09/13/2026
Fire on the Rim 2026
To everyone asking how today went... it was a war of attrition, a massive breakthrough, and a masterclass in how small variables stack up.
Operational Data:
Official Gun Time: 2:57
Recorded Moving Time: 2:30
Stationary Lockdown Time: 0:27
While the clock logged 27 minutes of total downtime waiting for severe quad cramps to release, the real time penalty was paid on the moving clock. Limping through sections where I normally lay down maximum power easily cost another 30+ minutes of lost pace.
Tactical Ex*****on (The Mud Advantage):
Last night a very serious monsoon came through. The pictures are from last night. It turned sections into heavy Arizona clay, and I knew that was my massive tactical advantage. It wasn’t about being "better," it was about equipment readiness.
My fat bike frame is designed for 4.8-inch tires, but running 2.6-inch racing tires gave me maximum clearance. I could slice right through thick sludge where standard mountain bike chainstays and forks jam up completely. I used that advantage to carve down the Strawberry Bobsled, which looked like someone roto-tilled the trail in the storm, and passed nearly 20 riders. Honestly, I would rather ride down a bobsled made of donkey turds than what was out there today.
The Catch:
My legs were cramping so violently my right foot was flailing everywhere except where I wanted it to be. Once I finally clipped in, I took off and blasted past everyone who was stuck digging clay out of their rear triangles. I made it to the bottom on pure grit, only to have most of them pass me right back over the next 5 minutes as my quads locked up solid on the next climb.
The Course & The Formula Mistake:
Let’s be real: this course has a sh*tty personality. It’s relentless, brutal, and something I would never choose to ride on a normal day. Also, you CAN'T! The worst uphills and downhills are all on private property, so it's not a course you can get used to or properly train on. I ride mountain bikes for fun, not self-torture! Because I only hit that terrain 3 times during race prep, the brutal nature of the trail masked the real underlying problem.
I didn't break the cardinal rule of changing gear on race day. I changed my hydration formula 3 weeks ago to save 2 lbs of water weight by eliminating the frame bottle, assuming my 3-liter pack was more than enough. (It had been on EVERY other ride over 17 miles this summer!) But that change accidentally created a heavy, hypertonic mix that my gut couldn't absorb under high heat and exertion, triggering severe osmotic cramping every time I pushed hard.
Why didn't I catch it sooner? Because it only happened 3 times ALL SUMMER. Even riding in 105-degree Sedona heat 4 weeks ago didn't make me cramp! All 3 breakdowns happened in the last 3 weeks, during my 2 course preview rides and today's race.
I was sitting here wallowing in my melancholy, thinking there was just something about THAT course that had me beaten forever, when the lightbulb went off: that is the exact same window when I changed the formula. The variable was completely masked by the unique intensity of the course.
The Mental Victory:
I had to pull over at least 10 times during the race. 5 of those stops were on the trail directly behind my house, sections I hike with Andy everyday on, where I easily could have called it quits and ridden down through Andy's maze to the living room. But I knew I would never forgive myself if I gave up. Honestly the thought never was a thought. The marshall in Strawberry offered me a ride and I wish I could go back in time and say "no thank you", but I said "HELL NO, if I have to crawl across the finish that's how it's gonna be"
Right at the absolute worst part of the final uphill, the last major climb before it's 100% downhill to the finish, Metallica’s The Unforgiven randomly shuffled on. The timing was absolute perfection. I dug in, pushed past the pain, cleared the peak, and crossed that finish line with nothing left in the tank.
The Bottom Line:
I missed the real problem because 2 variables were introduced at exactly the same time. But I left everything on that mountain and proved something to myself when you refuse to quit. The hydration math is fixed, the lesson is logged, and the recovery begins now. Huge thanks for all the support!
