05/30/2010 Mellow Johnny’s Classic- Dripping Springs, TX
I know this race report is a bit late… but better late than never, right?
The heat was turned up during this weekend to full blast!!!! I pre-rode the course on a demo bike provided by Orbea. I was one of the first to demo their brand spankin’ new 2011 Orbea Alma 29er. I think I was drooling before I even stepped foot on the pedals! The bike had a 2x10 set up and was way faster than I would have ever imagined! I’ve GOT to have one!!!! Ok, so enough for my wish list…back to the race report. The pre-ride went great. It was a pretty long course (about 19 miles for two laps), and the heat was almost unbearable. Luckily the trail was in great condition and was absolutely a blast! Kudos to Mellow Johnny’s and Lance for building a fantastic trail system! I knew that Sunday’s race was going to be a tough one especially with all the great competition that would be showing up! Time to fill up the water bottles AND the camelbak and head out for some fun with the girls! Race morning came around and I was feeling a bit nervous about the heat. And from what I overheard from others… I wasn’t the only one nervous about it. I had decided to bring one water bottle filled with Accelerade and then my small camelbak filled with ice and water, then have my crew hand up two bottles to me at the first feedzone. I was hoping that this would give me enough water and energy to last the 2 hours I’d likely be out there in the desert. I set out about 40 minutes till my start to warm up on the hilly roads leading into Juan Pelota Ranch and my legs started screaming fairly early. I went through one bottle in about 15 minutes which was NOT a good sign. I finished my warm up and headed over to the start line. It was very nice to see lots of familiar faces out there! Charity, Brenda, Amy, Kristi, Dina.. just to name a few! I knew that this was going to be a tough race and I was going to have to give it all I had! Charity and I pumped each other up (as well as the crowd) and my nerves started to settle a bit. We were called up to the line….. and a few “hoot and hollers” later… we were off. I came off the line strong and in the lead which I tried very hard to hang on to… but Charity and Brenda passed me pretty quickly. (no surprise there). Then came Donna and Dina… dang. For the next mile or so I was all over the place… I guess my nerves had not settled as much as I thought they were!!! I could not keep both of my tires on the ground in a straight line to save my life. Ugh.. Ok.. slow down…. Calm down… just breathe… I finally got into a bit of a rhythm and was playing leap frog with Amy and Kristi. I think the first 5 miles or so of the trail we all traded positions several times. After the first lap I was pretty exhausted, but it was time to kick it up and try to gain some time on the girls in front of me. I came through the feedzone, threw the bottle that was on my bike, and grabbed a bottle from my crew and CRAP… I dropped it. Ok… there was Shawn with another bottle… crap… dropped that one too. Don’t panic!!! I still had a bit left in my camelback and there was another feedzone with water about ½ way through the course. Just breathe…. As I was coming around a corner on the trail I saw Stephanie running towards me with a bottle that I knew I couldn’t accept. I yelled out that I couldn’t take it from her as it was against the rules to accept aid except in the feedzone. I was so grateful for her at least trying though!!!! I tried to focus on the trail… and not on my quickly diminishing water supply. Sometimes this game is more mental than anything else. I believe that I was in 5th position at this point with Brenda, Charity, Dina and Donna leading the way. I had lost Amy and Kristi somewhere back on lap one and had not seen anyone else in my category in some time. I was riding with a girl in the age category above mine for most of that lap. We went back and forth pushing each other through our weaknesses. I finally came to the feedzone and they made me stop for water. I was not familiar with this type of feedzone where they actually make the riders stop, open a water, and then get back on the trail… and I was a bit frustrated. I took a big gulp and got back on the trail. I stuck the water bottle in my cage and it quickly bounced out. I was officially out of water. Ahhhhhhhhh! Ok… it’s ok… only about 4 miles to go. About one mile into that… I was passed (like I was standing still) by a flash with a girl from my age group…. SERIOUSLY???? I deducted that it had to be Donna and she must have flatted and I didn’t see her on the side of the trail somewhere. Ok.. so that means that I’m still in 5th position. I’ll take it. The last couple of miles were tough… mentally and physically. As I’m rounding the last corner to come into the home stretch I hear the girl behind me say to one of the spectators… “where’s my carrot” and I knew that she was going to try and pass me for the finish. I knew she was not in my age category… but I didn’t want her to pass me anyway! I gathered the last bit of “oomph” that I had and took off towards the finish. I hear her grunt behind me as I come through the finish line hauling as much butt as I could. I was finished! I did it… and with very little water!!! I did end up 5th in the race, and 9th overall for the TMBRA Series. I was very happy with that!!!! Thanks to all of my crew and sponsors for supporting me this season!!! And a big thanks to the new additions to my crew- Stephanie & Brooks (aka BOSS) I couldn’t have done it without you! Thanks also to all the girls I raced with this season. I don’t think that I’ve ever had the privilege to race with such a great group before! You guys ROCK!
