Soggy Bottom 2017 - AKA Alaskan Hot and Sweaty Bottom

This was my third time riding the Soggy Bottom, 100+ mile MTB race on a mostly singletrack course on the Kenai Peninsula. This year was hot (Alaskan Hot so more than 70F)

The race started off great, I didn't try and keep up with the really fast guys up front, I rode my own race. I arrived in Cooper Landing (Checkpoint one) in just over 4 hours which is right around my target time for that leg, A quick turn around and back on the trail and headed for Devils Pass (checkpoint two). I was targeting around 3 hours for this leg, It took me around 3:15 however I was cramping up pretty badly from Juneau lake which was not ideal. I have cramped before and can recover but it would be tough.

I have been using a new electrolyte drink powder called Amino Energy, this stuff has been great at getting rid of cramps when they come. I initially planned to drink a bottle per leg, I should have done more for leg two and definitely for leg three.

I left the Devils checkpoint after drinking a bottle and taking one with me feeling not to bad, I actually rode up all the steep part of the trail, as the trail levelled off the cramps kicked in. How badly? Where I was unable to walk to try and shake them off, which muscles? all of my legs. At this point I was beginning to regret not scratching at Devils Pass, I was also beginning to wonder how I was going to finish, I still had around 30 miles to go.

I walked and soft pedalled my way to the top of Devils pass taking my time to cool off in the stream crossings and on to the junction with Resurrection pass. At this point I ran into my Team mate Chris who was sweeping from Cooper Landing to Devils. I had a little chat with him then headed on my way across the not flat top of Resurrection pass. By this point I was having to pee around every 4 miles, this is really annoying as I was still cramping up though less and less.

The descent from Resurrection is mostly down hill, the top section is really fast 20+ mph even when not pedalling. It drops down to the creeks then climbs back up before another descent. I was having to walk all of the climbs back out of the creeks which is annoying but my legs were now cramping a little less. I stopped to chat to people I saw on the trail and tried not to push the pace to much so I wouldn't cramp up again. I know at around 10 miles to go we cross the Resurrection river and the trail then really undulates before we cross back over the river. At mile 99 there is a little incline that seems to go on for ever, this year I actually managed to ride it all. We hit the end of the trail at mile 101miles then its just 4miles of mostly gravel back to the finish in front of the Seaview in Hope. I was all finished in 11:40

Thoughts on my race

When we rode into Cooper Landing I really thought this would be the year I went sub 11 hours, as I left Devils pass trail head and managed to ride all the steep sections I still thought it was a possibility once I started cramping up on the "easy" sections I was wondering how I was going to finish. I rolled across the line at 11:40 after giving it everything I had to get there. I am once again happy that I finished sub 12 hours but a little disappointed I didn't break 11 hours.

This year Amanda and Fiona supported me at the checkpoints, It was a great moral boost to see them there. I would love it if they could do it again, though maybe its time for me to have a stab at the team version of the race.

Crunching the numbers

Year	Hope to Coopers moving	Hope to Coopers total	Coopers to Devils moving	Cooper to Devils total	Devils to Hope moving	Devils to Hope total	Total Moving	Total
2017	3:59:04	4:01:15	3:10:41	3:16:24	3:44:48	3:59:42	11:02:45	11:40:04
2016	4:12:27	4:18:53	3:10:48	3:18:35	3:25:43	3:35:01	10:57:05	11:28:41
2015	4:17:59	4:25:53	3:20:11	3:35:47	3:47:54	4:31:16	11:36:54	13:15:38

As can be seen, this year I am definitely faster well, until I cramped up. As always I will keep plugging away at my fitness and see what next year brings. The cramps in this race seemed different to previous cramping. 

Picture dump

Not being in the front group = smart move by me

The following pack. 

Climbing and feeling good

Chasing Clint

Catching up with the relay teams

Almost to the top and 1/2 way through leg one

Chasing James

Already cramping up 

Chasing Meredith 

Clint and I both suffering on the climb from Swan Lake

Regretting not scratching at devils trail head

Thanks for sweeping Chris

10 ish miles to go and feeling better

Made it up the final trail climb

Awesome sunset on the drive home. 

Strava data

Soggy Bottom 2016

Soggy Bottom race report

The Soggy Bottom is a race that has been happening for the last 13 years, this was the 14th edition of the race and we rode the same course as last year albeit in different conditions.  This years version of the race was preceded by a week of epic rain.   The soggy gets its reputation from having unpredictable some might say miserable trail conditions.  This was not going to be a problem for me though because a couple of weeks ago I ordered a mudhugger rear fender for my bike. Unfortunately due to a problem with shipping it was not going to arrive in time.  Fortunately my awesome wife called the post office and the lady she talked with actually got the parcel off the delivery truck so I could fit the fender to my bike on friday night.

pre fender install

Mudhugger rear fender installed

With all the rain, the talk at the start was guessing what the weather may have done to the trail and have install for us on the day. Luckily for us it wasn't actually raining when we started, we even saw blue sky before we started. For my ride I was sprinkled on going down devils pass (mile 60) but aside from that I didn't ride in the rain and it was hot and sunny whilst riding out of Cooper landing where we were riding on dry trails. Obviously we can learn from this. Never trust the weather people up here who had predicted 100% chance of rain all day for the race.

My race

Firstly I want to say a huge thanks to Amanda for looking after Fiona whilst she was working and arranging child care with some friends of ours. I would also like to thank my friend Oscar who gave me a ride down to Hope and stayed around to give me a ride back. Oscar was racing the team version of the event with Janice Tower and Pete Basinger, his team finished in 2nd place in 9hrs 55min and without their support with the drop bag I really don't think I would have finished.  

Hope to Coopers

The race starts in downtown Hope outside the seaview bar, we cruise up the road for around 4.5 miles before hitting the trail.  

Me joining the trail - photo credit Janice Tower

We then climb up to the top of resurrection pass (2600ft) at around mile 23.  For me this is where I knew I was struggling well actually at around mile 20. I think I went out a little to hard or didn't drink enough because I started cramping up in both of my legs.... This is not what you want to happen on a 100+ mile race when you haven't even reached the top of the first climb.  I took a salt tablet and drank some more water and hoped for the best. 

After cresting Resurrection pass we got our first taste of some peanut butter mud but it was short lived.  Next section is the descent down to the Devil's pass cabin and then onwards to Cooper landing.  Last year at this point in the course a couple friends started a new tradition of the Bacon station where they provide bacon to the racers.  This year the tradition continued and boy was it welcome. 

Ryan cooking bacon - photo credit Laura Fox

Bacon handup - photo credit Laura Fox

After some yummy bacon I descended down to Cooper landing, before I reached Juneau lake I passed a couple of racers who were repairing flat tyres.  Whilst riding past Juneau lake by far the wettest section of the trail, I was thinking back to this ride when Kevin and I rode across the lake, that was much a much dryer ride.  After Juneau lake I suffered my own tyre problem.  As it was not completely flat I either burped a little air or got a hole and Stans did it's job.  I added more air and it held to the end of the race.

The lighter effort on the descent seemed to help my legs though any incline involved me dropping into the small chain ring to stop my legs twinging.  I was also peeing what seemed like every 2 min (it wasn't) after all the extra fluid I had taken on.  

Before I started the race I was not planning on taking anything on at checkpoint 1 (Cooper Landing). Racing is all about adapting to the situation you are in. As I was sorting my gear out, Janice came over and asked if I needed anything from the bag I had with their team.  I truly think this saved my race.  I mixed myself an electrolyte drink for the first part of the next leg, swapped my gear and was off again. 

Coming into Cooper Landing - photo credit Janice Tower

Leaving Cooper Landing - Photo credit Janice Tower

Cooper to Devils

After jogging through the parking lot at Coopers I remounted my bike and headed back up to the Devils pass cabin. I mostly rode the trail up to the top, there is a section around Swan lake which although is potentially rideable in a race this long its better to save energy, walk and eat.  After this I got back into the alpine section before the devils' pass cabin.  This is where the trail is really nice. It was mostly dry or drying and there was a tail wind. When I reached the bacon station they had upped the game and whiskey was on offer.  It would have been rude not to partake so I did, I also had some more bacon.

Whiskey and Bacon - Photo credit Katie Torpy

Bacon station crew Laura, Ryan and Chuck
 - Photo Credit Chuck Mangold

Following the energy shot, I proceeded down the really fun part of the trail, we go through Devil's pass at 2400ft and head all the way down to the trail head.  The trail is fun especially the top alpine section although with this year's headwind was not as much fun. I stopped to put on arm warmers and where Will was time checking some of the lead group after the rock garden. 

Next checkpoint is Devils trailhead, though the ride in can be frustrating as it finishes on a climb and there is often a lot of stop start with riders leaving the checkpoint, riding coming uphill has the right of way. 

Arriving at Devils pass trailhead - Photo credit Oscar Lage

At the checkpoint I again sorted out my stuff and headed out as fast as I could. Two things I should have done: 

1. Lubed my chain. 

2. Applied more chamois butter.

Devils to Hope

This section of the trail starts with a short descent and then climbs back up to Resurrection pass. 

My legs were tired but I rode most of the trail which is much better than last year. The Alpine section was great, you have to love a tail wind. 

To the top of Res pass from the trail head took 1hr 50min this year, last year the same section took me 2hrs and 15min. It is an 11mile section of trail.   

At the top of the pass I had two hours and 20min to make a sub 12hr time. During my descent I lost a water bottle I have no idea where though I know it was with me at the top. Just after caribou creek I drank my last water out of my camel back, 8miles of mostly downhill trail this was not a problem and probably pretty good timing. 

Overall on this section the last part of the ride took me almost 1hr less than last year, part of this though is because I didn't run into any bears which I am very glad of but part of it was my legs didn't cramp. I arrived in Hope in 11hrs 28min and 41seconds (unofficial time). I am super happy I managed to get under 12hrs I really didn't think that was going to be possible at mile 20. 

Happy to be done :)

For my efforts what did I receive?  A cool stem cap which are given out to riders who finish under 12hrs. 

Proud of this one!

Strava of the route

Post race thoughts

The double front fender and massive rear fender kept me really clean.  

The fenders worked great

not so muddy backpack

very muddy drive train

very very muddy

Never trust weather people they don't know what they are talking about :-)

I really should have changed the rear cable and housing before this race, from the start of the ride the bike was ghost shifting. The front worked flawlessly throughout the race. 

Biggest smile I saw Ethan Greeff descending Devils Pass, he was having so much fun! 

Now its off to clean my bike and reinstall the brake pads on Amanda's bike which I took as spares. 

Once again a huge thanks to my family and friends who enabled me to complete this event. 

Finally thanks to all the other riders, organisers and supporters of this race, the smiling faces make this event a lot of fun even if you are suffering a on a wet 100mile race.  

To quote the late Jeff Dusenbury  "Why suffer a little when you can suffer a lot!"

And the long events continue

After completing my super randonneur award it was time for me to put some racing into my legs... I decided to race the Soggy Bottom - An Alaskan 100mile off road race.

From the Alaskan Endurance Association facebook page.  The Soggy Bottom 100 was created 12 or so years ago to challenge local mountain bike riders to a 100 miles of continuous riding in some awesome terrain. Sure the route was different, but core premise of the Soggy remained the same, challenge the local riders to achieve higher levels of mental and physical endurance while riding a bike through stunning scenic and challenging terrain.
The challenge remains as it should, despite several shorter race options that are now available.

I roped a couple of friends into riding with me so at least whilst I was suffering I wouldn't be alone.  Thank you to Oscar and Chuck for riding with me and a big thanks to Chuck's wife and kids for supporting the three of us whilst doing this event.

As with any longer distance event there should be a certain amount of endurance that goes into it.  I think that everyone attending this years event found this endurance whilst trying to get to the start, sadly a vehicle collision on the highway closed the road for almost 11hours.  We set off from Anchorage around 8pm only to discover the road to Hope was still closed with no word on opening.  Oscar and I made the decision to try again in the morning.
At 05:45 Oscar picked me up and we were off to Hope which is around 1.5hours drive away from Anchorage.  Oscar had negotiated a place to stay (Thanks Tony) so that when we finished we wouldn't have to drive home and could enjoy the atmosphere at the event.

The Soggy Bottom can be thought of as three distinct legs.
The petite bottom as two Hope, Cooper Landing, Hope - note this is still an 80+ mile event and not for inexperienced cyclists.

Leg one is Hope to Cooper Landing, this is approximately 43 miles.

Leg two goes from Cooper Landing to Devil Pass trail head and is approximately 26 miles

Leg three takes riders from Devils Pass Trail head back to Hope. Segment is approximately 35 miles

As we were preparing gear in the morning before the start a bear was spotted by the river, here is a really bad shot of it climbing a tree, although bears are common in the area it is pretty rare (afaik) to see one, hopefully this would mean we wouldn't see one for the rest of the day.

really crappy bear picture

At 9am the relay racers lined up at the start and headed off for the first leg over to Cooper Landing,

Getting ready to race

And they are off

The Soggy Bottom and Petite bottom (Hope to Cooper Landing to Hope) racers set off at 09:04, as I was riding I don't have any pictures of the start but I stole a few from friends on facebook

Start - Photo Credit Laura Fox

The race starts with around 4.5miles of road to the Resurrection Pass trail head then the climbing begins. 

Aero is everything! Is this Enduro?

 As we joined the trail Oscar, Chuck and I were at the front of the third group on the trail, we were a big group as can be seen in the picture below.

Starting the Res climb

Still going up!

Still climbing

 As the trail climbed up, 24 miles from the start to the summit the group split down into smaller and smaller number of people.

Climbing with smiles

Still climbing

Group had thinned by now 

One of the steep climbs out of the creeks

 The climb is rewarding though as you get to ride some fantastic single track, as can be seen the weather is also fantastic at this point.

single track sweetness

 After you exit the trees you get to the high alpine trail, this is where if the weather is bad it can be really miserable, fortunately today was not one of those days.

Awesome scenery 

Then we came across the Chewbacca bacon station, these fantastic people took a 12mile ride in to bring all racers the goodness of bacon...

WTF - photo credit Michael Braun

From looking at this blog you will start to think this ride is all climbing and nice weather.... well that is only half the story, we did get some rain which turned the trails pretty slick and then with the warm weather made it really muggy.  We also got to ride some fantastic downhills but alas my one handed camera skills are not up to photos of that, but trust me this ride has some of the best descents Alaska has to offer.

And then the rain started

 After a quick pit stop at Cooper Landing we headed back to the trails and more climbing, at least the rain was cooling us off at this point.

Climbing out of Cooper Landing in the rain

Climbing

Lake singletrack

 I think all riders will agree the summer route by swan lake is a hike your bike section, I also think most would have a few choice words with the trail planner too.

Sometimes you have to walk

 After the hike your bike section the trail becomes a lot more rideable and soon you are up to the trail intersection (Resurrection, Coopers and Devils).  These wonderful people were out making sure everyone took the right trail, for the full soggy experience it can be summarised take the trail to the right at all times.

Support/timing crew

This is the top of the best descent of the whole race IMHO, descending Devils Pass. It is fun fast and great place to recover the legs as for around 5 of the 10 ish miles you don't have to pedal :D, well perhaps the really fast guys do but I took the opportunity to relax my legs, at least for some of the trail.  The one caveat with this descent is that it is narrow in places and the uphill rider has the right of way which means your flow can be interrupted.

More sweet single track - Devils Pass

A shot of Oscar and I coming into the Devils Point checkpoint.

Tongue out to cool off 

The flipside to a sweet descent on an out and back course is the climb that inevitably follows.

Climbing again

 There is another version of this photo floating around that shows our thoughts on the last climb.

Top of the last big climb

More sweet single track

Spot the riders

We crested Resurrection pass at 2600ft and started our descent back down to Hope 20ft and 24 miles away.  At the top of the descent after a very fast section we caught back up with Tony, helping out another person on the trail.  This one had a huge split in her tyre sidewall and the Park Tyre Boots were not adhering to the sidewall (we think Stans is the problem).  Luckily Chuck had some Alaskan fix it favourite Duct Tape and we left Tony pumping things back up.

Stans doesn't work when you tear a sidewall

The descent continued for the three of us until after a stream crossing Chuck and I came across Oscar stopped.  He had nearly run into a bear (brown) and two cubs.  They had gone off into the woods but Oscar insisted he needed to pee whilst Chuck and I urged him it would be wise to back the hell away from the situation as the bear was barking at her cubs/us.  We hung around for about 5 min deciding what to do.  It was decided that Oscar would ride through first (as a decoy) and I would follow with Chuck since we both had bear spray.  Following close encounters of the bear kind we continued along the trail at a good clip with lots of  "Hey Bear" calls.

SOB hill

There are 7 large bridges across creeks and after number 6 we end up getting to a wall of torture, I am reliably informed its called son of a bitch hill and at mile 99 of the race I am inclined to agree with that.

At mile 99.1

At mile 101 we rejoin the road network and its pretty much downhill and easy pedalling to the finish.

Finally the road

Finish line in sight - Photo Credit Vastyl Mangold

At least we are smiling - Photo Credit Vastyl Mangold

So what did I think of my first Soggy Bottom.  It was hard (we finished in 13hrs 15min, most importantly before closing) and I once again couldn't have done so well without some great friends to ride with.  I see areas where I could improve if I were to complete the full version again. We were lucky with the weather, it could have been much worse like it has been in the past where the race really became a ride for survival not a joy ride that the above pictures seem to indicate.  All in all I had a blast.

A huge thankyou must go out to Carlos and his support crew without whom this event would not be the success it is. 

Until next time, ride safe all!

Nick