Hanson Hills - CPS Race #3 June 3, 2007

Race Time: 2:08:32
Placement: 7/12 (ouch)
YTD Standings: 6th

My HR Info:  Max: 172 (91%) Avg: 158 (84%)
Zone 3: 30:42 Zone 4: 1:05:14  Zone 5: 20:56 minutes.

Another race where I thought my climbing strength would help me.  Two serious issues at this race: First, I started out strong, took the lead right from the start.  I wasn't sprinting, it was a controlled lead.  I felt great.  So what was the problem?  After the first climb, my body shut down completely.  The lactic buildup was not going away fast enough so my legs turned to dead weight.  I was forced to slow WAY down.  My HR info reflects that slow down.  Only 20 minutes in Zone 5.

The second issue affected all the racers: A thunderstorm.  It poured for about 90% of the race.  That made the race extremely interesting.  Eveybodies bike just gummed up with mud, thus giving most an introduction to the single speed world.

The trail took a beating from the rain.  Near the end of the race, the trail was just sloppy goo.  People washing out everywere due to NO traction.  I didn't care how I finished, I just wanted to finish.

At the end of the race, I was COVERED in mud.  The temps dropped about 15 degrees, so now I'm wet and cold.  There was only garden hoses to use to clean off and there was a long line for that.  I had about 8 waterbottles in the cooler, so I stripped down in the parking lot and poured ice cold water all over me.  I was frozen SOLID.

I do owe a special thank you to my girl for standing in the raining waiting for me during the first lap so she could hand me a new waterbottle.

Few things we learned: Get a canopy, bring more towels, and bring a tent.