Furnace Creek 508 2007

Doug (Dog) Sloan

The FC 508 is a 508 mile bike race through the Southern California deserts, no drafting, (nearly) continuous riding. (2001 story)

My 2007 508 ended prematurely. At 205 miles, about 12 hours into the race, my vision got so blurry I could hardly see the road. This happened before in 2001, but this time it was worse. I suspect the reason was drying out from the strong headwinds we faced most of the first day. I suppose after this happened back then I should have seen an eye doctor to determine the cause, but I never did, thinking it was a one time thing, at least that bad. In any event, I knew it would not get better, short of taking a nap, and I just did not see that as an option in a "race." Plus, at the top of the hill I was on I was looking at a 5,000 foot, 17 mile, 60 mph descent into Death Valley in the dark. I just could not imagine doing that with blurred vision.

Up until then, things went ok. At the first time station in California City around 82 miles, I was 3 minutes slower than 2001, despite really strong headwinds this time. By the second time station in Trona around 153 miles, I was 7 minutes faster than 2001. From Trona to Townes Pass climb, though, the winds were downright oppressive. I was pedaling hard to go downhill at 20 mph, and struggling up some minor climbs at 10 mph. Cross winds would just about throw me across the road. It was not fun. With about 100 solo racers there, I was around 12th place at 200 miles. I think a few others ahead of me had dropped by then, too.

There was the typical problem of being right on the edge between bloating and bonking, too. One thing that I tend to forget after doing these events is just how miserable that can be. You try to force down enough carbohydrate and water mix to get enough calories, about 250 per hour, but after 5-10 hours it starts to back up and you feel like you're pregnant, stomach all bloated out like  an inflated balloon, having consumed at least 32 ounces of solution per hour (that's 3 gallons by 12 hours).

Riding the aerodynamic time trial bike was very fast on the flats and descents, but maybe slight hindrance on the climbs. For 205 miles, no one passed me on the flats or descents, and I usually caught a number of people there. Chafing was a problem on it, though.

I think there is one blurry picture (appropriately) on the 508 webcast site; I’ll try to dig up some more that the crew took [afterthought – no, I’m not going to bother].

My crew, Russ Freeman, and my brother, Matt, did a good job of trying to keep me on track and then trying to talk me out of quitting. Many thanks to them for being there to help. We discussed what to do for about 20 minutes, but finally I realized that things were not going to get better, and there was not much use prolonging the inevitable. I really hate quitting anything, but this was becoming a safety issue.

I respect the people who continue to do these things, but I'm done. I just don't like being that miserable for that long any more. I think I focus now on much shorter and faster events, maybe 10 miles. ;-)

Epilogue:

Just to ensure I don’t forget the misery of these things and try one again, I’m going to memorialize just how awful it felt and all the associated problems while still fresh my mind:

1. Losing eyesight

2. Feeling of bloating and nausea constantly

3. Headwinds that are completely demoralizing

4. Rough roads that beat you to death

5. Dehydration, despite drinking 32 ounces of fluid per hour

6. Sore mouth

7. Dried out sore nasal passages

8. Sleep deprivation

9. Really bad chapped lips

10. Sore neck

11. Numerous 100 to 200 mile training rides for at least 6 months before the event

12. Time away from kids while training, traveling, and racing

13. Lots of time preparing logistics

14. Money to do these things