Six Gap part II: Hogpen, Wolfpen, Woody's

As we turned on to Hogpen there was a lot of shuffling around, drinking, eating, etc. There was a 10km timed portion for the first of two KOMs but I never got a timing chip. I didn't have any calories so Eddie gave me a bottle of HEED that he picked up at the previous aid station. The climb is 7 miles and averages 7% but gets as steep as 15%. The steep section is right where they have an aid station between miles 3 & 4. Greg told me NOT to stop there because I would never get going again and there was an aid station at the top anyway. I felt OK for the first two miles and then we actually got some downhill between miles 2 and 3. Eddie said to take it easy now because miles 3 to 5 is the hardest. He wasn't kidding...I have done this climb before but today it seemed extra hard. I sipped on HEED and just focused on trying to keep good form and not wasting energy. I could see the aid station and all the people milling about as I was out of the saddle, weight back and forth, back screaming in pain while I was in my easiest gear ratio. I alternated sitting and standing but nothing really felt like it was working for me. It felt really warm out and my stomach was in knots. HEED usually does that to me. Finally we crested the top and hung out for awhile again where I got some more fluids and plain graham crackers. The rest of the group went on while we waited for Nick who we lost somewhere at Unicoi Gap. Nick rolled up with the same stomach issues a few minutes later. The descent from Hogpen Gap is 2 miles, fast and steep. People can get going up to 60mph but I had no such goals in my head.

At the bottom we cruised the flats for a bit and passed by Porter-Jackson International Airport...there is pretty much nothing there but an old faded and broken sign. My dogs are named Porter & Jackson so this made me smile. I started feeling really good again so I hopped on Eddie's wheel and we ended up pushing a pretty good pace up to Wolfpen. He stopped at the aid station to wait for Nick and I went on. Slowly. I had started to feel a pain in my kneecap that I know as tendonitis. Crap...I don't think the 40rpm up Hogpen made my body very happy and I'm definitely not used to doing that type of effort. I took it really easy up Wolfpen and got some Advil at the top. Even pedaling down from Wolfpen Gap hurt and I began to think I might not be able to ride 30 more miles. Luckily the Advil did kick in and I was able to make up some time on the rollers between Wolfpen and Woody's. One more gap over Woody's which is a pretty easy climb and a fun descent, some rollers, and we were home.

I probably won't do the event again but it definitely makes a good training route. I spend so much time on the mountain bike that I forget how good the road training is up there in Dahlonega, too. While I was definitely tired from the day's effort it didn't beat my whole body up like 100 miles on the mountain bike does.