I completed the 13th annual Melting Mann this past Saturday, my first gravel race of the year. It was a sunny but cold day, with temps in the low 30s. Heading into the event, I worried about the weather, if I’d packed the right gear, and the difficulty of the hills.
To prepare, I kept my rides easy earlier in the week and reviewed the 25‑mile route online, reading through the descriptions of the “course highlights“(aka the hills) on the event website.
I’d had a good dinner the night before the race, slept nearly 8 hours, prayed, and stretched, doing everything I could to set myself up for a strong ride. Still, I worried I might have to walk a hill or two. It wouldn’t have been the end of the world, but I dreaded the thought. Wanting to stay positive, I told myself: I could tackle the hills. Even if I had to go slow and grind, I’ll get through it. Plus, the roads were mostly hard‑packed dirt, which was much easier than climbing loose or chunky gravel.
Layered for the Cold
Race morning felt exciting. We ate breakfast before checking out of the hotel and heading to the race. After finding a parking spot, we geared up.
I was layered with a long‑sleeve merino wool base layer, a short‑sleeve Melting Mann jersey, a windbreaker vest under my jacket, long johns under my riding pants, plus a balaclava and thermal gloves. Bundled up, I could still move comfortably.
After a few warm-up laps around the neighborhood, we stopped by the restrooms and then made our way to the staging area.
My husband, Alex, and I lined up before the 10:45 a.m. start, and as soon as the horn blew and we crossed the line, the cold seemed to disappear.
I felt pretty good and tried to stay as loose and relaxed as I could throughout the race. There were times when I slowed down, especially while climbing, but I kept pedaling. I never stopped, even when I saw others get off their bikes. My inner monologue said: I’m not walking. I can do this. God‑willing, I’ve got this.
A Race Against Myself
Even with 244 other racers on the 25‑mile route, the real race was against my own mental fortitude and physical endurance. I finished in 2 hours and 15 minutes and was thrilled that I never once stopped or got off my bike to climb the hills. My Garmin recorded 1,923 feet of elevation, which is hilly for me.
Alex, who finished about half an hour before me, was waiting at the finish line to cheer me on. I sprinted through the final stretch, collected my awesome finisher’s medal, and felt that post‑race mix of exhaustion, accomplishment, and gratitude.
We both had such a blast! The event was well organized and fun, everyone was supportive, and the post‑race BBQ hit the spot. Once the adrenaline wore off, I started to feel the cold again, but the sense of achievement made it all worth it.