Cohutta 100-Bad Start/Good Finish

The Cohutta 100, a race I have been eagerly awaiting for several weeks took place Saturday April 9, 2008. Diana and I traveled down on Friday so we could have time to look around and so I could preride the course. After arriving I hooked up with Van who graciously gave me a tour of the race course. Van and I rode ~ 2.5 hours on some of the best single track I have ever ridden. While at the venue I picked up my packet and talked with several other Ashevillians that were doing the race, Will Black (eventuall ss winner) and David Hall. It was great to see the familiar faces.

After the preride Van and I headed home where we had lunch and talked with Diana and Whitney. Good time spent with 2 great people. Van and Whitney loaded up and set for Atlanta. I set out for the porch swing. I was only going to rest for a while but ended up falling asleep for an hour or so, recovery nap! Woke up starving, I recalled seeing a Mexican restaurant on our way back from the venue so we made our back to the town and had a nice Mexican meal.

My best traveling buds(andy,cara) arrived @ ~ 9 pm. We sat and chatted a while and then it was off to bed with the alarms set for 4AM!!I slept really well which is very unusual for me on a night before a race. I am usually like a kid on the night before Christmas, nervous and excited.

Alarm goes off @ 4 am!! I am outta of the bed and in the shower. I feel great,I cook some oatmeal and roast some potatoes and eat my prerace meal. We load up the cars and it is off to the race.
We arrive at the venue in complete darkness, I fumble around and check and double check every thing. The race is about to begin. The 100 milers go off then the 65 milers then the 35 mile group which is the race I am doing. We line up and I am ready to go, my plan is to hit the 3 mile climb hard and fast. The whistle blows and we are off! I go hard I am doing well then a wave of naseau comes over me. I am going backwards a small voice says" you don't want me to catch you" I thought it can't be, no way but it was. Cara had caught me and as she pulled up beside me asked if I was ok, I am not sure of my reply but I am sure it was not my usual"this is going to be a great day" reply. I sped up and did not lose any more places on the climb.

After we crested the top of the climb we hit the single track. The lactic cleared from my legs I started feeling better and was very angry. I started attacking the course, accelerating out of the corners attacking the rollers and anyone that was in front of me. The course was awesome a little damp in places but a super course. I had no idea what place I was in, I just knew I had to pass as many people as I could. I saw a lot of carnage along the trail, both man and machine. Each time I thought hmm one more place.

My race progressed well as I had not been passed the entire race. Then came the gravel road decent. At the top of the gravel road I was the 6th 35 miler at the bottom I was 8th. I lost 2 places on the gravel road decent (it is odd what goes through your mind in a race but on the decent I was hoping a friend that had an unfortunate accindent on such a decent would make it down safely).Luckily there was a climb on double track after the decent which allowed me to overtake the 2 that had passed and put them into difficulty. I rode a hard tempo @ LT and put time into the riders that passed me. I needed this cushion in case there was another decent in which case they would make the time back. I do not go down hill very fast.

I held the 2 at bay and picked up one more place as I passed a guy fixing a flat. From here it was on to the finish line. An awesome downhill dumped me on to the pavement then over the bridge, up the road and to the finish. Wow, what a race.

I rode around to cool down and then went to watch for Cara to finish. While talking to Andy Johnson and waiting for the women riders to come in I heard that voice again: " I told you I would beat you" I looked around and it was Cara. I immediately looked for gauze, missing teeth, first aid tape a sling or some other type of first aid paraphanlia. Not seeing any of these I asked if she had a mechanical and the answer was no, she had watched a lady crash and did not want to experience the same fate and decided to call it a day. I thought this was a wise decision. You really need to have your mind in the right mode in a race of this calibre.

I rode to the campground, showered, washed the bike and came back to the car where I changed clothes and sat down to rest. I was very tired. I did get up and walk over to see the results. The posting took a while but this gave me time to eat, rest socialize etc. The results were posted and I had WON the 50 + category I was very excited,actually I still am excited,to feel so bad and end up doing so well feels really great.

Overall a great weekend, my only regret: I was to knackered to come back over to the course to see Andy and Jason finish. Sorry guys us 50 year olds need our warm milk and naps!

A great weekend spent with some very good friends, oh yeah plus a great breakfast with Amber my daughter on Sunday!

"TSALI"

Tsali, the crown jewel of eastern moutain bike racing. What a great race! Diana and I headed over Sunday morning for a day picnicing and mtn bike racing, and socializing with some friends.

It was great to see Eric (cyclocross) and my old friend Martin Visser. I had not seen Martin in a "coons age" (thats a long time in southern terms). Martin told me he had injured his ankle and had been working on his house, hence the absence from cyclocross the previous fall. I thought hmmmmmmmm maybe he has not had time to train and this could be my chance to beat him. Needless to say Martin has kept his priorities in the proper perspective and has not let the injury or the house project get in the way of his training.

The race started with myself , Martin and some other guy off the front. Martin came around me closed the gap on the other guy and passed him. I closed the gap on the unknown rider and passed also. I stayed within sight of Martin for a while then Martin rode off and left me. Coming back around to the start line and with 5 miles to go I had a solid 2nd place, unfortunately I flatted . I had a heck of a time getting the tire off and by the time i was back on the bike I had lost 3 places. I pedaled hard hoping I could retake at least one place but to no avail. I finished in 5th place. Needless to say very disappointed, where's the cheetos?

After the race we all went down to the Lake to wash ourselves and our bikes. The Saturday rain made the course a bit tacky. The trails drain well but you have these huge mud holes you have to ride through. This tends to become very messy.

Nate had a similar race riding strong the first lap then having some mechanical issues but putting in a good finish. The Sycamore guys had a strong team putting 3-5 racers in the top ten in the pro/semi pro division. Sam rode away from everyone and won the overall.

All in all a great day!!!!