CTR 2010 Status and Updates.

[ScottM]

Should be fun to see who comes out on top out of the 5-pack of riders shooting to finish today.  

I'm pulling for Garrett Peltonen, who I used to ride and race with in AZ before he 'went roadie' and joined Healthnet.  Dude is tougher than nails and famously would remark, "it's kind of like Durango up here" every time we rode into the pine trees.  He's having a great race for his first go at this kind of thing.

Eszter gave in last night to the sleep monster, but is still well on track to setting an impressive women's record.  Very nice!

[ETURK]

ANNOUNCING THE 2010 CTR RAMSTRONG AWARD

I want to put up a award for the racer er...........lunatic who stays out the longest and lives to tell about it!  I'm pretty poor so no cash involved, but I will give the opportunity to place an UNLIMITED wholesale order with my bike wholesaler to the last rider into Junction Creek.  I will also donate $50.00 to the charity that I rode for last year RAMSTRONG in the name of the rider.  I hope this will give a tiny incentive to the racer willing to hold off on pulling the plug and suffer the longest in their quest to finish.  Chances are that your bike and gear will be battered and torn up so this could take the sting out of replacing you tires, drivetrain, brakepads, wheels and who knows what else got trashed.  If anyone has questions about the logistics or who should actually win the award, we will have a thread discussion to vote in the recipient.  Since I did not do 22 and 23 last year (I rode Cinnamon Pass), so sticking to the official course is not as important as just making it.  Please talk amongst yourselves..............................

tom970-988-1206 

Ryan Feild is a bull! He called me from Salida loading up on a second cafe of coffee and continuing!

We talked for a while. Back near Janets cabin he slept on the deck, thought he heard a bear and moved ti the top back deck. Later that morning he saw Nathan who was apparently sleeping around the same. Ryan mentioned he wasn't too sure about Nathans mental state at that time. Anyhow, Ryan may be the bull of the event (slow but strong). Speaking of bull, I informed him about the bull and he is looking forward to meeting that challenge as well! He plans on 3 days to Silverton, 2 to Durango - but based on his progress could be longer. Hope Apple will be out there (trail angle) a bit longer.

[dougc]

Steve Lacey texted an update to me this morning saying he enjoyed a warm shower and dry place to sleep in Lake City last night.  He also said he is taking an alternate route up Engineer Pass from Lake City to Silverton.  He must not want to risk Coney/Cataract with afternoon storms or he is running out of time that he allotted for the race.  Will know more after he finishes I guess.

[dlacey]

Talked to Steve this morning.  He's still coughing up a lung and says he was wheezing a lot yesterday at the higher altitudes even after a couple days of antibiotics.  Said he felt better today after some sleep out of the weather.  BTW - his spot wasn't working this morning, even after putting in new batteries.

[wookieone]

Hello again everyone, just read through the 15 pages here, yikes. One thing I wanted to iterate on is the difficulty of this baby. Having done a bunch of multi day stuff and this being my 3rd CTR, I can say THIS was about as hard as can be. The CTR makes regular endurance racing seem like a game. I have never slept in a motel/cabin etc During a race before, this year I slept in a motel in BV and a cabin, I got broken down, I cried, it was that nasty. For the Jeff K., Ethan, and JJ to push on ahead in that crap is truly awesome, I saw my chances of keeping up slip completely when I needed(or just wanted?) a dry place to hide and they pushed on, very impressive indeed.
It is so hard to describe how challenging this course is, the only way to understand how difficult it is, is to be out there doing it. Anyone who manages to finish this race, no matter how "slow", is a tough cookie. To go fast, sleep so little and ride into storms, takes a level of strength and self confidence that few have. This year I didn't have enough mojo to handle the wet and got beat down, but somehow managed to rally once the weather cleared a bit. All I can say is we have some amazingly tough athletes in our midst, honored to have a chance to meet, ride and race with some of you. I love seeing the idea of what is possible being pushed, there is so much potential in us humans. Keep on keeping on, it is inspiring, very inspiring.
Thanks to Stefan for putting this on, Scott for the Spot love, my fellow racers for raising the bad ass meter and all the folks who might be inspired to go on an adventure of their own, get out there and go for it!!!  Jefe
 

[lonefrontranger]

wow looks like Eszter is DONE!!  Surprised very few people have mentioned her; looks like she completely shattered the women's record!

[edemtbs]

Woo-hoo Eszter!!!!!

 

Ed

[wookieone]

 Eszter caught me going up Georgia Pass on the first night, when it rained like mad. She would drop me every time the trail turned uphill, she seemed very strong and not too concerned with the weather, while I was freaking out. When I heard that she was the closest racer to DH and I near the crest, it was obvious that she had some serious mojo to dish out. Nice work Sista...

[mtbcast]

Been mentioning her on the show. :p And played a couple of calls from her as I recall.

[jenyjo]

EEEZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!

way to rock the house, bunny!

eat. rest. recover. we'll chat soon!

MMMWWAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!

jj

[edemtbs]

Nice work Sista...

A new record under those conditions and 4th overall - awesome!!

Cat Morrison is also having a heck of a ride on her ss. She may finish by this evening.

Ed

[Emily]

Great job Eszter!!!

[wookieone]

Any word on Dave Harris?

Is anyone else on course running it singlespeed? I was late to the start and didn't get to see who had what.

Keep on cranking Cat!

Just checked the time chart, looks like Eszter has one fast time! Like maybe the 13th fastest!

[jp3d]

I've been watching Eszter's progress in awe. Her line on the time/distance chart shows an impressively steady pace, with reasonable looking amounts of sleep included even! Very nicely done.

[Pivvay]

Fantastic E!!!

And Cat will be the first woman SSer!!

[edemtbs]

Any word on Dave Harris?

Dave posted up back on page 12...not sure if you've seen it. Have no update since then but his car was in Durango and he was in Silverton. Hopefully he's on his way home.

"I am indeed OK.  Two swollen knees (over the bars on seg 16 at 3AM, now that's exciting), broken small toes on each foot, the return of altitude demons...one hard f'n event this year.  Did spend some quality time with Jefe...rock on MR MOJO!  My bivy spot was so comfy last  night I decided to sleep for 12 hours (and it was blissful) and woke up to a field of raspberries, ate at least a pound to fuel the bail out plan.

More when I get back to civilization.  Gawd I miss the warm dry desert."

Ed

[Pivvay]

DH is home now I'm pretty sure according to FB.

[jeremy11]

Hello All!  If anybody hears from/sees or knows the whereabouts of Nathan Gallion, please give an update. The last update we heard was that he was having some major pain in his achilles tendon. No word since Friday morning.
 His phone is likely dead and I'm sure he didn't take a charger, even for 'just-in-case'. And his Spot has been 'obliterated'.     The family, and various other cheering sections, would love a progress report!
Thank you.

Amazing job y'all are doing out there Racers!!  GO! PUSH! CONQUER!

You're all in my prayers! 

I just met Nathan Gallion, he got a little off route from the top of Slumgullion, and ended up at my place outside of Lake City (bottom of Camp Trail).  I got him directions from the top of Spring Creek, he has a sore achilles tendon still, but is pumped to keep riding and thinks he can make it.  He's got some sweet riding coming up on 22-23!

[MomG]

Ryan Feild....
....We talked for a while. Back near Janets cabin he slept on the deck, thought he heard a bear and moved ti the top back deck. Later that morning he saw Nathan who was apparently sleeping around the same. Ryan mentioned he wasn't too sure about Nathans mental state at that time.

How long ago was this conversation?  The last update I rec'd was that Nathan got some sleep in Beuna Vista on Friday and then was on section 13 just west of Salida and doing ok. (Which makes me think his Achilles problem from Friday morning was at least better.)
And I know from the standings board that he's not to Monarch yet.
Was the 'mental state' comment made tongue in cheek?  
If anybody has a more current update I'd appreciate hearing.  I know from all the racers' comments that this trail is brutal. Lack of calories, oxygen, and sleep can really alter a person's wellness.
Anybody?   Thanks.

[MomG]

I just met Nathan Gallion, he got a little off route from the top of Slumgullion, and ended up at my place outside of Lake City (bottom of Camp Trail).  I got him directions from the top of Spring Creek, he has a sore achilles tendon still, but is pumped to keep riding and thinks he can make it.  He's got some sweet riding coming up on 22-23!

Thank you Jeremy!! That really helps me feel better!