Alright, well strapped on another number plate making this the 2nd race I've done since 2016. First XC race since prob 2014??
Watching the weather it seemed like Conyers was going to be primo, but it started sprinkling on the starting line! GSC makes you race your age group in your class, so I was racing 40-49 Expert but they combine all the ages, so we had a decent sized group which was nice to see.
The race started fast, decently aggressive and I was up for it(even though I shouldn't have been!), I positioned myself 2nd into the hole shot for the singletrack. A Dirt Camp kid and myself made the pass, with me still in second nearing the end of the first lap and unfortunately, I had a minor crash. I lost some spots, and not sure how many exactly but enough to make me lose where I was in the order. I marked the masters guys I knew to watch out for. I met 2 really good dudes, Jeremy and Allen, who both ended up beating me on the day. Hopefully I'll see more of them at some more races this year.
Doing my best to keep in touch, on the last climb of the first lap, a 19-29 kid caught me and Allen on the climb and we rode his wheel most of the second lap - until Allen attacked and I was able to follow, my legs felt great at this point in the race. We ended up dropping the kid, sorry dude, I forgot your name. Allen ended up dropping me too, he was simply a better rider. The rains came down on the 2nd and 3rd laps, and it just for worse and worse and harder and harder to ride. The race became more about not crashing then power. There wasn't going to be much of anyone catching any one at this point I dont think. I held onto my position for the day, we got me 6th OA and 3rd in Masters which I'm decently happy with all things considered. I need to be racing more to get that kinda intensity back under me. It's been a looooong time since I've ridden that hard.
I won't lie, todays race kinda made me think twice about how I could perform at Marathon Nationals this year. I have some weeks ahead for some goof training, I just have to stay disciplined and know there's a large climb during that race that's a big advantage to me. I initially had thought, oh a podium at nationals will be easy if.... well no it wont be, haha. Time to get to work. The good news is Jeremy is 47 and the classes at Nationals are 40-44(mine) and 45-49(his) so I dont have to worry about him! Dude is a freak! and nice too, so that's always good to see. I'm not sure about Allen, but he no doubt could take me, he whooped my ass today.
If Nats is a mud fest, today was good practice! The bike is thrashed, but our daughter helped me wash it and changed out brake pads and put a new chain on, so we'll see how it rides again soon.
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