RACE REPORT: Fontana Dam Jam

So after my not so illustrious return to racing after a month off (including a bought with heat exhaustion, and 2 weeks in Europe), I decided on a whim to do my first mountain bike race in 14 years last weekend. Since I signed up for the Shenandoah 100 next month, I thought that this would be a good test to see how my body would react to a shorter effort. Being a cat 2 mountain biker, I wanted to see how I could perform and try to get an upgrade to the 1/Expert level.

My friend Rob gave me some advice before the race and suggested that I start conservatively. After the gun went off I followed wheels until the first technical singletrack section where I ended up slipping into the lead before being overtaken during the technical descent. I decided to hang with the Northstar rider, but got a little antsy once the second road climb began. As I cruised into the lead I rocketed over the top of the climb, only to realize that I missed the turn back onto the trail! After realizing what I had done, I turned around and headed back up the climb to the woods. 4 minutes later I was back in the race and thinking about how I was going to explain this to my friends that were watching.

Going into the second lap I decided to give it everything that I had on the second lap and see if I could get back near the front of the race. Coming into the 3rd lap a rider said, "keep it up, you're about 2 minutes behind the leader!". Woah! I thought that maybe I had a chance! I went as hard as I could into the last lap up the early climb, and kept pushing down the descent into the second (dirt) climb. I saw the leader halfway up the climb and focused on staying smooth and conserving a little bit of energy before I caught the leader. I overtook him going through a technical section and went hard to gap him up the same climb that I went off course! I finished about a minute ahead, and thankfully didn't have to use any of those excuses that I thought up as I picked my way back through the field . . .

Celebrating with a Highland brew!

Thanks to: Highland Brewing (who's beer I enjoyed after the race), Trek & Bontrager (the Top Fuel rocked!), Liberty Bikes (great pre/post race support), Rudy Project (lid & shades), Honey Stinger (fuel), Swiftwick (check out the sweet recovery socks!), PML Pathology, Mosaic Realty, Carmichael Training Systems, Dr. Steve Miller DDS, Crossfit Brevard, Joe Lilly Photography, and Affordable Home Inspections.

Results:

* XC-2 (30-39) 11:09:22 AM 22.50 miles
1 676 LARSEN CHRIS ALE P/H HIGHLAND BREWING
2 670 EDWARDS CHAD NORTHSTAR BICYLES
3 648 PELTZER CARL SKELETON CREW
4 674 SCHMIESING DAN TVB
5 675 VARNER JEFF MOCK ORANGE RACING
6 665 RICE CLINT
7 607 CARMICHAEL LEE
8 677 DUNWOODY LADD
9 672 HENSLEY MIKE CYCLE THERAPY
10 609 NOISETTE BRENT