Cal State XC Champs...

So yesterday was a rough day of racing.



I didn't feel stellar during my warmup.  I think we went too hard the day before the race.  At the start line I met the guy who I expected to be the odds on favorite.  We joked around a little and then were off. 



On the first climb I went a bit too hard.  I expected to be able to recover at the top where 2N10 does quite a lot of rolling hills, but had a bobble around 25 minutes into the race.  Not a bobble with my bike though, I dropped my freaking gel flask!  I had just passed my wife who had a 2 minute head start and was having a fantastic day (she was right behind the Pro women).  According to my feed schedule I took a shot of gel and then was trying to put the flask back into the holder and fumbled it.  Allison later told me I should have just left it, but I was afraid of not having any calories for the rest of the race so I skidded to a stop and ran back to get it.  By the time I picked up my bike I had dropped a position (from a close second to third or fourth).



So then the chase was on.  I did my best to control the negativity that was circulating in my head.  Soon we were onto the descent and I let it fly.  I opened it up and passed a couple of people on the short single track section.  Once back onto the fire road I tried to keep the hammer down and did my feeds at the right time (thanks to picking up my gel flask). 



At the top of the last big climb I wasn't far behind second so I shifted to my big ring and attacked on the descent.  I caught second and passed him after being forced to follow him down some single track.  I was now back in second with only descent between me and the finish line so I decided to let it all hang out and try to catch first.  I was blazing down the fire road, drifting the corners all the way to the berm on the outside.  I passed several riders and then was on the last single track section.  I passed three more riders on the single track and was just going balls out, full speed, no brakes.



Then it happened.  Coming out of a left hander there was a big rut.  I unloaded over the rut before I noticed what was after it.  A big dip and then a huge tree root maybe 6" high across the trail.  I did my best to soak up the impact of the root but it wasn't enough.  I DOUBLE FLATTED.  I only had one tube so with about two miles left I just rode on two flats to the finish.  I lost one spot and dropped to third for the day.



I waited around for a long time expecting to see Allison come through...  but she didn't.  I got really worried and started asking girls that I knew were behind her if they saw her.  Finally one girl said that she saw her with a flat (whew!  flat is WAY better than a crash).  I guess a big nail went through her rear tire and she had some difficulty fixing it.  In true Mann style she finished the race even though she was dead last.  I am so proud of her.  She could have DNF'd but she stuck it out and finished.  Before her flat she had gapped all the Expert Women and was right behind the Pro Women.  Sometimes luck plays a big part in racing.  Better luck to both of us next time!

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