Comments on: ORAMM: Where a good idea bumps up against reality

By: JoeMiller

JoeMiller — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 16:19:50 +0000

In reply to Justin. Dang! I must have meant it's amount the most challenging for mere mortals. I'm familiar with Shenandoah, but wasn't aware of the others. Appreciate you flagging them (and feel free to mention any others); I don't mind exposing my ignorance in an ephemeral blog, but in a book with, hopefully, a long shelf life that wouldn't be good. Thanks, Justin.

By: Justin

Justin — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 17:08:07 +0000

ORAMM is quite a event, well organized and hard enough to gain the feeling of a large accomplishment when you cross the line. Congrats on attempting it! You had mentioned it as the most challenging MTB race in the Southeast? Difficult yes, but with Cohutta 100 adding an extra 35 miles and 4,000 feet of climbing to the totals of ORAMM, Shenandoah 100 adding 2000 feet and 30 miles onto the total, the Allegheny Loop race planned for this fall in Virginia (400 miles along the Blue Ridge Mountains and an estimated 45,000 feet of climbing), Trans North Georgia with 350 miles and 65,000 feet of climbing…I wouldn’t call ORAMM even close to the most challenging.

By: Busted, but not broken | GetGoing NC!

Busted, but not broken | GetGoing NC! — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 14:29:55 +0000

[…] of two-hour sessions on that thing will make anything, even the Off Road Assault on Mount Mitchell, the race I’m training for, doable. And really, with my skill set and physical set up, doable is plenty fine. Optimism. It may […]

By: JoeMiller

JoeMiller — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 21:51:28 +0000

In reply to brigette.

Hi Bridgette,

A running coach once told me that anything you do within 10 days of a big event doesn’t really help. Ten days, in my experience seems a little extreme. For an event of this magnitude my plan is to ride hard through this Sunday, perhaps riding every other day for at least two hours, hopefully get a four- to six-hour ride in. Then, next week, do a couple of fun, short (between an hour and an hour and a half), singletrack rides. I’m sure there’s a science to it, but I generally go by what’s worked for me in the past. Of course, much as I like my plan on paper, reality often has a way of mixing things up — like it did this afternoon on what was supposed to be a mellow singletrack ride — a mellow ride that broke my frame. Am now in scramble for substitute bike mode.

By: brigette

brigette — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 22:47:12 +0000

Joe,

I am in the same situation as you. I had a herniated disk in my neck and was off the bike from Mar until Jun. I’ve done some riding but not nearly enough. Question, when will you start to taper? I was to ride as much as I can until the race but ensure my legs are rested. I am 41 yrs old if that makes a differnce and it will be my 4th oramm and I am slow. Thanks!

Brigette