It was TERRIBLE—one of the worst of the season. And I have no real explanation why. It just was. Of 17 finishers I was 16; that is a little perspective. Any way, the whole Pro field started together men and women. They did all the call-ups and I was at the back of the pack—where I obviously belonged. The course started with essentially a 30 minute climb. I tried to keep a good position but I lost it on the dirt road. Maybe I went out too hard. Once on the single track I felt okay. I went down as someone passed me. It was entirely my fault. I yielded the trail a bit and somehow when I came back on the single track I hit a rock and fell over. I landed on my shoulder, but it was not big deal.

At about an hour into it, I realize that my arms are done. My triceps, biceps, deltoids, all were so fatigued. I do have a tendency to get nervous and clench the handle bars, but this was far worse than ever. I am talking the end of a strenuous 100 miler bad. This overwhelming fatigue set in just before a very technical, lengthy down hill—the type of descending where I would need a lot of control from my upper body. I made it down safely but it was slow and I bumbled tons. I even got off and walked a couple sections. This is stuff I could normally ride smoothly, but I just did not have it. I would get excited to start climbing for about 15 seconds and then my legs would remind me that they were not working either. I fell off my bike for the second time, but this time I was able to dismount and not go down. One time I ended up behind my seat and only clipped in with one foot. I tried to pull myself forward remount over the seat as is done in a normal descent, but that is really hard with only one foot on a pedal. Has anyone ever accomplished that before?

By two hours in, I thought about crying. I was within 5 miles of the finish, but I had no idea what those 5 miles were like. (Note: We pre-rode the first half of the course. In retrospect we should have done the second half.) Chris—who started 30 minutes behind me—came up and pats me on the back on a climb. He asks if I need anything. I tell him no. I spent sometime thinking of my response after he pedaled off and whether it was appropriate and honest. I don’t know what I needed but I did need something. I would never ask him sacrifice his race for me though.

It took me a long, lonely 2 hours and 30 plus minutes. I hated it all. Not because the course was not good, but I was not good. I felt terrible after the race for several hours—light headed, nauseous at times, freezing with the occasional hot flash etc. And I am not menopausal.

The highlights of the weekend were spending time with Chris’ family who came down to watch. I always enjoy spending time with them. I wish I would have had a better race for them to experience though. And then we rode Gooseberry Mesa on Monday with Tim. That was pure delight even though I was still pretty spent. It was good too reinstate my belief in cycling. I am centered again, but am taking some time off.

Chris finished 4th in Semi-Pro.
Chris doing some pre-race prep.
Tex thought he was racing.

Of course there was rain, we were at Brian Head.

Tex and Tim catch some Z's on the way home.