March and April 09

Lots of things going on during the last two months. I did my first crit of the year - Hungry Dog - and got a good workout. I don't like to get involved in the sprint so I usually go to the front with 2-3 laps to go and give it all I have and then just coast in. I also did the Copper Valley road race in the pouring rain. Temperatures were in the low to mid 40's, and soaking wet!!! I must say this is the weather when you just love to be going uphill. I finished with the second or third group (8th - 11th). The three riders I was with sprinted for 8th place.... who cares about 8th.... I just rode in.

Mountain biking has been a lot more fun. I raced XC for the first time in Fort Huachuca and finished a respectable 5th. I'm just not used to those short hard efforts. A few days after the race, I decided to do BC Bike Race up in British Columbia, so now I'm back to marathons. The last race was in Prescott on a course that I hate, and as usual, I finish in my normal 6th place. I did race my 29er which was a change for me. I started in the back... way back, and through the 7 laps, got comfortable on the bike.

This past weekend was the Whiskey 50... what a blast. I realized how many people I know, when I riding behind me started calling me the mayor... too funny.

I has hoping to finish in 4:15 since the winning time from 08 was about 4:08. I started with the front group for the first couple of miles, but then got dropped as soon as we started climbing. I just can climb like those guys. I kept a decent pace, but without overdoing it. Rode the singletrack fairly well. Dabbed a couple of times. Saw tons of friends, saw Jeff on the downhill with one of his many problems of the day.

Got passed by Dan K. on the first climb... definitely need to improve my climbing. Kept a steady pace. I know how to pace myself to finish well in 4 hour races, so I didn't worry about getting passed by other riders. I counted the riders on the two way section and was in approximately 40-45th place overall. No idea on how I was doing in the masters class.

Rode the climb up from Skull Valley at my same pace. Caught Kallan - a very fast junior on our team - and rode with him for a few minutes. Stopped at the aid station and refilled my water bottles. Once we hit the singletrack again, I started motoring. Passed a bunch of people on the climb and on the downhill - some of the 25/15 milers were out there. I finished in just under 4:08. Maybe I won...or... top 3???? When the results came out... I was in awe when I saw that first place in the Masters had beaten me by 25 minutes!!!! He finished in 3:43.. wow... Second place 3:46... both from Colorado. I ended up being 4th, but at least I was the first one from Arizona. Third place beat me by about 5 minutes. Next year I hope to break the 4 hour mark. I just have to improve my climbing :-)

Tomorrow is the MBAA race at the Mogollon Rim. Wish me luck.