Today, somehow, I won the US National Marathon Championships even after a major mechanical.
I had a strong race going and had a 90-second lead with about 35 miles left when my chain got caught in the spokes.
Ryan Trebon and Andy Shultz were not far behind.
I tied up the three broken spokes and took a link out of my chain. This took a while and I assumed my chances of wining the race were becoming next to none as riders passed by. I charged hard hoping to rally for a top-5 finish. Then I caught up with Travis Brown and he helped pull my hanger back out. He gave my a really good pull on the flat fire road before the major descent to the finish. THANK YOU! I thought that if I kept on charging I could pull back some spots.
I just buried my head and went flat out the second time up the first 2000-foot ascent of the course. I was fired up after losing the lead. Then, just as I was making good headway, my chain went out again! I laughed as Travis passed again as I remounted. 'What else can go wrong?' I thought, but I went like hell.
This time I was just possessed to hammer every hill at max! My lungs were on fire but I was moving! I caught Dave Weins with about 7 miles left and he encouraged me to chase the two guys who where just 30 seconds ahead. I only had one climb left and my body was in the hurt locker. I just went max and caught a guy with an orange jersey. I sat for a little and then jumped for the hole shot for the single track. I was going for it hoping to catch the next guy, Evan Plews. I did catch him about halfway down. I tried to surge pass but he picked up the pace. I guess he was going too fast thru some rocks and flatted!
Absolutely exhausted and light headed, I conceded that I was not going to be able to catch any more riders so I just tried to stay smooth and not crash. I found out that behind me Ryan Trebon and Andy Shultz had pulled out - they'd not been among riders who passed me when my chain broke - so I was racing for the win!
Wow. That was a strange but amazing race, I will not soon forget it!
THANK YOU to all that have helped me out past and present to make this win a possible.
I'm donating prize money to the mike Janelle fund www.livelikemike.org. I thought of Mike while I raced today and I knew he was a fighter and loved to push it to the max. So I did the same. Thanks Mike.
Happy Fourth!
Jeremiah
Labels: Endurance Racing, Racing
posted by Jeremiah Bishop # 8:38 PM 
