A most excellent Chequamegon
Once again Chequamegon Fat Tire time rolled along . . . fall must be here! Chequamegon can be quite the roller coaster ride and I'm not talking about the hills. It's a big race here, attracts a lot of racers and comes near the end of the traditional riding/racing season. I'd be lying if I said it had always treated me well. I've had my share of disappointing days but I've also had my days where I've been treated kindly by the Fat Tire. That's the nature of the event but the good times always overshadow any disappointments and I would be crushed not to be on the start line on race day.
This year I would like to talk a little bit about other people's races first. I'll start with Dave. It's no secret that he's been having a good mountain bike season. For the first time in a really long time he's participating in the WORS series and has been doing pretty well in his age group. I knew that Dave really wanted a good result (top 10% or better). That can be hard to come by though when one minute can separate 20-30 riders. He had a good day luckily and he actually had his best finish in 11 years. He capped that off with 3rd overall in Sunday's Rough Stuff Rendezvous and brought home his very first piece of Chequamegon pottery.
(skinnyski photo) - Dave on Fire Tower Hill
Next I'd like to make mention of Jonathan Page's race win. I like to mention that since I played a very small role in that win (well, in getting him to the start line as the win was all him). You can read his race report to find out about his race. It was cool to see his win and get to share in the excitement of a Chequamegon victory. He and his family were super fun to hang out with afterwards as Cori is super fun and Emma and Milo are great kids (who my friends and I got super wound up so hopefully they fell asleep for the drive back to the Twin Cities after the awards ceremony).
(skinnyski photo) - Jonathan on Fire Tower hill
Now on to my race . . . . I've been super busy and feeling a bit stressed lately what with all the little race details (and their associated costs) and work travel and blah, blah, blah. Because of that I had asked to have my preferred start revoked as I wasn't riding and didn't feel like being up there but my request was rejected. Since you're not required to be at the preferred start area if you have a preferred start number I lined up about 3/4 of the way back in the field. Ironically two gals I know from skiing were doing their first Short and Fats and lined up right next to me. That was fun actually to bump into them and see them being all excited and nervous.
Finally the start gun goes but we're not moving and not moving and not moving and not moving. Finally a little moving but before long more stopping and not moving. Eventually slowly cruising along, starting to move, slowing. See aftermath of accidents that happened at the front. Finally we're kind of getting up to a better pace. I'm passing, passing, passing, passing. Looking for openings and making nice progress along the left side. It's quite fun as my heart rate is low and I'm really just getting an opportunity to warm up. The first hill is funny as people are already bogging down but I'm passing, passing, passing.
I really could go on forever like that. For the whole race I got to pass people. What could be more fun than that (it's a lot more inspiring than being passed the whole race). I'd sneak up on people and shout out a greeting. If I didn't recognize people they'd shout out a greeting to me as I went by. One gal I know let me know she'd just gotten a new cross bike as I was cruising by her at the aid station. So cool!
I also got to see awesome things . . . . a group of six tipping over like dominoes on a steep little tricky climb. Guys in carhartts, guys in tennis shoes, guys in really baggy cotton tshirts. Little kids, new racers, experienced racers. It's nice to see that there is such a love of cycling out there. I got to ride probably 4-5 miles with 2 brothers who were dueling it out for family pride -- one dominated the climbs and the other dominated the downhills. I kept going back and forth between them and making jokes about who was going to win. I got to high-five my friends Troy and Pam right before the last big hill up the backside of Telemark Resort. Amy D. told me I went "flying" by her with 7 miles to go (very kind but possibly overstated).
The funniest part of the race??? I actually finished only 3 minutes slower than last year and only a minute and a half off the podium for my age group. I think that training is overrated given that the years I trained seriously I finished about the same as I did this year. I have to say it was a super fun ride this year and just what I needed. And on Sunday I was the 4th woman overall in the Rough Stuff Rendezvous (and that was after waiting 24 minutes for Dave's start time so we could ride together). Icing on the cake of a fabulous weekend!
I'm already excited for next year . . . I'm planning a return to the 40 to celebrate my 40th birthday and to tick off my 10th (as mentioned previously I've done the 40 nine times and the short five times). I may regret that but the time has come to challenge myself on all those climbs again.
This year I would like to talk a little bit about other people's races first. I'll start with Dave. It's no secret that he's been having a good mountain bike season. For the first time in a really long time he's participating in the WORS series and has been doing pretty well in his age group. I knew that Dave really wanted a good result (top 10% or better). That can be hard to come by though when one minute can separate 20-30 riders. He had a good day luckily and he actually had his best finish in 11 years. He capped that off with 3rd overall in Sunday's Rough Stuff Rendezvous and brought home his very first piece of Chequamegon pottery.
(skinnyski photo) - Dave on Fire Tower Hill
Next I'd like to make mention of Jonathan Page's race win. I like to mention that since I played a very small role in that win (well, in getting him to the start line as the win was all him). You can read his race report to find out about his race. It was cool to see his win and get to share in the excitement of a Chequamegon victory. He and his family were super fun to hang out with afterwards as Cori is super fun and Emma and Milo are great kids (who my friends and I got super wound up so hopefully they fell asleep for the drive back to the Twin Cities after the awards ceremony).
(skinnyski photo) - Jonathan on Fire Tower hill
Now on to my race . . . . I've been super busy and feeling a bit stressed lately what with all the little race details (and their associated costs) and work travel and blah, blah, blah. Because of that I had asked to have my preferred start revoked as I wasn't riding and didn't feel like being up there but my request was rejected. Since you're not required to be at the preferred start area if you have a preferred start number I lined up about 3/4 of the way back in the field. Ironically two gals I know from skiing were doing their first Short and Fats and lined up right next to me. That was fun actually to bump into them and see them being all excited and nervous.
Finally the start gun goes but we're not moving and not moving and not moving and not moving. Finally a little moving but before long more stopping and not moving. Eventually slowly cruising along, starting to move, slowing. See aftermath of accidents that happened at the front. Finally we're kind of getting up to a better pace. I'm passing, passing, passing, passing. Looking for openings and making nice progress along the left side. It's quite fun as my heart rate is low and I'm really just getting an opportunity to warm up. The first hill is funny as people are already bogging down but I'm passing, passing, passing.
I really could go on forever like that. For the whole race I got to pass people. What could be more fun than that (it's a lot more inspiring than being passed the whole race). I'd sneak up on people and shout out a greeting. If I didn't recognize people they'd shout out a greeting to me as I went by. One gal I know let me know she'd just gotten a new cross bike as I was cruising by her at the aid station. So cool!
I also got to see awesome things . . . . a group of six tipping over like dominoes on a steep little tricky climb. Guys in carhartts, guys in tennis shoes, guys in really baggy cotton tshirts. Little kids, new racers, experienced racers. It's nice to see that there is such a love of cycling out there. I got to ride probably 4-5 miles with 2 brothers who were dueling it out for family pride -- one dominated the climbs and the other dominated the downhills. I kept going back and forth between them and making jokes about who was going to win. I got to high-five my friends Troy and Pam right before the last big hill up the backside of Telemark Resort. Amy D. told me I went "flying" by her with 7 miles to go (very kind but possibly overstated).
The funniest part of the race??? I actually finished only 3 minutes slower than last year and only a minute and a half off the podium for my age group. I think that training is overrated given that the years I trained seriously I finished about the same as I did this year. I have to say it was a super fun ride this year and just what I needed. And on Sunday I was the 4th woman overall in the Rough Stuff Rendezvous (and that was after waiting 24 minutes for Dave's start time so we could ride together). Icing on the cake of a fabulous weekend!
I'm already excited for next year . . . I'm planning a return to the 40 to celebrate my 40th birthday and to tick off my 10th (as mentioned previously I've done the 40 nine times and the short five times). I may regret that but the time has come to challenge myself on all those climbs again.
posted by MadCross at 12:50 PM
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