A few people had referred to the NUE (marathon mtb race) series races as 'glorified gravel races with some single track thrown in to justify using a mountain bike.' Apparently these people hadn't done the Hampshire 100. I did the 100k race because I'd done no training to support a 100 mile effort. Yowzers. It turned out to be the longest day I've ever had on a bike. I was riding at the tip of the spear for the first 25 miles, letting several people (let me tell you, the pro women were FAST) get about a minute ahead. Then miles 40 to 48 hit. Fresh cut, wet, bony, stony, make you crash and crush your soul stuff. I felt like I lost 6 hours in that section. When I finally hit a fire road I nearly got off the bike and kissed it.

Recovered well after that, passed a couple of people, let one guy sneak by at the end when I was totally blown. Crossed the line 14th out of the 100k wave, 9th Cat 1 overall. Some pro guys and pro women were the other 5 ahead. 6.5 hours on course, including about 2 minutes of water stops.

People who'd done it before said this year's course was way harder (and way slower) than previous years. About half the 100 mile field DNF'd. This wasted me like no other physical thing I've ever done.

I'm already planning for next year, of course.