Cable Classic #2

This turned out to be a great weekend.  Left on Friday afternoon with a great group of guys and got into Cable about 6ish...just in time for the rain.  The whole way up the weather looked good with just a little sprinkle off and on so it was lookin' like I'd miss a mud race.  I was a bit worried when it broke loose but then Saturday turned out to be gorgeous.  Sunny but cool enough for arm warmers is about all.  Perfect. Hah, sorry guys, my Classic initiation didn't include your Cold & Muddy horror stories.  Mike cooked some great pasta and I packed about as much as my stomach would fit with some room left for a few Heinekens.  I also loaded up on pancakes and eggs and oatmeal the next morning.  I should have been set with carbs but I'll get to that later.

There were about 240 racers this years for the 23 mile sprint.  I kept hearing about how fast the start was going to be and how I needed ride my guts out to the single track for about 2 miles.  They were right.  When the gun went off the pack took even the pace truck by surprise and over took it within the first 100 feet or so.  It actually was a bit dangerous because the truck just was in the middle of everybody.  What the heck were they thinking.  Anyway, I thought I was riding hard enough and would sit in but was getting passed a lot.  Probably about 45th going into the singletrack.  I had a lot of passing to do.

The singletrack was great.  No mud, nice and tight, technical--more my skill set.  However, there were about 20 or so trees down throughout the course that required a dismount and hike cause of the wind the night before.  That sucked.  The very first one I completely botched.  I pulled of the trail and as I started my dismount my front wheel fell into a hole and I toppled over onto my still clipped in leg.  I felt like an upside down turtle flopping around as about five guys passed.  Could have been worse--maybe.  Anyway, I got through that and into a rhythm.  Started moving up places for awhile.  The trail was very technical and super rocky and root filled.  Very bumpy making for a full body workout.  Things were going well except that I forgot to eat.  I was feeling decent until about mile 13 or so about and hour into it.  My body decided to quit.  I knew I'd been running over my redline at about 185 due to the friggin' trees and the difficult bumpy trail so I should have slowed a little sooner and made sure to eat.

I just popped.  I got woozy & my handling was gone. As hard as I tried my body was refusing.  In fact I saw my heart rate slow to 167 and it still didn't want to go.  Of course I was getting passed back by all the guys I caught earlier. After a few Cliff Shot blocks and water I started getting back into the flow but never back to where I was.  I hate being passed.

The last 3 miles of flat loose railroad bed were hard.  It was windy, I was tired, and I could just feel a group catching me.  Finally at the pavement section with about 300 yards I tried to sprint it out.  Turns out is was just enough to hold off Brad who had caught me after passing him about mile 10.  We came in one after the other at 39th and 40th at about 1hr 48 mins.

I'm a little disappointed with my finish but also know it isn't a critical race.  I figure that I was on pace for a bout a top 25-30 finish if I hadn't bonked.  But hey, that's racing.  Knowing how to stay healthy, when to eat and drink, how to cross huge trees, etc is all part of the deal.  

Mike had come in with a strong finish as 15th and TJ at 26th (I think).  The four of us rode back to the start for the cars and just beat the rain--good timing.  I'm not sure where Kevin and Cory came in cause I didn't see the timing sheets but they were waiting when we got back.

Good food, good beer, and good conversation to finish up the day.  I was beat and in bed by 10:00pm.

Sunday was another great day of weather.  Brad, Mike and I headed to Telemark to ride some of the sweet trails without having to race.  Just as we get there Mike bunny hopped a one inch stick and his frame let out a load CRACK!  Broke in two places.  The carbon just decided it was time to fail.  He was bummed out but a good sport and let Brad and I go do a lap while he walked back to the cabin.  Thanks Mike.  It was a lot of fun to practice flowing that stuff.  No hurt just fun.

Great weekend--I'd do it again.