There's something special about racing close to home - especially in the thick of peak training. Pleasant Ridge Park in Marietta, SC is just 20 minutes from our house, making this a "local" mountain bike race. Karel and I have raced this event twice before but familiarity with the trails doesn't make racing (or training) at Pleasant Ridge any easier.
The single-track trail system at Pleasant Ridge is directional, flipping between clockwise and counterclockwise every other month, with hikers and bikers going in opposite directions. In February, the course runs clockwise (in my opinion, the more technical direction, loaded with rocky features that have been challenging me all season but also includes several fast sections - that Karel loves). Over the past month, Karel and I have been putting in serious work on those features, and I finally strung together a few clean loops without unclipping or falling (a huge milestone for me that I've been working on for the past few years).
For race day, however, the course runs counterclockwise. It's not as technical, but if you have ever ridden here before, you know there are no easy sections at Pleasant Ridge. You're either grinding up punchy climbs or squatting your way down tight, winding single track. The entire park has also undergone major renovations following the 2024 hurricane.
RACE MORNING
One of the best parts of a hometown race is sleeping in our own bed and not having to travel anywhere on Friday. After racing at Oak Mountain the weekend prior, it was such a relief not to pack for a road trip. We had a very rainy day on Thursday so Karel wasn't sure which tires he wanted to use on his bike for the race. On Friday afternoon, he went to the park do one loop and found the conditions to be perfect. Thankfully Pleasant Ridge dries up quickly after rain. When he finished his ride, Karel picked up our number plates which was one less thing we needed to do on Saturday.
On Saturday, we woke up at 6:30am, left the house around 8:10am, and dropped off Sunny at my mom's house so he could spend the day with her (and Alan) and bring him out to cheer for us in the afternoon.
We arrived at the venue around 8:40am, dropped our gear, and set up our stuff near Trimarni athlete Beth, who generously offered her tent for us. It was also nice having Trimarni assistant coach Joe there to race. With this being a home race, familiar faces were everywhere, several of our cycling friends were racing, which made the energy feel even more positive.
After a brief warmup on the trails with Karel, Joe, and my MTB riding partner Ava, we gathered for the pre-race meeting at 9:30am. By 9:50am, we were lined up at the start (which was in a tight section with only 4-5 athletes per row). Karel positioned himself at the front of the corral and settled in a few rows back.
FUELING AND HYDRATION
One of my biggest takeaways from Oak Mountain was that I didn't fuel or drink well enough. I came into this race with a better plan. I brought two hydration packs (my own and Karel's extra USWE pack) so I could do a quick hydration pack exchange instead of losing time refilling or relying on drinking primarily from my frame bottle (and having to swap out bottles).
Each pack contained 1,500ml of water mixed with 200g of carbohydrates from INFINIT Fructose (roughly 80g carbs/hour). After laps 2, 4, and 6, I took a gel - two Maurten and one Amacx. I also sipped from a bottle with two scoops of Skratch for an additional 40g carbs.
Total fueling:
- 520g carbs over 6 hours (86g/hr)
- ~660mg sodium/hr
- ~21oz fluid/hr.
Oak Mountain felt like a tune-up race for this one and this one felt like a tune-up for Cape Epic. Every race teaches us something, and that's exactly why we've been seeking out these 6-hour events. Yes, we are gaining fitness from racing for 6 hours but we are also gaining a lot of experience with gear, nutrition, and race-day decision-making. Karel and I often joke that we would never ride for 6 hours (let alone 10 laps) at Pleasant Ridge but on race day, it always feels different. You can't overthink it because it's a race.
When the gun went off, Karel's group sprinted to the first climb (I'm guessing a group of 8-10 strong riders who were all in contention for overall placements from the first mile). My group of 5-6 riders followed, with Ava tucked in shortly behind me. Ava and I rode together for about 1.5 laps, which was great company. Ava is coming back from sickness and was focused on accumulating as many laps as she could while rebuilding fitness.
Around the 2-hour mark, I started doing the math based on my splits per loop. Ten laps in six hours was doable but it was going to be tight. After 5 laps, I crossed the timing mat just under 3 hours so I knew completing 5 more laps in 3 hours would be extremely tight. But that goal sharpened my focus. Unlike triathlon, where I often feel external pressure tied to metrics and outcomes, mountain biking gives me a rare kind of freedom. I wasn't racing anyone else. I was racing the clock and myself.
To hit 10 laps, I needed to ride hard from the first pedal stroke, maintain that effort for the full 6 hours, stay mechanically lucky, and keep my stops at the aid station minimal. I committed to all of it and gave it my absolute best effort.
I never hit a true low point, which is a testament to my fueling and hydration plan. I could keep up with my calories/hydration with the pack and not ration my fluids. My pack exchange only took 15 seconds and I was in and out after 3 hours of riding. But after 4 hours, I could feel the climbs getting slower as the hours accumulated, which meant I had to make up time on the descents. Staying in control was the goal as controlled is fast. Lap 5 brought a much-needed boost when I spotted my mom and Sunny cheering at the sidelines.
As I started my 10th lap, the race clock read 5:24. I felt the pressure. Six hours ends at 4:00pm and any loop not completed before the cutoff doesn't count. I could have stopped after 9 laps as I was winning the female race and I also could have completed a victory lap and not have my last lap count but finish it at a more leisurely effort.
But that's not me.
I gave it absolutely everything. My legs were aching, my breathing was short and labored and my mind was exhausted. And it showed - I fumbled twice (needing to unclip to prevent me from falling) on the rocky technical section near the top of the course. Silly mistakes from fatigue. But I didn't give up on myself.
I was watching my clock: 5:56... 5:57... 5:58... I could hear my mom, Karel, and the race announcer cheering from the finishing chute. I hit the switchbacks and gave one final, all-out push down to the line. As the seconds were counting down until 4pm, I finished with 3 seconds to spare.
I gave it absolutely everything. My legs were aching, my breathing was short and labored and my mind was exhausted. And it showed - I fumbled twice (needing to unclip to prevent me from falling) on the rocky technical section near the top of the course. Silly mistakes from fatigue. But I didn't give up on myself.
I was watching my clock: 5:56... 5:57... 5:58... I could hear my mom, Karel, and the race announcer cheering from the finishing chute. I hit the switchbacks and gave one final, all-out push down to the line. As the seconds were counting down until 4pm, I finished with 3 seconds to spare.
Official time: 5:59:57.
The race director came up to me and said it was the most exciting finish he'd ever seen at this race. I was leading the women's race, but honestly, that last lap was never about the standings. It was about finding that extra gear and discovering what my body was capable of. That is what racing is all about.
The race director came up to me and said it was the most exciting finish he'd ever seen at this race. I was leading the women's race, but honestly, that last lap was never about the standings. It was about finding that extra gear and discovering what my body was capable of. That is what racing is all about.
Karel didn't sleep well the night before due to nerve issues stemming from his back. This had him uncertain heading into the morning. And when I didn't see Karel for 6 hours during the race (I was hoping he would lap me), I was worried about him. But thankfully, during the first loop, his body came around, and he ended up racing really well. Karel never gives up on himself or counts himself out. Being realistic about his fitness (and his soon-to-be 50-year-old legs, as he'd be the first to tell you), he had a blast racing alongside some of his younger and more experienced friends.
Photo from Natadmedia
His fueling plan was INFINIT Fructose in his hydration pack and bottles filled with either INFINIT Fructose (90g carbs) or Precision Hydration (60g carbs, 1000mg sodium), plus a few gels throughout. Karel has never been one to be good with drinking when he races so he's trying to consume more and it's really paying off. He never felt any low moments and this is the second race in a row where he has been able to ward off his debilitating inner thigh cramps (which likely stem from his disc/nerve issues in his back).
KAREL LAP TIMES
5:39.49, 1st AG (40-49), 6th overall
MARNI LAP TIMES
5:59.57, 1st AG (40-59), 9th overall
This race was a great confidence booster for our fitness, our skills, and our mental toughness. Racing back to back weekends was all about getting more race experience and working through the tough moments under fatigue. We learned from Oak Mountain and executed on those lessons.
We also had a lot of fun, which, at the end of the day, is what matters most.
After the awards (beautifully handmade, which is a perfect touch for a grassroots event), we packed up the car, picked up pizza from Sidewall, and spent the evening on the couch, recovering from two solid weekends of racing.
Next up - 8 days of mountain biking in South Africa!
Nicola the Trail Cat