I wasn’t as nervous as I usually am before a race, but I still had the pre-race jitters. I didn’t plan to shock the world with my awesome mountain biking ability in the first race of the season, but I still wanted to do well. We lined up at the start, and I felt great. I had plenty of food in my belly from breakfast, and the temps had warmed up a bit before my group went off. When we were given the signal, I took off with the pack.
I didn’t plan to haul ass and fight for position, but somehow I ended up going into the woods in second place. I was right on the wheel of the guy in first place, and I nearly ran him over because I was way faster on the downhill stuff. I had no issues whatsoever, and I even felt like I could win it all.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw83sBXJi-4nOaIQGsSIrqozh1xjVpTa1d41djV6veTRXAcq9xruz0QPECNOSYjC5Wb4tCGhNxFtVt7rtsbviQlNBimEP3QK95rIBp-FDbCHNnb3ks-NeGN7IN4Wu_agL0BPBLwcgoKI2C/s400/WinterShortTrack2.jpg)
Photo credit: Mike Gladden
Well, when we hit the climb out, I slipped a little and came unclipped from my pedals. A few guys went buy me, but I hurried back on the bike and got going again. It sucked to suddenly stop like that, and it took me a few minutes to recover. I started falling back, but I decided to settle in and grind it out. Maybe I could catch the leader again.
I don’t remember much about each individual lap, but I do remember a crowd of hecklers (led by Dicky) hanging around the new and improved jump. I did my best to hit the line the way such lines are supposed to be hit.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqlsdLZOia8YO_9JdF08ojqLVbcRNlE8VHv2g4qEsIgetOyefWnMrddvZ7YOmy6lEYFYBY7TAxuzhrBZeXLFhk8pZuN0nfuTWPx87QIot9JLb985bvz0sXvNp2G1wvdCzkCy_l5yx5QFIZ/s400/WinterShortTrack1.jpg)
As the race went on, I started to get tired. Two months of barely training had taken its toll on me I guess. Local Clydesdale racer Rodney B. passed me on a climb, and left me in the dust. We usually keep about the same pace, but this time I couldn’t hang on. I let him go.
That didn’t stop me from having fun though.
Photo credit: Lunchbox
When I got into the downhill section, my super awesome skills let me get close enough to get him in my sights again. Coupled with the fact that I had just lapped some riders in the class that left before us, I started feeling good again. I turned it up and Rodney and I proceeded to battle on the way to the finish line.
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I gave it all I had, and passed him on the way to the finish. I was shocked when I saw the results.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXvgk5oPYnAguz76YgUxtuJsnu8MgCXJOnRoXGiudhkou3T7TbGMRmaAhC-S956j02i8Mq4j-P2e_Vi1betkrkHVlbGUEZGGL_gShJ38bY45Svjad_ozG93jfw4f2UYLBJFZPyYSl8_04P/s400/race1results.jpg)
4th place. Not too bad, I guess.
I was beat ass tired, and started to have second thoughts about doing a second race out there. With about an hour and a half of rest though, I made myself sign up for the single speed race. I figured that it wouldn’t be too bad, but I had no idea what I was getting myself into.
I’ll cut it off here and save the sufferfest for tomorrow. You have been warned.
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