2016 Rockwell Relay, Part 16 : Denouement
We had done it. We had won the Rockwell Relay, again. And by “we,” I mean of course “my team, in spite of me.” This year, I had been — by far — the weakest link: much slower than I had been the previous year, as well as the one responsible for pretty much all of our tactical errors.
I didn’t care, though. We had won. Beaten the trio of Z5R teams by more than forty minutes, and the Beauties and the Beast team by two hours.
And as we stood there on the podium, ready to accept our awards, I was just so amazed at my good fortune. This is such a good event. The competition is so strong — and, when we needed it, helpful. My team is so amazing.
The race director started handing out awards and announcing third place (one of the Z5R teams) and second place (another one of the Z5R teams).
Then he handed us our trophies…at which point there was the sound of a crash and breaking glass off to our left, in the swag tent.
Everything stopped. Someone caught a photo of our team looking off to our left toward the sound:
Someone was having a seizure.
The race director ran toward the commotion and started helping. Everyone else gathered around, either wanting to help or watch. Probably ten people called 911, and the ambulance arrived quickly.
“You’re a nurse, do you want to go help?” I asked The Hammer.
“That poor woman is getting WAY more help than she wants,” The Hammer replied.
So we waited, and eventually things returned to normal. But some members of the Z5R teams — having received their plaques — had lost interest in the ceremony and had left.
So we never got the coveted hands-in-the-air podium picture with everyone from all of the teams. But we did get this one, which is a good substitute:
The Phone Call
I get the same sensation every time: it’s so weird for that race to be over. It completely consumes me as I’m in it, to the extent that everything else in the world becomes very faded and indistinct. It’s just me, a few friends (or family members this time) and the intensity of the moment.
And then it’s done and you’re back in the world, exhausted, with a lot of very bad-smelling laundry.
And in my case, there was a chore I had to take care of. A phone call I needed to make to Cory, who had loaned me his van.
We got to the house we were staying at in St George, then I found a quiet room, sat on a bed and called Cory.
Of course, he immediately wanted details on the race itself, and I gave him a brief accounting of how we had done.
Then, deep breath.
“Cory, I need to tell you about an accident I had with the van.”
I told him the whole thing, doing my best to not trivialize it, but also trying not to draw the whole thing out so he could yell at me.
“But it continued to work all day?” He asked, after I finished.
“Yeah,” I said. “Except for the scratches in the wrap on the bottom right front, it doesn’t seem to have taken any damage at all.”
“Don’t worry about it, then.”
I am lucky to have such good friends, such a great family, and…an event I love enough to write a sixteen-part story about.
Next
On the drive home, we started planning out our race for next year. We’ll make a few changes, but I’ll leave it to our competition to guess what those changes are.
But I will tell you this: We’ll be back.
Obviously.
— The End —
Comment by Scott | 08.3.2016 | 7:03 am
Great story (as always) Elden! Congrats on the win!
Comment by Fredbob711 | 08.3.2016 | 7:04 am
First time commenting on your posts, but loved reading your race report. I even went back and found previous years just to keep me occupied while waiting for each installment.
I live in MO and have only been riding a year and a half so have basically no experience with climbs longer than a couple minutes and no experience with riding at altitude, but told my wife the Rockwell Relay might be on my bucket list. I don’t think she’s convinced.
Comment by MattC | 08.3.2016 | 7:39 am
GREAT Report Fatty….this years RR was chock-full of drama and intrigue and strategy and luck, with a healthy dose of impending hardship (“the call” to Cory). And hey…now we will very soon have your MPRR (Multi-Part-Race-Report) on Leadville!
And just a side note for those who don’t know it already, YannB is over in FRANCE right now, RIDING HIS BIKE (well, probably not JUST riding his bike, I gather he’s doing other things too). I saw it on Strava last night…it was his 3rd day’s ride, somehow I MISSED his first 2 days rides). How cool is THAT!
Comment by BostonCarlos | 08.3.2016 | 8:23 am
Change one, buy wheel chocks. Change two, bring 8 helmets. Change three, go faster.
Comment by Ferde | 08.3.2016 | 8:59 am
Congrats on the win and really enjoyed this series of reports. Good job!
Comment by leroy | 08.3.2016 | 9:45 am
In front of computer, giving you all standing ovation, and my dog isn’t pretending he doesn’t know me.
Comment by Flying Ute | 08.3.2016 | 9:48 am
Good work!
I missed riding the Rockwell this year and I’m also not going to Leadville for the first time in 10 years.
But, I’ll be back!
Comment by Lin | 08.3.2016 | 9:59 am
Great report! Thanks. I thought the pacing of the multi-parter was just perfect. Best wishes to the whole crew at Leadville!!
Comment by AKChick | 08.3.2016 | 10:27 am
EPIC! Love the report and can’t wait to read about next year! If this race weren’t so hot, I’d try to find a team of other similar speed Fatty Fans to form a team, but as an Alaskan with thick blood, I think I would melt.
Can’t wait for the next report!
Comment by miles archer | 08.3.2016 | 10:49 am
Took longer than the TdF, but you’re done! :b
Nice write up. I am so glad the destroyed helmets weren’t on your heads at the time.
Comment by Corrine | 08.3.2016 | 11:29 am
Great story. Do you have time for a Crusher in the Tushar report before Leadville?
Comment by a chris | 08.3.2016 | 11:44 am
Man, you missed the part I’ve been waiting for, where Cory reveals why the van started to roll!
Congrats to the Fatty Family on dominating the race. You guys are all nuts. :)
Comment by TaxMuffin | 08.3.2016 | 2:10 pm
Another first time commenter, but long time reader…
This race report reminded me about everything I love about cycling, and everything I love about reading your site.
You guys are amazing. Keep telling us about it!
Comment by Triflefat | 08.4.2016 | 6:23 am
There’s a delicious irony in the fact that the 1st place podium beneath the feet of Team Fatty is fully “inflated” and both 2nd and 3rd podiums (podia?) are sagging under the weight of the Z5R teams.
Perhaps one of next year’s strategies may be a more accurate team name!
Comment by Thad | 08.4.2016 | 7:23 am
I would volunteer to fill in for podium pics, but our team was just starting Leg 11 when you finished.
PS, every year I try and beat the splits for your team. Ben made that really really hard this year!
Comment by Vince | 08.4.2016 | 11:04 am
Congrats!
I loved the race and hope to be back next year…without mono. And maybe with an all Texas squad.
Comment by Christina | 08.4.2016 | 12:54 pm
(slow clap)
Best
Race
Report
Ever
BRRE
Can’t wait for you to top this one.
Comment by Farrell (The Beast) | 08.8.2016 | 10:38 am
Hey Eldon, Congrats on the win. It was great racing with you guys and getting to know you a little better this year. Your blog is awesome and it made it fun to be able to relive all of our adventures again. I’m just glad I was there to help when things got a little stressed with the vehicle. Hope to see you again back out on the roads or trails.