Finally...

One of my goals has been accomplished. No injuries. There was an accident but it wasn't much of an accident.

Lewis and Clark was a fun race, especially since I didn't do a pre-ride. That definitely gave an extra adrenaline factor since I didn't know what was around each turn. I was also a tad nervous about all the rain we received earlier in the week. I knew there would be some wet and tacky spots.

Out of the start I was third in the sprint to the entry to the trail. The beginning of the course reminded me of a Rube Goldberg machine of sorts. The "chute", as I like to describe it was incredible. A very nice downhill grade with no room to pedal; and one better keep their pedals horizontal or they are in deep trouble. I kept speeds a little slower than what I could have done, then again my goal was to walk away in one piece. A little bit after the last "chute" I was going a little too fast to make the 90 degree right turn. The back tire slipped out from underneath me and smacked the frame of the bike into a tree. The person right behind me had the same problem and landed right on top of me. Several other people behind us made it through and passed us.

The bike was fine, I was fine, it was time to keep pedaling. I took it a little slower for the rest of the course. There was one person who passed me, that I was able to catch up to and pass. Unfortunately he wasn't enough to get me back to where I was originally. There were a couple of spots I should have been going faster so I would have been able to make it up a hill, but I didn't have enough gas and I couldn't keep the back tire from slipping. So, I had to walk it up about 10 feet.

Nearing the end, there was the "cliff" area. I just kept seeing myself falling down the side of the bluff, but I took it slow and easy and made it to the infamous "Mount Never-rest". That section is aptly named. It's approximately a 200 meter climb up a 15%+ grade. I humped it with my bike at my side, there just wasn't enough gas in me to try to pedal the monster. Then ahead of me on the hill I see another person who passed me. He was near the top, so I turned on the afterburners and climbed like my life depended on it.

The lungs were on fire, the legs felt like molten lead but I kept it up. I reached the pinnacle and jumped on my bike. I knew the end was near and I was determined to make it up another placing. I came down the hill onto the pavement, there he was not more than 50 feet in front of me. I turned on the sprint. Alas, it wasn't enough, he crossed the finish one tire length in front of me. The final standing was 6th place. I was spent but I was so glad to walk away without injury just this once. :) After about a half hour of cooling down I wanted to go again, it's insane talk I know. However, common sense got the better of me and I just soaked in the fun and talked with others about the fun they had.

Congratulations to everyone who raced and finished. And a big thanks to all the organizers of the event, it was fun. Now it's time to get ready for BRAN which starts this weekend. This should definitely help build up my endurance.