Race 2 – 2011 Charlotte Winter Short Track Series
This past Sunday was the second race of the Charlotte Mountain Bike Winter Series. I was hoping for a better result than I had the previous weekend. The weather was colder but it was dry (finally) all week. I got to the course around 10 to watch Lexi (Jasen Taylor’s little girl) while he raced. Watching them race got me a little excited to get going and the good news is that the riders were staying dry and mud free.
I warmed up for about 10 minutes and I lined up on the front row. I don’t know why I do this because my plan is to always take it easy for a lap or two. And I have a hard time getting myself to warm up. Maybe I should work on that.
The mountain bike race started and I followed one guy who just nailed it. I tried to stay calm and just stay close to him before we entered the woods. I managed to get into the woods in second place and slightly recovered I the single track. Exiting the single track wasn’t so easy. I immediately lost 3 places as I tried to find a rhythm.
The good news was that I was with Sonny and TJ, both teammates on the Giordana-Clif-Bar-Brica team. Sonny was running strong and TJ was on his cross bike. We spent 3 or 4 laps working together with me or Sonny leading through the singletrack and TJ crushing it on the pavement. I was working way too hard keeping up with TJ and eventually he and Sonny pulled away.
I struggled for a lap as I recovered and my legs seemed to come around. I managed to catch Sonny, who had been dropped by TJ and the guy in 3rd place, and started running at my own pace. Unfortunately, Sonny couldn’t stay with me. I could tell that I was slowly getting closer to TJ and the guy in 3rd place at the turn around.
But, with my lack of fitness I started struggling. The last two laps were hard. I lost distance to 2nd and 3rd place and was able to hang on for 4th. I may have dropped a place, but I think the 5:30AM training classes at Cool Breeze are helping. Now I just need to get some training in. Glad the real season doesn’t start until April.