The Trail to Pisgah Passes Through Capitol Forest

’14 Capitol Forest 100 Top Three

I gave self an early birthday present this year–100 miles on a mountain bike! I am trying to regain some confidence going into next months Pisgah Stage Race so I have broke away from the shop for a few late summer races hoping to prepare myself for five days of hard riding in Appalachia. Several years ago I did the NW Epic Series race in Capitol Forest, winning the first ever 50 mile race there. This time I was back for MORE–two laps of Capitol Forest awesomeness and a chance to place second in the NW Epic series!

The race started well with five of us off the front riding together for many miles of single track. I was never over my “limit” and rode smoothing throughout the first lap except for a little of trail mishap that resulted in some lost seconds and energy. Most folks limit is something they often ride above and easily recover from–mine is more like the “death zone” in mountaineering, a place you must go but is definitely not sustainable and may have dire consequences to a race result and my general well-being for weeks on end.

One of our companions pushed the pace halfway through the first lap and I followed, closing the gap and then allowing it to open again for a nature break. The long, rough Greenline descent was good to me and I took all the time back and rejoined the leader as we passed through the last feedzone. On the next climb I could detect I was starting to stretch his limit and easily pulled away on the downhill to the lap point. I didn’t feel too great during the first part of the second lap but was still a little surprised when Michael Robinson from Whistler caught and passed me on the long single track climb back up the mountain. He was clearly riding faster and riding harder but I was gun-shy to lift my pace for fear I wouldn’t have much fun the next 30 miles.

I was five minutes or more behind at top and cut that margin in half by the final feedzone. My legs were good and I felt like I could lift the pace in the last 10 miles but in light of the big picture I elected to ride smooth to the end. Mr. Robinson was solid and only gave up a few more seconds despite my steady pressure so hats off to him on a great result in a long and difficult race. Second place has become familiar this season but that was OK when that finish also netted me second overall in the NW Epic Series behind my good friend and fierce competitor for many years, Russell Stevenson.

Thanks to Roger Michel and his crew who have pursued the sustainable creation of a truly EPIC marathon series here in Washington. It has been a tumultuous year for his organization but based on their flawless performance in Capitol Forest I can only see them growing in the future. For me it is on to attempt four in a row at the FAT55 next month and then to North Carolina for a third attempt in Pisgah!