2006 24-Hour Subaru Champion Challenge |
August 31: Jon, Kathleen and Lenny decided to make a night of camping the night before the race,
arriving late into the evening to set up shop. Hurricane Ernesto had other plans. After camp was
set, Ernesto rolled in like an in-law who needs a place to stay. The winds were whipping, rain was
pouring down in sheets, and Jon, Kathleen and Lenny were huddled in their tent, baring the storm with
racers of equal fortitude.
September 1: By the end of the night, with little sleep, and wet and cold, the strong
flooded from tents while the weak exited hotel rooms. The weather misery only began and would be
experienced fully on the course.
Jon took the reigns, starting the race for BLP with the infamous running-in-mountain-bike-shoes field-spreading
start. A good start just got him to the mud pit more quickly. The conditions made for slippy downhills
and spinning uphills - traction only made cameo apperances. Positioning on the saddle and experienced
pedaling techniques were the key to remaining on the bike, moving forward. Jon looked ecstatic to be
out there biking, but obviously strained from the conditions. He would have consistent efforts during
each of his laps, even barring a burnt-out light during the remainder of a night lap when he had to follow
a competitor's beam to maintain the course.
Andy took the next lap and committed to an excellent performance, churning out a time worthy of ranking with
the pros. With the single-speed, this was some feat. He would hold these incredible lap times throughout
the race. If the team were made of four Andys, BLP would be excalibur.
Lenny took the next lap, concerned about the conditions and how it would affect his debut at mountain
bike racing. Holding strong, the hills managed to be twice as tough, up or down, than the usual dry
conditions. The last uphill proved to be too much to do all at once, but he came through with a good
first showing. The night laps would prove only tough on the hills, and walking the bike would be a
necessity at times.
Kat, the resident cyclo-cross competitor, stepped into more rugged shoes for this race. She also stepped
up despite the conditions to finish her laps strong. She maintained consistency and gave the guys much
needed breaks in the daylight hours.
The second night lap proved disastrous for the team as Lenny dismissed his turn for his second night lap
from fatigue. Andy stoically took his second lap in three for the team, showing no signs of slowing
down, and even giving a shout-out to the BLP camp as he went by on his lap. With this awful burden Lenny
put on himself, he mustered enough dignity to put the clothes on for the next lap, gracious for Andy's
deed. He rode into the morning daylight, and extracted the energy to pass Tinker Juarez on a technical
section near mile 9.
September 2: The team of four in the sport class, 5-person division finished halfway down the on the results page. With
the extra person and without the lost time from Lenny's fatigue, the team was on course for a great finish.
It would have to be next year for that hope, as the rain an mud began to dry up as the race came to a close.
The team was lucky - mechanical issues were amost a non-issue, and no flats or lightless night laps. With
some Wulfkuhles showing up throughout the race, the team maintained its vigor and kept truckin'.
