BDB100 2013

I rode the BDB100 with two friends this year, Josh O’Neil and his brother-in-law from Colorado, Bob Ward. Despite showing up for the ride in baggy MTB shorts, Bob proved to be one hell of a cyclist. He had some great pulls and surprised me several time by surging around other riders. The climb up Wye Mountain blew our threesome apart but we regrouped at the next rest stop and finished the day out more or less together. When we were coming off the Two Rivers Bridge Bob said something like, “Let’s get this.” I though he was serious so I put the pedal to the medal. So, at the very end of the day, the three of us came in about a minute apart from each other.

This was my third BDB100. Of the three, this years was the my easiest and, ironically, my slowest. 5:55. Last year I endured some really bad leg cramps for the last half of the race but still managed to come in around 5:30. But this year we hit more rest stops than I have in the past. Which confirms that if you want to do this in 5 hours or less take as few breaks as possible.

That said, I think the reason I felt so good during this ride was nutrition. I ate and drank more than in years past- 3 PB&Js, 6 Gatorades (132 fl oz), 5 Peanut Butter Performance bars, 5 Strawberry Banana Powergels, 1 cookie, and 1 shot of pickle juice.