SingleTrack 6 MTB XC Stage Race 2016 @ Kootenay Rockies BC: Recap


General Classification
I did not finish all six days so I don't get a general classification in Solo Open Men. I did finish the first four days and at that point in the GC I was in 40th place out of 49 Results and that overall took me 13hours & 58minutes and was a total of 145 Kms with a total elevation gain of 16,692 Feet of climbing. 

Recap Of The Race

My coach Heather K had a great program for me since January 1 2016 and I peaked for this race because I was just getting stronger with each day until the crash on July 26th (Stage four) I suffered a grade two AC Joint sprain on my right shoulder from a crash on day four as I had gone to the Hospital in Golden on July 27th and did X-Rays. I decided that I was going to withdraw from the race because I could not hold the handle bars for multiple hours and I did not want to risk crashing on the shoulder again. It was a shame because this was the best that I have ever raced and felt before. That's racing and sometimes these things happen. I am happy I tried my best.

I did receive a singletrack 3 medal and finisher T-shirt as the first three days were the same start times and same courses. I do not get a solo open result in that race (Single track 3) as I registered for the 6 days. Stage 1 @ Fernie BC, Stage 2 @ Fernie Alpine Resort BC, Stage 3 @ Cranbrook BC, Stage 4 @ Kimberley BC. Stage 5 & 6 @ Golden BC and I did not start the Golden days. There were racers from over sixteen countries and a very strong field came to this great event. The final banquet was held in Golden BC. I sat with Trevor P and Michelle. There were great stories to share with the racers and volunteers, and the slide show was fun to watch.

Thank You
A huge thanks to Transrockies for putting on the race and to all the technical, mechanics, medics, masseurs, ambassadors and finish & checkpoint marshals as there was so much effort put into organising a huge first class event like this. One volunteer made me PB&J sandwiches at the finish line each day, very thoughtful.


Me in a sling @ Golden BC unable to finish the final two days. Pic by mom
 

SingleTrack 6 MTB XC Race 2016: Stage 4 @ Kimberley, BC


Tuesday July 26th, I finished 39th place out of 46 in Solo Open Men Results, and in the timed descent I was 149th out of 163 overall solo men Results. It took me 3hrs & 22mins, It was a total of 36 Kms. Total elevation gain 3,796 Feet. My average heart rate was 156 bpm and max was 181 bpm. Check out my garmin data Here.

Single Track 3 day version was finished yesterday so today was just the six day racers. I saw a chance to pounce and attack off the start gun on the mass start as it was a very long climb up. I got up well past half of the entire field of racers and was on as my legs and lungs were feeling so strong and powerful. There was a section of rocks that some had to walk on, including me and I would imagine the group behind me would have been backed up on that section. Then there was a really fun fast and flowing short descent with high berms and pump track hills. We climbed back up for a couple km's and that led to a really technical steep and rocky loose dirt descent where you white knuckle down. I navigated my way down safely on it and then on the bottom smooth part I hit a tree stump and flew over the handle bars and landed hard on my right shoulder. I sat up and was in great pain as I could not even lift up my bike with my right arm so I spent a couple minutes to collect myself as lots of racers past me. I road one km to get to the first check point/aid station and I went straight to the medical girl and she checked to make sure nothing was broken and she suspected I had suffered an AC Joint sprain so she taped my right shoulder to hold the bones together. I continued on and just wanted to finish off the stage. Every bump and root I went over was really hurting my shoulder especially on the descent's. I some how clawed my way back and passed lots of more racers up the long switch back climb. All and all I had about a 20 minute loss of time from the crash and I was on pace to finish 34th but was really proud to gut it out and claw back to finish where I did. After the race I got treatment on the shoulder and got it re taped at the medical trailer.

The temperature was 24 deg C. A huge thanks to Transrockies for putting on the race and to all the volunteers for their efforts. I stayed at Best Western and it was great.


Pic by Raven Eye Photo


Pic by Raven Eye Photo


Pic by Raven Eye Photo


This was the mountain that we got to play on today. We started at the bottom of this. Pic by me.
 

SingleTrack 6 MTB XC Race 2016: Stage 3 @ Cranbrook, BC


Monday July 25th, I finished 39th place out of 47 in Solo Open Men Results, and in the timed descent I was 166th out of 194 overall solo men Results. It took me 3hrs & 26mins, It was a total of 42 Kms. Total elevation gain 3,586 Feet. My average heart rate was 165 bpm and max was 183 bpm. Check out my garmin data Here.

The night before I had dinner at East Side Marios with some friends Trevor P, Michelle E, Stew H, Mike K & his wife. Today they did a wave start for us and I was in wave 4, it was great because your racing with similar riders at your pace. I took off from the start and pushed really hard for the first ten km's as I charged up the long gradual climb and was red lining all the way up as I was in the lead pack. The first descent was really technical and steep with rocks and loose dirt so I just road it out safely. This course was great it had great flow and good climbs. I started to get tired legs around the twenty five km mark and then re gained some power. I really enjoyed the timed descent because there was some climbing in there. My legs and lower back were pretty sore towards the end. Today was my best result.

The temperature was 30 deg C. A huge thanks to Transrockies for putting on the race and to all the volunteers for their efforts. I stayed at Best Western and it was great.


Pic by Raven Eye Photo


Pic by Raven Eye Photo


This was the start/finish line. We went to the right up the mountain. Pic by me.

SingleTrack 6 MTB XC Race 2016: Stage 2 @ Fernie Alpine Resort, BC


Sunday July 24th, I finished 44th place out of 49 in Solo Open Men Results, and in the timed descent I was 184th out of 198 overall solo men Results. It took me 3hrs & 40mins, It was a total of 34 Kms. Total elevation gain 4,834 Feet. My average heart rate was 158 bpm and max was 180 bpm. Check out my garmin data Here.

The night before I had dinner at the Northern with some friends Trevor P, Michelle E, Stew H, Mike K & his wife. Today I started out pretty well on the opening climb and I had good cadence. Then we crossed the creek and there was a long rolling section with wet roots and it took a lot of power to get over them as there was a couple I couldn't muscle over. Then there was a longer really steep climb that I had to walk up at the tail end of it. That led us to the timed descent where the first portion of it I struggled as there was drops and rocks, the latter part of it I did ok. The next climb was a steep longer one and I made it up that ok and the descent after was so much fun. It took us to a bridge crossing where it was almost like we were in a tropical forest as I have never seen trees like that and the switch back climb was great. The final climb was steep and at the end of it I had to walk the last one km of it as the rocks were wet. The descent to the finish was so much fun. My arms were sore from all the down hills.

The temperature was 28 deg C. A huge thanks to Transrockies for putting on the race and to all the volunteers for their efforts. I stayed at Park Place Lodge and it was great.



Pic by Raven Eye Photo


Pic by Raven Eye Photo


Pic by Raven Eye Photo


Pic by Raven Eye Photo

 
Pic by Raven Eye Photo


Look forward we raced on what you see. Only we don't use the chair lift. This was the start/finish. Pic by me.

SingleTrack 6 MTB XC Race 2016: Stage 1 @ Fernie, BC


Saturday July 23rd, I finished 43rd place out of 49 in Solo Open Men Results, and in the timed descent I was 180th out of 200 overall solo men Results. It took me 3hrs & 28mins, It was a total of 33 Kms. Total elevation gain 4,476 Feet. My average heart rate was 172 bpm and max was 194 bpm. Check out my garmin data Here.

The night before I had dinner at the loaf with some friends Trevor P, Michelle E, Stew H, Mike K & his wife. It was great to get into the swing of things with them. The day before it had rained and it was great for the course as the dirt was not loose and the trails were bone dry. I have a trail bike this year rolling along with my new Trek Fuel EX 9.8 and it was the perfect bike for these trails. This was my first time ever riding here and I loved it. The big long climbs were fantastic. There was a couple switch backs I did not make on the opening climb and two really steep pitches up on the final climb I had to walk up a small part of it. I really enjoyed the down hill sections as I road them all and it was so fun and flowy. I struggled for the first five kms but after that I found my groove and raced really well.

The temperature was 25 deg C. A huge thanks to Transrockies for putting on the race and to all the volunteers for their effort to help make this bucket list dream come true. I stayed at Park Place Lodge and it was great.



Pic by Raven Eye Photo


Pic by Raven Eye Photo


Pic by Raven Eye Photo


Pic by Raven Eye Photo


I took this after the race as it was the start/finish. We raced on the mountain facing my back.
 

July 2016 Training


Sat 30th, Swimming (legs only) @ Summerland, BC in Lake Okanagan for 30 minutes.

Sun 17th, Road ride @ Ellerslie Road w/ mom for 2hrs 43mins (Zone 1/2) Average heart rate =103 Max =150, Elevation gain 646 feet. Km's 51

Sat 16th, Road ride @ Ellerslie Road for 2hrs (Zone 1/2) Average heart rate =129 Max =162, Elevation gain 620 feet. Km's 54

Wed 13th, MTB group ride to Walterdale Park for 1hr (X5 Hills) Average heart rate =135 Max =185, Elevation gain 699 feet. Km's 13

Sat 9th, MTB ride @ Whitemud Park w/ friends for 3hrs 20mins (Zone's 1-4) Average heart rate =155 Max =191, Elevation gain 1,526 feet. Km's 33

Wed 6th, MTB group ride to Gold Bar Park for 2hrs 30mins, Average heart rate =155 Max =183, Elevation gain 1,496 feet. Km's 25