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They should rename this race the Mudbury
Classic. Someone mentioned it's
been five years since it's been a dry course for this race.
In perfect
conditions, the course would be great technical singletrack,
opportunities
for passing, moderate climbing, nothing brutal. But, the
mud. Oh the
mud. How I lament the mud.
The course is broken into 2 sections, separated
by a road crossing and the
main field - 11 miles total, 6 on the near side, 5 on the
other. Most of
the
course is on singletrack with many exposed roots, but limited
rocks. The 5
mile loop is steeper and seemed more technical, yet I think
that illusion
was due to the slick conditions. They eliminated the final
dangerous hill
and cut a series of switchbacks down to the race finish and
loop-point.
The first lap of the race went well and in
general felt good. The mud and
slippery roots made for running to be a quicker option than
riding at
times. By the end of the first
lap, I found
myself lurking in my usual position, neither gaining nor losing
ground on
the top 5 or 6 riders in the class.
I found the second lap of this course to
be a lesson in self-torture. I'd
bent my front derailleur and a link on the chain in a foolish
switch of
gears on the first lap, but in a mtb race losing the granny-gear
is not a
major equipment failure. **Clint breaking his crank is a major
failure (and
last I heard he was running most of the second lap)!!** At
mile 13 or 14 I
became increasingly hungry and soon the hunger was almost
unbearable - like
a pounding headache - eat, eat, EAT! I made a move at mile
16, catching a
couple riders, but at mile 19 my legs turned to mashed potatoes.
The
ability
to turn the crank became near impossible. I hit the wall.
Big time. More
than enough riders passed me on the final hill - not a pleasant
experience
after hearing a pack behind me for 21 miles. Once again, finished
in 11th
place.
Not sure how Tom finished-up. I saw him after
the race, but I feel asleep
in
the back of my truck before getting the scoop from him. Clint
was still out
running the course the last I heard...
Ah, Bradbury. "Were the Mud Man Cometh,"
from 2002
T-Shirt. Scatter showers all week, then ~ 1/2 inch of
rain late Saturday night, and sprinkles on race day
kept the roots and rocks slick, BUT the Mashed
Potatoes Mud, a paste with a consistency of tooth
paste was brutal, energy sapping, and just plain evil.
The Slick roots and rocks + the "Mud" from hell
yielded bumps and bruises on my legs, arms, and
shoulders because I :: Hit 1 tree, ran into the shrubs
2-3 times and hit the deck 3-4 times, no endo's
though. Bradbury is the tale of 2 loops, the 1st a
muddy single track, and the second a hilly, rooty,
and rocky technical section. Sport and Expert do 4
laps (4 loops) and Novice do 1 lap (2 loops).
I started from the front row, 6th going into
the
trails for the 1st loop of Lap 1. I pushed hard for a
mile then backed off to a higher cadence to save my
legs, but then the Mud Man dealt up the muddy single
track and threw that strategy away. I backed off a
little and just tried to survive the mud, while
watching about 10 riders go buy. This is a big
improvement over past Sport races where mud induced
Driver error leaves me in virtually last place in less
then 5 minutes.
I picked up the pace leaving loop 1 to start
the 2nd
loop of Lap 1, the hilly section. I kept up the
harder pace, per my plan, all through the 2nd loop of
Lap 1.. But, then I entered the mud zone on Lap 2. I
tried to keep a higher pace, but the mud just
destroyed my legs, my triceps started to ache, and
then my lower back said no mas (2 advil prior to the
race didn't prevent it). Leaving Loop 1 on Lap 2, I
kept trying to push harder into the final hill loop.
My aching triceps and back were a distraction, I had
to push the bike on the steeper parts of the hills.
Then powering over one short knoll, I felt a spasm in
my right calf and hamstring. Then it locked up in
pain. I had to stop and stretch and then pedal
lightly. So, I had to nurse my right leg, and pedal
carefully to finish the race.
I finished 15th in 3:10 hours. Don't know
how many
people in my age group, but I saw my first glimmer of
the light at the end of the tunnel, since self
promoting to Sport. NECS Sport finishes so far, in
chronological order : 24th, 29th, 15th.
PS. The results have been posted. 15th out
of 16
riders in the Sport Veterans, the penultimate
position. The light I saw was from the freight train
in the tunnel. The bright spot, if you divide my time
for 2 laps in half, I would have finished 5th out of
17 in the Novice Vets (Novice do 1 Lap). So, I do
belong in Sport. As they said in my plebe year at
West Point, "It builds character." 3 NE Championship
Series races down, 8 character building NECS races to go.
Everything started off fine, i got to the
course in plenty of time. Then met up with Tom and did a short
warm up ride. I was feeling pretty good for my first sport
race. So my wave leaves and I'm riding towards the back of
the pack. Then we start on the muddy single track sections
and the group started to spread out. Well about 4 miles in,
my chain was skipping in the front. It wouldn't shift right
and would fall out of gear. So i stop and look to see the
problem, well all four chain ring bolts in the granny gear
were gone and 2 were missing from the middle ring. Everything
was loose. I'd tried the get in in the big ring but my new
XTR FD wouldn't budge. So i said screw it and ran the remaining
2 miles to the start area. The official said i had to keep
the bike and helmet with me the rest of the race. So then
I began the run from hell. My SIDI shoes had no ankle support
and hardly any shock absorbing. I must of rolled my ankle
a hundred times. Long story short i ran/pushed/pulled/cursed
my bike the remaining 17 miles to finish the race. Well the
best part of the whole deal is , I came in 4th place in my
category according to the officials laptop list. I am currently
in a walking cast for a severe sprained ankle and possible
fractured and bruised foot.
LESSONS TO BE LEARNED:
1. Check your bike before race.
2. Bike shoes are not made for running and hiking.
3. If run is necessary bring at least a six pack, its along way back!
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