Burn 24 hours

This was our home away from home for the 2009 Burn 24 hours held in Wilkesboro, NC.  

The course was the same as last year...a little climbing on the front side & lots of fun, fast, bermed turns, downhills on the back side. 

350 riders were signed up.   Roanoke Cycling sent 2 teams of 4 riders each down for the event.   

Our team did a rotation of 1 lap each, then Skippy pulled doubles.  I felt good on my first couple of daytime laps.  As we progressed into the nightime hours we decided we'd all pull double laps.  When it came to be around 1:30 or so, I was hanging out waiting for my turn when the skies opened up & dropped some nice rain showers upon the riders.  I decided to head back to the tent & get my jacket.  I ventured back out on course and had a really rough time.  The roots were slick, I was overheated, & I had a rock in my shoe. At one point I sat down off of the trail to get rid of the rock when Dave (he was on the other RCO team) came by & asked if I was ok....I said I was, just having a rough lap.  The following lap was much better as the rain had subsided & I could lose the jacket.    I headed back to the RV to sleep until my next daytime lap. I don't really know if I slept all that well...I never sleep well in new enviroments and this would be true for this race.   I headed back out for my 7:00 am. lap.  This was probably my fastest lap.  I felt great..legs were strong I was flying.  I should have pulled a double when I got back & my teammate was having mechanical issues...We got him fixed up & off he went.    We debated about sending a last rider out before the cutoff, but we realized it would only move us up one place in the standings & it had started to rain again..so it wasn't worth risking injury. 

Overall we had a great time. Our team came in 9th while the other RCO team came in 4th.  Dave pulled the fastest lap of all of the RCO gang...something like 38 minutes...That's moving!

I can't wait to do another one...(as soon as I get over the crud I caught from riding in the rain all night...yuk)

Ah, this is the life

When the time comes for me to "retire" from racing this is how I'd love to spend my days.  Relaxing on a quiet beach or pursuing my other passion:  Golf

Douthat Race

This is how I spent my day on Sunday at Douthat.

It was rainy & cold & the trails were a mess.  The double XC race was delayed by 1 hour.  Then the regular XC race (the one I was signed up for ) was postponed for a later date.  I had about 5 hours to kill so I hiked a little, then I came back to Adam's Winnebago, read a little, and slept for an hour.  I woke up in time to see the first finishers of the double XC.  

Hubby had 4 flats..not a good day.   

 

Enjoy the pics.  

Pics from Roadie Ride

We headed out the parkway on Saturday for a climb up Bent Mountain. There are some great views this time of year....although it was proably 10 degrees colder at the top.....made for a chilly descent down the mountain...brrr. Total Miles: 42

6 hours of Warrior Creek

Packed in tight

Clarence gets ready for bed

set up camp

Team RCO - what a motley crew

Laura & I on the first lap

Transition to Gina

Chillin between laps

Jen getting ready to go

Gina down the home stretch

Pooped

Pooped

Chicky's Rock! 1st place 3 person Female team!

Ugh

spent 2 hours on the trainer yesterday. It's been raining for the past few days. Usually my limit is 45 minutes. I was amazed I did 2 hours. Watching movies on the computer really helps pass the time. 2 weeks ago I did 2 hours on Saturday & 2 1/2 on Sunday. It's just not the same as getting out there & riding. We'll try to do Mill Mountain today...sun is out, temps are in the mid 60's...it'll be muddy but at least we'll be outside.

Asheville Pics

Stylin

Gave it away

Today was the 3rd & final race of the Bedford Mountain Cross Series. It would be a muddy mess given the fact it rained all day Saturday & when I got up this morning, it was snowing & cold. We checked the web site & the race was still on. Unfortunately I would not be participating. I've been fighting this upper respiratory thing for about a week now & today it decided to move up into my head. Took an antibiotic the first 5 days of it,...but it did nothing. Now I've moved on to Dayquil, Niquil, and started Theraflu today. Nothing's working. Can't get in to see my doctor until Thursday (that's the first "sick visit" she has available) Yuk...coughing, hacking, sneezing, taking inhaler shots...repeat sequence. I wanted to race but like my hubby said...it's March...It's early...why risk getting sicker than I already am. I probably would have had the series wrapped up...although hubby insists he would have caught me today. Oh well...I guess I'll never know.
My buddy Laura called me on her way home wondering what happened to us. She said it was a very short course, but extremely muddy. Basically you'd climb, then descend, then climb, then descend. I think Scott Schleckman (sp?) ended up winning the whole thing......
I'm not happy about it....but what can I do? I've been pouting all day...just ask hubby. He's taken the brunt of my grouchiness..... Oh well...back to the couch...for a bit.
Congrats to the participants who braved today's weather. There's always next year's series...