Cowbell Challenged

After such a detailed search for the right tires to ride in muddy conditions, (amazingly it turns out the weathermen were wrong yet again!), the course was as dry and dusty as a wagon train heading West. So no worrying about traction for this race.

My day started off very, very early. Up at 4:30 am to get some yummies in my tummy and some good old caffeine down the hatch before heading over to Tony's for the 2 plus hour drive to Davidson. We arrived at 8:15 giving us plenty of time to check in and get our PIT all prettied up for the long day ahead.

We had 6 racers in our PIT, Myself, Tony, Greg, Marcy, and Mark. We also had the best PIT boss, Sara, (my wife). Without her help with the bottle hand-offs and nutrition replenishment I would have been much further down the list of results.

Mucho Kudos for the PIT boss!!!

Back to the PIT...we had 2 tents which provided ample space and plenty of shade from the sun, (again many thanks to the weathermen for such accurate forecasting). Once we checked in and readied the PIT I donned my gear and warmed up a little...not that I was going to race like a Jack rabbit, I just wanted to get some blood flowing to my legs after the long drive.

We started up the road in a mass start with the Pros out front. This created a nice dust cloud once we were under way promptly at 10:00 am. So off we go to see what kind of challenge the Cowbell with throw at me.

First 3 laps I turned in a sub 40 min performance. Then things slowed a little and I started turning mid 40s until my first PIT stop after 6 laps. I just did a quick one of about 10 mins and headed right back out to get 2 more laps which I held the mid-40 pace. So I was feeling pretty good about being consistent with my pacing. Then I Pitted again for about 15 mins. Again just some off the saddle time and some refuel with something I could chew. After a while you need to have something other than liquid fuel. Then out again for another 2 laps. I did number 11 in the mid-40s again.

Coming in the timing shoot I asked what time mandatory lights on was again?

The guy there said 7:30 and after a quick look at my watch I figured I could turn one more before having to PIT and get my lights on. I slammed that one at 41 mins and was feeling a little spent. So I took a little longer in the PIT. Resting, getting my lights on, taking in some water and figuring out if I wanted to pick up another 1 or 2 laps.

My goal was to finish at least 12 laps so anything else was now icing on the cake. Sara, (The PIT Boss), told me that I was pretty close to 3rd place and after a quick check she came back and said I was already in third...HOLY CRAP! I had no idea who the other guy was that could take 3rd away from me so I had no way of knowing who to hunt down. Plus now it was getting dark and I wouldn't be able to find him out there anyway.

I noticed Greg, one of the other guys in our PIT, start to sneak out of the pit to turn another lap. Greg is behind me in the race by about 20 seconds so I know he is heading out to try and lap me and take my position.

I see how you want to roll man...So game on!

I roll up on him after about a mile and hang right where I can keep an eye on him. You see I'm behind him...BUT really I'm in front of him...see what I mean?? So I'm in the perfect position to at least keep my place in the standings.

So now we're about done with lap 13 and the race is called...WHAT? I guess they didn't like the added obstacle of dodging lightening strikes or something. Since I have no reason to conserve anything I just threw it into high gear and decided to blow past Greg and hammer it into the timing shoot....and I did!!

That felt good Greg..sorry!!

Now it's wait time until the last person is off the course so we can see if I place or just go home. Looks like I just go home this time. The guy who took 3rd from me did it by 2 mins and 31 seconds...duhoooow!

I guess I should have shortened that last PIT a little.

Now I know what to expect for next year and I'll be a wee bit more familiar with who's in my category so I know who the hell I'm supposed to chase.

But I had a great race. Loved the venue. See you out there next year!!