With all the excitement leading up to the Dk200 this year I made the late decision to give it a go. Just the first 60 miles that is. I didn't want to miss the opportunity to ride out of Emporia with 200 cyclist. Plus I needed the miles and some intensity and my back was finally feeling back to normal.
So early Saturday morning we rolled out and the pace immediately heated up. The pack split early and the lead group went up the road while others dropped back. A group of High Gear Riders (Tim Mohn, Mike Wise, Garret Seacat, Chris Wiggins, and myself) hung back with a few others knowing a good majority of the people up front would be blowing up. We kept a constant pace and eventually caught people dropping off the back of the main pack. Chris ended up flatting about 15 miles in which bummed me out as I hated leaving a man behind but he was only planning to ride the first 60 as well. The HG train surged forward.
The morning was beautiful and it was an awesome ride through the Flint Hills with the crew but once we hit the 40 mile mark I was having a hard time staying on so I dropped back, turned up the MP3 player and enjoyed the ride by myself into Cottonwood Falls. When I got to the check point I was told the HG group had just rolled out and I was in the top 15. Although I wanted to go on I stuck with my plan and checked out. Plans were to work the rest of the day at the shop and then head down to the finish line and set up the HG booth.
Above: Calling it a day...while I'm still smiling.
Once I got back to the shop I was glued to the weather channel and kept calling Jed who was out supporting the HG crew at the check points and he gave me the race reports. Most of our guys had moved up in the top 10 at Council Grove and were looking strong. As the temps rose I kept praying for the guys....as I've paid the price for heat exhaustion before....6 hours in the ER and 3 IV bags later will eventually make you quit throwing up.
At 5pm we headed down to the Finish Line and set up our booth. It was such an awesome atmosphere....thanks to Kristi
Mohn for all her hard work making this a stellar finish line party. The ride in the morning had me thinking I might race next year but the party at the finish line made me think I'd rather do the finish line party instead.
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Above: Cory Cornbread winner of DK200 2010.
Long story short, the sun eventually baked 3/4's of the field in 96 degree heat, including last years winner, Mike Marchand, and all of the HG crew. Let me tell you everyone who attempted this years race can hold their head high because it was crazy hot....they're all winners in my book. Lastly congrats also to everyone that did finish, including The Adventure Monkey, who finished at almost 2:00am in the morning. I jokingly told him I was a little disappointed I didn't see him at church at 9:00am Sunday morning. He told me he didn't need to go as he had never prayed so much in one day as he did on the DK.
Lastly congrats to High Gear rider Shad Schreiner who pulled off a win down in Angel Fire, NM in the Cat 1 race. Also Cameron Chambers who won the Single Speed class. Boy those guys from Kansas are killing it....I bet those Rocky Mt State guys are wishing the boyz from Kansas would move back home.
We'll got the run....I have a skateboard order to work up.
