Date: 8/13/2006
Race: Howell Mountain Challenge XC
Category: Expert 40-44 (3 laps)
Place: 5/7
Teammates: Matthias & Roger (in other categories)

I have two comments about this race:

1. This course is unbelievably fun and you don’t want to stop!
2. This course hurts like heck and you want to stop as soon as possible!

Ok, contradictions aside, this is one of my favorite mountain bike races. The course has an incredible mix of trails. There’s single-track that winds around and back with twists and turns that leave you wondering if you haven’t crossed back over yourself. There’s a ripping fast fire road sections for fun two wheel drifting. Oh, and let’s not forget the rocky rollers or the short hike-a-bike section. It’s the works people.

And it worked me good! I’ve been slacking on the technical riding and it showed for this race. I knew from the start I wouldn’t be at my best. So I started with “having fun” more on my mind then winning.

With 3 laps and a total of 30 miles of racing, this course leaves plenty of time to get moving. But almost everyone sprints their guts out when the whistle blows. Everyone but me this time. I cruised and hit the dirt way back in our start group. I wanted to finish the race and have fun at the same time. No need to blow up early.

So the race began. And I followed through with my plan. I rode hard but not too hard. I rode with a grin and enjoyed and savored this course. Even on the steep hot hike-a-bike I had to grin. The course was just too much fun and a little hiking wasn’t that bad. Plus, it was good training for cyclocross season!

By the third lap I might not have been grinning as much. But inside I was still happy and having a great time. And then the race was over.

Cheers!

p.s. The image above is my heart rate monitor graph from the race.