Wet Without a Rain Coat at Lewis and Clark Ultra 12 HR TT

I am considering a moratorium on racing in the rain. I will not do it again

without a rain coat! While racing through the 1st 7+ hours of rain and misery I thought about taking up running, because I thought it might be more pleasant in the rain, than racing/riding my bike. I was

ready to quit the race for a burger and some fries around 2:00 primarily because I was so wet, cold and miserable. In time I realized I needed to get some more calories into my body. Most of my suffering was

due to the fact that I did not have adequate or appropriate attire, though I'm not sure that was even possible. I would have liked to change jackets,

shorts, socks and even shoes few more times. The thought of my HV teammates getting into a car every 1/2 hour- hour or so seemed very appealing! I valued seeing my teammate and race official, Andrew, pacing the

course in his car. It is comforting to know that someone out there knows what you are doing.

Let's see I learned a few important things this time around:

First- even though I get as wet wearing a rain jacket as not, it has a more important function, providing warmth! I was missing that!!!!!!

Second- comprehend the route sheet, trust the route sheet and

make my body obey the route sheet! I went off course from the get go throwing in and extra 800-1000 feet of climbing in the first 7.5. I got back on course at the 6.5 miles mark

with 9.5 miles riden and a 1 mile lift from a guy who opted not to race because of the rain and spotted me on his way home. Thank God, because I was too stubborn to turn around and thought I would get

back on course. I did but with nothing but unnecessary climbing and about 30 minutes lost. From there I was riding in last. I felt better when I caught up to two people at the 1st time

station.

Most of the beauty of the course was lost on me this year. I rode 173.5 miles in 12 hours, short of my goal (181+). Who doesn't want to do at least as many

miles as they did int he past? My pit stops were more like 15 -20 minutes pointlessly trying to figure out how I could improve my soggy condition. I would have been fine with 1-2 minutes stops to exchange

water and fuel bottles and to pee, but instead wasted time swapping booties and contemplating other futile clothing changes. That I rode through the 12 hours was an

accomplishment. It was a challenge for everyone else too. In the end I finished 2nd in my cat, behind Sarah Tisdale who did 190 miles. She was 2nd overall and I was 4th over all, male/female.

Hugh rode 346 miles winning LaCultra 24 for the 3rd time and setting a new course record. He stayed focussed all night with no troubles and a pleasant attitude!

Hugh was very impressed when another of our teammates, Cristina, racing on the 2 person team Hammer Velo #2 with Brad Foster, came striding up on him during the short lap looking strong and making it look effortless. He is looking forward to witnessing more of her racing!

As for the second 12 hours, we endured it without rain and very mild temperatures. There were 4 solo 24 hour racers, 3 men, 1 woman and a team of two (males) and a 4 person team (males) all on course through the night. There were friends, including Mick and Martha Walsh staying for support through the night along with some other folks including Sandy Earl who is going to Race Across America this June (solo).

Comments heard on the course: Those people in the red Excursion are REALLY NICE!

It was pretty darn cool to have 7 HV teammates participate in the event, (11 counting kids and Shari)!

Physically I felt good during the race and did not develop any saddle sores this time. My neck and shoulders got pretty tight in the last few hours, but did not compromise my riding. I was riding strong in the last two hours and could have kept it up longer. I think I could have paced up the climbs with more drive since I had plenty of strength when it was over. I did not end up noticeably sore at all on Sunday or Monday which is pretty cool, but also may mean that I could have pushed harder.

I was pleased with how I rode and my final miles considering my mistakes and the conditions.

I was glad when I finally saw Bill Nicolai at the end of the day. Out of 15 he took 3^rd! His race was over, but I still had a few minutes to go. Dressed in his Hammer Nutrition kit, I mistook him for Hugh coming up from behind but was just as happy to Bill as Hugh. Damn, I am proud of them both!

Leslie Holton, the lone sole 24 HR female racer’s kindness and joyful persistence was contagious, Before the race, and on both the long and short loops Leslie was an inspiration, not stopping until her 24 hours were up!

Sure the weather was poor, but the field was great, course was excellently marked and the volunteers were spot on!

Hugh's Davis 24HR TT 2010 report

Well - It was a hell of a trip. We battled through rain, wind, closed mtn. passes, hunting down tire chains just to get to the race - but we made it. The race could not have gone better for me. I was not on a mission to break any records or even worried about finish order - just out to see how my neck and back would hold up under the demands of a 24 hr race. My neck and back held up very well! I did have some pain but nothing regular doses of ibuprophen could not handle. I managed to ride very consistently for a long time. about 1 a.m. my neck was hurting so I took an hour nap and when I returned to the bike the pain was gone. Had some left knee pain that had been brewing most of the night that convinced me to call it a race about 2 hours early. I rode 328 miles in about 21 hours. Big confidence builder for me and - oh yeah - managed to take third place overall. Now I can look forward with confidence to defending my championships at the Lewis and Clark Ultra and The Ring of Fire knowing that my neck is not going to be the limiting factor. Hugh.

Davis 24 HR Challenge 2010

2010 Journey to Davis CA.

To participate in the Davis 12/24 TT Challenge takes more than significant training for the Gapay family. Plans were made for the children to spend the weekend with their Nana and Papa in Issaquah, WA. We met Hugh’s Mom in Chehalis, WA at noon on Thursday before the race, returned home and fined tuned our bikes, packed supplies and got the dogs settled in with their care providers. Only the guinea pigs were left at home to be as lonely as an ultra cyclist in the middle of the night.

Cycling and race support enthusiast, Mike Olson, and his wife Carol arrived at our home at 5:00AM Friday to caravan to Davis. We drove through pouring rain and just south of Eugene passed Sandy Earl, who as part of her preparation for RAAM 2010 was also heading south for the race. We had breakfast in Roseberg and stopped again in Medford to pick up chains as the highways signs declared “CHAINS REQUIRED,” only to learn that the interstate was closed going over Siskyou Pass. By the time we acquired the specific chains required for the “runflat,” PAX tires on our new rig, the highway was open. We joined the caterpillar of traffic and morphed into a snow going machine with the necessary traction devices. No sooner had we got them on and and it was time to take them off. Mike quickly noted that we had just spent $30 per mile. There was however a wind advisory in affect. I almost needed my sunglasses because of the glare. And the temp was rising to 36 degrees at 3:00PM. Actually we continued to drive through a snowstorm until we got south of Shasta Dam, but things were starting to look up and the weather appeared to be clearing.

The RACE

Saturday Monring

There was no rain or wind to discourage us as we drove from Davis to Winters at 5:00 AM. Arriving nice and early we pumped the tires up one more time, and I had time to convince Hugh to wear leg warmers in addition to his arm warmers. Good thing as it was cool (36-39 degrees)and very humid a good part of the day. It did finally get up to 43 degrees by 10:30 and hovered aroud 44 most of the day. By the time the clouds cleared and we got out of the fog and humdity we noted 50 degrees.

Mike and I waited for the local coffee shop to open before we headed out to meet up with Hugh 20 miles into the race. When did catch up to him we find him riding with Northwestern and RAAM registered Ross Muecke. Though this is a strict time trial event Hugh rode close to Ross for several miles allowing them more time to visit then ever before. Within the next hour they spread out with Ross pulling ahead and Hugh following up. Someone else whose name I never learned was in the mix as well.

Mike the mechanic was put into service to address a squeaky, bird tweet noise Hugh noticed every time he stood to pedal. Eventually we figured out that the bottom bracket cups were untorched. Mike got the squeak out and got us back on the road. By this time we had a chance to encourage many of the riders/racers. Mike and I busied ourselves with bike swaps for the ascents and descents. Interesting how the race goes by so much faster while following Hugh than when racing myself. Struggling with some cramps, Hugh was up and over Coob MT in less than 1 hour, almost too fast for us to really enjoy it. Making the turn toward Clearlake, Hugh asked us not to be too far away, not only is that stretch busy with trucks and traffic, he had a flat just after his support vehicle passed him there last year. The temperature got up to 49 degrees as we came upon Cache Creek and it seemed the humidity diminished.

I noted that we hadn't seen Ross in over an hour. He seemed to have completed his warm up and taken on his RAAM pace. Meanwhile Hugh continued to ride consistently well and comfortably as he climbed Resurrection pass.

Hugh averaged 17 mph for the fist 6.5 hours and said he was feeling all right. I have a suspicion that the cold temperatures intensified by the humidity earlier in the day, were more taxing on Hugh’s core energy then he realized. Cruising west on highway 16 along the Cache Creek was pleasant. There was no tailwind, headwinds or crosswinds to speak of in the early afternoon. We did come upon a fellow walking with his bike and caring a broken chain. Hugh slowed down to direct us to help him, as if we were not already on it. It happened that the man was commuting to Sacramento to see his girlfriend. Mike repaired his chain and off he went. I noted a mild headwind just before 3:00 PM.

After passing through checkpoint #3 we came upon the two racers, Ross and the unkown guy on a Steve Rex bike who had had pulled away from Hugh coming off of Coob MT. We eventually caught up with Hugh after helping out at the 4th sag/checkpoint for a bit. He was looking good, riding steady and focussed. We finished the day loop in just over 9 hours. While Hugh would have liked to finish it sooner, it all went by quickly for Mike and me. He pulled into the 5^th checkpoint before we could get a fresh water bottle out for him.

He started the night loop 1 hour behind the leader, Adam Bickett and 30 minutes behind a young man, Des, 24 yrs, who earlier in the day had me thinking stomach issues might be in his future because of his seriously fast pace. Later I learned he was not so new to ultra racing, but had done some mountain bike 24-hour races. That was enough to give me confidence that Des Wilder would be able to go the distance. He stayed on task behind the race leader by 30-45 minutes and went 425 or so miles. He made me think of Hugh back when he was 24 years-old. Back then he weighed 120 lb and won the Cannonball 300 wearing clipless pedals, eating salami, drinking coke and fixing his own flats. 21 years later, stronger, smarter and with a whole lot more going on I watched my husband do 1 hour 1 minute laps.

Pleased with Hugh's progress I was also impressed by the amazing things others were doing. We did not see the race leader, Adam Bicket, 26 yrs, until we finished the day loop and he was on his 2^nd night loop. He kept a 1-hour pace throughout the night and exceeded his goal going 435 miles. We met Adam, or rather his parents, the year before when they supported him in his 1^st 24-hour TT. There were other people racing whose names I never learned and others I had met last year or years before. Sandy showed her readiness for Race Across America with a cool 370 miles. Joan Deitchman started with a saddle sore and put in 333 miles, unsupported. She made it in from each lap sooner than I expected and got out smoothly. I am proud to know these women and inspired by their ever-increasing ability to ride far and fast. And for the first time this did not seem like a predominately old guys sport with many women racing 24 hours solo or in teams as well as with the young men going the distance without so many of the seasoned pros around to set the pace.

Hugh was able to do several night laps before needing to be outfitted for night riding. He was steady with 1hour 1-minute laps, fueling well and happy. Around 10 PM he decided it was time to change jerseys, add a jacket and booties. He ate PBnJ and some chicken soup and was off. After the next lap he was up for more soup and cookies. I kicked him out of the pit and sent him on his way. As far as I could tell he was god to go for the night. Around 11pm I went off to the Abby House to sleep next to Mike’s wife, Carol, and he took over night support. Ain’t Hugh lucky!? Little did I know his knee was hurting. Sometime during the night his neck starting hurting a bit, but we had been extremely conservative in giving him Ibuprofen. He told me took an hour off the bike and got another dose of antiinflammatory medicine into his system and went out for another lap. When I came back at 6 AM I found Hugh sleeping on the linoleum floor of the community center. Wondering what the heck was up quickly followed worry; Hugh sleeping before his time was up was not something I had anticipated. As I loaded everything up Hugh explained about his neck pain around 1 AM and how it returned around 3 but what was more bothersome was some knee pain that had become quite sever. With his goal achieved, learning if his neck would allow him to ultra race again or not, Hugh decided to transform his recovering period into quitting time.

It was great to join Mike in supporting Hugh, together we were able to set up for extremely rapid bike swaps and I could take pictures while Mike kept us on task. Like I said earlier, Hugh had never looked more efficient on his bike and now we can look forward to more ultra races with confidence. My personal plan is to stay up through the night to keep Hugh riding lap after lap until the timer dings, after I get in my 12 hours and many miles.

Before heading home, we showered back at Mike and Carol’s room and had a good breakfast with great coffee. Chains were not required, but somewhat necessary going over MT Shasta. Back home and it barely seems like spring. When Hugh’s knee pain resolves he will be pursuing a bike fit for his newest S-Works and I’m going to work on getting more, faster and comfortable miles on mine.

See you all at the Lewis and Clark Ultra May 29.

Cycling Bio with Some Race Results

I’ve always enjoyed cycling, riding my bike to school as a kid, commuting by bike as a young adult and for fitness and fun as the years progressed. I learned of the pleasure of 100+ mile rides while bicycle touring throughout the Northwest and along the Pacific Coast, so I should not wonder that I am a part of ultra and bicycle racing.

As early as 1989 I was providing support for ultra racing events beginning with the unofficial Cannonball 300 in 1989. Some of the people I still see at ultra cycling events I met in 1991 while providing support for another across Washington race, the S2S. I am very familiar with ultra marathon cycle and what it takes to compete and complete in such undertakings. I’ve been crew chief for several Solo Race Across Oregon events as well as numerous 24-hour time trial races. Fortunately my racer has always been ready for the challenge and with the help of a great crew we have had impressive success.

While no one can doubt the incredible rewards a racers feels in completing an ultra race, I know that for the support crew it is an amazing experience too. In providing support I could see the vastness of the environment and monitor the progress of my racer whose perpetual motion would stun and inspire me. What I experienced as a racer, even in 12-hour races, is a tremendous sense of accomplishment and pride especially when persevering through the inevitable times of purposelessness to the finish! Being a part of such an efforts makes me a happier and stronger person in all that I do and I enthusiastically encourage everyone I know to taste the please of ultra marathon cycling by trying it or supporting races and riders.

I just completed my first full year of racing and have some great results. I won the (UMCA) Ultra Marathon Cycling Association’s Western Region 12-hour Time Trial Challenge with a total of 523 miles over 3 races in CA, WA, and OR. In the cycling world the antithesis of ultra racing is cyclocross racing, and despite a late season upgrade I still had a 7^th series finish in Portland’s Cross Crusade. Learning to ride in a peliton of racers of varying abilities was among the challenges the year of road racing in Oregon. I would get dropped by the Cat 4 women after a lap or two, but was able to have top finishes among the Master Women. This year I hope to do better in both fields. As road racing is a team sport, I am grateful and fortunate to be on the small, but serious local team of Hammer Velo. With continued focus and encouragement I expect to go faster in 2010 over the long miles of ultra courses as well as the faster and more moderate distances o road racing and to move up in the field of Master A women next fall.

It does not seem that long ago that I was proud of regularly riding a 12 mile loop around Magnolia in Seattle, but that was 20 years ago. It was on one of those 12 miles rides I learned that looking pretty was not going to get me up the hill or go any faster. Through the years 20 miles rides become 40 then 65, but I am still proud that when I get a 16-mile ride in when time is tight. The most significant change in my riding is that I gave up looking pretty so that every once in a while I look good. I am mindful that every mile I go today is because the miles I rode before.

Finally, while I am a proud kit-wearing member of Hammer Velo I am thankful for the support and encouragement I get from my family, riding companions, friends and kind people everywhere.

2009 Ultra Marathon Cycling Association (UMCA) Western Region 12 Hour Time Trial Champion.

2009 Age Graded BAR: Masters Women 40-44 4^th place

2009 Overall BAR: Masters Women 7^th place

Ultra Racing Results

2008 Ring of Fire 12 HR TT 165 miles 2^nd place

2009 Davis 12 Hour Challenge TT 178 miles, 1^st place

Lewis and Clark Ultra 12 HR TT 181 miles 2^nd place

Ring of Fire 12 HR TT 164 miles 1^st place

2009 Road Racing Season 1 (Oregon)

Banana Belt Series started as Cat 4, and switched to Master Women – 2^nd place series finish.

Oregon State Champion TTT 4^th place

Mid-Summer Criterium Series 1^st place

2009 Cyclocross Season 2 (Portland, OR)

Cross Over Stage Race 3^rd place

Cross Crusade CCX Series Master Women B 7^th place series finish

Started at Master Woman Cat. B and earned upgrade with 5 top 5 finishes to end season as Master Woman A

2008 Cyclocross Season 1 (Portland, OR)

Consistent mid-field finishes in Master Women Cat. B

2009 Mountain Bike Short Track (Portland. OR)

Women’s Cat. 2 8^th place series finish

2008 Mountain Bike Short Track (Portland, OR)

Moved from beginner to consistent mid-pack finishes in Women’s Sport Category.

Too late to Get up to Date

I cannot believe that the last post to my blog was about Lewis and Clark Ultra. In just a few days we will be capping off our ULTRA racing season for 2009. September 12, 09 Hugh will set off for his 4th Ring of Fire race. The race this weekend will bring me full circle as it was my first 12-hour time trial just last year. I am looking forward to the constant demands of the course and riding my bike for 12 hours. I am also looking forward to seeing other racers and friends I've met through supporting Hugh and racing myself. A number of our local friends will be out on the course this year as well, Mike Olson and his daughter Teresa are teaming up for 12 hours, Rachael Parker will be going for the full-on 24 hours. Lisa Belair is hitting it with the knowledge she can push herself hard for 12 hours. (A seriously underrated contender). There still maybe others from the neighborhood signing on by race time.

But hold on. last weekend we were racing too. It was my first stage race, naturally unconventional, as it was the Crossover cyclecross stage race in Eugene, OR. I took 3rd in master women B, Hugh took 3rd in master men B and Kolben Prebel took 5th in men's B. That was definitely a great way to kickoff the cyclocross season, with great courses, pleasant weather and super camaraderie.

LACULTRA 12/24 report from Hugh Gapay

Riders turning out for the Lewis and Clark Ultra were greeted by one of the North West’s nicest days of the year. The temperature on race morning was mild, the skies were clear and the sun was shining brightly. The parking lot at the Hockinson Middle School was buzzing with pre-race activity as the thirty-eight twelve and twenty-four hour riders readied themselves for battle.
The Lewis and Clark Ultra was held in Brush Prairie, WA. On May 23rd. The second annual event is the second of three races comprising the UMCA’s Ultracup Western Triple Challenge, the Davis 12/24 Challenge and The Ring of Fire are the first and third races respectively.
The day loop is 140 miles with a reported 5700 feet of climbing. This loop starts in Brush Prairie and winds its way through the rural countryside finally reaching the Columbia River Gorge and the mighty Columbia River. As riders leave the Columbia River Gorge they are faced with a gradual climb up the Wind River highway eventually reaching Old Man Pass, the longest climb on the loop. After climbing for about five miles riders are treated with some long descents and some of the most spectacular views of Mt. St. Helens available in the area. At Cougar the route begins to turn back to the south through the rolling countryside bringing the riders once again back to Brush Prairie.
The night loop is a short, but not so sweet, ten miles with a reported 480 feet of climbing. There are some short but steep climbs scattered over the ten miles which ends with a screaming downhill that dumps you about three blocks from the start finish at the middle school.
Glenn Johnson started thirteen twenty-four hour riders including the father son team of Mike and Jed Bingle, twenty-one solo twelve hour riders including five women and two two- person teams. The racing was fast and furious from the start. Chris Ragsdale and John Caton were the first two riders to complete the day loop. However both of these riders would suffer race ending complications. Caton rode until 8 p.m. and then withdrew due to illness. Ragsdale rode until just after midnight when he reportedly fell asleep while riding and ended up in the roadside ditch. Fortunately Ragsdale was not injured but he would not return to the race course. This opened the door for Hugh Gapay to ride into first place. Gapay would hang on to defend his championship posting 342.3 miles. John Pearch rode to a second place finish with 323.1 miles. Sandy Earl was the lone woman in the twenty-four hour race and rode a predictably strong race racking up 302.3 miles for her victory. Mike and Jed Bingle rode 372.1 as the sole 24 hour team.
The twelve hour race was hotly contested in the men’s division. Todd Duncan would hold on to win this race, posting 214.9 miles with Mick Walsh hot on his heals. At race end there were only two miles separating these two racers. The women’s division of the twelve hour race had some strong competitors as well. Martha Walsh was able to defend her title as women’s twelve hour champion riding 190.7 miles with Angela Horton Gapay a not too distant second. Julie Leasure and Thomas Walker won the two person 12 hour race posting 205.3 miles.
Overall the second annual Lewis and Clark Ultra was a huge success. The field more than doubled in size from the first event in 2008. Glenn Johnson had an enthusiastic group of volunteers that helped make the race go off without a hitch. There were a good number of folks that stayed awake to the bitter end and as always the camaraderie and cooperation that are the hallmark of our North West ultra events was in no short supply.

A Year in Review

Its’ been over a year since I left the Forest Grove United Church of Christ and my responsibilities as a minister. I spent a few months recovering from the stress and trauma of that work experience. Then I spent time and money discerning new professional options. In May of 08, I took to bicycling regularly as the one thing I new I thoroughly enjoyed and could do well. I continued to explore professional options in the fields of human resources, Non-profit social programs, and youth services. I soon learned the Portland market demands “HR certification” which I thought to pursue, but was not totally committed to doing. And despite my experience in dealing with people of all ages, and families as they are or aren’t, without a M.SW I wasn’t being considered for the jobs I wanted. My search and efforts weren’t yielding much. So, through out the summer it was more rewarding to focus on sharing life with my children, doing plenty of biking and camping.
When the kids went back to school I returned to job searching in earnest, and again my efforts bore little fruit. By the end of the year jobs were hemorrhaging from the market and I would find maybe 3 positions every week to peruse and by January less than that. Hugh and I finally found a way to adjust our lives to being a one-income family. I seem to only have headaches now when I am sick instead of everyday, and the children are much happier. Hugh works more and rides less, but now his needs are met like a “real” patriarchal man, which he is NOT.

During this year I have consistently cycled, outside when the weather permits or at times through snow, sleet and rain when our cycling team captain calls us out for a team ride in January. I have been working out at the gym 2-3 times a week, not just to be fit, but also to get stronger as a cyclist, and it’s paying off. My favorite gym workout is Pilates, which I now teach 1-2 x a week.
As I was not working or attending meetings at night, I was able to join my family for the short track series at Portland International Raceway, http://www.portlandracing.com/info.html, on Monday nights. That was the beginning of my current competitive efforts. To be committed to placing, be it in the top 20, top 10, or a podium finish, has become a priority and being competitive is all together something new.

Providing support for my husband on numerous ultra marathon cycling races had spurred my interest many times. Now it was time to try a 1- hour time trail race myself. I trained/rode sometimes with some local friends: Dave Burnard, Mike Olson, Amanda Houston and Greg Peak,. through the summer, in preparation for the Ring of Fire http://www.raceacrossoregon.com/roftt. I got 165 miles, 2 saddle sores and two extremely numbed and pained feet.
For the 2008 Portland cyclocross season Hugh and I pulled together some local friends and with the support of Hammer Nutrition, http://www.hammernutrition.com/ and participated in the Cross Crusade Series with matching Hammer kits. You can check out the team and some race reports at http://www.olsonshammer.blogspot.com/. While this was not a registered OBRA team I sure appreciated the support and encouragement we provided and still give one another.

Because of Mike Olson’s support for Hugh’s ultra cycling efforts. I was able to sign up for the UMCA’s Northwest’s Triple Challenge http://www.ultracycling.com/, beginning with the Davis 12/24 Hour TT Challenge in early May. I rode 178.5 miles there. The second race came 3 weeks later, just outside of Vancouver WA. http://www.lacultra.com/. There I logged 181 miles in 12 hours. The series ends with The Ring of Fire on September 13, 09.

At the end of 08, I joined my husband, Hugh, on a newly formed, registered and sponsored team that Jeff Tedder pulled together called Hammer Velo. We do team rides on weekends if we’re not racing and there are opportunities for mid-week workouts, rides, races and socializing. This has been a hoot. Not only does the team push me to ride faster, I am learning so much about how to road race and having an incredible amount of fun and pride doing it with the Hammer ladies who are kicking ass everywhere! As Hugh puts it, “Oh to be a Hammer Velo lady.

So, I’ve committed to developing as a cyclist for a year now. I am told that the kind of strength and skill I’m going for takes about 2 years to achieve so I am well on my way. I am frequently aware of the compromises or change in priorities this new commitment requires. For example I’m spending very little time engaged in social activism, asserting spiritual principles and the like and don’t have to invest in every relationship that presents itself as I felt obliged to as a minister. Best of all because Hugh’s been at this ultra cycling for a number of years we have found a way to keep the whole family involved and everyone takes pride in being apart of the same team no matter who is riding or racing.