After spending extended time in Bend, OR this Summer and taking my mountain biking to another level, my buddy Ingo and I registered for the MOCO Epic on October 16th. I’ve always dreamed of riding in one of the 100-mile ultra endurance MTB races, but been too much of a weenie to pull the trigger. The MOCO Epic is a great format—5 different rides you can choose from, all of varying lengths. While it’s not a race, it is a fully supported ride. All participants were given a cue sheet, a GPS track and the trails are blazed so you don’t get lost. Furthermore, there were 8 Aid Stations so riders can replenish fluids and grab some fuel to eat (a tomato sandwich with mayonnaise at the final Aid Station never tasted like such a treat). While I didn’t train for the event, I certainly logged many miles on my MTB the last several months. My longest ride off-road prior to this event was 30 miles. I also rode my MTB roundtrip from my house in Bethesda to Mt. Vernon, which was about 52 miles…all on paved trails however. That notwithstanding, Ingo and I signed up for the MOCO Epic 100K option—the end goal being not to race, but simply to finish. The ride took us through 9 parks—Hoyles Mill, Black Hills, Little Bennett, Lower Magruder, Seneca Greenway, Clopper Lake, Muddy Branch, C&O Canal, and finally Schaeffer Farm. After 8 hours in the saddle, I was able to make it across the street to the Soccerplex with a few minutes to spare before E Raye’s soccer game. This ride definitely tested me, particularly the last few miles when we were confronted with some nasty hills as we made our way back to the staging area. What a great event, however, and one which I’m excited to do again next year.
