2009 Cry Me A River 6hr, Little River --3rd

Enjoying a post race cold one, thanks Ben!

October 10th, 2009
Single Speed Class, 8 laps in 5:36:23, 8.28 mph, 46.4 miles.
Bike: Soul Cycles Hooligan (26" SS), 32:18 gears, IRC Mythos XC II tires.


My first ever 6hr race.  Decided to race SS on my fairly new Soul Cycles Hooligan.  Before this race, I had not driven a car 6 hrs, and my longest training ride was 4 hrs.  So I brought some Gatorade and some Payday bars and off I went.  After 3 laps I started to suffer.  I stopped for a short time every lap after three to stretch, eat, and drink.  Started Cramping after 4 laps.  Luckily Chris Danz from Performance saw I was suffering and gave me a Cliff Bar; it helped.  Never imagined I would come in 3rd.  Sweet!

Garner 4 Hour -- 2nd

September 20th, 2009
Duo w/ Kurt Dressler: 9 laps in 3:30:02

My first attempt at a team kinda-endurance-event.  I had planned on riding solo until my nemesis...I mean friend and XC competitor Kurt asked if I wanted to team up and try to win the male duo.  Both of us had high expectations (and maybe suffered from biggus cranius) coming off of our 1-2 series finish in the TORC XC series.  Though we were racing in the Beginner >35 division, our times were faster than the <35 Sport division, so we thought we had a chance.  Unfortunately we met Juan and Don who smoked us.  Kurt's laps were clearly faster than mine (only because he is actually faster than me), and despite me starting with the SS (32:17) and then switching to my geared FS, we took 2nd and had a great time.  Hey, some money was raised for the Garner EMS/Rescue and this race showed me I had a lot of work ahead of me to get ready for my 1st 6hr race.  That's a win-win in my book (or blog).

2009 Beaver Damn XC Race--4th

I am short and Kurt is tall.

Unfortunately, I came down with Swine Flu a couple weeks before this race.  I was bed ridden for a week, and was still recovering (no riding) the week leading up to this race.  Kurt took off like a bullet while I struggled the first lap, riding behind a group of guys for ~ 3 miles that I usually outpace by several minutes.  I even paused (after hitting a tree) during the race and thought about packing it in, but knew I would regret it.  From there, I gave it my all and ended up 4th.  Still, I was proud of how my first ever race series went and started to look forward to the upcoming Endurance Series.
Worth noting, this race finish gave me the cycle....after 5 races, I had placed 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th.  Weird!

2009 Race at the Reactor, XC Race at Harris Lake-- 5th

Took 1st for the Series.

The 4th race in the TORC XC Series.  Though Kurt Dressler beat me in two of the last three, due to 'trail-work' points, I had the series wrapped up.  We decided to ride in the Sport Class (Cat-2) >35 for the extra lap and to have our own race within a race (Kurt's Idea).  As usual, Kurt started fast but due to a taping/direction mishap by the organizers, I was able to catch him on the first lap and hold him off for the rest of the race (sorry Kurt, but I will take it!).  Took 5th overall and after 4 races, we each owned 2 victories.

2009 Huck-a-Buck XC Race at Crabtree--3rd

The 3rd race in the TORC XC series.  I knew who I had to beat, Kurt Dressler.  He started fast and just like the first two races, I would have to catch him; but unfortunately a total Sandbagger named Jimmy Vitelli got between me and Kurt.  I tried twice to pass him and twice he actually knocked me off my bike in order to keep his position, jerk!  Kurt took first and I ended up coming in 3rd by 2 seconds.  Afterwards, this Vitelli guy was bragging about all these other mtb and cyclocross races he had completed...this is the "beginner class" jerk!

Note: Same bike setup (Motobecane Fantom Team), but with Maxxis Larsen TT eXCeption tires.

2009 Chapel Hill XC Race--2nd

The 2nd race in the TORC series.  Rode the same bike set up, and this time I came in 2nd to Kurt Dressler, the guy who came in 2nd to me at Little River.  I was closing in on him fast, then endo'ed over a log skinny about a half mile from the finish.  Got on the bike and ended up in 2nd by ~20 seconds. A rivalry is born!

2009 Little River XC Race--1st

Winning!

My first ever race...AND I WON!  Rode the Motobecane Fantom Team with IRC Mythos II tires.  Nervous as all get-out, but won the Beginner >35 division.  Wow!

2009 January Mountain Bike Marathon--12th

Not an official race, just a "Training Ride" but my first ever event that required registration.  Rode my new Motobecane Fantom Team with 345g Kenda Klimax Tires.  Debilitation cramps caused a lot of walking the last 4 miles...finished in 3:39:20 (12th in 35-49, 28th overall).  A humbling learning experience that gave me the bug to try a real race.  What did I learn?  That I am not likely to come in last, and that is comforting.