In the wake of my first big trip to a Pro XCT down in
Alabama, I was overcome with relief on the way home that I was going to get a
weekend at home with no real racing. It was memorial day and Alabama back to
back that had my legs and mind feeling the stress of life on the road. The
stress is worth it when the results are there. But there is nothing like
knowing that you get some time to relax and charge up for a while. I took the
time to train hard, but with no class and no work it was a lot of relaxing and
a lot of sleeping so the hard days were more than under control.
The annual Trek 100 was the weekend. While I was going, its
not a big drive and there is no pressure. It was all about having fun with the
team and enjoying riding a bike. On top of that the ride support there is top
notch. The rest stops are packed with everything you could want, seriously. And
the finish line has enough food to ensure that you can easily replace what you
burned for the day no matter how far and fast you went. I enjoyed every moment
of it. And in the end we as a team raised $24,000 towards helping Trek and the
MACC Fund fight childhood cancer. So it was a win-win.
So the week off was tough riding wise, but it was exactly
the mental recharge I needed. The week leading up to The Cam-Rock race was full
of rain so it made getting out on the trails tough but Tim and I did the best
we could. I think over the 2 week period we rode there 3-4 times and even hit
up the kettles. I feel so lucky to get to ride mountain bikes as much as I have
this year. I feel lucky to be healthy and lucky to be as focused and driven to
ride as I’ve been; and even luckier to have the resources to do it all.
But all this riding gave way to a local WORS race a Cam
Rock. I wouldn’t consider it my home course, but I know it pretty well. I was
really looking for a good result, especially after the troubles in Iola. I
really felt like I had something to prove. I knew I was capable of racing at
the front end, I just wasn’t doing it. So despite the home course and all the
familiarity that comes along with that, I was a little bit nervous. But it was
a good nervous. The kind of nervous that forces your body to prepare.
It’s hard to pin-point what exactly was special about it,
but the warm up felt good. I had some rest in the legs and did some good
openers the day before. I made sure to warm up well. I also started drinking a caffeinated
soda in the warm up. It seems to help clear the stomach and gives you some
sugar and caffeine to charge you up.
When the race started it was up up up the big start hill. To
my surprise I felt very under control. I was smooth and playing tactics instead
of reaching for a spot in the pack. I was moving about how I pleased. We kept
together going into the single track and I followed wheels and tried to keep my
whit’s about me to be ready for the big attacks to come. When they came I was
ready as I made a few passes and defended my position. Eventually it was
Tristan, Corey, Nate and myself riding at a solid tempo on the front. When a
gap opened up between Corey and Nate, I played the waiting game thinking he
would close it back up, but he just wasn’t able to. I came around him and
shifted into the next gear. I could still see Trisan and Corey and I was gaining.
But coming into a slick corner I lost the front and hit the deck. Nate came
around me, but I was quickly back on and making chase. I caught nate and took
the pass in an open gravel sections and decided to focus on putting space
between him and myself instead of trying to catch the leaders. The gap grew and
I began to realize a top 3 spot was all but mine. I rode the pace I could
sustain thinking that maybe Tristan and Corey would play games and I’d get back
on. It just wasn’t happening as the gap grew up to a minute on them before
Tristan attacked and from there the gap only grew.
Coming into the middle of the last lap, Kevin was starting
to come within sight of me just off my back wheel. I lifted the pace to try and
keep him off me, but he slowly clawed his way back on. I battled but the body
was tired and I made a few mistakes allowing him to overtake me and further put
about 30 seconds into me. It was back to 4th for me. I was still
super happy with that result. I crossed the line with a huge smile on my face
and immediately realized how much everything hurt. But this race was a huge
personal victory for me. I remember growing up watching the elite racers, and
now I am one.
Huge thanks go out to Trek, Bontrager and Emery’s for
helping me get the equipment issues sorted. I train so hard but you’re only as
fast as the weakest link and it’s good to know that the equipment won’t be that
link because I’m on the best bikes around. Also thanks to Speed Cycling and
Coach Gordy. I just pedal, he’s the one making sure it’s actually making me
fast. I’m learning every day that it’s a team effort and you can’t do it alone. Speaking of team, teammate Tim Racette also had a best finish that day with a 7th place. The front end of the elite field is getting more and more red each race.!
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