Sunday morning turned from clouds to sun and warm temps, but Collin was too sick to race so we didn't need to get there early enough for the Juniors race but if you've ever seen the parking for this race you should actually get there for the trail run.
This race is run in a marathon format which means that Elite, Comp and Sport classes are all on the course at the same time. The Elite and Comp guys and gals started first with Sport starting last.
I rolled up to the line with the rest of my age group and waited for the start. I didn't know what to expect here other than I was going to have trouble keeping up on the road sections since I only run a 1x9 with a 32 tooth chain ring. I found out quick enough that was exactly how it was when we formed a single file train of guys. Drafting really comes into play in a race like this one and it makes the speeds go up and I was pedling my legs off on the roads. I got to rest in the single track which was fast and flowed well but could be run in a gear that let me pedal slower and rest up for the next road section. I rode in a pack of guys for 1/4 of the first lap until my chain jumped off in a rough section. I got it back on and began working to catch another group to pace myself with because this course is tough to ride fast when you are alone. I came up on a person down in the trail with a spectator helping them. The next person to go down was right in front of me and I was right on their wheel with a bunch of guys right on my wheel. Poor guy got himself run over by me. I couldn't really stop or I would have had a pack of guys running me over and there was no where to go. I would have said sorry but I don't know who it was. After lap one I was averaging about 12.7 mph which is a pretty fast paced race and well above my normal speed.
The second lap started with me passing a couple riders on the start hill going into the parking lot. Then I found myself all alone on the first long stretch of road. Luckily I caught someone in the first stretch of single track which made my pace pick up. I was 1/2 way through the second lap when Dan caught me which was good for me. It showed I was going at a good pace. I was also riding at a pace that caused me to start to feel leg cramps coming on and made it hard to really push up the hills.
My goal for this race was to do the 24 miles in less than two hours. The pain seen below is what it took to make this goal happen.
I couldn't lift my legs to get off my bike at first but I did what I set out to do and finished in 1:53:25.4, not bad for me.
Two new racers showed up for this race. Carrie's niece and nephew, Gavin and Aryana showed up for the kids race. Wait! Look who's in the middle. Collin felt better by the afternoon and got into the kids race. They had a great time as you can see.
On to Lake Geneva next.
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