Kim and Jason 3rd in Relay
Defending a title blows. If you don’t win it’s considered a failure and everyone seems to be gunning for you. I was trying pretty hard to downplay my anticipation of the 8th annual Dirty Duo, one of the best North Shore events. Although the Duo offers up a full menu of racing options, 50km run, 25km run, 15km run, 30km mountain bike ride and relay the title event is the solo category, where athletes first run a 25+ km loop of Mt Seymour’s finest trails including Ned’s Atomic Dustbin then transition to the bike to repeat a similar 30km loop. I’m a huge fan of the technical nature of the Seymour trails. Riding Ned’s on a xc bike is an amazing rush and truly extends the bike and the rider to their limit.
Kim Steed of Steed Cycles, had given me a good pre-race talk and said that after looking down the list of participants that I had a good chance. After racing all these years I’ve come to realize that there’s always some unknown athlete a lot faster than you waiting to make their mark. In 2007 uberathlete Wendy Simms put the boots to me, and I was only able to win by seconds as she chased me right down to the finish line. This year I knew that my chances of winning were going to be slim as my training partner and team mate Jeff Riemer was in great shape. For the past two months he had punished me on our weekly training rides. Competition between close friends and teammates is a strange thing. On one hand, you have your own personal desire to succeed, yet on the other side if you’re going to get beat it might as well be by a good buddy.
The race started quickly with Mark Bennett racing in the relay category taking the lead and pushing the pace. Jeff and I settled in with 50km athlete Jen Segger, who set a great pace. The first two and half hours went by quickly. I felt pretty shattered entering the transition, but I was anxious to get on my bike. Jeff was right behind me, incredibly since it was only his 1st year of running and the first time he’d competed at this distance. I told myself that if I could get to the top of Ned’s before he did that I could win. The entire time I was on the bike I felt like I was being chased by Satan. Every time I felt myself slowing down I stood and hammered on the pedals, I knew Heffay was coming. Near the top of Ned’s I thought I was home free, no sign of any riders until I heard this big whoop, freaking Riemer. I rode Ned’s fast and loose, probably having my best ride ever down the classic trail. I didn’t come out of my pedals once. Praying I wasn’t going to flat I finished the Camp Brick trails cautiously and sprinted for the finish. It wasn’t until that final minute that I realized how much I had wanted to win this race. This little race, that the big time pros ignored was my race for another year. I was stoked crossing the line, my sponsor and friend Kim Steed, who finished 3rd in the relay after a great run was there as well. I was super happy to win wearing the Steed colors. Riemer finished 60 seconds behind me. Jeff had put 35 minutes into the next competitor who had started the bike ride at the same time. With twins expecting in August I know that this might be my last season of competitive racing. As I take Jeff on a tour of all my favorite races I can only hope that he’ll win next year and for years to come, but for 08 I get to be the Dirty Duo champ one more time.
As always we'd like to thank the fantastic volunteers, sponsors and organizers for hosting an amazing event.Written by JMark
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