If you ask Michelle that is a first out of me, I always have something to say! So on Thursday, Michelle, Myles, and I made the trip to St George, Utah for the season opener of the NUE. We flew into Vegas and bolted right away before Myles became corrupted and had the urge to gamble. Travel was smooth and it was amazing to realize ho win the middle of no where Vegas is. We arrived into St George and moved into our lodging for the next couple weeks. Glad Michelle talked me into bringing our own espresso machine, cause this view every morning from our patio with a latte is not going to suck:)
So for the race. We started with pre ride on Friday and quickly realized that this was one of the most technical courses I have ever raced. Myles and I both crashed once during pre ride and Michelle broke he shifter. After pre ride I worked to fix Michelle's shifter but had no luck and she would not be able to race.
Race morning. We woke later than normal and pulled into the venue at around 6:20 PM for the 7AM start that actually ended up getting pushed back to 7:15 due to the lack of daylight. Good thing I am blind, cause it was still dark when they said go!! Luckily daylight broke just in time before we hit the barrel trail! At the start we immediately separated a lead group of 9 and were riding pretty hill until about 45 minutes into the race when Alex Grant decided to light it up a bit. With this being my first race, the fact it is March, and with the 85 degree temps expected later in the afternoon I decided to just ride my race and let them go. I went back and forth between 5th and 9th for the rest of the day and rolled into my third aid stop, and the start of the 2nd lap at about 4 hrs 45 min, with goose bumps, and hungry in 8th place. I spent a luttle extra time here, gt down a banana, a half bottle of Gatorade, and an oatmeal cream pie! MMMmmmmm! That is my new fix in the 100s. I rolled out of the aid in 7th spot and settled in for the 2nd lap. All seemed good till I had to get of to step over a cattle guard and both of my toes locked pointing straight down? Kind of hard to get back on your bike on your tip toes! I finally got back going and had to spin for about 5 minutes to get the cramps to go away. By the time I finally started riding well again Gerry Phlug had already passed me and offered some words of encouragement. I kept it steady up to the Barrel Roll trail and caught Gerry again on the first lap. Shortly after I caught him he flatted, which is a bummer! Luckily for me I had no mechanicals and was able to keep my body working for the entire race to come in for 7th place overall.
I was really happy with that for it being a March 100 mile race and the lack of riding that I have done due to being sick in January and the snow that keeps hammering Wisconsin. Next up is two weeks of riding in St George with various people popping in and out to to ride with us so I am excited to enjoy the weather and learn how to ride some of the technical trails around here!
More to come but I think it is time to sit on the patio and enjoy a 2nd latte!
