Short track #2

I missed the first one, you see - on account of breaking in my mountain bike in Bend with my guy Ben.

First race ... leave work early, ride out to the course with Joel and Margaux. It's a slow haul (J/I are both on ss mtbs, M on a ss roadie), but good and relaxing - got over much of the jittery "I'm made entirely of coffee" feeling that had been most of Monday.

Signed in (in a long line of folks), attached my number to my bike - and rode a test lap. Tricky things hidden here/there - deep ruts and stumps, sudden climbs and sharp turns. I tried not to think about critical eyes in the bleachers...

...at the start line - six women racing singlespeed. Three times the week previous - a range of ages and bodies and bikes (including a custom Lynsky ridden by a girl who identified as Cat 1). We chatted a bit, voted to go with the women for a start (vs. men - too fast!) -- and off we went.

I think I stayed ahead of a couple of bad crashes (sprint up the hill, jump off the bike, pedal harder) and was making pretty good time/effort ... after the 2nd lap, I was pretty tapped. Hot (but not thirsty), feeling like I had no more "go" and if someone would just offer me the option to duck out and buy me a crappy domestic brew - I'd be up for it.

But Ben/Margaux were cheering in the stands, Joel and Chris had things to say as they blew past me on the course, Ed/Rob were hiding in the trees screaming PUSH IT! ... sigue, chica, sigue.

The last lap was pretty painful - seat was hurting me (ahem), legs were tired, I was wishing for "stop" -- and the fast kids were making their moves, so the speedy-pants among them were screaming "FWEAJHDAC" (on your left/hold your line/don't move/on your right) - I'd nudge over a bit and let the dérailleur-powered blur by.

Shortly before the finish - another screaming person, another pull over... and it was the girl on the Lynsky, possibly trying to be encouraging, but it sure felt like "get out of my way". I said something not entirely Christian and continued to the finish line...

...four laps, 5/6. Proud to be out there, to not quit, to not crash. Sweated a good deal, went and found food and beer with Ben. Perfect Monday. And back next week, I swore...