Mid-South Trails Association

Well it's over..and I'm very happy for it. Tired? Yes. Sore? Some.

For me I wanted to see how I'd do compared to last year and my horrible cramping for the final 50 miles. I'd learned a lot over the past year and this year I can say I didn't cramp a single time! I was still covered in salt but I didn't cramp. That said I tallied up my fluid consumption and food intake; 262 oz of mostly Heed or Gatorade, 24 electrolytes, 12 Shot Blok cubes, 2 Gu's, 3 Clif bars, and one 6" sub (mmmm yummy).

I'll let Chris mention the totals and all but it was a very impressive turn-out. Met loads of new people and everyone was excited about it. Start time was 7:00 and right around 7:30 Chris asked when we were going to start. We left pretty quickly after that.

Trails were all in pretty good shape. Lakeland was downright arid. Stanky was damp but not overly wet considering it was morning. The Orange Trail was the best I've ever seen. All the ATV ruts are leveling out and now it's a wide trail most of the way to Grey's Creek. Even the Jackson to Summer trails weren't too bad. Herb (1st I've ridden out there since the 6 hr last year) was in awesome shape.

THANKS
I want to say thanks to Chris, Pam and Keaton for everything they did to get this Ironbutt organized and supported. They had it all together and it made the day a great one. Great goody bags, T-shirts, SAG support, encouragement, lunch, and again...the best post ride frappacino's, spaghetti, banana bread, and beer you could hope for. Chris and Keaton were everywhere chasing us in the van.Thank you!!!

Brian Carlson. Holy cow Brian you were incredible out there. You had everything and you were everywhere. While Chris was picking up lunch, replacing and ill-timed bad tire on the van and getting the post race recovery Fat Tires you were there at the trail heads. My cassette ring comes loose and you have the wrench, you had fluids and food and were always there. Sorry you very still recovering but glad you took part. It made a big difference. Next year I hope you can ride.

RB's Cyclery Thanks for supporting and contributing toward this event! Nice stuff in our swag bags!!

I'm sure everyone will have their highlights and I'll add a few from my view.

Mechanicals: Tony broken seat at the first trail, Bill bent seat, me loose cassette and later a flat (1/4" cut that wouldn't seal), Jason hub issue (wife brought another wheel). I'm sure there were others.

Fun stuff. Dennis T riding a 'shallow rut' on the Jackson trails. way over the bottom bracket and I thing the hubs.
Forget who but the guy right behind me who ate sand as we hit the beach at Grey's Creek.
Jason and Paul getting taking the wrong path on the Orange and pulling in behind us. We picked up three groups along the way to the power lines after Grey's Creek.
I didn't see it but Laureen walking through the creek instead of trying to balance bike and herself on the log crossing the creek.
Homeless dude under the bridge saying hello and enjoying himself and the fact he's been there six years.
Houston Levee and the traffic. Close quarters but nobody honked or was annoying.
Untold numbers of burned out vehicles in the Jackson trails.
Everyone having fun and unwinding at Chris' after the ride. Too bad about the leg this year Chris. Can't believe how swollen that foot is still.

I should be a mass of poison ivy on the left side. Went down my only time at Lakeland and lay in a large area of it. Yeah, it's gonna be bad.

Got a chance to talk to a number of people yesterday who I hadn't before.
Steve hope the teeth and jaw are okay after the crash yesterday.
Ugliest wound(s) Bill. Leg and arm. Steve was worse but yours was not pretty.

Great job to Tony, Jeannie, Clint and Peter. You all were commited to doing this ride. Peter had trouble at Lakeland but the rest of you finished! Excellent job to all of you.

Today I'll take it easy but will hit Stank at some point. Ed lost his camera out there. Gonna help look.

Just finished watching the Tour. Great finish. Gotta love sprints!!

Great job to all who rode and finished. That's a big ride people!

I just put a few pictures up
http://www.rbs-racing.com/Ironbutt%2020 ... 02007.html

Thanks to whomever loaned me their saddle at Stanky. Let me know how to return it.

Tony

Wow, we had quite the crowd this year, 23 starters and 18 finishers. We only had three not actually finish, John Oakes had to work at RB’s and cut out around noon (thanks, Rod) and Wade Lewis has a 50 mile trail running race next weekend (sissy). Brian Carlson helped out tremendously as the large crowd became spread out over many miles of trail, we managed to feed them, water them and get most of them to the finish for the fun. I think the toughest guy out there (besides Laureen Coffelt of course) had to be Tony Griffin. Tony was looking rough for quite a while and still made it back up the driveway after nearly 13 hours in the heat.
Thanks for coming out
Check out more here: http://www.rbs-racing.com/Ironbutt.html
And Photos here: http://www.rbs-racing.com/Ironbutt%2020 ... 02007.html

I also just want to send a very special thanks to Chris, Pam, and Brian, for all of their hard work. I really had a lot of fun, and I was glad to meet some more dirt lovers. I told my husband I couldn't kiss him, until I confirmed whether I had poison ivy to the mouth - now my bottom lip looks like a botched Angelina Jolie lip job/ poison ivy rash.

MY ONLY REGRET was having to rush off to a wedding, and miss the real fun, after (10-minute prep time for a female covered in dirt was breaking my record). Thanks to all others, who I had the chance to ride with, and the nice young guy who tried to fix my giggling cassette. To Steve: I hope your wrist is okay - if you had bucked teeth before, you certainly don't now.

* I got more at this event than I have at bike races I've won, so thanks, so much, to all of those who made that possible.

Wow you captured me perfect in the pic Chris (actually Keaton). I wish I'd had as many beers as the pic reflects!! You found the 'worst' of the veterans you could but Jason always looks fresh.

Good pics all round. I really like Bill's wound. The leg makes it a great shot. Lots of blood.... but it washes off.

THANKS to all who were part of promoting this shelby county epic.
(chris, keaton, pam, brian and anybody else i dont know of)

WOW!, 23 starters and 18 finishers, this ride growing quick!

great day in the saddle, even if my saddle was bent and crooked and made one side of my ass sore and the other side ok.

and yes larry, my blood does wash off.

Wish I could have been there guys. Looks like you all had a great time.

Swanson

I must say the same as the rest of the posts. Thanks to Chris, Pam, Brian C and Keaton for making this ride the best it could be. I had a blast this year and I am waiting for next year to get here already. Thanks for all the hard work!!

A big thanks to the Irving family!! By far the best supported ride I've ever done. You guys showed me some trails this weekend that I never knew existed. The section from Jackson to Summer was certainly not fun for me and I'll never ride that thing again after a rain, unless I'm on a four wheeler with a cooler of beer at 10am. Sorry if I offended any of you with my choice of words once I got to Summer! My wrist was killing me after I beavered the log. By the way, thanks for waiting for us. The rest of the trails were in great shape. I'm glad I rode with you guys and gals. I enjoyed meeting you all.

Every body has said it !! I must say that eventhough I too thoroughly enjoy the the large gatherings and rides, it is the hospitality and camaraderie that surrounds the event that makes it special. I am proud to be a part of such quality people. I was especially proud of the riders who had either never done an event such as this and/or had no intention of completing it, and still gutted it out. I want you to succeed. Your success makes me try harder, even when I don't want to. You motivate me, because in my arrogance, for which I apologize, I don't like to be left behind or get beaten, so Sometimes I have no choice, like how I was beat upon by Jason as we pulled and sprinted against each other. I was glad to have him there to chase and push me, and that was with his rear hub not wanting to engage. Then his wife brought him a replacement wheel to Shelby Farms, which meant even more pushing, pulling, chasing. His demise, allowed me to take a banana break, refuel, (thanks again Brian), and clean/lube my bike, (some people know how 'wacked' I am about that). Besides ME having Jason and I ride the woods between Jackson and Summer, instead of the open trail around the lake, I was extremely thankful to find Larry and his pack at the Grays Creek trail and get us out of there. From Houston Levee on, Jason and I were drafting Steve and Jarrett on the roads. I think they were having dilusions of the 'TOUR' because it was a sprint the whole way, but I was determined to not be left behind. Once again, I am extremely thankful for all of you. Your participation drives me!

Thanks to everyone that was involved in putting this thing on!
I got to meet a lot of people on here, and had a GREAT time riding!
I know it was a hard ride, but I had so much fun, I wouldn't mind doing that twice a year just for the experience!

Sorry to those who I was responsible for getting lost and putting in some extra miles because of it.

I felt pretty good the next day, but my shoulders were killing me, I felt like I had a midget on my back the entire day. Maybe next time I can pack less stuff?

Great experience, great time, great people, great ride!

Thanks a million.

Thanks to the Irving's and to espcially to everyone who came out for a 'Fun Ride' this past weekend. I missed not riding with all of you and really missed the fun stuff that always happens out on the trails. I'm very glad that I was able to help the Irving's out and provide support.

Maybe next year someone else will have a 'voluntary' medical condition and drive the 'Saggen Wagon'! Hint hint, Larry

See ya on the trails.

Brian

Thanks. Thanks. Thanks.

I only planned on doing half this ride. So I went out unprepared. But thanks to the kindness of other riders (I'm sure I'll miss someone, but Lorrene C and Larry D come to mind) I was able to stave off the cramps with fluid, food, and electrolyte pills. Brian C and Chris I on the swagging were invaluable.

With everyone else's encouragement, pills, fluid and food I was able to compete the ride (except for cheating at lakeland).

Thanks everyone.
Tim

Brian, I'll keep with my vow to SAG next year. But Chris did state as you did above, 'wait and see if someone is hurt and can't do it first.' Now I'm not going to wish that on anyone but I'll step aside and ride if someone else's leg won't let them.

I'll have fun either way and I really liked the extra support this year. Already thought about plugging the receiver mounted tray on the back of the truck with coolers and all hanging off the back of the truck for easy access. Will sell vegetables and homemade bird houses to passers by too.