What a great opportunity to see Alaska, close up. I had originally enteredthe 400 mile event, but after recent events, decided to cut it back to the 200. This is the premier bicycling event in Alaska each year, with riders coming from all over, and most Alaskan racers participating. There were over 800 entrants this year.
Linda and I had a great trip up, visiting two of our sons in Washington state on the way. We took the Alaska Marine Highway ferry, and enjoyed spectacular scenery on our 4 day trip up the inside passage. After traversing Canada from the ferry terminal in Haines, Alaska, and visiting some friends and relatives, we arrived at the race start on Saturday morning for the start of the solo 200 race, one of nine racing events for the weekend. The route was simple. From the start, go east to Glennallen, turn right and go south to the finish in Valdez, for a total of 193 miles.
The mountains, the fireweed, the racer
The weather was perfect. It required a jacket at the start and finish, but pleasantly warm for most of the day. I stuck to traditional racing fuels such as PowerAde, 3 Muskateers, cookies, oranges, and the like, and of course, my ever present dried papaya. This time no major GI issues arose, and I was breezing along ahead of a blessed tail wind, when I lost control of my rear deralieur due to a frayed cable. After about a 45 minute futile attempt to repair it at the next aid station, I continued on, and and finished, having completed the last 60 miles in with two gears. Of that, the first 10 or so were gentle uphill, the next 10 were a climb to Thompson Pass, the next 10 were a screaming 10 mile descent in which I practically froze to death, (imagine Linda’s surprise when I arrived at the bottom mumbling how cold I was, and to turn on the car heater full blast!), and then a wonderful 20 mile flat into Valdez. I really don’t want to ever do that kind of climbing again at 40 rpm, but really, it wasn’t as bad as anticipated.
A Welcome Sight in Valdez
All in all, it was a great race, completed in 13 hours, 7 minutes, 30 seconds. The scenery was spectacular, especially around Valdez, which is aptly referred to as the “Switzerland of Alaska”. Linda and I ate supper in Valdez at 10 pm, and collapsed into bed at 10:30, and the sun had yet to set. Alaska is wonderful!
A sad post script to this story is that one of the 100 mile racers, Robert Johnson, Jr, of Anchorage, perished when he slid under a guard rail and struck his head on a supporting post. It can be a dangerous sport, and yet another reminder that we are all one heart beat away from eternity and an appointment with our Creator.
