putting it together

At Iola I had to re-learn how I race: when to push, when to recover, etc.

At Rhinelander I had to learn how to push at the start without blowing up.

At Mt. Morris I had to learn ym nutrition and how to race in the heat. But I did learn I had it in the singletrack.

At Eau Calire, this past weekend, I put it all together and took 2nd in my age group, and 6th overall.

At the start, I picked my position and didn't get pushed around in the start chute. When Don yelled "GO" I jumped, got clipped in fast and hopped on somebody's wheel. I drafted in fourth wheel on the long dirt road leadout and kept my breathing under control. There was a small hill before the singletrack and I drilled it to get off the front and try for the holeshot to the singletrack. Unfortunately, I slid sideways and eventual winner Scott Golomski got past.

I kept on it until we hit the stone switchbacks, and got a gap in the second section of singletrack.

The rest of the race was pretty uneventful. I jammed out in the singletrack and really enjoyed myself. I'd pass everyone I could in the open by hammering hard and then catch the next group in the singletrack and have to sit in for a bit. Once it opened up again, I'd open it up and pull more people in.

A few moments of note: Jennifer Whitedog dropping the shit out of me on a technical descent. That woman can kill it!

Some kid in my age category who I caught on lap two absolutely broke when I passed him. He started crying and yelling about how much his stomach hurt. I told the next spectators I saw to check in on him.

On my last lap I cleared the Mr. Hyde rock garden and pulled around one more Comp rider.

The best part of it? I didn't totally bury myself to do what I did. It's time to keep training with one thing in mind:

Scott finished more then 3.5 minutes ahead of me.