Man was it hot and dusty today. Started the race off without a water bottle and after 30 minutes of using sweat to keep my mouth and throat from closing up, I stopped to pick up a bottle and man did it make a difference.
Race was a good field today at about 30 deep for the 3’s and we ran pretty much the same course as the race from two weeks ago out there. I learned a lot after my first cx race at Bamacross #1 and tried putting some of those things to use in this race but not too sure if they worked out or not. I took yesterday off the bike hoping it would give me a little more pepper in the legs today and even though I attacked one lap too early, I was still able to finish strong and was happy with my race.
Lesson 1 I learned from my first race was to get to the front as soon as possible after the start. Started at the back of the pack and immediately picked off about 12 people working my way to the front group while the people behind me all fell off the back fairly quick. I was pulling up the rear of the main pack for the first lap and made a couple passes, then got passed back couple more times. Starting to learn that the first laps are always sketchy and everyone is trying to find a rhythm right off the bat, pretty much like taking someone who can juggle and instead of giving him three balls to start with, you throw all three balls in the air to him at the same time and say “Juggle.” That’s what lap 1 seems to be like for me right now. Once the field worked itself out, I found a good pace and feel in line with 3 guys from Bici Coup. They were really strong riders and were setting a good pace so I got with them and tried to hang on without upsetting the pack and having them decide to work together and get rid of me. Don’t remember much from the tween laps except that once or twice I got ahead of some of the Bici guys and then they got back ahead of me, sometimes I was the carrot, but most of the time they were it seemed. On the straights and pavement I tried to draft a couple of them some and then tried to do work for them at other times but I think we were all to tired and going to hard to communicate so there was no conversation of working together, but in retrospect, probably would have helped us all in the overall.
Coming out of the sand on the second to last lap I attacked, thinking it was the last lap, and picked off two of the Bici guys I had been riding with all day. I was able to ride the sand and make the climb and attacked while they were re-mounting. I went as hard as I could onto the pavement, not looking back to see if they were chasing but managed to put a decent gap on them while still on the pavement. Turned to get on the baseball field and could see the next Bici guy exiting the field as I entered. I went hard but couldn’t catch him by the finish line, but this wasn’t the bell lap like I thought it was. Thoughts of jubilation followed immediately with panic that I just burnt every match I had on my attack. WTF, I’m not going to be able to finish now. I regrouped and tried to catch my breath and refocus on finishing the next lap. I slowed down a little and rode smart, running the run-up, and going gingerly on the back section as not to wreck or hit something being that I was somewhat delirious. My body finally calmed down and I started to get my legs again as I approached the barriers. Made a smooth pass and remount through the barriers then let everything out I had. Attacked through the sand pits, rode the climb out of them, hammered hard on the pavement and I could see the last Bici guy I had been riding with all day. He was now attacking as well and I knew I had to go if I wanted his spot. I rounded the baseball field and came to the outfield section and caught his wheel. Through the baseball field you can get a good look at the people ahead and behind you by about 200 yards each way because of the layout. I knew he saw me coming and was worried he would pull up and rest until I caught him then attack immediately once I showed him a wheel so I was skittish about jumping on his wheel too soon. I approached him quickly and sat in his draft for a couple seconds to catch my breath then moved up beside him and showed him a wheel. Sat side by side for a couple seconds waiting to see if he would make a move or wait on me to go so I attacked as hard and fast as I could hoping to get a jump on him and not give him a chance to catch back up. We were about 300 yards from the finish and I just put my head down and mashed until I saw the finish line. I looked back as came up to the finish and I had held them off. Whew, immediately went to my car and doused myself with a gallon of water and had to sit for a couple minutes while my body tried to recover. Great race and really enjoyed riding with the Bici guys today, they were some strong riders and I can honestly say they pushed me to my limits.
Finished 11th on the day and was happy with the race I rode. My strategy for the day was to ride smooth and smart and I accomplished that pretty well, except for the attacking one lap too early bit. Anyway that’s 5 places higher than last race and I was able to get 1 more lap in this time than the last race at about +5 minutes longer, so all in all I think I improved by about 2 – 2.5 minutes in my overall timing of the course. Next weekend I’m going to be in Nashville for a double header, racing both Saturday and Sunday so should be a lot of fun, or pain depending on what your definition of fun is.
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