I traveled down to Wichita Falls, Tx, this past weekend for the 31st annual Hotter'n'Hell 100 mile bike race weekend.
Saturday's race was 100 miles, and Sunday was a 35 minute criterium race.
Saturday's pre-breakfast numbers included 140 and 154. I ate some breakfast and was trending up at start of race. 199 and then 224 right before start. Basal was at -35% of normal. Planned to fuel with Gus and endurolytes fizz for electrolyte replacement. I used my CGM for this race because I knew I wouldn't want to go to the back of the group to test while riding. My CGM showed just over 200 and started trending down at about 1:30 hrs. I took a gel but as it turns out that was unneeded because I flatted at mile 36. I didn't have any spare wheels in the truck and had to pull out of the race.
Subday's crit seemed like a place to redeem my weekend with mostly fresh legs. Woke up with BG of 105. Was 145 after breakfast and then 121 just before warming up. 116 in the middle of warmup so I drank some gatorade...but apparently had too much. 167 before start with 0.15u bolus and +25% basal. Raced midpack for first 10 minutes. There was one wreck off to my left (in front of the med tent ironically) at minute 11, but bell rang for a prime as we went into next lap. So, I moved to front and had one other guy come off the front ahead of me (a local Tulsa racer, Paul Barnes!). He pulled through and I accelerated out to remain off the front to win the prime.
Once out front, my legs felt good and so I thought I'd see if I could stick it. From minute 12 until the final bell lap I stayed off the front. Biggest gap was 18 seconds. Held it at 15 seconds most of the time. A group of 4 or 5 caught me in last lap, but my legs still had a sprint in them so I felt pretty "safe" about my finish line prospects. Going into last corner at 26.5 mph a guy came to my inside and called out to me (great! thank you for racing smart!). Unfortunately, a guy came outside of me too, said *nothing*, and then cut into my line. I never even saw him until he was tangled in my drops. We bumped bikes and bodies, he stayed upright passing through the cones in the corner. My skin wasn't so lucky and I went down. So from a top 3 (and possible win) to 31st as I got up, put my chain back on, and pedaled into the finish.
Had a blast racing but a very disappointing finish to the weekend.
BG afterward was 273. Too much Gatorade before the race considering my efforts off the front today. A small bolus brought me down to 69 before eating some lunch.
Several lessons learned in the process of the race today.