Southern Classic Season Finale

The season finale race was at Dark Mountain.  With dry conditions I harldy recongnized the course compared to the sloppy mess I endured for 24 hours at the BURN.  So I went out a little fast and couldn't keep my pace for three laps.

Stil I finished smiling as always.  It was an awesome end to a great season.  I am still so grateful to just be riding, let alone racing.

And even recovering from two shoulder surgeries, I managed to eek out second place overall in the expert women category.  (No they wouldn't wait for me to finish cleaning up and get dressed after showering!)

Thanks to the Trek Mountain Co-op and the Trek Store Charlotte for an incredible season!  Looking forward to next year...

My Little Dirt Dude Is Three

 Jack's so pround he can put both his bikes in the bike rack.

So proud he had to show some skin.

Happy Birthday Little Dude!

Sizzler Race

This morning, we had great cool weather for a 9am start at the Sizzler race.  Here's the female expert line up:

Can you tell Cliff Bar Giordana had a stacked field?

I got a good start and was in the lead for about a microsecond.  And then the girls with the big legs passed me like I was riding backwards.

Meanwhile, my biggest fan couldn't decide if he wanted to ride with pedals or stride.

He opted for the Strider, as usual.

And I enjoyed four laps on the trail.  When I pre-rode on Friday, it was dry and fast.  I was bunny hopping all the root piles.  Of course it poured on Saturday, so the course was brand new to me for the race.  I went into the woods third, but soon fell back to fourth.  I fought hard to get back to third but wasn't able to keep that lead for long.  Finally on the third lap, I got back in third place, and saw the girl in second not too far ahead.  So I gave it my all and got into second place towards the end of the third lap.

I was able to increase my lead in the last section and flew around the lake to start the fourth and last lap.  I was feeling really good, pretty confident that I could stay in second place.  A few minutes later, I got back into the single track and reached the slippery bridge they warned us of at the start.  I slowed down like I had the last three laps and a guy standing in the area directed me to ride around the bridge in the mud.  I declined, said I'm okay, and slipped right off the bridge...OUCH!  I got up, moaned and then realized my chain had fallen off.  After some tugging, I got it back on, and rode through my bruises.  I had lost a lot of time and new my lead was greatly diminished.

After a few minutes, the pain had subsided and I was pack up at pace.  Then all of the sudden, I got starving, not just hungry, but completely empty.  Oops.  All that jockeying back and forth and fighting in the woods ha made me forget to GU.  And now I felt like I didn't have time.  So I put my head down and just focused on finishing. 

And I did.  2nd place.  Woo Hoo.  At least one place on the podium was not Cliff Bar Giordana ;).

I was so hungry at the end, that I thought I was going to be sick.  I ate half a banana in one bite.  Yum!

Here we are at the end, friends, Dirt Divas, and competitors.  Always friends!

Pedals

This awesome Trek Jet 12 has been collecting dust in my garage for months now, while the tires on Jack's Strider have lost all their tread.  My son won't even try the pedal bike.  But then I had the genius idea of taking the training wheels off and he hopped right on.

Duh!

Fontana Dam Jam

Lesson learned:  If you haven't ridden at a very technical course in the mountains with crazy down hills in over four years, do not skip the pre-ride, wake up at 4am the morning of the race, drive four hours, and expect to do well.  Still I got a good work-out, enjoyed a fun ride and feel super skinny!

Race with a Happy Ending

Tonight after the Summer Series Race at Francis Beatty Park, hubby brought the boy out to cheer me on.

Yup, even an almost three year old on a Strider can pass me.  I'm having quite the season.  Just want till he gets pedals!