Deja Vu

Liberty Mountain Race Report

I was hoping to have a better race than last week's but it was not to be. The course was 18 miles w/ close to 5000 feet of climbing...most within the first half of the race. It was another mass start but the field spread quickly. Laura got out ahead of me from the start...but I was only a couple of riders back & figured we had a long way to go so I was content to hang there.

As we came upon the first bridge crossing, I hollered to Laura.."go...you got it"....Unfortunately she thought otherwise. As she's pulling her bike out of the way I heard this tiny voice say "I can't".. She soon caught back up & then proceeded to blow by me on the first fireroad climb.

I wasn't worried..my goal was to just keep her in my sights through the race & we'd be fine.

About 6 1/2 miles in, we started a descent. As I bombed down the hill I noticed Laura off to the side of the trail wrapped around a tree facing the other direction. She was ok..just a bit twisted up. I continued bombing down until the intersection. I came to a complete stop...the course ribbons were down & I wasn't sure which way to go. My instinct told me to go left..which I did...I pedaled about 10 pedal strokes when some dude came flying the other direction. I figured I went the wrong way so I turned around & followed him..went back through the intersection and pedaled on. As I went..I had a feeling it was incorrect, so I turned back around & pedaled the other way...again. As I came to the intersection, the course markings were back up & I had to crawl under the course ribbon. Two guys were coming down the hill...I asked if I was going the right way & they said yes. I was pretty upset b/c I probably lost 4 minutes going back & forth. One of the guys told me...well just hope for a mechanical & you might catch your competition.
I thought..fat chance buddy...Laura never has mechanicals.......We rode on...at one point the trail parallels a fireroad climb...that's where I saw Laura climbing..I was going to yell to her to back off since I was behind her...but I didn't have time.

I plodded on..hoping to catch a glimpse of her..but it was not to be. Around 12 miles in, we crossed a ridge & I heard a strange humming sound...Power lines? No...swarming bees...they were about 20 feet off of the trail....I went as fast as I could to get away....I still have bad flashbacks to Danville & the bee incident.

Around 15 miles in, my legs were seizing up. I had to stop at one point to get a gu down & drink some fluids....the climbs were killing me..I was on the verge of cramping most of the race...towards the end, I walked every climb b/c I was so tired & I knew I wouldn't catch Laura.

At the end w/ less than a mile to go, the course tape was down again...I ended up going the wrong way again!!!!...Very Frustrating. I finally made it back in..I have no idea what my time was I know I lost close to 5 minutes, maybe more as a result of being misdirected again.

The cool part was I got to rub elbows w/ pro rider Jeremiah Bishop..Too Cool

Here's a pic of Laura, Jeremiah & me

MW race...

Blech...today was the 4th installment in the Virginia Derailer Series. Weather was hot...90's and it's mid-September!..Geez.
I wasn't feeling it this race. I went for an easy spin yesterday on the road bike & my legs were killing me. I don't know if it was a result from my riding earlier this week..(Mill Mtn Tuesday..lots o' climbing, intervals on the trainer Wednesday, Cove ride on Thursday going a little harder than I wanted too.....a lot of time on my feet on Saturday (shopping & other errands.....I noticed my legs hurt then too).. or it could be I'm still getting over my case of "walking bronchitis" which started over Labor Day weekend...I coughed for 7 nights straight, finally saw my doctor, got some good anitbiotics..but my chest still isn't clear.
Anyway...you have good races & not so good races...this was to be a not so good race. Boo!

We started off and immediately climbed..and climbed...and climbed. I had forgotten how much climbing was at the start of this race. Then, myself and about 5 or 6 others were told to go the wrong way on course. We did not realize our error until we had ridden an extra mile & 1/2 or so and we were getting passed by experts pretty early on. This would affect the outcome of the entire sport women's race...as the majority sport women were with me when we were misdirected. 2 of the sport girls & I debated on what to do at the end of our 1st lap. the officials told us we had to finish but we explained to them at that point we had only done 1 official lap. We decided to be "official" we should do a second lap. At this point I mentally checked out of the race & went into "just ride" mode. plus I was overheated, and my legs had no power.
As the three of us rode, we chit chatted as girls do...we decided at the end of the race we would all finish together to get the same time...and to basically "protest" (I don't know if you can do that in our little series...but we let them know we were not happy)
Our total mileage was around 10.62 miles...where as the regular race was 8.85 miles..(that's according to the readings on my Garmin & my hubby's Garmin)..so we did a little extra..close to 2 miles extra...
Overall I got 2nd in Female SS.....Surly girl was riding waaaaaay strong...killing it on the 1st climb so she got a much deserved 1st place. I didn't get to see her the rest of the race once we got off course .
In hindsight I should have followed my instint & turned where I thought we should turn instead of listening to the race "officials"...I've done this race for a few years now...so I knew better. Oh well..hindsight is 20-20....no biggie....just gotta put this one behind me & prepare for Lynchburg next week.
I think I'll go have a beer now.
Cheers!