05/04/2009 Ocoee White Water Center
This race was insane! It rained all weekend and was muddier than all hell! As we were climbing the beginning two mile climb, the water and mud running down the trail almost appeared to be a muddy river. I had unknowingly bent my derailluer hanger the day before and my gears began messing up almost immediately. When I most needed my low gears they were no where to be found. So I just had to stick with it and muscle up the climbs. People do it all the time on single speeds right? So after an excruciatingly long time we finally hit the down hills and my legs were thanking me for it. I was in second and had lost sight of Helen (who was in first) on the climbs. I smiled when I spotted her in the distance on the down hills, and began to reel her in. Smiling wasn't the best idea as mud and water were flying everywhere. I couldn't see out of my new rudy project glasses as they were covered in mud, but I couldn't take them off because the torrential rain and mud was insane. I finally caught up with Helen and listened as our wet and muddy brakes screamed to slow us down. We flew down the trail sliding every which way in the slippery mud. We were both hooting and hollering as we went for the ride or our lives. We both sprinted to the finish and Helen beat me by less than a second (I guess I need to train harder.)
Laughing at the finish line we gave eachother a muddy hug and continued to regale our boyfriends of how nasty the trail was. Normally, I hate riding in the rain and mud, not because I'm girly, but because I continue to think of the damage it's doing to all my parts and how expensive it can be. But this happened to be one of the funnest races I had ever done. I didn't win, I had issues with my equipment, and I definitely didn't feel my strongest ever, but the comraderie and the stories that I got from this race will last me a lifetime. There were no showers so I headed down to the freezing cold river to attempt to clean up. As I stood in the ice cold water cleaning mud from all parts imagineable, I smiled. This is what the sport is all about. The adventure, the challenge, and the friendships. I love to win and I want to be the best, but this second place finish will hold a special place in my heart forever!
Peace out!