Race Report 2011 Vision Quest/Counting Coup reports

I was standing next to him on the start line and we chatted for a few moments before the start. So awesome that he's out there at his age, taking on an event like VQ. Please congratulate him for me!

 

Locked out too?! I was on the shuttle with you. Nice to finally meet you!

 

Saw you out there. Great job. I think we hit Aid Station 1 around the same time.

I was pretty grumpy when I finally hit the bottom of the valley, as I had just had to deal with a sandbagger (not you) who didnt mind ignoring the 3-4 deep line of bikers behind, all while passing 4-5 of those courtesy-turnout areas near the switchbacks. I descended the last half of motorway yelling "MOOOOOOVE" in my head. RAWR.

 

Preliminary results have been posted:

http://www.warriorssociety.org/events/2011_vq_results.php

http://www.warriorssociety.org/events/2011_cc_results.php

 

23 = number of DNS for the VQ
16 = number of DNS for the CC

Are those numbers high?
Were there many people on the waiting list?
(were buyers/sellers able to contact each other)

 

10% DNS is pretty typical.


Here are some other interesting numbers:

We only had 6-8 riders not make Cutoff #1 at bottom of Motorway. The sweep rider made it to the bottom of Motorway at 9:35......so those that didn't make it, barely missed.

Every rider that left Aid Station #1, made the cutoff at 4 Corners. We didn't have to turn anyone around.

 

There was lots of people on the waiting list. I had 2 people pass on my spot for reasons unknown to me and 7 people did not respond. seems like an issue that has no easy answer.

 

Let me start with thanking Dino Brown, Fatguy1, dune66, xcdude, LaHabra Cylery, Giant bicycle and STR members that made this happen. This was my first Counting Coup. The ride was great. On Silverado Motorway had a OTB, left my gloves at the first check point. Upper Holy Jim 2 more OTB, the rear brakes worn down.
I had ridden most parts of the coure except from 4 Corners on was new to me. Upper Holy Jim was definitely above my skill level, but now I have something to try and conquer. I did not see anything wrong with the end of the race, but then I have not seen the previous ones. Thanks Gene and the Warrior Society for putting this event on. I can't wait to try this again.

 

I'd bet this being due to how light peoples bikes have become over the last couple years.

 

My understanding is that Main Divide was in pretty good shape and pretty fast......but other parts were definitely slower.

Could just be that the slower riders either did not get in, chose not to participate, or trained and got faster.

 

I wonder if the DNS number would significantly drop if registration were held 30 days before the event. Event announcements could still go out in the fall so people could start to plan and train but only people who felt like they were ready to go would actually register. Thoughts?

 

Those who didn't feel ready for the race could have transferred their spots to someone else. And I think the transfer deadline was about 3 weeks before the race.

 

Even years back, when you could register up to about 3 weeks before the event, there was about a 10% DNS rate.

Like Gene posted earlier.....some people buy a spot just to sell later for some profit.....with no intention of actually doing the ride. Then when they can't sell the spot, DNS.

Also, it sells out so quick, that a lot of people "panic" buy a spot because they think they might want to do it.

 

I think that would be great, but I don't know the ramifications of that on the warriors side. I do know the fella I sold my spot to DNS because of the birth of his child.

but I think this issue needs a separate thread, back to the reports!

P.S. the picture of JSD finishing really warmed my heart!

 

I think this is a pretty accurate analysis of what is happening. I believe this is also reason enough to keep doing transfers. Allow those that truly want to take part in the event the chance to use these spots that would normally go to waste.

~My post came in right after Hotchkiss'. Agreed! Back to the reports!

 

How someone did the course on a fixed gear SS is beyond my comprehension (and finished in about 7 hours). Amazing!

 

My PAIN!!

That HURT so much!!! I loved it! First off, THANKS to everyone who made it a great day for me.I accomplished all three of my goals. 1. Compete hard the whole day. 2. Make all the cut off times. 3. Finish and get my feather. My first VQ and definitely my last. Started ok feeling good. Got to the MD and still feeling like “I can do this”. Drop into MW and had to drag my brakes the whole way down. (slow riders, oh well it’s a ride not a race) Hit the paved road and the demons start to talk to me. As I approach the bell and horns turn I get inspired. (thanks guys) At 4 corners the biting flies are getting fat on me when the nice guy walks up with some fly spray. (thank you thank you thank you) As I start towards the peek the devil from last year’s Coup is all the way in my head. (I cramped bad in both legs last year) I feel good on UHJ and LHJ and totally dunk my feet in the water. (note to self – get shoes that drain better) Aid station 2 and everything in me says GO RIGHT!!! The course worker says I have 40 minutes to get to WHT and make the cutoff. He says its 3 miles all up hill. Peddle like you stole it!!! Shove my PBJ in my pocket and think wtf, let’s see what happens. Every turn of the crank is worse than the previous one. (then I remember what my daughter said to me when she kissed me goodnight. “tomorrow you will be in a lot of pain dad, remember that it is only weakness leaving your body. You can do this”) So I keep saying that in my head and the last check point appears in front of me with 15 minutes to spare. I find some shade and split my pbj with a guy named Steve and put one wet foot in front of the other. I’m at the top of WHT and this angel hands me a cheese burger. THE BEST BURGER I EVER HAD!!! A nice guy who had a motorcycle lubed my peddles and chain and gives me a push and says “Congratulations VQ Finisher”. The downhill was effortless. The stream crossings were cold and refreshing. The last creek crossing at the bridge was the icing on the cake. 9:30 official time. Thanks again to everyone who sacrificed for me. Thank you Lindsey for the words to keep me going.That HURT so good:clap:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/77219345?sms_ss=email&at_xt=4d99fac2189fd818%2C0

 

This was also my first Counting Coup, I definately did not get in the training that I had hoped for. The starting line in the dark with the drumbeat and all was awsome, I could almost hear my heart beating w/ the drum. The view of Blackstar Cyn once I got to Beaks Place was especially surreal, we were above the thick cloud cover and only a couple of peaks were sticking out like islands, looked like something out of an Avatar movie. I was was feeling pretty good when I got to the golf ball in 1:20 ride time, got my butt kicked on the next MD section and hit MS Check Station at about 8:35. The asphalt section of of MS really did me in and I lost time here and checked in at 4 Corners at 10:38....the gnats....oh shit the gnats were unbearable, I swear some of them were going in my ears and out my nose and back in my mouth, I'm thinking I did not cramp because I was eating so many damn gnats! I hit the Upper HJ trail head at exactly 12:00 and cleaned UHJ w/ only one trip into the manzanita, just a small scratch to show for it. Lower HJ really was the best I have ever ridden it, it was sticky and brushed back and no one in front or behind me, I was in my own little zone, much thanks to the hard work of the WS. I finished in 7:41 ride time, not too great, but now I have a time to beat next year. My first feather will always be the most special one! Thanks again Warriors for making such an unreal experiance possible.








Me and my daughter Kim at the Finish area

 

Thanks! Congratulations on your finish! It was a pleasure to meet you and krunner.

 

Thats my buddy Chas, thing is he even took a wrong turn and added 15 minutes on to his time! Wish he would have been there to push me so I could have broke 6:30

Besides riding 4 miles on mostly flat road on a single speed for the finish I liked it, especially the stream crossing. It is mountain biking after all!