Back from Black

...Hills that is. 

The 2009 Dakota 5-0 is in the history books. It's the last race of my season and it was good. Everything about it was good from the race to the shinnangans in the campsite. The weather was top 10. The start was chilly and so was the beer afterwards. I can't tell you people enough, that race rocks.

Speaking of rocks, there's plenty of them too.

But onward with the race report (that's if you give a hoot). If not, please skip to the bottom.

Not that I'm biased or anything, but my Top Fuel is a racing machine. It's a climber and a descender, which is great because I'm less of the latter so it helps me look like I know what I'm doing. But I do loves to go downhill fast. With the option of turning on and off the propedal on the fork and the shock, I can go from a rigidish ride to a coushy cruise, all by a flip of a switch. It's great for changing terrain, much like that of the Dakota 5-0. 

The race started at 7:30 in the a.m. I didn't sleep well the night before. Not sure why unless eating later made my mad mind race before I was supposed to. The wind was howling among the trees. I think I got up to pee once and head lights from people arriving late lit up the tent like a glow bug. I kept worrying that no sleep was going to effect my race. Luckily I didn't have a watch or clock near me or I woulda been checking that thing all night. It was brutal. Around 5 am, Ryan's (my hubs-2-be) phone alarm rang. I got up and started the process of making oatmeal. Not long after, Ryan followed and then the rest of the group. A few biked into town for gourmet coffee. I settled for Ryan's made fresh in our Jet Boil french press. Hot coffee was ready in minutes. It was pretty strong so I only had a few sips to get my heart going instead of my bladder. 

5:30 am - food down. coffee down. time to prep. For the next hour I fiddled and faddled with all the details. I gathered all my fuel buffet of goos, jellybellys and one protein bar. I filled up a small camel back (I only have one bottle cage), checked tire pressure, and lubed the chain one more time. 

6:30 am - time to kit up. It was chilly but I knew I'd have to suck it up at the start and go without all the warm layers. The start was a 3 mile hill climb so I knew I was going to heat up quickly. I wore my team kit, Midwest Cycling Community and my super sweet PBR socks that I picked up at the Firecracker 50 race. Since this race boasted a PBR station, I thought I'd support it this way. I couldn't imagine drinking a beer during a race. (I'm so NOT a cyclocrosser)! After kitting up I spun up and down the main street and then did the first couple hills of the start to let my heart know it was time to get down to business.

Around 7:10 I lined up. I like to get in front at this race because they don't stage us. It's all for one, one for all, which is kinda cool. Nobody is better than another. Just get yer ass to the line. Smokey the Bear gave us the count down as we rolled along a neutral start until cement turned to gravel road. By then my heart was racing faster than I was. I chugged along at a clip that wouldn't kill me but was still hard. About a mile into the start I got passed by the eventual winner who was on a 29r, who was smaller than me and pedaled in a big gear in squares, bouncing around with each downward stroke. It was odd and made me tired just watching her but it worked for her. Not long after the 2nd place woman cruised past. It was clear the past few weeks off the bike, nursing my knee back to health, was playing a factor. I had a high zone, but it didn't last very long. I couldn't keep up so I settled into my plan. Have fun and do my best. 

My coach, Jason and his "special lady-friend" made the trip from Rapid to cheer us all on. He's a rock star. There he was in a back brace keeping his spine in place while it healed from a climbing accident, jumping around as I came through giving me time splits. I loved the energy! It gave me wings. I saw him as we dumped into the trees off the road. I knew this part of the course pretty well and that it would be clogged up so I chilled while it thinned out. My knee was behaving perfectly. It was time for the "have fun part". 

For 40 miles I chugged away. I climbed most of the nasty climbs at the front of the course (a dude afterwards came up to me and asked how I managed to climb. Fuel, is all I said - as in Trek Fuel, oh and the fact that I practically lick my headset to accomplish the steepest stuff) But as the day went on those climbs got harder. It helped knowing that all the work I was putting into the climbs would pay off. This course is a lollypop. We go out and come back on the same route, doing a long loop in between. And the coming back part is a party on wheels. It's way too fun not to go fast, so I had to make sure I kept gas in the tank. On one of the fast downhills, I got caught by a third woman and I just realized it was almost to the exact place I got caught last year. I need to practice my descending! Anyway, I caught back up as we both started uphill and if any of ya have raced in Colorado where the ascents are rocky and rutty, this was the battleground we were on. Only one good line, far right. Then one place to cross over. We each lead a leg of the climb and she tried to talk to me to find out if I could breath. I was laboring but not to the point where I couldn't talk, I just don't like to chat when I'm dying. At this point we passed Ryan who was nursing a cramped leg and luckily he DOES like to talk so he chatted it up with her. I was hoping it was enough of a distraction but nope. We climbed almost to the top where it got too loose and the rocks too large. We both dismounted. The only difference, she bolted away after getting back on her bike and was gone forever.

Still to come were some of the toughest single track climbs, which included the bacon and PBR station. The race promoter was up there yelling into his bullhorn at each rider. It helped the suffering a bit. Next was a super-loose downhill that I've always had to walk and have crashed on each year. I tried riding it but got off when it got too loosy-goosy. After that it was kwa-ping and I was off. We had one more road climb after that, which reminded me of Moab - rocky jeep roads and hotter than hell. But once I saw the tape to send us back into the trees, I pushed the plush buttons and kicked on the after burners. Descending that stick is just a high I can't get enough of. Lots of twists and turns. You feel like your going mach 1, like you're being filmed in a bike video. I'm sure it's nothing like that, but when you're alone in the woods riding your bike, that's exactly what's happening!

Once I popped out of the trees, it was back home on the gravel road and then to pavement. All big ring stuff. I came in at 4:47, about 7min slower than last year, so considering my lack of training while on the injured list, I was okay with that result. I was just tickled to be healthy enough to go back and race. That time put me at 4th overall, 2nd in my age group. BTW, there are 40+ and 50+ aged women who do this race. It's for everyone, so I encourage all to try it. Aid stations along the way give new riders reassurance that if they run out of gas, there are people out there to help get them back.

This was my last big race of the season. I capped it here because this girl is getting married in a few weeks and it's time to focus on that now. 

Thanks for reading! 

MIAGO (Make It A Good One)

Comments

Roxy - Great post! Keep us updated on the wedding plans. And, your first post inspired one of my friends to try mountain biking - she's gonna go ride with me! Thanks!!!

Well done Rox. I'm glad to hear your knee is getting better.

Great job on the post-race report too.

Glad you're back on the horse and racing again! Best wishes with your wedding!

Cam