So it was raining off and on for 2 weeks now, and I was having a hard time getting out on the trails to prepare for my second race of the season. I was able to get on the road bike a few time to get some spinning in, but no real technical riding till this Thursday over at Sals. The conditions weren’t not too bad , as I just road the Red loop.
I hop in the SUV at 6:00am on Saturday and get down to DE by 7:30. I walk over to the registration table and with Bike-Reg, it was a breeze. Pick up some twist ties for my number plate and some GU packs, I go back to the vehicle. I meet up with a few team members, get dressed, check the bike over and do a warm up lap checking out a portion of the track out. Hmmm, a little wet, but not bad.
We all get corralled into our age groups and Fat Mark start commencing the starts 30 seconds apart between groups. Off we went up the road into the singletrack and back onto the fields, and back into the singletrack. The loop was at total of 7 miles and the sport category was 2 laps. My first lap was tough to get any speed with all the traffic on the trails. The Endurance riders went first, but other age classes were stacking up on the trail. Traffic was more of a problem this year.
One lap complete, I'm behind the leaders by a good margin. At this point I just want to hold my own at this point, and do better than last years times and maybe even reel in some slower guys.
I get halfway through the second lap and Shazzam, quad cramps. WTF! I've been training well, ate breakfast, hydrated, had a GU pack before and during the first lap of the race. I stand on the side of the trails as about 10 racers pass me. When I can move my legs again I start walking but soon get back on the bike to continue to complete the second lap and race.
Well 23rd out of 35 starters and 3 min’s slower than last years times. Not sure how to read into that, but the times were a little slower this year in my age bracket as well. Maybe trail conditions.
Not a bad day to say the least. No mechanicals, which is always good. I though the event was so nicely organized. It was a fun day indeed, and if you never tried racing before, it is a blast to see how you stack up with other riders in the area and how much stamina you really have. But for me it’s a way to keep myself motivated in staying fit and continuing to ride my bikes. Ride On!