Another year, another Mid-South in the books. Honestly, think I'm done racing this thing. The organizers, who I'm certain are only doing this due to insecurities about being in mostly flat Oklahoma, always, without fail throw in about 10-20 miles of literal goat track (so muddy and unkept that even 4x4 jeeps get stuck, regularly) that just destroys any good vibes. Turns the race from something moderately difficult, to something almost impossible to finish except the most fit professional endurance athletes. Anyways, here are pics - I got 60 miles in, at about 6:25 of total time. For reference, I was at 31.6 miles in 1:45. The rest was spent walking and hike-a-biking through literal peanut butter Oklahoma red clay/dirt. The whole thing just destroys your bikes (rear derailleur broke in the mud, again), and your body.
Turns out I'm more of a European bike rider - coffee and pastries.