Based on my prior unsupported FKTs, I expected to reach the finish in 72 hours, four hours before the finish line opened! Since I already had this Marji experience (I didn’t see another runner after about mile 25 in 2019), I began thinking about the bike. I’ve never spent this much time on a bike. I’ve only done one other bike race in my life. But that’s what excited me. I know I can run 200 miles, but can I bike 200? On the rugged terrain, especially when so many trails are now machine built?
Juxtaposition
As I began diving into preparations with scouting and looking at prior race splits, I came to the realization I will likely be in dead last in 2024 from the start. LIke DFL last, so I expect to be by myself for the entire race. Ironically had I stayed in the 200 mile run, I’d be by myself in the lead, so for the completely opposite reason!
Last edition, only three brave women lined up for the Marji 200 bike. None made it more than halfway. After pre-riding the course, my time estimates are slower than the slowest rider. The racers that toe the line for the Marji Gesick 200 are serious riders. So much so, most of them have a sponsor alongside their name. And me? I don’t consider myself a biker. I can barely change a tire. When people ask me about my bike I can tell them its color and brand and that it has 29 inch wheels. I usually ride my bike in running shorts and a $5 t-shirt. In fact, over the summer, I rode more wearing an Eddie Bauer flannel shirt from high school than bike shorts.
Positive Momentum
What I have going for me is:
1) I’m not 13 weeks post-partum. The only other mountain bike race I’ve done is the Wausau 24. I did it in 2012 and in 2018. In 2018, I spent more time on my mountain bike in the race as I did training since I had a newborn. During the LeMan’s start I was shouting instructions of where to find the breastmilk I had just pumped as I ran by my husband. Despite layoffs due to health issues this summer, I still got in more training than in 2018. Plus I won’t have my attention divided taking care of three kids under the age of 4.
2) I previously finished the Marji Gesick 100 course entirely on foot in just over this year’s halfway cutoff time. Nonetheless, I haven’t turned enough heads to ever be a sponsored runner, in my best sport. Instead I’ll be surrounded by many sponsored bikers. But I figure if I could do it on foot nearly fast enough, I should be able to gain enough mechanical advantage with a geared bike on enough of the course (for anyone that knows Marji knows that there’s plenty of places a bike is dead weight pushing up a hill or even negotiating downhills!) that I can at least gain a few minutes to meet the halfway cutoff. When I scouted portions of the course on a bike with my husband in 2019, I frequently was thankful I wouldn’t have the liability of a bike on technical sections and punchy hills. However, when I “ran” the course, my quads were so sore that I couldn’t run downhills and I was walking the uphills. I went so slowly I couldn’t fathom how slow the rest of the field was moving. Nonetheless, I set a women’s course record that still stands five years later. Now I’m chasing cutoffs.
