My Valentine's Day was spent completing a freezing cold bike race, the Actif Epica (actifepi.ca). The race is one of Canadian Cycling Magazine "10 Big Rides in Canada" and last year I really wanted to complete it before I went on my climb. But time got in the way and I decided to do it this year.
I spent a significant amount time testing gear and training for the event. It really did make the difference in comfort and stamina. This type of challenge was different than biking across Canada or climbing Kilimanjaro. It was somewhere in between and bit more intense. To me the distance of the race was not so much of a challenge, as I've done more in one day when I biked Canada to be followed up by an equally long or longer day (it's just one day how hard could it be?). And the cold conditions while intense were not as bad as those up on Kilimanjaro (blizzard & glaciers). This experience was a combination of cycling across Canada and summiting Mount Kilimanjaro in a blizzard. But on the mountain I had a guides and team members, it was a different level of support. But with the Actif Epica and probably other races like it you are on your own when you are between check points. And while that can be bit freeing, it can also lead to some trying moments.
To get to the race I took the shuttle which was great. Woke up before 4 am, boiled my water for the my bottles so I had warm water to drink during my ride. Finish packing my gear and biked on over to the Canadian Humane Rights Museum. The only problem was waiting in the cold and dark for the shuttle to arrive. But luckily for me a nice runner (people run the Actif Epica can you believe that??!) by the name of Barb let me sit in her car to wait and keep warm. When the school bus, truck and trailer arrived, we loaded our bikes and hopped on the bus to keep warm. Well kind of warm, I need my MEC Storm Degree Jacket (http://www.mec.ca/product/5025-760/mec-storm-degree-jacket-womens/ I love this jacket) to keep me warm and toasty. On the bus other riders nervously chatted, some like me have never run or biked a race like this. We arrive in St. Malo with a good 2 hours before the biked race was to start. There I finally met @WPGCycleChick, this is her I believe 3rd Actif Epica.
Before the race got under away, I made my final adjustments to my setup, put in toe warmers in my hiking boots and ate a power bar (breakfast had been a few hours ago). The race started at 8 am in the early morning light. Racers speeding away and the leaders taking their spots. I and few of the mountain and cyclo-cross bikers had already taken a few spills by the time the group reached the river. It felt glorious.
However that state would soon pass as the distance from the start line began to grow and the snow became more un-bike-able and required us to push our bikes through snow on the less use portions of the Crow Wing Trail (http://trailsmanitoba.ca/explore-manitoba-trails/tall-grass-prairie/crow-wing-trail/). While biking my feet started to freeze and my toes became stiff (this always had been an issue for me as my feet over heated, I wore compression socks to get blood flow to my toes) and I had to walk to get more blood flow to my toes to warm them. It was beautiful biking between the farms in the morning. It was at this time I realized that I was at the back of the pack. One of the last bikers/runner of the Actif Epica. This became a real low point on the lonely trail. Should I even continue in the brutal cold and wind? Why am I even here if I'm last. These thoughts quickly disappeared as I came across volunteers cheering me on but it was a thought that would plagued me throughout the race.
By the time I got to the first checkpoint in St. Pierre-Joys I was beginning to get very tried, hungry and I could really feel the cold. It was time for a rest. At checkpoint 1, I was happily surprised to find a bowl of warm soup and bannock served up by Muriel, a wonderful long time volunteer and supporter of the Crow Wing trail! This was a really treat and changed my mood. I came thinking that I could continue and left thinking that it really wasn't so bad and I could really to this.
On to the way to the second check point and I ran into Barb from earlier that morning. I walked with her for a bit until my feet warmed up. Then I caught up with the cyclist from Brazil. It must have been very cold for him not being used to this weather. We leap frog each other during the race and I believe he was able to finish a bit before me (good job!).
The way from checkpoint 2 to 3 was quite daunting. Much of this stretch faced into the wind which did not only push you back but also was freezing cold. But after you manage to get through all that wind you were treated a few kilometers of trails between to fields. I walked much of it as I couldn't get through the snow with my mountain bike. Much of that lonely walk and the time getting to the next check point was spent contemplating why I was doing this in the first place. What purpose did this served? I could have been perfectly happy and warm spending time with loved ones rather the freezing parts of me, being very hungry and trying to navigate my way through rural Manitoba to check points. But once again after getting to the checkpoint eating some food and seeing some familiar faces the despair seemed to disappear and I even started to think about other winter bike races (I still had to get through this one). One of the very kind volunteers that gave me some very needed and tasty perogies said something the stuck, "You could be sitting on the couch right now".
From here on to checkpoint 4 without much complaining or frozen toes. Night began to descend and journey to checkpoint 5 was made in mostly lonely darkness. My lights were beginning to die (I had 2 Quattro MEC lights which actually made it to the end, in the future I'm going to upgrade http://www.mec.ca/product/5028-137/mec-quattro-usb-white-led-front-light/?h=50002+50037+10+50513&f=10+50002+50514) and I feared that they would not make the rest of the journey. I also feared that I would miss a turn and be on a froze country road in the middle of the prairies in the dark. I never was great at navigating, but I was able to find my way as it does help to ask fellow racers just in case. It was also great to have volunteers before and after the floodway crossing but where I found I had the most trouble in getting to checkpoint 5 was at Maple Grove park.
I was getting hungry, my hands and feet were getting very cold. I didn't want to stop to eat in case they got too cold and I was unable to get them warm again. I didn't know it but it was after 11 pm and it was about 4 hours since checkpoint 4 (you can lose track of time). I made it to the Maple Grove park but i was starting to get turned around. My hands and feet were freezing, and I was all by myself. Interesting enough this park was close to my parents home. I could simply head to the Tims warm up and call for a ride home. I would out of this .... event that I put myself into. But as began to turn around and head to the Tims I came up on two runners and they knew the way. I guess I couldn't quit now. As well three other bikers approach and like a team we headed to the next checkpoint.
There at checkpoint 5 I found that my left foot was completely stiff from the cold. I stayed until I was able to freely move it. At this time I partnered up with a complete stranger (Roger according to the final standings) and we rode the last leg to the finish line. Huzzah!
But a few thoughts remain, why do we do races like this? Why did I freeze my toes off and risk hypothermia and why do volunteers come out to support things such as this (are we insane?)? Someone once asked me why on earth would I climb a mountain or bike across Canada, isn't there an easier way? Sure there is but there something about getting to the end of it all, on top of that mountain and turning around to look how far you have come. To really understand that life IS about the journey. And it really is better than sitting on the couch.
River tubing is a fun way to relax and enjoy nature and the company of friends. In Manitoba we have so many great little rivers! 
