Carvins Cove Race

Disclaimer: I have a lot to say, but some things will be omitted from this public blog as I don't wish to appear a sore loser or poor sport.

I am so very happy with my race today. I did something I never thought I could do or would do. Who would have ever predicted that years ago when I bought my bike that I could go out and compete in a Sport level race at Carvins Cove? Much less on a course that included Hemlock Tunnel!

I refer you back to my previous post for course description etc. Note what I say in the last paragraph. The race started out fun enough. There were 6 women in the sport classes today. 4 in my age group and two in the younger. Paula was in the Single Speed class, but raced the same course as us. So there were 7 racing this distance. I was fairly certain that I could ride the course safely since I had taken time to preride it. My biggest concern was the downhill on Hemlock Tunnel. The uphills don't worry me much anymore because if all else fails, walk.

So we started off in a HUGE pack of riders (all sports, clydesdales and SS start together). Neutral start to the gate then it's on. As we were riding down the road, it was hard not to notice that there were a lot of people racing today. The hum of the tires on the road always amuses me and having a few spectators along the road side is fun too! Gina and I were talking about how nice the houses are on the road and debating how the gob of riders was going to filter down to single file to go around the gate. None the less we all safely made it through then onto Songbird, I encouraged Gina to go ahead of me because I knew she was faster than me. I knew that Beth (Wake's girlfriend and super nice person) was behind me as well as Rachel and the other younger sport racer.

I stayed prettty close to Gina on Songbird, almost hit her back tire a few times on the fun, downhill section; but as soon as we got to the fireroad, Beth took off around me like I was sitting still. I stayed with them on Enchanted Forest through the water crossing and a short bit of Comet, but soon after they were gone. I would catch a glimpse of the three women in front of me as we went up the 1000' climb, but I was no match for them. I gained on them a slight bit, but then never saw them again once we got onto Hemlock Tunnel.

I literally prayed out loud when I got to Hemlock Tunnel that I would make it safely to the bottom. Thankfully I did, but I did talk to myself the whole way down about how to ride it, where to go, etc. I'm sure if anyone could hear me they thought I was nuts. Soon, I was caught by two guys who said they were racing, but in no big rush. They were nice enough, but I finally just had them go by me. I hate to have someone right on my butt. I meandered my way through Hemlock Tunnel. I had to foot out on a water crossing, but I rode the weird one. I think I walked one short section of HT (I can't remember now.) Finally arrived at the fireroad to Comet, which again I had to walk a short section. My lungs and heart couldn't keep up with my legs today.

On Comet, I rode the downhill fairly quickly. Nearly killed myself on a water crossing. Walked up the steep hill, rode the rest of it, including the logs where the mudbog is. As I neared the end of the trail, I neglected to see a fallen tree to my right and slammed my right foot and pedal right into it. It hurt terribly for a brief bit; I considered a broken foot for a few, but eventually I clipped it back in and continued on.

The 2nd trip up 1000' sucked pretty bad. I just dropped it into granny and spun my way up. At some point, I had realized that I would be 4th today and therefore not in a position to receive a medal or prizes, so I decided that I really needed to beat my preride time of 2:13. On 1000' it became apparent to me that I might actually be able to get in under 2 hours as my friend Laura predicted. Once I hit the Four Gorges Trail, I decided to go for that goal. It hurt trying too. I again had to stop and walk this one section (I've done this the last three times out...not sure what's up here). My heart and lungs failed me again I guess. Realizing I was coming awfully close to the two hour goal, I went all out on the last climb and flew down the descent to the bridge. I was disgusted to see horse poop right in the middle of the good line on the bridge, but avoided it and suffered my way up the last little climb.

As I neared the intersection of 4G and HdH, I saw Laura and muttered something like, "you and that damn two hour goal..." I took off down the hill like my shoes were on fire. Messed up on the turn with the tree root, but went as hard as I could the rest of the way. My vision was all fuzzy by the time I got the last turn on the trail. I hit the gravel and grabbed another gead. I had to get in in two hours. Crossed the bridge, reminded myself of the terrible entrance/exit to the trails. Bounced my way up, tried to figure out exactly where the finish line was pedal, pedal, pedal... I heard my fellow Chickys cheering (YAY, you guys rock)... DONE

OW. 1 hour 58 minutes. May not have won a single prize today, but I'm more happy with accomplishing something I didn't think I could do. The satisfaction of the sub-2 hour finish time is better than any item they could have given me. I needed a confidence booster, and I think I got it. There are a couple of side stories to this event, but I'll leave those opinions and thoughts to face-to-face conversation.

YAY ME!!!