MTB Baja Ultra Endurance 100KM race

Another weekend, another race.... This one was similar to Chupacabras, but different.... Most people want to know which one was better, but it's hard to say. In my opinion, both offer different challenges. Chups stars as a road race, while Baja UE is a mtn bike race the entire time. The major challenge at Chups is the hike-a-bike, while Baja UE has at least 3 very long and steep climbs. Singletrack for both races is about the same. I personally think Baja UE is harder due to the climbing. I guess if I weighed 135 lbs, I would think differently.

PRE-RACE

Wendy and I drove from Phoenix to San Diego at 5 PM on Thursday night. We made about 20 miles past Gila Bend when we realized we had forgotten our passports and had to turn around. (First sign from the cycling gods!!) So we really left Phoenix at 8:15 PM. Made it to SD just before 1:30 AM.

Next day we went on a leisure ride near Otay Lakes. I rode from the house and thought I would pump Wendy's tires before I took off, of course, I forgot to up the front tire back in the truck and when I met up with Wendy, there was no front wheel. Another trip back to my Mom's house. (Second sign from the Cycling gods!!)

We arrived in Ensenada Friday afternoon, stopped to pick up our packages (Wendy decided to do the 65 KM tour) at the race hotel. As you check in, you must have your bike "inspected" by a team of mechanics. The pretty much check brakes, shifters, bolts, etc. They even lube your bike. I had my Anthem full suspension bike and since my rear triangle was brand new, I was planning on going over everything later that evening, but the mechanic worked on it and adjusted my rear derailleur (mistake!! - cycling gods???) Had some shifting issues ... duh!!

RACE DAY

The start of the race was pretty early - 7 AM. I saw some old friends at the start (I grew up in Ensenada in case you didn't know). Talked to some of the pros, Manny Ortiz from Costa Rica - who won the race, Emmanuel Valencia from Mexico who I had run into at Chups the weekend before (he finished second here after having a flat tire near the end of the race).

We started exactly at 7 AM - no joking about Mexican time!! These guys are punctual. We were on city streets for about 500 meters then into a wash that crosses most of the city from West to East. The was is fairly flat, but a little sandy in some spots. I thought about going off the front, a la Chups, but every time I get my face out of the draft I would quickly change my mind.

We hit the first climb about 5 miles in and this broke the lead pack of about 30 almost immediately. The climb was steep and long. Oh, yeah, there was a $500 dlls prize for the first one to the top, so all the pros were gunning for it. I got to the top of the climb about 50 minutes after the start, already about 10 minutes behind the first pros. I dabbed a couple of times and had to walk a few short sections, but it was more bad riding on my part than the terrain. Everything was rideable. I didn't know most of the people I was racing against so I finally asked another younger rider if he knew of anybody in the 45+ category that was up ahead and he said yes. At least one. Crap!! I was hoping to do well. All I could do was race at my own pace and see what happens.

My sister Gaby and brother-in-law Vico (that's him in the picture next to his Class 11 VW) agree to help me out and take pictures and carry some water bottles in case I needed them. First time I saw them was about 8:30 AM and got my first water bottle - had a bladder with Heed - which tasted really good. Later I found out that first place rider had over 15 minutes on me at this point. I was riding with two riders working together. One was having issues with his bike and had to stop. The second dropped off when we caught an 18 year old kid named Henry who was very strong.

Just before we started the second climb, I told Henry to go at his own pace, there was no way I could keep up with him on the climb. We hit the second climb - this was the part that was excluded from the 65 KM Tour - long and steep, but all rideable. I could see Henry moving away, but I stayed my pace and eventually caught up with him again after some descending and flat sections. Second road crossing, another water bottle, got rid of the camelback and carried another water bottle in my jersey pocket (mistake!! Cycling Gods??!!?). Later I was told that I was in first place at this point.

The course took you onto a very technical descent - loose, rocky, with lots of ruts. I went down near the top, got back on the bike, passed Wendy on my way down - she "looked" like she was having fun :-) Once out of the technical singletrack, I passed an aid station since I still had a quarter of a bottle of water on the bike and the one in my pocket or so I thought. I few miles after passing the aid station, I finished my water bottle and reached for the one in my pocket... and... oh, crap!! Nothing there... WTF??!!?!

I ran into two riders fixing a flat and asked/begged for some water - it was pretty warm by now - and got half a bottle. I rationed the water until I could see an aid station. Luckily it wasn't too far away and made with with no problems although I didn't drink as much as I wanted for about 30-45 minutes. Next aid station I stopped for more water and heard some yelling - saw my sister and my brother in law across the road with a nice cold bottle of water... Sweeeeet!! Of course I was back in second place by now :-( or so I was told.

Next climb I could feel my left leg wanted to cramp, probably due to the lack of drinking water. I spun up it, took my time, ate, drank some more and keep rolling. The last 10 KM seemed like an eternity, back on the wash and onto the finish - I was still moving pretty good, so no bonk this time near the end, probably because I ate and drank regularly (almost). Felt pretty good at the end. Finished in second place in my category with a time of around 4:52 about 5 minutes behind the winner. Third place was more than 15 minutes behind me. Wendy finished the 65 KM in about 5:40, was the second female although there were no categories and had a relatively good time. She's amazing!! There is now way I would do a 5 hour ride, with my longest ride in the last 2 years being 3 hours - one 3-hour ride 2 weeks ago.

POST RACE

The 100KM MTB Baja Ultra Endurance is a great event. Prizes were incredible - set of spinery wheels for 1st place rider (non pro), lights and tires for second place, and set of tires for 3rd place. The ambiance is fun and relaxed. I may be biased because I grew up here, but I feel perfectly safe in this city - I don't feel safe in Tijuana or Nogales, but Ensenada is very peaceful. The course if fun, challenging and picturesque. The people are friendly and go out of their way to help you out. This is another event to put on your "must do" list. The promoter, Jorge, is already thinking about next year.

Oh, yeah, at the awards ceremony, there was a huge raffle with the grand prize being a Giant Anthem!!! and if you win the raffle you still have to jump into a pool with pretty cold water, but don't worry, Jorge will jump in there with you just in case you don't know how to swim.

Stay tuned for my updates on Baja Epic which starts on November 5 and runs until the 8th. Adios!!

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