Results For First Two Races

Yankee Springs Race #1

Race Time: 54:59
Placement: 7/38
Championship Standings: TBD

This was a TT race held back on April 20th.  It was a perfect day for a race and trail conditions were awesome.  The race organizers announced the day before the race that the trail was going to be ridden backwards.  Not too crazy about getting news like that the day before, which for me was 11pm at night.  However, this is my hometown trail so I know it very well, thus not a real factor. 

I really thought I would have finished better, but I knew I got into some trouble around the 5 mile mark.  This is a long switch back climb that is very skinny, thus no passing.  I got hung up behind some very slow riders that cost me a lot of time.  The minute the trail opened I flew by them. Since I am only 90 seconds from first place, I believe this to be the main factor for my 7th place finish.  If I would have had an open trail during those climbs, my time would have been so much better.  Regardless, it's all part of racing. 

Fort Custer Race #2

Race Time: 1:19:51
Placement: 2/25
Championship Standings: TBD

Ugh, SO close to first place!!!  26 seconds off!!!  At the start of this race I was really concerned about my placement because I was in 9th place when we hit the single track. Thankfully we all kept together so the leaders didn't pull away.  I knew a big hill was coming (known as Cardiac Hill) and climbing is definitely my strength.  Once we hit the hill, I put myself in 5th place.  The second big hill was right after that (known as CPR Hill), which I just flew up, putting myself in 3rd. 

The three of us rode together for the entire first lap.  It was an extremely fast pace, but really played to my strength.  My legs remained extremely strong so about 100 yards from the end of first lap, I made my pass to first place.  I continued the strong pace, but about a mile into that lap, I looked behind me and nobody was there.  It appeared I had pulled away from everyone.  That was when my mind was like "Holy Sht!, your in first! Run Forest Run!"

Here is what went wrong.  Being in first I had nobody to pace off of, so I subconsciously slowed down.  I didn't slow down by much, but enough for somebody to pass me in the last 1/2 mile.  The finish is a high speed finish so it was tough to catch up.  My only chance was for a big hill, but there weren't any.  This was a mental break-down on my part that won't happen again. 

My girl said I'm the only person who would complain about taking second.  I guess I should enjoy the best finish of my racing career.