The forecast for the day was 92 degrees. Expert women were to race 3 laps of the 10+ mile course, for once they were letting us race more than the sport women!!!!!! I started fast and immediately was second in my class. Within 1/4 mile I passed the other girl in my class and was in the lead. The course is a pretty technical one. We climbed for about the first 4 miles - some dusty washed ut switchbacks that everyone had to walk, and then a long fireroad grind. The course then flattened out as we crossed the middle of the mountain. We hiked up three extremelly steep sections that were singletrack dusty and rocky - a huge hike. After that we were bike on the bike down a really cool section of dowhnill break bumped, switchbacks with again.....sand. THe course spit us back out onto a climb - barely able to catch your breath here - then you are thrust into a short flat section followed by another friggin climb. This climb made you start doubting your legs. But never fear, after it is the bestest singletrack and then sketchy downhill mess you've seen. One more steep reckless downhill section and you're free.
OK, so for 3 laps - roughly 25 miles I am in the lead, grinding up everything, suffering 3 laps of this course...and then I get a flat. I have NEVER gotten a flat in competition and my first instinct is PANIC! I pulled over, fished out my spare and my pump (I forgot to pack my quick air) and went to work. After some difficulties with the pump I get the operation underway. I try to remain calm and I fumble through the work. I'm only about 2 miles from the finish line and I start getting pissed. I shove the tire on the rim, pump as fast as my little arms will go (about 80 pumps), look up, and there goes some lady in my class. NOOOOOOOOOOO I yell - followed by obscenities. So I throw the tire on my bike, shove all my stuff back in my camelback, put my gloves and glasses back on, and hop on my bike. I only have about 30 lbs of pressure in the front tire but I chase like hell. How could this be happening to me? I'd built up a 5-7 minute lead over a 30 mile race in friggin ungodly race temperatures only to get a flat before the finish and have someone pass me. I raced like hell to catch back up but as I rounded the corner for the last steep climb to the finish line I saw her crossing the line.
Just my luck. I'm still pissed - 3:18 minutes of racing only to lose my 1st place spot in the last 2 miles.
That's racing for you. On a worse note, they ended up pulling have my class after the 2nd lap because they were too slow. That means they will probably never let us do 3 laps again.
OK, so for 3 laps - roughly 25 miles I am in the lead, grinding up everything, suffering 3 laps of this course...and then I get a flat. I have NEVER gotten a flat in competition and my first instinct is PANIC! I pulled over, fished out my spare and my pump (I forgot to pack my quick air) and went to work. After some difficulties with the pump I get the operation underway. I try to remain calm and I fumble through the work. I'm only about 2 miles from the finish line and I start getting pissed. I shove the tire on the rim, pump as fast as my little arms will go (about 80 pumps), look up, and there goes some lady in my class. NOOOOOOOOOOO I yell - followed by obscenities. So I throw the tire on my bike, shove all my stuff back in my camelback, put my gloves and glasses back on, and hop on my bike. I only have about 30 lbs of pressure in the front tire but I chase like hell. How could this be happening to me? I'd built up a 5-7 minute lead over a 30 mile race in friggin ungodly race temperatures only to get a flat before the finish and have someone pass me. I raced like hell to catch back up but as I rounded the corner for the last steep climb to the finish line I saw her crossing the line.
Just my luck. I'm still pissed - 3:18 minutes of racing only to lose my 1st place spot in the last 2 miles.
That's racing for you. On a worse note, they ended up pulling have my class after the 2nd lap because they were too slow. That means they will probably never let us do 3 laps again.
Oh! And, there's no way I want a house. Sounds like way too much commitment to me!