USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships: July 20-22

This adventure is much different that the spontaneous trip to Sonoma last year, driving straight from Deer Valley after qualifying. Flying everything out to the east coast is a bit of an ordeal, flying with bikes and spending a couple of weeks out here. I actually flew out early on Sunday the week prior (July 15th) with Tim and my bikes and headed to Albany, NY to meet Brett Nichols and then on to Wilmington to meet my parents and niece and nephew who had driven from MN. I had a delay out of Atlanta and a bit of a rental car debacle, but we made it. Mom and Dad had rented a condo for a week, so we settled into our new 'home' until Saturday. Brett and I rode the course on Monday and Tuesday in sunny and dry conditions. It was awesome. There was however, rain in the forecast, and not just a little bit. It was going to make things very interesting. We took Wednesday off and then rode the course on Thursday when it was semi-slick, but Friday was race day. The course was going to be even more slick as the rain continued to come down. Tim arrived on Thursday evening and my dad went to retrieve him from Albany later than expected due to delays, but not too bad. I was able to get to bed at a reasonable hour, b/c the next day was race day...

Race day #1: Friday, July 20, 2007: Cross Country
We headed to the venue pretty early and started to get ready. Tim got registered and rode the course and I headed to the Cannondale tent and started warming up on the trainer. It has been a while since I have raced and getting on a trainer seemed somewhat foreign. Was I ready? for this? Rumor had it the course was going to include a lot of walking sections that were no longer rideable. Not even for the best riders. Race time was 2:00 p.m. I had a surprisingly good call up. I was in the second row right behind Sue Haywood. Out of the gate, I heard everyone cheering for "Sue", so I pretended it was me. I had a fairly good start, but it was another story when we hit the single track. It was a free for all. And once someone crashes in front of you, you are pretty much screwed. I flailed a bit, but eventually found my rhythm. It was hard, especially when you were forced off your bike to walk for at least a quarter of a mile in sloppy, slippery mud. This was a section you could ride on Thursday. How things had changed. But I plugged away and eventually finished 16th. I had no major crashes, just little stupid ones. I experienced a bit of calf cramping and problems getting into my pedals and one good knock into my right leg. I am sitting here icing it while I type. It hurts more than I thought. Well, there is still short track and Tim races tomorrow. Looking forward to supporting him at 8 a.m.

My first finish at Nationals as a pro: 16th place

Race Day # 2: Saturday, July 21, 2007: Tim's XC w/ me in the feed zone

After getting Tim to the venue, I took a short spin and then met him at the start gate. It wasn't looking good, b/c he didn't get there early to get a great position. Oh well. We thought he would get a call up, b/c he was ranked so high in the NMBS, but he didn't. No worries. By the climb, he had worked his way up to third from what I could see from down below. I headed up to the feed zone and there I waited. And waited. And waited. I kept looking for him and the guys with a 9 written on there leg came and went, then 10's and 11's and then the women came. Hmmm? Where was Tim? I started to panic a bit and then worry that he would be in the medical tent. I started walking my way back on the course to try to find him. It was probably a mechanical, but I was worried and disappointed for him. Eventually Brett and I saw a guy walking his bike and sure enough, it was Tim. He had a flat in the front. The tire blew off the rim and so much mud and gunk got in there, that it would re-seed and he ran out of air before he could get a tube in there. The race was over for him. But he remained in good spirits and was looking forward to short track.

Tim getting ready to give 'er! His great start didn't pay off in this one.

Race Day #3: Sunday, July 22, 2007: Short Track

My race was not until 5 p.m. A long wait for a short race, but Tim raced at 10:45. I drove to the venue and he rode up there, then I got ready and went for a short spin prior to his race. And then I got my yell on. Tim had a great race. It was open 30+ and there were 26 guys in the race. Tim was the last one to not get pulled and he finished 10th. Only seconds separated the winner from the rest of the pack, so it was a good race and very fun to watch. It got me excited for my race.

The day drug on and by the time Brett raced, I was so antsy, I needed to get out and went up to the venue a bit early to cheer him on too, to an 8th place finish. Our race was now less than 2 hours away. I could pretend to start getting ready. Tim was on his way to the airport with my dad, so he was not going to be there.

I warmed up by taking a few laps, hopping on the trainer and then back on the course for a few more laps before the staging. Again, I had a great call up and lined myself in the second row between Georgia and Shonny. I actually had a moment to reflect and think about where the heck I was and just marvel in the fact that never in a million years did I think I would be standing in that very spot. It was kind of amazing. But then it was time to get ready to fight my way through the half hour of pain. The gun went off. It wasn't my best start, b/c I was in the wrong gear, but recovered o.k. The leaders were already off the front and I fought to grab a wheel and stay in. And stay in I did. For the second time this season, I finished a short track race and this was a short short track. When I saw Frosty there with the 1 to go sign, I couldn't believe it. I finished in 13th. And I didn't get lapped. That in itself was quite an accomplishment. And with that, the weekend of racing was over. I was able to enjoy watching the men, cheering on fellow Oregonians.

Me, Emily & Cass post Nationals celebration

Race afterthoughts: Mt. Snow proved to be more of a mountain biking venue vs. some races when you are just riding mountain bikes. I had set some high goals for myself, which I did not reach, but I have to step back and realize that for my first year, I did well. It was great having my mom and dad and niece and nephew there. Abi and Alec were the best cheerleaders ever! I heard them each lap of the short track. It was fun. And isn't having fun what this is all about...

My "Bear Naked" kids: Abi & Alec