winter short track #3 race recap.

so sunday marked an important day for my wife, and fellow mountain bike racer, darcy. she raced her first ever mountain bike race at the charlotte winter short track #3. someslowguy was super proud of her as he ran around the course with camera in hand documenting the action. photos will follow soon... he could tell darcy wasn't super happy on the first two laps. riding in 6th place. the determination on her face and the desire to move up in the peleton was clear. a couple more laps and she dropped two riders like flies:

the pace was high and the top 3 riders seemed like they were, well:

but she continued and never let up. thankfully she DID stop racing after her last lap. she was quite worried she'd ignore the race announcer's "you're done. you're done!!!" she settled for 4th, and seemed very happy to have finished her first bike race. after it was all said and done she cooled down and someslowguy tracked her down for the congratulations and hugs and then sped off to warm up for his race.

this week was a bit warmer than last and the trail conditions were nearly perfect, slick in spots, but perfect tacky, just dried out enough soil and warmer temps combined to offer the sport men's 19-39 field a day filled with fun and adventure. off the line and down the sidewalk someslowguy had already stirred up emotions after commenting on austin joyner 'some giordana clif-bar mother... that thinks he can keep warming up then just roll up to the line. get in the back like the rest of 'em.' the boy's neighbor turned out to be next to someslowguy as they rolled down the sidewalk off the start and elbows began to fly!!!

after passing an appstate guy (dustin i think), someslowguy came out of the woods sitting in 6th place or so. climbing the grassy hill he heard a crashing mangling tangle of bike and body, glanced over his shoulder and only slightly comprehended the mess that was happening. this allowed a small gap to form behind, and well, a gap was forming in front. he realized this was no-man's land. don't let anyone catch up, and try to work and find the leaders' group.

as the laps ticked by, two 40+ leader's caught up and he drafted them going into the woods. he let them race their own thing. following them through the woods and using their pace to judge his own, someslowguy settled into a good rhythm. a guy in a 29er crew vest must have taken a spill. he stood up and caught after the gravel road/grassy hill section. someslowguy tucked in behind and then grabbed some gears and went around just before the singletrack. this process took place for a few laps, until the 29er crew vest wearer was off the back, no where to be seen. lapped traffic and the occasional 40+ challenger were all that someslowguy had to contend with and with 'one to go one to go one to go' he made sure to stay in the big ring. feeling well trained and well rested he silently thanked the maximizer (max shute) and laid it all out.

into the single. through the berms. stand up. power. no brakes. who needs to slow down?? pump it through the jumps, creek bed, and turns. stand up and give it on the climb. up and over the rock. check over the shoulder. the 29er crew vest wearer is back there. quite a ways... no time to think. drop him. stand. burn. lactic acid. chatter bumps. locked out fork. forearms?!? efficiency. grassy hill climb. a racer in front of him to be caught... sprinting. passing. crossing the line. oh, it was just a lapped rider. oh well. it could've been 5th place...

someslowguy was happy to have finished 6th. he moved up a spot from the previous week, and he knew he couldn't have given any more to the racecourse. he was congratulated by his mountain bike racer wife, he sipped on some recovery drink, and chomped away at pasta. off to jason's deli for lunch with friends and then zoom zoom zoom back home for a super bowl party. all in all the weekend was perfect. bike racing. sunny weather. and smiles. the end.