WORS #9

Alterra

Weather was hot and muggy as prescribed for an Alterra Race Day. The day started off with me forgeting my money and scraping up $5 for a one day license in 16 quarters and 1 Sacagawea coin. Followed by an ok warm up then promptly getting to the line last while the national anthem played. Needless to say I was starting in the rear of the chute.

The course consisted of a prolouge to include the switchback climbs to the peak of the ski hill and 2 complete laps out to the Alpha parking lot and back. Probably somewhere just under the 20 mile mark. After the prolouge lap I started catching some of the lead group in the alpha trail and things were starting to stretch out a little thin at that point and we were starting to hit some traffic. I was able to make some clean passes and got around a couple of guys in my class and figured that they’d be right behind me. By the time I made it out of the HD Line trail and up to the the second switchback climb the gap started opening up a little. I figured that I better try to keep the gap going and try to real in some more bikers but the weather was getting brutally hot and I was only carrying 2 bottles with no feeds planned. I didn’t want to over do it and pop.

Picked off some more racers on the climb and just kept a tolerable pace for the rest of the race. Water lasted and that was good. I also decided to race without a monitor and a chest strap. I felt better than I did all year. I’m sure that it’s more psychological than anything but but that strap sure feels like its restricting sometimes for deep deep breathing. Just enough to make you think that it’s hindering you a little.

After the race I had to burn outta there right away so I didn’t stick around for results. Checking today it looks like I finished the course in 1:37:53 and secured a 3rd place finish in age and an 11th place finish overall for the Comp class. Easily by best Comp results.

Thanks to Hayes Bicycle Group for the great support so far this year.