Nanland and Fat Fursuit. I drank the Kool Aid and I loved it

Nanland and Fat Fursuit. I drank the Kool Aid and I loved it.

This is dedicated to the people who make the Pursuit a special and magical place. The environment is simply wonderful and incredibly inspiring.

Nanland: my happy place sometimes it is real other times I am not sure. The world is ideal, things are coming easy, state of smiling for an absurd amount of time.

Fat Pursuit: fat bike winter “racing” at its best. Temps can be +20 to -40. Distances 60K- 200K and 200 miles. Challenge guaranteed. Probably walking for miles. Place to become a better person. The director does not call it a race, rather it is a journey. To be successful one needs to be a strong rider and winter backcounty traveler.

Getting ready!

  

Riders in the 200 mile, photo Jamye Chrisman

It has been five weeks since the Pursuit. It feels like a dream when I think about it, I have written many versions of this blog. The seed was planted a year earlier when I volunteered at the 2017 Pursuit. My goal was simple to finish. Everything came together, the stars were aligned, I hit a home run. Honestly, I am worried that I now have unrealistic expectations about winter ultras. The conditions were as good as they get for a Pursuit. I still had miles of walking, only saw fog on Two Top, but all of these sections were expected and short lived. Conditions will change and I should accept it rather than hope for conditions to change.

Snowy riding

Smiles for miles

Boil test! 

Photo taken by Jamye Chrisman, rider coming into West Yellowston

Flat tire and party lights

I did have some curve balls, a flat and gross drink mix. A few miles before West Yellowstone I let too much air out of my tire and got a flat. I took me a bit realize it. My seal looked fine so I pumped it. Ten minutes later and two miles from town I flatted again. I tried once more and luckily it sealed! The second curve ball was gross drink mix. I was carrying just over 100 oz of water. 40oz was in a thermos. I did not try this new drink mix, rookie move. I added this “drink” to my thermos. About an hour after leaving West I tried it for the first time. I had one sip and barley got it down, it was milk based with lime flavor! It was going to tight on water to make it to the next check point with 100oz, no way on 60oz. I rode till my camelback water empty to make more water. I made water about 3:30am. It took about an hour to make 60oz. Looking back I am so lucky that those were my challenges.

One of the crossings 

Something went wrong... 

Nanland 3am

I was in totally in Nanland for the first 90 miles or about 23 hours. I was happy to pedal, push, make water, sing along, take pictures. I soaked up the ride, cried tears of joy. The first half felt like a good Barre class, I felt strong. Going up and over Two Top was fun! That was my favorite section. The trail was firm. I met up with other racers. I am not sure how long I pushed for but it does not matter. What was important was staying in Nanland. I had an impressive crash going down. I locked up my back break lost control, went off the trail, then a huge superman over the bars. My bike landed perfectly upside down.

Jill and I at Man Cave

Around mile 90 the sleep monster jumped on my back. Looking back I should have stopped and slept for a few hours. I slowly made my way to Man Cave. Jill Martindale was there! The leading woman for the 200 mile! Amy and Kathi two badass Alaskan ladies were the volunteers! Kathi gave me  huge complement that I was looking strong! I should have slept but I couldn’t relax enough. I headed out, the last 20 miles were slow. My body started to hurt. I was ready for a good rest but I kept pushing. My pace kept slowing down and trail was mashed potatoes. Then the trail opens up and there was the lodge. A large group gathered and welcomed in! I finished! 

In shock that I finished Photo Jamye Chrisman

Coming into the finish. Photo Jamye Chrisman

Two finishers Photo Jamye Chrisman

Photo Jamye Chrisman

200 mile ladies! They are the first ladies to finish the 200 mile. My heroes!
Photo Jamye Chrisman

I still can’t believe that I finished. It would turn out that I was the only lady to finish the 200k! Looking back what amazes me is how long I stayed in Nanland. I was expecting Two Top to question my sanity. It was a challenge but the stars aligned for a fun and safe passage. I have now drank the Kool Aid and in trouble. I can’t stop thinking about Alaska. 

Photo Jamye Chrisman

How to stay in Nanland while Pursuing just a few ideas.  

-Define the goal?
               Stay in Nanland for as long as I could.
               My goal was see how far I could make it.
               Have fun.
               Challenge myself.
               No injuries- no freezing body parts, no hurt body parts
               Don’t allow for external factors change your goal- finishing in X amount of hours.
-Race or finish?
               To finish- I do have the experience or speed to race. 
-Take care of the stop and fixes right away? 
               Tire pressure- if the conditions change so should your tire pressure.
               Hot or cold- NO SWEATING! 
               No water- stop and make some. Have a small bottle that is your water to use for boiling water. 
               Sleep monster, if I am in a place that I can stop.
-Anticipate issues and don’t let them become problems. I realized that I was going to have stop and make water, I was not caught off guard when my camelback was empty.  
-Be aware of your environment. Is this a place that if you stopped you will be ok? If not, how far is to a place where you can stop. Knowing where you are is a key part!
-Eat and drink more than you think. Ask your self, “When was the last time I ate and drank? Bathroom?”   not am I hungry or thirsty?
-Easy systems- if it is easy to grab more likely to use it. Jacket/ pump/ food
-If possible when you stop take care of all of the issues.
-Eat the elephant one bite at time. Focus on the task at hand, don’t think about the whole thing just what you are doing.
-EAT about five times more than you think! I listened to a lot o music. I cut bars before hand. At the top of every song I would eat a bite of food and drink water. I ended up eating a good bit more this way. It did get harder as the race went on but it helped a ton.
-Try food out before the race, Mike’s drink mix was not good.
-Stay on my roller coaster.
-Don’t fixate on a finish time.
-Go with the flow- don’t let a hiccup throw me off.

Lessons in Uncertainty

60 K Fat Pursuit 2017 Lessons in Uncertainty.

As humans we like things to be predictable and known. I am an uber planner, I like to picture something before doing it, I write down my grocery list, I plan things out months in advance. Uncertainty not my strong point. For anyone who has participated in any of Jay’s events gets a healthy dose of uncertainty. In September he had to reroute the course because too much snow on the course. Fat biking is so dependent on conditions, uncertainty. The winning times for the 60k range from 3 hours to 6.5 hours. The week leading up to the Pursuit started off optimistic for firm conditions. As the week progressed uncertainty started to creep in. In December the course had not been groomed yet, lack of snow. Jay and the Fityz crew groomed with snowmobiles. I packed food and gear for a long day. I was excited for the challenge of another epic day. Then the two-week high-pressure system broke and dropped 4-5 inches of snow the night before. Jay made an unexcepted call to reroute the course. The standard course is a lollipop, the new course would be two out and backs on the stick. A huge curve ball. I had to quickly change gears from a backcounty Pursuit to lap race.

The race starts. Somehow, I was towards the front of pack and was behind a solid rider who left a predictable track. In soft race conditions it is common for spontaneous and instant combustion aka just riding along and bam you are down. How the person leaves the track should be the determine if the person is going to heaven or hell. As the course turned on the road from the powerline section I hoped that the conditions would improve but I wasn’t sure. More uncertainty. The road conditions were only slightly improved. To stay balanced one must focus on the track. In this Pursuit there was no multitasking, drinking water and eating while riding was challenge. I felt balanced but could not push my pace. My mind did not wonder much but I was very much in Nanland. I enjoyed the challenge of staying balanced and keeping focus. When I would cross with other riders there was uncertainty on the etiquette on who had the right away. Most people were very respectable but there were a few that there was not a good option for either. This led to a number of instant combustion moments. As the day went on I was able to keep the same pace. I never felt that I was pushing body, asking for something that it did not have give. For me, it felt more like a ride rather than a race.

The day had a lot of uncertainty, but that did not stop me from having a blast. What has become the highlight was hearing people say “Nan, thanks for your smile and encouragement, it helped to keep me going.” I ask myself, why did I have some much in light of the challenge of uncertainty. My goals were still being met, I wanted to challenge myself, I wanted this race to help train me for the 200k coming up, I wanted to finish, and I wanted to be apart of community. Knowing that Jay’s events come with uncertainty I did not place expectations on the outcome. Now the challenge comes applying the lessons to life.

Other random comparisons from 2016 vs 2017.
-2016 raised my handle bar mid race. 2017 started the race with a taller height and was thankful. My upper body was not sore!
-Wider is better! I loved having 100 mil rims! Thanks Fitzy!
-2016 it was -20 it is easier to ride at cold temps. 2017 it was 25, I had to think about managing sweat.
-2016 I was just riding. 2017 I have started doing fitness classes to build strength and training, it makes a huge difference.

Photos were taken by the lovely Jamye Chrisman 

Saturday Night

Saturday night plans.
As you may already know, I have a few screws lose and I have an absurd love towards fat bikes. I am training for my first ultra-bike race, Jay P’s Fat Pursuit 200k in January. When I think about the race about half the time I am terrified and the other half excited. The idea of doing a winter overnighter came up to help prep for the race. I loved the idea! Mike talked with his friend Jason and his main partner in crime to join. This was my first winter overnighter from a bike. I have camped in the winter environment but it has been a while. I was a nervous about this ride.  The few days leading up to the ride the weather is a mix of rain and snow. Snow is much easier to deal with than rain, so there were lots of snow dances.

It just happened the day that worked best was Global Fat Bike Day! In the morning we joined the Fitzgerald’s crew for a huge group ride. It was awesome to ride with so many excited people. We headed home to get ready. The garage turned into a gear explosion of bike bags and camping gear. Camping gear is still mostly packed away so lots of questions, “Do you know where my ___ is?” We packed our rigs up and headed out at 7pm.  

Our route was from the house about 50 miles on the Jackpine Loop. In summer about ten miles of pavement and forty of gravel. The loop itself about 25 miles in winter is snowmobile heaven. Grooming of snowmobile trails has not started, we are in the tricky place between too much snow for cars and not enough for grooming. We were not sure what to expect for conditions, but that is standard for Jay’s races which is why we are doing the overnight.

The first fifteen miles were super icy. Earlier in the day, the sun came out and lightly melted the top layer. We joked that we forgot studs. It was very cautious and tense riding, however, it was lovely night. We got to the loop and started gaining elevation. At one point I see Mike go down, he was just riding along, and bam down. Thankfully he was fine. We had a few miles of snow with tire tracks. Then the snowmobile tracks started. The snow was getting deeper and softer. The challenge increased as our elevation increased. Not nearly as challenging as the 2016 60k Fat Pursuit. We only walked about 100 feet. It was great training. We reached the top and snowmobile tracks turned and we had a set of tire tracks! We started down. At one point the boys stop and I kept going. I came up on a moose! I waited for the boys. At about 11pm we found a place to call home for the night. 

Once at camp, I went into go mode. I put on my puffy jacket and pants, some might have these as luxury items but for me they are key to stay warm. I strongly believe in the mantra: be warm stay warm. Warming up in the winter takes so much so I don’t go there. I boiled water for dinner and tea. Mike and I shared dinner and headed to bed. I slept ok. I had to pee at 4am and thought about getting ready then but realized the boys were probably not ready to wake. I woke back up just before 7am. I boiled water for oats and coffee. I realized that we were winter glamping. The temperatures were warm just about freezing. I could pack and do most things with no gloves!

Jason's camp

Rover is camping!

Mr Smiles

We were back on our bikes by 8am. We were able to follow the same tracks! The snow was great, there were a few icy places.  On the way down my heart was overflowing with joy and excitement. Feeling that the race is within my ability. The race will still be hard but I know that I have the tools to be successful.  The Ashton-Tetonia Rail Trail is at the base of the loop. We took a detour to catch out Bitch Creek. It is one of my favorite places, there is a huge trestle bridge. We opted to take the Rail Trail back to Tetonia, we were not excited about the icy roads. We decided to support the local café, Badger Creek. I have had a number of post bike meals there. We did get a few strange looks walking in. We filled up on coffee and food.

Riding the Rail-Trail

Smiles for miles

Bitch Creek

Loving life

no smiles... NOT!

Someone is having a wheelie good time.

Rover in his element 

The boys BnB, it has a front porch! 

This overnighter was the prefect Saturday night. A bit of challenge and adventure with great friends. It is not everyday that I find someone who wants to spend Saturday night riding bikes and camping in the snow, I am so grateful for Mike and our lose screws.

Digging Hearts

First, Thanks to all of the support from Fitzgerald's bike shop, to friends, and most importantly Mike. Without your support I probably would not have as great of a day- thank you.

Jay P’s Backyard Pursuit words cannot describe the experience or the range of emotions at these “events.” They are inherently challenging and he must have a connection with the weather gods. After Pierre’s Hole riding was at the bottom of my to do list. Life came fast with, moving in with my love, a total eclipse, best friend’s wedding in North Carolina, and a surprise party for Mike.  It took my body more time to recover from Pierre’s than expected and while recovering I took two hard falls. I just was not able to get much time in the saddle before the Pursuit.

Two weeks out I told myself that if the weather was going to be cold and rainy I would I ride the 60 mile. I wrote myself a permission slip. Ten days out the forecast was good, sunny with highs in the 50s. A week before we received our second snow of the season. Now it was enough to ski September snow. A group was going skiing, I was going along because I wanted to be apart of the group. Mike asked, want to ride your bike? My heart lit up, I could ride snow! I still do not understand why riding on snow makes me so happy, but it fills my soul like nothing else. In that moment when I embraced winter in September I also embraced the Pursuit.

The week leading up I still had moments of What am I doing?! I do not have to do this. I dug out my winter gear. As I am pulling my gear I realize I have pulled what I wore for the WINTER Pursuit, I thought to myself Nan this is a bit of overkill.

I was able to help Tracey with registration, which was tons of fun and it kept me focused on something. Talking with people who had the same concerns that I have helped to ease my worries. There was an older gentleman who looked more like a rancher than biker. As I was checking him in he said that he had just started riding his bike 6 weeks ago and this was his first race! He asked what a Swag Bag was. I could tell that he was soaking this experience up with the wide grin. As the evening progressed energy was building.

I awoke at 5:10 to the sound of a coffee grinder in the house. I get up, get dressed, and wander over to breakfast. I sit with guys talking about other gravel and bikepacking races. I am intimidated by my lack of experience. At the start line I look around to see who the other women are. The roster online listed several strong women that I was honored to be riding with.
I did not use my permission slip to ride the 60 but I was using it not to race. I was going out for a 120 mile ride. Looking around I had more gear on my bike than most, I honestly do not like being cold nor do I handle it well thus I am prepared. Full set of rain gear, fleece gloves with dish gloves to go over, bread bags for my feet, extra fleece, extra light, and handwarmers. The first hour or so I am trying to find my rhythm. The gravel is lose catches my tires and sending me for a one second rodeo rides. It reminded me  of the Fat Pursuit. Thankfully, this Pursuit the surface became more consistent. I forgot my heart rate monitor, I do not have something telling me how hard I am working, I must think about it! The first few hours flew by I was having a great ride. I did take one fall, I was trying to do many things on my bike. I got back on my bike and kept going. I passed the 60 mile mark right at 5 hours, I was feeling wonderful! If I was able to keep the same pace I would finish in 10 hours! That is a BIG assumption that I could hold the same pace but I was feeling good. 

On the way up Two Top I finally see Mike! We stop for a quick hello and air kiss. Business time. When the route turns for the two track I grin. The grade kicks up. I am in granny gear, looking about 25 feet in front of me to pick my line. I cannot look too far out or doubt takes over. Throughout, the day I keep asking myself, I am getting warmer or colder or able to maintain my body temperature? I change layers as needed but trying not to stop too often.  The trees give way to the alpine. I see someone in the distance who is putting a coat. I arrive, it is Kellie Nelson! One of the ladies I am honored to be riding with! I also put on my rain coat as the exposure has my temperature cooling. Finding the balance of when to add layers is almost an art form, I am using my theory of: Be warm Stay warm. Two Top is wild place. One must want to be out there to make it to the top, no easy paths to get there. I had to dig deep to get there in the process loss my appetite and the “bad” weather had officially moved in. The double track goes on for a bit longer then there is a “off trail” section. This is a path used by snowmobiles in winter but in summer it is not trail or path it is undergrowth. I enjoy walking my bike as I am able to use different muscles and stretch out my back a bit. I cross the marsh trying not to get my feet wet or fall. This is when I started to ask myself, what am I doing on bike out here. Thankfully the section was not long and Mike rode up at the end. He said, “You are two minutes behind second place!” I did not believe Mike, he must have missed a lady or two. Mike saying that pulled me into the race mode! I did stop to put on my rain paints as my legs were starting to get wet and knew that I was in for a fun descent off the mountain. I was able to eat a Kate’s Bar but was running low on food. I felt fine but I knew that I had created a hole that I was probably going to catch up with me before the end.

I arrive the valley floor at about mile 90, 30 miles left. I know this is go time but my tank was starting to run low. I was warm and enjoying riding. I have no idea how hard it was raining, all I recall is that it was wet. I arrive at the last aid station. Jay, Mike, Kellie, and a few other races are there. I grab two GUs packets a bit of water and I am out. I knew that if I stopped I would cool down and make life harder. As it turned out I passed a number of riders there, I had no idea, I was in go mode. I had 17 miles mostly flat but a few small climbs. I take off before Kellie, she quickly catches me. I pull in front of her but she pushes harder. I knew I could not maintain that pace for 17 miles on what I had in the gas tank. I was able to keep her in sight for about 5 miles. My belly starts to cramp. I try to keep a good pace but the small climbs zap me. I pass the spot where I first met Mike and bird sang, my heart warmed. I made the turn for Chick Creek, I thought back to Fat Pursuit when I towed in two friends of mine how much fun that ride was. On this ride I was solo, pushing myself no hooting and hollering of joy of the insanity. The last turn was on to a road with large pot holes that were filled with water. My speed dropped and the pain increased. I crossed the line at 11 hours and 2 minutes. Tracey and Eric were there and she said that I placed third! I earned a belt bucket! I cried. I came into the Pursuit wanting to finish and somehow it turned into something more.

Ben Weaver a fellow traveler wrote a poem titled Digging Hearts and read it us before the start of the race. The last stanza struck me:

These digging hearts pull a thread 
through our stories
they make us a community of adventurers 
rather than lone lost conquerors 
may we never stop feeding them 
may they never stop digging 
never stop pushing us to our infinite limits,
may we all be unified in this pursuit
at the edge of this island wilderness,
in Jay P’s backyard 
may we all ride forward.


Other thoughts:
I rode my Ti Vaya bike. Jay fitted me for it 5 years ago when I rode across the country. Of my bikes this one holds the closest place to my heart.

I am starting realize that I am decent at climbing.

Eat and drink more than you think you should. Every bite and drink will help prevent digging a hole. 

Aaron Gardner's plan works, show up to finish do not worry about placing, it works! 

10 Months Later...

Tomorrow is the 120 mile Gravel Pursuit, I have the same feelings that I did ten months ago before my first Fat Pursuit. What in the heck am I doing, why? Then, the Fat Pursuit was one my favorite and by far hardest day on my bike. Conditions were challenging to say the least. The Gravel Pursuit weather outlook is almost as grim as it was the Fat Pursuit. Why I am excited about tomorrow? Maybe my screws are loose or I have extra coocoo in my clock. After the Fat Pursuit last year, I was so inspired. I saw and felt something I do not often feel. I saw how resilient humans can be. I am not sure how many days I biked but I only skied two days. I had friends texted me, it snowed three feet you must be skiing, nope I went for ride.  I rode to grow my resilience. In August, I moved in with my sweetie (who I met at the Fat Pursuit 😊), the move took more than I expected. My motivation to ride was very low. I started to question this Pursuit, would I be able to do it? Should I do? My last race did not go as planned and took me month to recover.  Last week, it snowed over a foot in the mountains. Snow typically means skiing. A group of us were getting ready to go ski, my heart was not excited to ski. Mike asked if I would like to go for a fat bike ride. My heart instantly lit up. As I pulled water bottles to fill I grabbed my winter ones and I started to dance with joy. That was the moment I knew that I was ready for this challenge. Tomorrow without a doubt will challenge me to the core but I know it will make a better person.