Dusted

This past sunday was the Root66 race at Hodges Village Dam. This has been historically a fast course with a few pieces of technical trailwork thrown in just to keep things even. The race was at peak heat, 2pm. I lined up with 17 other sport riders. They were pretty geared up and when the whistle blew they were all off in a cloud of dust. I hung back a little as to not blow up to quickly, and there about 5 riders in my group. We held together with limited passing the first 2 or 3 miles. There were some wicked fast berms you could just rail the turns and transitions. A few quick ups and downs to keep the momentum going. My least favorite section was when the single track went through this mildly logged area and it was tough to pass people, or be passed. Sticks, branches, ruts, rocks was the layout of the terrain. As the 2nd lap started I picked up two stragglers and we rode together keeping the pace up, just above slow crawl. The 2nd lap my techinical savy was a little better and i was able to shoot through lines and keep pedaling without looking like a rookie. As I rolled into the third lap my lower back began to cramp and act up. I couldn't put the power down at all. Every rock and root just cuased more pain. Still dragging along two stragglers, I hit the berms with good speed but one I misjudged the soil and slipped sideways, crashing into a tree and then tumbling into the woods. By the time I collected myself, the stragglers and a few extras had ridden by. Finishing out the last two mile, Wheeler got on my wheel and he was riding pretty well so i paced him back a few minutes before I red-lined, dehydrated and overcooked all at once, so i let him pass and i noodled it around for minutes to recover but I was bonking pretty nicely and the powerbar drink helped but not enough. Apparantly my pre-race meal was not exactly what my body needed. Finally entered the last mile of terrain and crossed the finish line a respectable 26 minutes off the leader and 2nd from last...Thats how it gets done around here!!! 2nd race of the season done, 3rd time on the MTB all year...I survived. The bike is in a serious need for a washing, so much dust everywhere. Was pretty spent after the ride that MacDonalds had to help out. A cheeseburger and Dr. Pepper for the ride home was perfect! Now it's time to recover.