Hanging out with the BWE(Best Wife Ever) all weekend. She's my good luck charm and biggest cheerleader. Not being Nervous one bit about lining up with almost 200 dudes both days. Not having calf cramping issues all weekend - yoga master am I. John Gatch announcing.
Having overall good consistent results for both days. No podium, but with the traffic I fought through I will take my result. Racing with my buddies, Ray, Katsu, Spencer, Doug Glen, John Proppe, Derrick, James T, John Reidel, Scott Young and Dave G.
Saturday:
Starting the race behind over 110 other CAT 2/3's and then lining up 2nd row of the CAT 3 - 35+. Hearing my name yelled all over the course. My wife and some other friends saying I looked fast. (hey, they said it I didn't) Having great legs. Having the ability to sprint up the road/pave' section and sprinting out of every stinking corner. This was great morale for me, but not good for those that are racing against me, giving away my course position, pretty much the entire time....It's about racing your hardest every time every lap and if others catch you, I guess you are not racing hard enough. This course was perfect for me, I also was of the select few at the start line with a bottle or bottle cage on my bike. I found a place on a slight downhill, where I could grab the bottle and catch a drink after the first two laps, I think this was a factor in my race result. I just hope I can re-create some of this feeling in the next two months, since this was defiantly, one of the best days I have ever had on a bike. I finished 8th. Sunday:
I met Brian Matter's Mom! She was screaming at him and being his biggest fan. She was so enthused to be out there and watching him race, I just said to her, "THAT'S Brian Matter, Iceman racer and super fast bike guy from Michigan", she replied and enthusiastic yes and was just going ballistic, it was awesome, what a Mom.
Finally meeting up with some of my new cycling Facebook peeps. Debbie B and meeting and hanging out with some of the 513 Rogue boys at the top of the hill area, before we lined up to race, chatting - good times to chillax with some of your fellow racers. Matthew S - got me Sunday.Seeing our team Junior, Justin M. kill it in his Junior 15-18 race. He has really shown some skill and confidence in the last few races. I hope when he gets to college and starts winning lots of collegiate races, he doesn't forget about the little people.
Realizing after doing a look back after climbing up that grass off camber hill that I only had 1 lap to go. I mustered up some power and put the legs to work by trying to reel back a few places I lost on the last two laps. When I also finally figured out that the line through the uphill beach section was on the far left against the fence I modified my technique the last two laps of carrying my bike, which helped speed things up a bit. Apparently, I missed 7th place by only a short time gap, it was within reach in the last few laps. Sunday I finished 10th.
I got to hang out with BWE' cousin and my old Columbus cycling buddy Russ from The Organic Mechanic a bit on Sunday while I waited for my 20 min massage from Linda. Russ was pretty busy taking care of the pro's bikes (Kabush/Subaru Hudz team) and anyone else that sought out expert mechanical services. But it was nice to take a moment to hang and listen to Russ point out some issues on my bike :) "what is that?, what is this? Really?"
The post race massage, from Linda, I think was key to how great I felt on Monday morning when I got up for work.
Jen (BWE) took a few hundred photos from the races on Saturday and Sunday
of the Men's CAT 2/3 & Men's CAT 3 35+ and Men's CAT 3 45+
Here's a video of the sandpit (uphill beach) that I did not ride - the pro's however did and made me look like a rookie running the damn thing.
