Freaking Addictions!!

For the past 3 years I've done the Leesburg Bakers Dozen in Leesburg, Virginia. The race is the cats meow and more. It has only has about 15 feet of elevation gain, but the course is twisty, turny, single track fun. Not to mention free camping, bonfires, free pizza, live blue grass music, accurate electronic timing, bucu swag, and just a freaking great vibe, all for under 100 beans (solo).

With all that it's no doubt that the race has grown from a couple hundred folks racing for 13+ hours, to now 450+ racers, racing for 13+ hours, and the race selling out in LESS than one hour!! I believe the word is "addiction" but I'm not 100% sure.

I love it!

Me @ the '09 LBD. Photo by Tim Mullin.

When you race a course like the Bakers Dozen, you fly through the first few laps thinking, "wow, this a blast, and I'm FLYING!!" BUT about 4 hours later you will start to think- "Maybe I went out too hard?" And about 10 hours later you will start to think "I really don't remember there being a climb like this earlier!!" I know that by forking over my $85 that I just signed up for cramping, bonking, puking and 13 hours of pain. BUT I also know that I just signed up for one the best endurance events, and best times on the East Coast, and cannot wait until April 17th.

What amazes me is that I sat in front of the computer today, credit card in hand like I was waiting for concert tickets, logged on to BikeReg.com, and waiting for the clock to hit Noon. What amazes me even more, is that 449 other folks were doing the SAME damn thing. I mean we're signing up for good times, BUT we're signing up for a lot of PAIN too.

Sweet.

Sweet.

Pain.

Freaking addictions.