If you like perfect gravel roads. Paved sectors. Ample aid stations. Mountain towns. Go. If you like community. Heart. Emotion. Go.