Race Report 2/10/08

Considering this was the first race of the season in a new class, Zach and I placed pretty well amongst the sport class. Unfortunately Dusty, Cyndie and Maia weren't able to make this race, so the Smith veterans lined up to sport team colors. Zach started off the race spirit by setting a land speed record from San Jose to Ft. Ord in exactly 1 hour, shocking even ME who literally grew up with his behind-the-wheel antics. It was hard to figure if we should stretch, or warm up, or sign up, or hydrate, or or...

Once the race flagged it all started making sense again. Pace, breathe, think positively and focus. At a point midway through lap 1 I was able to look back at Zach who followed 20 yards back after a hairpin turn and holler an encouragement, and soon we had settled into rhythm, working to memorize the turns and climbs of the course to best save energy. Honestly these courses are more like a graduation exam as compared to the SAT. They test how well you can study something first go round and apply on subsequent problems. Downhill racing feels more like an aptitude test, just free usage of the skills you have.

I had an interesting battle for the finish line with a guy I never did get to chat with afterwards. 1/4 mile before the finish was a short but grueling climb to a water tower followed by a bumpy downhill into the infield. I had save my energy for this last section. I was passed by two riders heading up, and dipping into the last little bits of energy I stood up and re-passed one of them, and immediately got on the other riders rear wheel and tailed him down the downhill into the infield. Once the course widened, I whipped out to the side to pass, but he was riding off the course on that side and I was inching off course, so i swung back behind and down shifted for the last hairpin 20 yards before the finish. I tucked in really tight inside and got on the pedals as soon as I could. Once I did, the rider I was chasing gave a look back to the inside at me and immediately slammed straight into a small oak shrub on the side of the course. It was tremendously strange watching the little shrub shake violently as this rider rode straight into it. I sprinted to an 11th place finish.

I watched Zach come into the infield soon after, hot on the tail of another rider. I watched his arms loosely gripping the bars as he sprinted in for a 15th place finish, thinking about how many years he spent behind a pair of handlebars. It was a great day. Next weekend the rest of the team will be on hand for race two!