The adversity started after I arrived and assembled my mountain bike. Rear disk brake had not even enough grip to lock up the tire and was also rubbing and creating drag. The local bike shop could not get it much better even after several brake line "bleedings." I decided to preride the race course anyway. Miraculously, the brakes firmed up as I used them on this twisty, rooty, rocky and very fun course. The brakes were rubbing a little, but they were firm and race-able. About midway of preriding the 29k course I stopped to tighten the headset, which normally comes a little loose after assembly and riding.
During my stop a lifelong Alabama-local mtn biker stopped and we chatted for a good half hour. He had a deep southern accent and was telling me of a section coming up on the course called "Blood Rock," and to be careful. Good thing he said something, because it comes up quick, but with course knowledge it can be dealt with. Had a super preride and then loosened up with a swim in Double Oak Lake. The water was so warm I knew then that wetsuits would not be legal for this race.
Back to adversity. Later at the hotel I spun the wheels and looked at the brakes: Hey, wait a minute, what happened to my special titanium bolt. A quick call to the bike shop and, "oops, we must have accidentally grabbed a different one off the bench." They never found it for me, but they promised to order and ship me one. I gave them a bit of hell for this, which I ended up regreting. Oh, well, at least I have a bike that will race.
Saturday evening (prerace evening) all is well. I begin attaching my racing number plate and doing a prerace bike check. What the hell? The pedal is rattly-loose, but screwed in tight. It's bound to break-off if I race it that way. I've come all the way across the country for a Championship and I feel doomed, my race is over before I even get to start! My only chance is that the remote bike shop tent out at the Xterra race site can get me a new crankset installed and race-ready right before the race starts. Oh and yes, it's the same bike shop: Cahaba Cycles! A crankset is like a cars transmission. I had very dim hopes that evening.
RACE DAY MORNING: I head to the race early and the remote bike shop is empty. However, I have to keep moving forward as if I am going to be ready to race. Some time passes and there's a dude at the bike tent. It's Faris, and he says he'll see what he can do. I go put my stuff in transition and return. They think they can get me a Shimano XT out from the shop, but no guarantee it will be done in time. Please get it going! Assuming it's going to be touch and go to the end with no time for a bike warmup, I head out for a long warmup run. Ok, it's getting to be time to get down to the water for a warmup swim. I swing by the tent and my bike has new cranks on (hooray) but with some plastic pedals on!?! "Can you please put my pedals on?" "Oh yeah, sure." I go to transition, fiddle and come back. Bike's ready. Quick shot of lube and I ride and shift it for a bit and it's working! Wow, ok, I'm going to be starting this race. Thanks to Faris and the tent mechanic at Cahaba Cycles!
After all that my race should go well. I was wrong. After a good swim (especially with little pool time while my shoulder healed), a good T1, and after patiently passing a lot of bikers on the narrow singletrack I was all clear to put the power down on the bike. Psssssssssssss, what's that? NOOOO, A FLAT! Ok, now I start laughing. I quickly changed my first ever racing-flat. New tube in and those quickfills are great. I'm off again. I'm just going to go harder than ever, but as I begin to pass again, the riders are asking, "didn't you already pass once?" I had a great rest of the ride and dealt with "Blood Rock" handily.
Race director, Big Kahuna Dave, said during the race briefing that, "you can't win the race at "Blood Rock," but you can certainly loose it there." So, with all else that had happened, I jumped off the bike and just ran through it. Fine.Now it gets really funny: The Bike to Run transition joke. I run out with my bike shoes on, then go back and put my run shoes on the wrong feet (I was in mental overload). Eventually I got it right and had a good run. I went really hard to make up for my T2 faux pas. Passed two in my age group, which usually is vice versa for me in the run. I ran strong across the finish line.
There were a lot of pros at this race and I just love talking with them. Age group buddy from Incline, Ross McMahan took first place. It's so fun to race with him. Congratulations Ross!
Bottom line: I'm stoked with my finish. This race showed me that perserverance gave me the opportunity to prevail.
Race Results
Division: 4th of 31
Overall: 50th of 192
Pro Race Report
