Race Report—CCCX #7

CCCX #7 Race Report
May 15, 2009
70º+ F, little wind
5th Place

I finally cleaned up my bike from the Coolest 24 Hours mudfest and I was ready for my first solo race on the Trigon. I kept the same tires, WTB's Exiwolf 1.9 front and Wolverine 1.95 rear. Even though the rear tire doesn't have much volume, I wanted to test it on hardpack and sand.

The race started as I expected, with the leaders gapping me within the first lap. I forgot my HR monitor, so I had to go old school and rely on rating of perceived exertion (RPE). The first two laps were 9/10 RPE, the third around 7/8. I knew I was easily in the top 10, but we were so strung out, I didn't know exactly.

I passed the 2nd place points leader on the 2nd lap and was only passed again on the third by my nemesis, Tick. I backed off my effort on the third lap, but didn't know how much I was lagging without my HR monitor. I also forgot my Endurolites and had to bum off SportLegs from Tick. Luckily it wasn't extremely baking. In addition, I had no idea how long it took for each lap.

On one of the exposed fire road sections, I saw Tick and someone else in my group. That, along with multiple hits of my gel flask and water bottle, gave me the energy to bridge the gap on the final lap. As I made the pass on the final lap, I asked him (3rd place points leader) who else was ahead in our group, but his response was muddled. I decided to put the hammer down and easily dropped him.

When I arrived at the finish, the organized called out 5th place. Woo Hoo. This is a tough group. The series leader has won every race and finished 2nd at Sea Otter in a sprint finish. Three others were top 10 at Sea Otter.

For the first time this season, I finished in front the 2nd and 3rd place points leaders. I don't know if they had problems with the heat, mechanicals or aliens. I'm taking that as a sign of great things to come.