Bedford MTX #3 race report

Fun, Fast, Frenzied...did I mention Fun?
That sums up the last installment of the 2010 Bedford MTX Series. Coming into the race I was in second place in the standings...not t0o shabby for an old lady.

Earlier in the week I wasn't thrilled about racing..I'm not sure why, I just wasn't feeling it..that is until Friday evening. We joined some friends to celebrate a birthday in the group. A little birdy told me that one of the riders who was in contention for a podium spot was out for me. (all in good fun)...That's pretty much all of the motivation I needed going into Sunday's race.

Weather was perfect..mid-60's, slight breeze. The course was pretty dry with a few exceptions. We did a practice lap to get a feel for the course..It was gonna be fast...Kenny Palmer (race organizer & overall good dude) mentioned the expert men would probably pull 8.5 minute lap times..that meant I'd pull closer to 11 to 12 minute laps....it was gonna be a close one.

My buddy Jen & I took off at the start. We headed up a paved area, then dumped into a grassy area, then into the singletrack...yes..this race had singletrack...It was great!...After the singletrack section, we went back into the field where you could put it into high gear & just go. I loved my gears for this race.. Once out of the field, we went into another singletrack section...twists, turns, berms..fun fun fun...then back into the field....We crossed over a bridge and rode the semi-muddy/tacky section of the course. This is where I lost time b/c I was getting slightly bogged town. After the boggy section, we crossed another bridge & had to climb up a grassy hill.
I was hauling butt on my first lap. My goal was to hold off the "pain train" for as long as I could during the race. Getting 2-3 laps ahead of them would be ideal...As I came through the start/finish area on my first lap I checked the clock and came in just over 10 minutes. Wow! And the pain train had not started yet.

I hammered as hard as I could on my second lap then on to the third lap....I was riding hard but felt something bearing down on me...Pain train...or at least part of it. 3 of the boyz zoomed by me...then I rode alone for a bit...then the next one came by..then alone...then hubby went by, then alone,.then the last pain dude went by. It was more like the Pain train...followed by the "vomit comet"....Ok that's gross...but the last 3 members of Pain Train were hurting a bit.

I was starting to tire on laps 4&5....Just keep pedaling..no matter how much it hurts....That's what I kept saying to myself. As I headed down the grassy hill before the bridge, I caught a glimpse of my teammate Laura...Was I going to catch her? I pedaled harder to at least grab on to her wheel. As I got closer, we both caught up to Jen.....she was riding her new 29er..and looking good...we both passed...Laura pulled away up the hill..I eventually caught her on my 6th lap.....I passed by & she grabbed onto my wheel. We rode together for the last lap. I would pull away in the sections where I could gear up...but she would catch up each time once we hit the hillier sections. She rode my wheel all the way until we hit the last grassy hill. As a way to keep me moving b/c we didn't know where the Pain Train was..she said "race you up the hill"...I held her wheel for about 5 pedal strokes..then I was done.
As I crested the hill I noticed the pain train hanging out at the top....That meant I got 6 laps in & held them off....which meant I won the day's race! Woo Hoo

As Kenny tallied the results...he asked me how many laps I did...I honestly couldn't remember...it was either 5 or 6....but the pain train only passed me once...so I stayed 1 lap up on them. It turns out I was the only racer who completed 6 laps...That extra lap gave me the championship!..Woo Hoo! (again)....

If it wasn't for the handicapping format I wouldn't have had the opportunity to do as well as I did...I love the format as it gives slower riders the same opportunity as the experts and levels the playing field.
Fun race series this year..we had all types of conditions to contend with...snow, dark of night, and fast. I can't wait to do more of Kenny's races...Hopefully I haven't peaked too early in the season...