First race of only two on the schedule this year. 20ish miles. 1600 feet of climbing (that's a lot for our neck of the woods).
The Good
1) Fairly smooth drop-off of the kids to the sitter and managed to get into town before midnight (last race we did, both kids were sick and we had last-minute back to back doctor appointments--it's a long story, but it was awful) and we were able to get a decent night's sleep.
2) We arrived at the race early and had time to pre-ride the first 2 miles.
3) I was eerily calm at the start. All my competitive drive was gone. I was looking forward to just a fun day of riding. No expectations.
4) My competitive drive kicked in at the gun.
5) First big climb came at mile 1--really sandy and maybe only 1-2 good lines up. I was in 3rd place at this point. I saw first and second get off their bikes to walk, I pushed on and managed to stay on the entire climb--moving up to second place--behind a women I know to be very fast. I could not believe I was on her wheel. But, I reminded myself, we were only 1 mile in.
6) Halfway point, leap-frogging places with the first place woman. :D
7) Passing lots and lots of guys. At one point I was behind a group of men, they asked if there was a hot woman behind them. There sure is! They pulled off the trail and let me pass. So much different than the last race I did where the guys were trying to run me off the trail.
8) Going into the last mile on the tail of the other women, first and second place. Heading into a flat and fast section and feeling the fire in my engine ready to explode with speed and power for that last mile! :D Seriously, I have never felt that strong in a race before, especially at that point.
The Bad
1) 1.5 mils into the race there was a bumpy section over some trenches. I felt my saddle snap and fall back. I thought it was the stem, so I stood up for the next 2 miles, afraid to sit. But it was just the back part of the saddle, so I ended up riding 98% of the race with the front of my saddle WAY up and the back way down. NOT COMFORTABLE! And I probably won't be able to sit on a bike again for at least a week.
2) DH put a new front derailleur on my bike the day before. I had a lot of issues shifting. I know this cost me time as I would have to slow down to watch my gears when I shifted.
3) 1.25 miles to the finish, ready to burst with energy, passing some guy . . . and he turns his front wheel into mine. Running me over and falling on top of me.
The Ugly
4) I hear a loud "Pshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"
The guy: OMG! Are you alright!
Me: Is that my tire or yours! (Frantically checking the tires with two bikes and a 225 pound man piled on top of me)
The Guy: Are you hurt! You're bleeding!
Me: My tire or yours!!!!!
The Guy: I think you're hurt!
Me: Noooooooo! (As I grab my limp, floppy tire) I shove the guy off of me, pick up my bike and start running!
The Uglier
1) A quarter mile of running and some women pass me. I realize there is no way I can place now.
2) I try and forfeit with .75 mile to go. I load my bike onto an aid-station golf cart and they try to take me to the start.
3) A police officer directing traffic won't let the cart drive down the road.
4) We try calling a shuttle. They can't come. The volunteer aid worker tries calling her husband to pick me up, he doesn't answer his phone.
5) I start crying. The fastest way back to the finish is down the course. And so I start walking.
Coming into the finishing shoot there were lots of fans cheering me on. But I was so disappointed, I kept my head down. I just needed to cross that line. Coming from having, really, the race of my life so far to not being able to see that fulfilled with a strong finish--just broke my heart a little.
I still ended up getting fifth out of 18 women.
The Really Good
We paid extra for a late check out at our hotel. We had a beautiful view of the lake from the jacuzzi tub in our room. Then we walked around town and DH let me try on all the clothes I wanted to. It was relaxing, refreshing, and peaceful--three things I really needed. We stopped for Root Beer Floats on our way home.
Next mountain bike race: November.
