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You've all heard it... "Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body , but rather to skid in broadside , thoroughly used up , totally worn out & loudly proclaiming--WOW--WHAT A RIDE !" This weekend was quite a ride. Whew. Man. I don't even know where to begin. I guess I should begin at the beginning. We left home pretty early on Saturday morning to be in Fontana at Southridge before 8 am (though I think we got there around 7:30?). When we got there the line wasn't really long. Nancy and Roger were first up, and Carla and Eric were near the front of the line as well. I filled out my race registration sheet and got in line. Pretty early on they said they weren't going to let DHers register, as they wanted to get everyone going for the XC race. Justin and I made it to the front and spent some time trying to figure out number plates, payment (we had signed up for SRC membership at the banquet), etc. Finally we got it all worked out and off we went with our paper plates. We got ready, and sat around. It was like 8:10. I didn't want to start warming up so early, since we still had more than an hour before the race started. I probably finally started warm-up around 8:45 or so. Pua was right behind me and I was going slow, so she easily passed. I got back to the line around 9:20 or so to wait for line-up, had a small shot of Hammer gel (Tropical, with caffeine), some water (with Elete drops and a sip of Cytomax). 9:30 and we were all standing around. It was getting warmer by the minute. Dan took some photos. We chatted with Roger. Saw Danny. It was like 9:50. My gel was starting to wear off. Finally I they started letting off the pro's, then experts. Steph and I were the only women in 34 & Under for Sport. Pua was the only female pro, and there was one female in Expert (I think 34 & Under). Nancy decided to join Steph and I in the DHers take over XC evil plan, and she even raced in the Sport category. Nancy had a whopping 7 people in her age group!! Ridiculous! All of you 34 & Under women stop having babies and start racing with us! Anyway, our group took off with the older Sport men and then the 35 & over women. It was a decent sized group. I wound up mid-front pack on the flat by the 4x course and continued up the hill. Off to the right up the singletrack, another short climb, some rolling... I noticed my heart rate was moving in the 190s. I've never had a HR that high during XC racing, especially not for .25mi. I was hoping there was some kind of interference. While I tried to slow down, my HR still remained in the high 180s. Then came the pavement climb... I managed it fine, with HR racing (how appropriate!). One of the women from the 35 & over class passed me near the top, and down we went on the singletrack on the other side. I caught up to her and decided instead of trying to attempt a pass anywhere I'd just ride behind her and get my HR down. No such luck. Eventually I said I was going around to pass her, but she went the same direction as I did and I missed my passing window. I let her go. The sandy washes weren't too bad, but in the section where you have the short sandy climb, right before the rocky-ish fire road, I totally just dumped it into a sand pit. No worries, I was up and back at it shortly without injury. Up the fire road to the flat before the big nasty long-ish climb... The chick that had been in front of me was stopped on the side with her chain. I am used to downshifting and then coasting up onto the fire road climb transition... but, she may have tried to drop down to an easier gear and lost it. I didn't see her again. This climb is a tough one. Usually a few people fly up it, others walk, and most people just slowly manage it. It is always difficult near the top. I made it, HR flying high, plopped my suspension back to the "on" position, shifted, and down I went. Wooo. That breeze felt nice, since on the climb it seemed to be about 90 degrees. I made it down, around, up, and over to the just cut singletrack descent instead of the paved culvert. I started off to the right and instead of crashing and burning, hopped off and ran down. I hopped over the V sideways culvert and had a drink of Cytomax and right before taking off a guy behind me had endo'd at the cross culvert. I made a mental note of that and continued on. I think I probably had a shot of gel, more water, another sip of Cytomax, and just tried to hang on. Made it around for lap one in around 38 minutes, or just shy. Heard a few cheers, smiled, and on I continued. I got to the pavement again and clicked into a few higher gears to stand up for a bit (stretch out the back and legs). I got a little tired, and my HR jumped, so I went down into my "granny" and sat down. Noticed a nice yellow and blue jersey hiking up the hill. No, not a Chargers jersey. "Is that a Rams jersey up there?!" As I got closer Winston saw it was me and said I had too much energy. Only due to caffeine-powered Gel, Cytomax (keeps my legs feeling strong!), and I didn't even get a twinge of headache even in the sun and heat with the Elete drops in my water bottle. Up and on I continued... then down the singletrack, back around... Robert Herber (I just read he is on Team Mata now!) passed me on the short rocky fire road climb and we exchanged hello's and good luck's. He went on to win the Men's Pro class. Down in the "urban jungle" I passed a mom who was riding with her son (he was racing). I think she ended up getting hurt by falling on her chain ring. Next time SRC is having a Shimano kid's race, which I assume will be easier and shorter for the younguns. I actually rode down the new culvert singletrack, completely behind the saddle, but remembering the endo from lap 1, I hit front tire to cross concrete, and hopped off the bike and over. Didn't want to take any chances. On I went. Pua passed me down the stretch a bit, nearly done with her 3rd? lap. I arrived at the finish line to a few cheers, and that was it. I bested my time from the 16th Annual by about 6 minutes, which I was happy with. I'd like to drop a few minutes off next time as well, but we will see. ____________________________________________________________________ We had lunch at Subway, then headed back for the awards ceremony. Justin was upset we started DH practice so late, but I dunno. We hiked up the hill and rode down halfway. I think I followed Steph the first time. We hiked back up. All I remember is sweating a ton and being incredibly thirsty. So, we did one run from top to bottom. I think I hung back so I could just ride and try to learn the course, instead of focusing on following someone else. After a water refill we got in line for the shuttle and waited for probably 25 minutes. Then we were informed that the shuttle wasn't running, after probably 4-5 pro guys and their friends cut in line. We argued our case, but to no avail. They weren't going to run another one. So, off we started hiking for round 3. Just as we reached the pavement what to our wondering eyes dost appear? A shuttle truck. The bastards had run another one. I was pretty angry, but continued hiking. We get up to the dirt hike and what else appears? A freaking SECOND shuttle truck!! I was just plain pissed at that point. VV. Glad I got $5 off otherwise I would've asked for the refund. We did our last run top to bottom. I didn't all feel confident on the course. I didn't have it in my head at all. I never want to miss the awards, and am always hungry, so we do lunch and then wait for awards (they always change 'em). So, off we went to dinner and casa de denmother. Went to sleep just after 9:30. I didn't really sleep well, and didn't want to get up, but knew time was running out for us to be there at 7. Got up, packed up, made instant oatmeal, ate, and out the door we headed. I don't recall there being any wind in the neighborhood. When we got onto the 15 freeway it was gusting. Trees were bending over, garbage cans were flying by... it was crazy. "Guys, I think is a really bad idea". It was super windy at Southridge. We pulled in, and I ran to get in line for number plates and wrist bands. Had to have them to be on the course. So, after standing in a confused line, eventually they told us to get in a separate line for the wrist band, then move over to another line for the number plates. I did both, as did Nancy, Roger, Steph and Dan, and eventually up we went to hike to the top. We rode it halfway down again, and I followed Justin to get his "straight over" lines. We again hiked back up from halfway down. It was brutally windy. There were parts of the hike where I just stopped moving. Gusts were rough. Right near the beginning of the course was a slight incline and huge headwind. It was tough to pedal through. We rode straight down this time. The wall had a nice tail wind to it. We were all pretty happy. We got in line down at the bottom, and for the first time all weekend actually got to ride the shuttle truck up to the top. Got in my third run, top to bottom. I didn't like the wind. I didn't feel good about the course. Justin and Steph were going to go up for round 4, but unfortunately they didn't make another shuttle. The Pro's were going to start loading, as they did, around 10 am. I turned on the Charger game in the truck, mostly to get out of the wind. Nancy, Steph and a few others had gotten on the first shuttle. I saw some of the pro's riding back and forth in front of me for probably 20 minutes. Went to the restroom. Jason Simpson was hanging out, waiting. Still there the next time... "What is going on?" "Someone crashed and went down on the course, paramedics are getting them." Oh. The race start was delayed about 1.5 hours. I heard a bit of the Charger game, talked to Carla, talked to Adrian, talked to Joy. Winston came up as I was standing in line and told me the Chargers had taken the lead, 14-10, just after halftime. Finally they started loading for race runs, and eventually I got on the shuttle truck. The hike up the hill was worse than brutal. I was stopped dead in my tracks right as the hike a bike turned up. I simply couldn't move. The gusts buffeted me right and left, front and back. My 42lbs anchor of a DH bike started to lift out of my hands. I used a small break in the gusts to move up ever so slowly. Just a few feet further and the wind wasn't *as* bad, but it continued to swirl everywhere. I sat my bike down and searched out my dropped water bottle. I found Justin and we hiked down so I could check out the course re-route. I was getting blown all over. We sat down behind some rocks, but the dust swirled in our faces and I was covered in dirt after a few moments. I zipped up my 661 Pro pressure suit, tightened my new Kyle Strait Patriot knee guards and sat down again. As Joy and I were chatting with Justin I realized they had been calling us up to the start area. I barely got on my helmet and gloves to wish Roger good luck before he took off (he was two riders in front of me). Soon it was my turn. I felt pretty good, kept my breathing even. Rounded the first corner, whoops! My ass slid right down on the ground. I tried to pull myself up and keep moving, and there was the buffeting head wind on the short incline. With no momentum what-so-ever I had to straddle my bike and put it right/straight. On I went. Joy had already taken off at this point, just a turn or two behind me. I made the reroute section fine, across the saddle, no speed. I was flying all over the place. The wind pushed me to the left up the climb and my front tire stuck in a rock. I waddled up the rest of the hill and on I went. The wind pushed me down now, and I fought to stay on line. I saw Sharky taking a pic. Heard some more cheers down the next corner. Then it was to the flat/incline fire road, across the street, I was passed easily by Joy, and then down to the lower rock section. There was very little wind down on the lower rock section, when compared to up above. I stayed right on her from there, and then we hit the wall. The wall is usually tough, but add a 42lbs bike, totally dead flat section, and a gusting 40MPH head wind. I felt like I was getting nowhere. I wanted to get off and walk. She took off ahead of me. I barely made it up the last hump, down, and then over the bump to the finish. I felt like crap. She was just taking off to the right, so I never got to congratulate her. She did really well in the conditions. I slowly pedaled my bike back to the truck with Roger. I was peeling off gear and trying to drain a Gatorade when I thought I heard a Charger announcement. I saw Dan in his car and heard the radio. "Dan, are you listening??" "WE WON!!!!!" I completely forgot about my race run for an instant and was totally excited and happy. I couldn't believe it. I called my mom and we talked for about 10 seconds. I wanted to jump for joy. I got my Charger bottle kozie for my Guinness, grabbed my Hulk and a water, and Roger and I started hiking back up the trail to watch the other riders. I made it back up to get a shot of Justin this time. It was SUPER windy. Sand and dirt was blowing every few seconds. There was no relief. It was pretty crazy. I took a few photos, and when the beginner men started coming down we headed back over to check results, enjoy another beer, and hang out for awards. I was really upset with my showing, and unfortunately don't think there was much to learn from the experience. The wind was completely random. I guess I learned from Roger that rain and mud are better than wind any day. Not that I want it to rain in 2 weeks or anything, but if it is that windy again, I'm bowing out of the competition. Next up? SRC #2 on the 26-27!
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