Sponsors for 2012 MTB season and schedule

Sponsors for the 2012 MTB race season are getting locked in! I am pleased to be racing for Team Marin for the 2nd year now as they have provided me with more support than I had imagined.

Sponsors for 2012 are:

Marin Bikes- Team Ti 29er, Rift Zone Carbon 29er FS

Lazer- Helmets

WTB - Tires and Saddles

Whiskey Parts- Handlebars/ Stem / Seatpost

Northwave- Shoes

Formula- Brakes

Chamois Butt'r- ass cream

GU-Nutrition

Here is my schedule so far:

5 MBAA races throughout the 2012 season

Jan

12hrs Papago Solo

Feb

24hrs Old Pueblo 4man SS

SSAZ

March

3rd Fat Tire 40

PRO XCT Bonelli Park, CA

12hrs Dawn till Dusk Gallup, NM Solo

April

Sea Otter SS

Whiskey 50

June

BarnBurner 104 (Leadville Qualifier)

TEVA Games Vail, CO All Mtn Catagory- XC MTB, 10 trail run, SUP, Road TT

July

14th PRO XCT Mizula, MT

23rd Galina Grinder Ketchum, ID

Larimie Enduro 100

August

18th PRO XCT Mt Morris, WI Subaru Cup

October

24 hours of Fury Solo

December

Dawn till Dusk 24hr Solo

24hrs of Fury Single Speed Solo

Really, kinda off the couch. After the Speedgoat 50k trail race in Alta, UT, I had a couple tradeshows and 11 days in Vegas and only rode a handful of times before the Barnburner 104 I did on the Marin Cortina SSCX bike. After that I rode a couple "no drop" rides with the Bicycle Vibe riders, a handful of 2 hr trainer sessions watching Europtrip and other funny-ass movies. Two weeks ago I rode about 4 hours of BCT (blackcanyontrail.com) with Mike Melley (24hrs of Old Pueblo SS Solo winner). This was the first time in several months that I rode the Marin Team Ti as a singlespeed. You see that's the beauty of the Team Ti, you can put gears on it if you want to spin a couple sessions of singletrack. Then I pre rode the course doing about four laps some of which I walked sections I thought may be challenging and slow me down at night. I wanted to aver age 1:06 per lap.

I solicited David Claffy from Trailhead Bike Cafe to be my pit man. David is 17 but has a good head on his shoulders and a good wrench.

It had rained the day before the race making the Competitive Loops at McDowell Mtn Park tacky and the temps for the race were about 60 degrees during the day down to about 40 degrees at night. With Tinker leading the charge for the geared solo field, I traded spots with 3rd and 4th through the evening.

The only real failure I had was staying down too long. I jumped in the back of the VW wagon about 9pm for no other reason besides I just wanted to stop. I had a strong stomach (thanks Infinit Nutrition), good legs (thanks Xtreme Endurance) and good energy. I just wanted to stop. I had planned on staying down for the amount of time to average out my laps to 1:06. I had David calculate on the white board my average laps and how much time I had to spare. I had been turning sub 1hr laps since 10am so I had banked some serious time. Again, David is a great pit man but the only thing he lacks is knowing how to kick a grown man's ass into gear when the time is right. He opened the car door every 20 min or so and gave me reports but I sent him away each time until finally I asked that he come back at 4am, I was out. Since I had no real problems with riding other than lack of motivation, he should have told me to get my ass out there!

I got up on my own at 2:30 and changed into some warm clothes and wrote David a note on the whiteboard, "out at 3:04am". I was just heading on course when I saw Tinker getting a pit and I said "come on, let's do this." I could see by the light behind me that he had started out with me. The light faded then back on me then back for a while. About halfway though, I let him pass and he asked if I was sure and then politely said "thanks".

If you have ever done a 24hr race, solo or other wise, you KNOW that the Glory Lap is the best. When you are riding and sometime during your lap, the sun rises. It is truly amazing how energizing this can be. It warms you up mentally and physically. When I came in during this lighted lap, David had finally gotten up and back to the camp. We spent some time going over the results and where I was standing. I was in 4th but pretty sure the guys I was chasing were out on laps. It's funny how in a 24hr race you can lose it by not paying attention to the racers around you. I went out and rode a couple more laps finishing up at 9:30am before the 10am cut off.

When the final results were posted, I had slipped back to 6th! WTF! As David and I were checking them out, the guy that passed me for 5th by only 2 min 38sec was over my shoulder and told me how he did it. He said I passed him and his buddy on the last lap and since he was on the lookout for me, #18, his buddy told him "that's your guy to beat". They casually passed me and finished just ahead of me.

The take h0me is...race through the night and race each lap like you mean it.

MoVember is on the way

I have started getting ready to raise some money for MoVember. Just going into the month of MoVember I have $120 in the Mustchafia Team. We are looking to raise $1000 if you have interest in men's health issues, please go to my page http://mobro.co/travismcmaster1and donate what you can. I hope that by the end of the month, I have a full stache like I had in August.

Thanks!

Barn Burner 104mi MTB race on a SingleSpeed Cyclocross bike

So I am going to put to rest all the questions about whether or not a cyclocross bike is a fast situation at the Barn Burner 104 in Flagstaff, AZ.....it's not. But.....I had my Cortina custom painted and rocked some White Industries ENO hubs to convert it to a singlespeed. WTB shot me down a pair of their MTN Drop bars, thanks Mike. And I actually used the Freedom Ryder tire on the rear (zero flats) and a different tire on the front, non WTB(7 flats). I rolled up to Flagstaff the day before the race and visited Cosmic Cycles, a Marin dealer, and then to the camping area. I made some final adjustments and tested out a couple tire options on course before deciding on what I used. As I rode around the campground that evening, I could feel eyes on me and whispers that I was crazy.

The race morning came and I staged the bike at the end of the run as I could run through a crowd faster than pushing my bike through. I had a good start and rolled the first 2 laps (52 miles) without incident. I kept thinking in my head that I was Rock Jedi as I finessed the bike down the tech sections without fail. It wasn't until the 3rd lap that I started getting some flats....like 3 flats. I had enough CO2, 1 tube and many patches. I was close enough on the 3nd flat that I ran the bike in (1/4 mile) to the finish like a true CX racer. The 4th and final lap came and so did the rain. It actually felt good but on the tech sections the rocks began to get slippery. I took it easy but still kept a good pace. The last decent was super fast and knew that my slow leak wouldn't be safe. Knowing that I was going to make the 9hr cutoff for the "big belt buckle" I sill made the decision to stop and fix it to be safe. I ended up having 4 flats on the final lap and had to patch 2 of them ultimately running into the finish again from 1/4 mile out. All in all a 9:14 in a 104mi MTB race on a SSCX bike isn't all that bad. As you can see in the picture, my triceps were as tight as guitar strings. I will race this same set up next year, bring it!

Speedgoat 50k 2011 Snowbird, UT the toughest 50k in the US

July 29^th Dave Griebling and I left Park City, UT headed for Snowbird to get a steak and good nights sleep before racing the Speedgoat 50k. Speedgoat 50k, that’s a funny name huh? Well about 3/4 way through the race I laughed out loud as the namesake hit me like a ton of bricks because I felt like a mountain goat and I was going as fast as my body would take me. Here is the topo map. Looks flat because you are looking at a computer screen but take a look at the left column where the elevation starts at 8000ft! 90% of the race is performed above 9200ft; maxing out at 11115ft at the top of Mt Baldy…a couple of times.

Anyhoo….Dave and I checked into the Cliffs Hotel at Snowbird and I spread out all my gear and food making different bags and planning out nutrition, etc. I got breakfast ready to eat in the bathroom as not to wake Dave up at 3:30am. I wanted to get up early to get some serious calories on board several hours before the race started going straight up the mountain.

Soon after getting the gear set up we went down to get some beta on the course. We ran into a couple fellas in the hall that looked like they were trail runners and proceeded to ask them about the course and joked about the “hand drawn” topo map…..turns out we were talking to Karl Meltzer, the race director, the guy who ran the Pony Express trail, the Red Bull athlete…the Legend! Nothing like getting beta from the guy that set the course! Next was a quick hot tub where I met up with another local athlete that had raced the year before. He ended up 7hours 7min this year!!! Nice work mandango! As Dave and I walked to the Steak Pit for dinner we ran into a guy with an IRun t-shirt. I guessed this was Jay Danek the guy I tried to meet at the WMRC trail run in Phoenix. I showed up to meet him but he didn’t make it that day. Yep, it was Jay. We talked for a moment and parted ways until the race day. After that encounter Dave and I put down a couple 7oz steaks, thanks again Dave. Then to bed.It’s now 6:00 in the morning and breakfast has long been digested and Dave and I are in the parking lot near the race start watching and joking that the start of an Ultra race may look like a slow-mo movie…. next was the race meeting then the starting line, GO!

It wasn’t so much of a slow-mo start but everyone was very relaxed and there was some chit-chat from some that had altitude-developed lungs. I was about 163bpm from the start and settled in to about 154bpm and as low as 125bpom at the low point of the race, mentally. Not much excitement till we hit snow near the top of Mt Baldy, where there was 500ft of rope straight up the snow chute t0 the top.

We weren't post-holing but there were defiantly kick steps and we needed the rope. I was greeted by a big grin from Dave at the top of Mt Baldy. I took a seat as he filled my Camelbak with more Infinit nutrition and handed me Pringles.

The next section was not quite as DOWN as the hand drawn topo had suggested but there was a cool section with ropes and scree. Then a long decent to the mine down a long ATV, dry creek, baby-head strewn area that wasn’t as flowy as it looked on the hand drawn topo map. Toward the bottom of this gnar, I ran upon a woman I parked next to before the race. I ran by shouting ‘ whazzz up!” I quickly realized she was sobbing when she told me she had potentially torn her meniscus on the run down and was upset that the point we were heading toward was a “no stopping point as it was difficult to evacuate athletes”. I offered Advil and told her to keep moving forward and I would notify the officials of her predicament. I believe it was here that I got a flat tire on my right shoe. I have been running and representing Hoka shoes the past year and absolutely love them but I bottomed out the sole and it flattened out at about mile 16 of 31…

After the mine comfort station, about ½ way though the race, I felt like a CHAMP! It was the first time I hit the Coke and got a little PBJ in me. Things were really clicking. The tunes on my Ipod were turning me into a running-dance machine! I was hitting up a little “air-dj”, a little robot arm and some break dance arm moves I hadn't seen since ’85! Then the crash. I guess I could’ve seen it coming as I was feeling SO good. This was the low point of the day about mile 18 going back up to the top of Mt Baldy. My heart rate hit 130bpm and the guys I was dancing by, started passing me. I stayed with one guy and he told me a story of his wife getting her stomach banded and all the weight she lost and how he and she had done some trail running/ walking recently and it was ok that I was walking so much during this race. I really appreciated his story telling at this point and finally got my legs again near the top. Thanks guy.

Fast forward past the tunnel and back to the top of Mt Baldy about mile 25.5. Although I looked sluggish getting up to Dave and his grin, I felt better when I got some more solids and more Infinit.

I was ready to crush this last part of the race. It was all downhill from here, literally. I started off and hit the snow chute with the ropes going back down. I took my bandana off my wrist and tied it around my hand to hold the rope as I glissaded down the chute…wheeeeeeeee! It felt so good to go so fast and get my bum and legs cold! Now I was cruising about 7 min miles, making up time on Jay Danek the other Phoenician I met up with the night before. Dave said he was about an hour ahead of me at the top of Mt Baldy; I finished within 45min of him. BUT not so fast….just after the snow glissade I was running with a woman and another guy cruising until…..woooosh, I slipped on a small stream crossing….sliding on my hands and scraped my knee and splattering mud everywhere. I really didn't check myself out but just got up and started running again. The two runners I was with asked me several times if I was ok…yes…YES I’m good, let’s rock this! Actually in my head I was like ‘ F man, what the hell, chill, you have like 5 miles left, relax!!! Things really were downhill like the topo map said and it felt sooooo good to run so freely after the mountain was getting the best of me all day. I owned this last 10k!

As I got to the finish line I stopped just short of it and made like I was driving a bus. Keeping my hand on the imaginary wheel, I reached over with my right hand and pretended to open the bus door. I told Karl and Dave to GET ON THE BUS!

They got on behind me and we cruised across the finish line together.Karl had and injury and was excited that he got to run that day albeit 5ft. A quick PBR, pizza and spray shower in the parking lot as I changed cloths and the day was done.

Thanks Dave. Thanks Karl. I’ll be back.

I couldn't have done this race with the little training I did without this list of gear. This gear got me through injury free:

CW-X Pro Short, Revolution Calf Sleeve, Web Top / Injinji Light Weight sock AND Original Weight sock / Camelbak- Octane LR / HOKA Mafate / Infinit custom TMac Endurance Run formula / Rooly sunglasses

Interview of athletes before Western States 100 running race

Here is a great interview as athletes prepare for Western States 100.

Seasoned Ultrarunners Share Advice for Surviving the Western States 100

Former Champion and Finisher Stress Preparedness and Injinji® Performance Toesocks™

SAN DIEGO, CA (May 24, 2011) – Long-distance runners in search of the ultimate ultra challenge need look no further than The Western States Endurance Run, a 100-mile trail event heralded as one of the oldest – and most challenging. Held in June, this no-holds-barred competition tests the limits of physical and mental strength, taking racers on a remote and rugged course from Squaw Valley to Auburn, CA, complete with staggering vertical climbs, steep descents and 100-plus-degree temperatures.

On June 25, hundreds of hardcore athletes will again turn out in hopes of completing the relentless race. Just how does one prepare for such a demanding course? Race veterans Anita Ortiz, 47 – the 2009 female champion (pictured right) – and Jonathan Gunderson, 33, both athletes for Injinji, the event’s official sock sponsor, offer up some personal training tips to succeed in – and survive Western States:

Q: When should you start training?

AO: I start in January, but I train for other things prior, so it all adds up!

JG: I start thinking about the race in early January and gear my racing schedule to peak near Western States in late June.

Q: How do you physically prepare?

AO: I train 4-5 hours per day, six days per week – a mix of running and cross-training. I don’t count miles; only hours.

JG: I start with a lot of cross-training, such as riding a bike on a trainer, and focus on building up my total body strength and endurance with dips, pull-ups, push-ups and core workouts with an exercise ball. To give my muscles a rest, I don’t start running until mid-January. As my running activity increases, I cut back on my gym work and train in four-week cycles that build in intensity each week. When possible, I try to run on the actual race course to get some splits on different sections and give myself a visual of what to expect on race day.

Q: How do you avoid injury during training?

AO: If it hurts for several days, take a rest day or two.

JG: Listen to your body and give it ample rest. Don’t take on the attitude that one missed day is more important than your consistent weeks of training.

Q: How do you keep your feet in prime condition?

AO: I always wear Injinji Performance Toesocks, so I never have any foot problems. From the moment I put on my first pair, I never got another blister. EVER!

JG: I check for calluses, make sure my nails are trimmed and wear Injinji Performance Toesocks. They keep my feet dry and clean.

Q: What helps you mentally prepare?

AO: I prepare by being prepared. If I have put in the time and done the work, that knowledge serves as my personal “mantra.”

JG: Part of the mental preparation comes from simply running long distances and giving myself the knowledge that I can and have pushed through in the past. Prayer is also important. Some of the toughest moments in a 100-mile race come when you’re struggling alone in the dark, and prayer helps keep me centered, calm and feeling like I’m never out there all alone.

Q: Any tips for handling the heat and altitude changes?

AO: Prior to race day, sit in a sauna once a day for two weeks, and stay hydrated. On race day, make sure you eat early and often so that when things get tough, you have plenty of calories on board.

JG: For the heat, I’ll use a sauna and sometimes train in quite a bit of clothing to help get accustomed. In terms of the altitude, I try to arrange my schedule so that I can be in Lake Tahoe far enough in advance so that it’s a non-factor. If that’s not possible, Aspirin can help.

Q: What gear is crucial?

AO: My Injinji Performance Toesocks, Salomon hydration pack and SaltStick electrolyte capsules.

JG: I’m loving my Injinji Compression Toesocks (pictured left), which have been a big asset on the longer races, staving off fatigue in my calves and helping with recovery after training. I also love my Brooks Racer ST 5 shoes, which fit my physical frame and running style for long trail races – even though they’re meant for the road. GU Roctane is fantastic in providing calories without stomach discomfort or energy drain.

Q: What do you eat the night before and the morning of race day?

AO: The day before, I eat a steak at the noon hour and a salad for dinner. Breakfast is usually a Pop Tart.

JG: Since the bulk of carbo-loading takes place 2-4 days prior to the race window, I try to eat light the night before – maybe whole wheat pasta with red sauce. The morning of, I sip on water with Nuun electrolytes and eat a Clif Bar and a banana.

Q: What single piece of advice would you impart on a Western States novice?

AO: Put in the time training. You can’t fake it at Western States – the elevation and heat will eat you alive. And stay cool by getting wet in every stream crossing you see!

JG: Do your homework. With the proliferation of ultramarathon information on the Internet, there’s a tremendous opportunity to be as prepared as possible. Understand the challenge and familiarize yourself with the course. Don’t underestimate how valuable that familiarity will be when you hit rough patches during the journey.

BCT Camping with Melley and Pettit

Here is a vid from our camping trip on BCT.

McD & BCT from Michael Melley on Vimeo.

Tough to spread these out but here is the video on Black Canyon Trail on the last day of 2010. I think I am still sick from the cold....burr.

BCT31DEC10 from Michael Melley on Vimeo.

2011 El Paso Puzzler MTB race with John Pettit

The video says it all. Great trip, I got 3rd and John got 2nd. E Ya!

El Paso Puzzler 50 mile MTB race Jan 2011 "go quietly into that dark night" from Travis McMaster on Vimeo.