PMBAR!!!

Yesterday was pmbar, for those that don't know, it's a race with 5 checkpoints, you have to hit four, two are mandatory and the fifth receives a 2 hr time bonus. You can get them in any order and it is in the heart of pisgah nat'l forest. Adam and I teamed up and didn't look at the map until after we climbed black mtn to the turkey pen turn off, did a quick map check and figured out our route in about 40 sec. Dropped turkey pen, we were the first up to there and the first to turkey pen th. Turkey pen was absolutely gorgeous, lined with mtn laurel on tight and fast singletrack. Held it together on some sketchy and a little too fast for conditions singletrack but that's what makes it fun. Crashed right at the trailhead when some laurel grabbed bars bars and proceeded to send me over them. It was right in front of a hiker, classic! Checkpoint 1 in under 1.5 hrs and out before we saw anyone. Up mullinax to squirrel gap to checkpoint 2, passed Bob and Dennis and team dickey right before our checkpoint, they were going opposite of our route. In and out quick then up horsecove to fast ass double track to 1206. Rolled 1206 to the base of pilot where we hiked up 3.5 miles to the top of laurel for checkpoint 3. Started raining so we set under the tarp with Christy and had a much appreciated picnic. There's nothing like a picnic in the middle of the race. Droped Laurel and it was oh so fun. Ate it a few times on some super slippery rocks that I new better than to ride, but it's part of the game. Then we got to the too long for me, if I wanted to ride gravel roads I would ride the cross bike, section. Gravel down to mills river campground, then up 5000 to the last camp site and hit checkpoint 4. Turned around and climbed back up what we just descended and stayed on this until we turned off of 476 to south mills river trail up to buckhorn gap. Then some more hike a bike up black mtn trail. On the next to last descent had a rear flat and a team that we created a gap on passed us as we were putting the tire back on, one more flat section then a giggly fun and fast descent to the start/finish line. This descent was flowing super smoothe when I flatted on the front and said piss on it. I finished the last mile or so on a flat front tire. Ended up finishing 9th out of 60ish teams. 8hrs and 18minutes wa our official ride time and I don't know about mileage or elevation gain, but will get a rough estimate later The views were absolutley stunning, so many different color greens with all the wild flowers coming to life and the amazing fragrances made for an amazing day. The weather was absolutely perfect, overcast with a high of maybe 70, one small rainy section and absolutely perfect trail conditions. Adam and I had planned on hittin all 5 checkpoints but it was going to be another 20-25 miles of gravel roads so we mutually agreed to bail on that. We never pushed hard and just rode at a quick, casual and steady pace. We never made it hurt and just rolled along. It was a great day to be riding a bicycle and awesome to be able to have Adam as a partner. I wasn't exactly pleased with how I rode, but it was still a good day. It's good to know that I could go out and do the same ride today at the same pace. 9 more days of riding and I should be in shape when I do actually leave Asheville. Gonna go try and get a 4ish hour rainy day ride with anyone who will go ride with me. Should be able to to find a few. Then cookout at gabe's this evening. Another fabulous day. Oh yeah, covered front porches are the jam. peace