Regardless, I knew that the Wednesdays at Wakefield series existed and that seemed like a more than reasonable goal - after all, it was nearly a year off. At some point during all this internal musing I found out about the Monster Mash - a charity race on 10/10.
Om nom nom nom
The beginning of October though? It's mid-September already. There was no way I could get in shape for a race in 2-3 weeks - charity or not. I mean Bruce and I were doing our usual Tuesday night rides where he would regularly kick my ass. A race would be a whole different thing. I know it's not supposed to be - this isn't a livelihood nor even something I "do." It should be no pressure but I'm not the type. I'd be bitter if I came in last. Or vomited.
I decided to make a deal with myself. After some digging around on more-mtb.org I found the course map. Armed with this and the lap times from last year, I decided to run a lap and time myself. If I was completely off the pace I wouldn't enter, but if I ran an OK time I would.
The following Saturday I hit the course. I tore through familiar territory (if not in the usual sequence that Bruce and I do it) at what I thought would be race pace and without our usual stops to talk. I hit the finish line heaving and looked at my watch.
21 minutes.
Crap. I was both pleased that I could finish in a reasonable time and disheartened at the amount of effort expended to complete just one lap when the race would demand two. Not a lot of training time between now and race day.
But I kept at it. More riding days and harder ones. Bruce continued to punish me - albeit in unintentional ways. I would feel like I was getting faster and then we would go out and he would still be on my wheel the whole time.
Going into the week before the race I was amped. I had only played team sports growing up (except for climbing where the only competitor is internal), so the prospect of actually racing was a novel one. By Friday though I was back to nervous mode. Friends at work were surprised in how this anxiety manifested itself (for those of you scoring at home, the answer is 3 (low to be sure - I was as surprised as anyone)).
I slept surprisingly well the night before the race. Got up early, ate a solid breakfast, got in the car and hit play for the Monster Mash playlist on my iPod.
I slept surprisingly well the night before the race. Got up early, ate a solid breakfast, got in the car and hit play for the Monster Mash playlist on my iPod.
"Gimmie Some Lovin'" by the Spencer Davis Group.
This is a very good sign.
I was at Wakefield by 8:30 for a 9:30 start time. I picked up my bib number, stretched for an inordinate amount of time, and then began my warm-up ride. Easy cruiser stuff on the river trail and then into the blue loop. Not hard by any means but more attention needed to be paid. The rain the night before and slicked things up and I certainly didn't want to crash warming up of all things. After 1/2 hour I'd just about had enough and just wanted to get started. I hit the start line around 9:20 and found the beginners group.
Easy enough to find them - huddled up in the back like a bunch of 7th graders at a dance.
For those reading that don't know (and I count myself among you until recently) they stage races likes these in waves. Experts run first, then sport a minute behind, then beginners another minute behind etc. In this way you can get a lot of racers on the course without slower groups interfering with faster groups and given even the slowest of lap times, it's unlikely that anyone will get lapped.
So I was way in the back. Actually too far back at it turned out. What we thought was a race class ahead of us turned out to be the less nervous beginners who didn't want to huddle near the back. All told it ended up being a field of 31 - though it felt much bigger. Especially as a first-time racer.
It was also funny - each person eyeing up the opposition trying to figure out if you were faster than them. I heard one guy behind me say that he had just ridden Wakefield for the first time a few days ago and it had scared him silly. I figured I could at least beat him. In truth though, that really impressed me. I ride every week at Wakefield and had no confidence in my ability to race and this guys signs up having never ridden off-road before. I should have more of his attitude.
Helped that I had the correct inspiration on my bike.
Only a Mille Bornes Hall of Fame member would have the temerity to do this
Luckily I ended up being on the left side of the trail as it affords the best line up the start hill that would weed out the pack.
And suddenly we were off. I remember having this "holy crap I'm racing" thought as I clipped in my left foot and started cranking. Bizarre riding with that many people.
The pack was still thick as we hit the hill and started to quickly thin out as racers got on non-optimal lines or had racers in front of them spin-out and stop on the loose gravel. I manged to keep my line until close to the top when I had to bob and weave around a few riders that lost traction. I hit the downhill to the powerlines close to the front of the field, though stuck behind riders going slightly slower than I would have liked (especially on a downhill).
I hit the always less than fun Salamander trail still in good position and just tried to get though it as fast as possible and not lose any time. A group of around five of us (hard to know how many were close behind) crossed the bridge and came on the only log crossing of the course. There is a way around but it's much slower so we all lined up to clear it. The leader of our group pulled up and then just completely endoed over it in a spectacular fashion. The two riders behind him had to stop but the rider in front of me and I were just far enough behind to swing around the alternate trail and head up the hill.
An easy downhill followed and then back onto doubletrack for a bit before the creek trail. I grabbed some water and made sure to stay on pace with the rider in front of me. I also felt someone on my wheel, we'll call him Patrick because, as it turns out, that's his name. He wasn't trying to pass but definitely stayed on my wheel throughout.
The river trail was fun as always and hitting the double track again, Patrick and I were still hot on the next rider. Back onto singletrack through the woods and then out onto the powerlines and the newly refurbished race trail. I kept up a steady pace through here and things were going well until we caught a rider from a previous wave who had stopped on the mini-climb before the longer powerline climb. We came to a dead stop. There was some clusterfuck-ery as I offered to let Patrick pass which he either declined or didn't act quickly enough and then I was back on and pedaling away. But the nonsense had cost me as I would catch sight of the rider ahead periodically but never in a position to pursue (though, as it turned out, he only finished 12 seconds ahead. I guess the lesson to learn here is you might be surprised how close people are in front/behind you).
Up the powerline trail, across, and back down and through the woods. Through the mini-berms and the up the switchback climb. I climbed relatively well but was knackered by the top so I pulled over to let Patrick pass as I figured that by this time I was just holding him up.
Down the berms which were fun as always.
Eye of the tiger. Body of a manatee
The course then took what I thought was a weird turn by not going left across the creek but back into the woods and then back out with a tough turn to maintain at speed.
Another awkward turn across the creek and then along the trail next to 495. I made sure to mash down my gears as I crossed the stream into the finish climb. We passed someone on this climb but I have no idea what class he was racing in.
One more thing that surprised me about the race course is that after the finish climb the course went back into the woods instead of staying on the fireroad. I came back out of the woods and the end of lap 1 to see Jennifer and Lauren cheering for me which was just awesome.
Less waving more fucking pedaling Daddy!
- Lauren
Patrick was still only a few seconds in front of me as we went back into the trees for a fun descent then an easy climb to the top the gravel road that had served to weed out the pack at the beginning of the race.
I just kept on Patrick's wheel as he was going at the same pace as me and I didn't want to pass if I was going to just get re-passed at some future point. I think I felt like if the opportunity presented itself I would take it but wasn't going to push the issue.
We skipped the log the racer had wrecked on before as there was no pressure from behind and I suspect that neither of us wanted to make a stupid mistake. We cruised on like that until the top of the powerline climb when I risked a look back and didn't see a soul on the climb coming up. I think at that point I finally relaxed and realized that barring some horrible wreck the rest of the race was going to be easy as there was no one to catch up to and no one who would catch me.
I made sure to stay on Patrick's wheel as I was hoping that I would magically get some passing energy or that he would falter in some way that I could take advantage of. Sadly, neither happened. I tried to gun it for the final sprint to the finish on the fireroad but you're on it for such little time there just wasn't enough room. The official results show us as tied as they were only timing down to the second but Patrick's wheel hit the line first.
Stupid Patrick finishing before me
No, wait. Here he is
I knew I had done reasonably well but was thrilled with the final result.
| Place | Bib # | Name | Lap 1 | Lap 2 | Time |
| 10 | 141 | Brian Connors | 22:00 | 23:36 | 45:36 |
That's the honest version of the results with Patrick in 9th
Jennifer and Lauren came running over to congratulate me which was great.
Lauren is the non big fat load on the right
Having been in one anther's company for the past 45 minutes, Patrick and I then introduced ourselves to one another. I think we were both equally tired and glad not to be battling with one another.
Somewhat (OK, very) pooped. But happy
While I'm not going to miss the pre-race anxiety, I'm genuinely sorry it's over. It was a complete obsession for three weeks and not having it to look forward to anymore was kind of a letdown. I had a ridiculously good time and I'm completely looking forward to racing again (Dave and Bruce, you totally should have entered). The only unfortunate thing is now I have a set of expectations.
I think I may have the bug.
As always, thanks to Jennifer for her support and for coming out with Lauren on race day. It was beyond great seeing you as I went by. And to Bruce for his constant reassurance of "you're gonna be fine man."
