So, it's a week after the Wilderness 101, I am not sure what I have for a 50 mileish course but this is one I really wanted to do so head on down to Big Bear to see what's up. Unlike the miles of doubletrack and maintenance road I envisioned, Race Director extraordinaire had gotten trail work underway and had miles of brand new very technical singletrack for us to test out! This was super duper, I can really say I think this course rivaled the reputation of the often talked about WVMBA Rattlesnake course in terms of 'toughness' factor!
There is a decent group of women, and right from the start my pace feels great but I am not with the girls I expect to be. I am right behind Betsy on her SS through the first gradual incline, I think about slowing down but decide to just go with it. The course hits the newer technical stuff and even though slippery/damp roots/rocks, I manage to hold my place in the pack without much dabbing and I know I've gained some in that section. The next one, Voo Doo Rocks, is a repeat, I flow about as much as I could in there no dabs although I do jump off to skip over a few 'dangers'. Big climb, I still feel good, strike a few passes of boys near me, and wonder where the other girls are and how they are making in through. I know I am second to Betsy but wonder if that will last all day. Eventually we get to another new technical stretch & to the checkpoint and still no sign of girls. They tell me I am about 5 min back from Betsy, I know she is having some trouble with her chain falling off today, but also know I feel better than usual so just keep going as hard as I can. I won't catch Betsy (!) but I sure hope I don't slack and get caught myself. The last portion of the course is easier terrain, I have eaten/drank all day & still feel good. I finish in 2nd, glad to have held off almost all of the competition for an entire 5.5 hours!!! I spin down the road, get a quick rinse off, pass the next girl finisher on the road and surprised at what she had to say about the course "THAT was hard!". Ironically, that was about the last thing I would have said, I was thinking more like "THAT was a super fun course!"
See iplayoutside.com for full recap/results.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment