Post by bwilms on Jul 11, 2010 15:12:18 GMT -5
The race got off to a quick start. Only a few minutes after the announcements began, Champ Racing stated “We’ll get the men’s wave going in about 40 seconds!” Time to get in the water! The siren went off and we started our swim. I was feeling good and had some extra confidence knowing that wetsuits we not allowed, which hopefully evened the playing field a bit. I got out of the water and looked at my watch – I was just over 13 minutes and on my way to transition.
At 15 minutes, I was on my bike and hitting the single track. The dirt was in great shape. Friday’s rain gave the dusty trail some much needed traction, without causing slippery rocks and roots. It was a tight course, making for a lot of passing requests in the first couple miles. Luckily, I was asking to pass more than I was asked to be passed. I followed two participants out of the northern single track and out onto Cable Line and finally made a right onto Port Rd. to prepare for entrance into the southern trail system. I used the road to my advantage and got ahead of anybody I could, cranking up the asphalt.
After a few slushy spots on the snowmobile trails, I made a sharp left into the single track, preparing myself for the rock gardens. I cruised through the first concentration of rocks, but found myself a little jumbled with the other pockets before the Gorge. I was eager for the simplicity of snowmobile trails at this point. I road through the creek and dismounted to climb the Gorge – no sense in trying to make it today, it was faster to hike up the hill. I got snagged by a vine just before Two Ponds and caused a three bike pile-up, but I could smell the home stretch. I muscled back on my bike, rolled through the rocks of Two Ponds and made my way to the snowmobile trails that lead me back to transition in the parking lot.
Jess was volunteering at the dismount line of transition and I caught her by surprise. She wasn’t expecting me yet, which told me I was making good time. I laced up my running shoes and looked at my watch – I was at 1:20. I knew then that I could possibly smash my goal of 2:00 by several minutes.
I jumped into the run entrance and felt strong climbing the rocks. Exiting the single track and cruising down the snowmobile trail to cross Cable Line and head back the north side trail, I passed a few participants that were in front of me. I was feeling good. I traded spaces a few times with fellow age groupers, but I was more focused on my goal than placing. Half way through the run, I kicked a root and it sent my flying. I composed myself and moved on, catching and overtaking another 30-34 age grouper. I knew the end was near and picked up the pace when I saw the exit. Dropping in to a small ravine, I crossed two small creeks and climbed back up the other side where the finished line awaited.
I crossed the finish line with a time of 1:57:04. That beat my time from the previous year (2:09:52) by nearly 13 minutes and my time from the first year (2:26:36) by almost a whole half hour! It’s an awesome feeling to see how I’ve continued to improve over the years. The filed this year was highly competitive. Even with a personal best time and placing in the top 20, I didn’t place in my age group. But as I said, the personal goal was the one to beat today and I couldn’t be happier with how things turned out.
At 15 minutes, I was on my bike and hitting the single track. The dirt was in great shape. Friday’s rain gave the dusty trail some much needed traction, without causing slippery rocks and roots. It was a tight course, making for a lot of passing requests in the first couple miles. Luckily, I was asking to pass more than I was asked to be passed. I followed two participants out of the northern single track and out onto Cable Line and finally made a right onto Port Rd. to prepare for entrance into the southern trail system. I used the road to my advantage and got ahead of anybody I could, cranking up the asphalt.
After a few slushy spots on the snowmobile trails, I made a sharp left into the single track, preparing myself for the rock gardens. I cruised through the first concentration of rocks, but found myself a little jumbled with the other pockets before the Gorge. I was eager for the simplicity of snowmobile trails at this point. I road through the creek and dismounted to climb the Gorge – no sense in trying to make it today, it was faster to hike up the hill. I got snagged by a vine just before Two Ponds and caused a three bike pile-up, but I could smell the home stretch. I muscled back on my bike, rolled through the rocks of Two Ponds and made my way to the snowmobile trails that lead me back to transition in the parking lot.
Jess was volunteering at the dismount line of transition and I caught her by surprise. She wasn’t expecting me yet, which told me I was making good time. I laced up my running shoes and looked at my watch – I was at 1:20. I knew then that I could possibly smash my goal of 2:00 by several minutes.
I jumped into the run entrance and felt strong climbing the rocks. Exiting the single track and cruising down the snowmobile trail to cross Cable Line and head back the north side trail, I passed a few participants that were in front of me. I was feeling good. I traded spaces a few times with fellow age groupers, but I was more focused on my goal than placing. Half way through the run, I kicked a root and it sent my flying. I composed myself and moved on, catching and overtaking another 30-34 age grouper. I knew the end was near and picked up the pace when I saw the exit. Dropping in to a small ravine, I crossed two small creeks and climbed back up the other side where the finished line awaited.
I crossed the finish line with a time of 1:57:04. That beat my time from the previous year (2:09:52) by nearly 13 minutes and my time from the first year (2:26:36) by almost a whole half hour! It’s an awesome feeling to see how I’ve continued to improve over the years. The filed this year was highly competitive. Even with a personal best time and placing in the top 20, I didn’t place in my age group. But as I said, the personal goal was the one to beat today and I couldn’t be happier with how things turned out.
