A Triumphant Return to My Roots

[SheFly]

DH and I haven't raced our mountain bikes since sometime in 1999, but that was how my cycling/racing "addiction" started. Yesterday, we decided to haul the MTBs down to CT with a friend to race in the Winding Trails Fat Tire Classic - the third race in the Root 66 series.

We met another friend/teammate at the venue, and the four of us headed out to do a lap of the course.

What fun! Fast, flowing, tight, twisty - this course had it all. The terrain played to my strengths - lots of power sections, and several sandy places where keeping momentum was key. There were also a lot of tight turns that I took some risks with during the race - thankfully, all of those risks paid off . I had a blast on the warmup lap, and couldn't wait for the race (3 laps of a 4.6 mile course).

On the start line, I saw lots of friends from 'cross season, including Voodoo Sally. It was nice to see everyone after a long winter. Also funny to hear that so many of us are using the MTB racing to prep for 'cross season (only 4 months away!). I was also psyched to see such a big field - 19 women starting in the Sport category.

I went out hard, but got caught in a bad line in the sand right after the start, letting about 4 or 5 women get ahead of me coming out of the first hill. I stayed behind for just a little bit, before putting in a burst and passing all but one on a long straight section. I caught the one remaining woman (after following her a little too closely through some sand where she lost quite a bit of speed), and worked to try and get even more distance. I did, however, quickly have company. She stuck to my wheel like glue for the remainder of the first lap, and no matter how fast I went (or how slow...), I couldn't shake her. She followed me into Lap 2, but fell crossing the first log. With that, I kicked some to take advantage (cold and heartless!), and build a gap.

I had to keep on top of my game for the remainder of the race, and not make any mistakes. I talked myself through entire sections, and going into the 3rd lap, even told myself that this was my race to lose, and not to let up now - I could always see my chaser just behind, and knew that if I let up at all, I would be done for. I attaked the rest of the hills, and sprinted out of the corners. In the end, I crossed the line first - my first mass start win ever! The second place woman was only 20 seconds behind me, but we ended up 3 minutes ahead of the rest of the field.

I was so excited! And even more excited to learn that our friend had also won his race, with a two minute lead over his competition. We watched my teammate finish her first Sport race (and a terrific one at that - rode everything and no crashing - way to go!), and then headed over to watch DH start in the Expert Men's 40+ field. He had a strong start, and stayed that way throughout his race - also winning both his category and having the fastest time across all the Expert fields.

It was an team trifecta - Expert 40+, Sport 40 - 49 and Sport Women 35+. A carload of happy, but exhausted, racers.

I think I am back in L-U-V with my M-T-B! There's another race next weekend, and I'm thinking I might just have to go...

SheFly