First Mountain Bike Race

It was a tough 5.5 mile loop (I did 3 laps) with little time for recovery, difficult technical sections with a "tricky table top" followed by a 12' drop. There were rock gardens, steep climbs, drops, and off-camber turns. The first mile was uphill, but really, 90% of it seemed like it was uphill :)

There were 7-8 women racing Sport (not including age divisions). I was really nervous because they looked very intimidating--wearing team kits, bike grease on their hands, talking grams and tire treads :confused:

We started off in waves. They asked 19-35 Sport men and women to line up first. I was the only woman. I was confused, I did not look like the youngest woman in the group.

I realized my mistake soon after. I had to get over and slow down to let the next wave of men get past. Meanwhile, the women who started in a later wave didn't have that issue, and they were catching up! Fast!

The trail is really twisty. About 1.5 miles in, I could see two women closing the gap on me. I figured I was done for, but I just kept turning my legs. I was more focused on the "skills section" that was coming up.

On the downhill approaching the "table top," the entrance to the skills section, a bunch of race volunteers started jumping up and down and waving at me, yelling "slow down!" and "take it easy!" I won't lie, I felt AWESOME at this point. I was having such a blast, screw the race directors! I flew over that table top into the skills section and NAILED IT! :D It was the MOST FUN I'VE EVERY HAD! I even let out a "woop-woop."

As I finished the first lap and was re-entering the trail for my second, I saw two women close behind me still, maybe 1-2 minutes. I just kept plugging along. As much as that mile long climb hurt, it must have hurt them worse because I never saw them after that.

By the time I started my third lap, I eased up on my pace. It was hot, humid, my legs burned. And I knew I had dropped all of the women. I coasted through my third lap and finished strong.

I ended up winning by almosts 15 minutes :D
I had so much fun, I can't wait to race again!

Sounds like a blast! Congratulations for smoking everyone!

Congratulations.

Congratulations on winning your first race so well! It sounds like you had a blast at the same time :D

That's awesome limewave! I'm sorry to hear that others are not as supportive as they should be. The "friend" is jealous and her comments should just be ignored. It's a race and you should be out to do your best.

Veronica

Wow, that is quite an accomplishment.
I am tempted to get out on my mountain bike...

Here I am!

Congrats! Sounds like a great time. I knew you could do that "skills" section. And what V said about the discouraging people - let them be. We're all proud of you!

SheFly