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Once again, I’m overdue for an update here.

Sunburst: 5th place. Patti K really made me work for it, and so did my asthma. I had to take the inhaler after a moderate pre-lap on Saturday, and was out of breath from the asthma and jumpy from the inhaler for the entire Learn to Race Clinic. I did a great job of demonstrating exactly what happens when you panic in a tight, grassy switchback and touch your front brake - right after I had explained that this is exactly what you should not do! My front wheel swept underneath me and I ended up sprawled on my stomach lookin’ pretty silly, and bumped my knee so good that I still have a bruise.

During the race I felt pretty rough on the climbs, and my breathing was an issue from GO. I thought often of dropping out, but decided to stick with it. A big reason to stay in was that I was able to race with another lady. Patti was with me every inch of that race, and really made it hurt on the climbs and in the open. I tried to take the lead each lap on the big climb, thinking I could get away, but it hurt alot and she kept closing the gap after the top. On the last lap, she led up the singletrack and I tried to rest, knowing by then that my lungs would give me maybe a few hard minutes - and no more. I just barely got ahead of her on the last lap and stretched out the gap. Although I hated (and loved) every minute of it, it was great to be pushed so hard, and I hope she comes out again!

Subaru Cup: I don’t know what place. Honestly - and I don’t think I’ll look. A lot of philosophical moments in this one, and here’s my tip for you: the number of philosophical moments in a race is positively correlated with sucking.

After dropping out last year with my first-ever asthma attack, I was keeping a positive attitude about the heat and the humidity. I really enjoy the course, and I really wanted to finish. The start was a little odd for me, and I was waxing philosophical about asthma and how “this must be what it’s like for the boys if you have a bad start” - i.e., a lot of waiting and passing in the first lap.

Then Andrea M and I crashed in the little rock garden by Fern Gully. It was such an ugly crash that the women behind us paused in concern. I was certain at first that I’d broken the same rib I cracked two years ago. I was beneath her and I remember turning from the rock that was impaling my ribs to see her rising up off the end of my handlebar with a terrible look of pain and surprise on her face. We both felt like total crap, and I think we were both scared by the crash - but I think that look made me more scared for Andrea than I was for myself.

We got back on our bikes. My ribs were killing me and so was me knee, although as Bruce pointed out - it did look badass with all the blood. Thanks Bruce! Way to SuperFan!

And then the race sucked a lot for a little while. I couldn’t pedal. I had no power, I couldn’t breath, and it hurt. I got passed again and again, but mostly it just hurt.

This just shows how little I actually “race”; I decided that there was no chance in such a short contest - like less than and hour and 20 - that I was going to earn back many of the spots I had lost, especially with no pedaling-power. So, I settled in and decided that I was going to enjoy myself while I tried to finish.

And I did! I totally had a wonderful, fun last lap. It was like riding at the Kettles, only way more fun, and once I finished - I was so happy that I had. And that it was over! I hope that is my worst race - ever. I may never look at that finish, but I think - as sappy as this truly is - that it was kind of a win.

After the crash, my ribs were bruised and weird but the knee was the real problem. It’s hurt for two weeks, and I still feel like my power is low. I considered not racing the Short Track, but I was on Cloud-9 for Don and WORS after the Pro race seemed to go so well, and I figured “What the hell.”

I’m glad I raced. With no significant climbing, I don’t think the course suited me super-great, and my knee hurt like a mother - but it was over pretty quickly and man was it cool to be cheered on by my peeps at WORS and Georgia Gould too. I can’t remember if I got 5th or 6th, but I was surprised by that, especially given that damned knee.

And to continue harping on about the knee, it is still hurting me. Like, keeping me up at night hurting. You look at the picture and it’s a whimpy little scrape, but I’ve been riding a little and I feel slooow and powerless. So, I’m not sure about Eau Claire, but I’m really looking forward to the fun trails and who knows - that’s racing.

Lastly, and because no one is still reading this run-on post - I’m not exactly saying that I think Adam Craig is super rad for actually having a smart-ass conversation with us while he was riding through some technical singletrack during the Pro XCT - but I did notice this quote:

“Nice work, Sam, and in front of the best crowd we’ve seen at a National Series race in years. The last Switch Back climb and Yee Haw descent of each lap was packed with cheering fans from all walks of life. There were the families, the drunk singlespeeders and the stoked junior racers. I told the most stoked junior to come find me for a reward of some type. All I could think of were the size medium Giro test gloves I raced in.” Adam Craig, Robo Bank Giant

I did not know that you could SuperFan for items of clothing - but ladies - if we work together next year - think of the possibilities. Just sayin.

Thanks to WORS Photographer Danny Marchewka for the photo!

Really liking the new job + lots of work for the upcoming Subaru Cup + beautiful weather = zero updates since April. In fact, I should be writing a WORS race report right now. So, here’s a quick one by the numbers:

Iola. 6th. 11 seconds behind 5th.
Crystal Lake. 6th. 23 seconds behind 5th.
Big Ring Classic. 4th. 48 second behind 3rd.

Bottom line? I need to chase that lady ahead of me, because she’s getting away.

The new team has been great this year.

Abby’s undefeated, and Matt just stepped on to the podium for the first time with a 5th place finish. It was a little weird to have to interview him about his race for the race reports.

Bad blogger! If it is any consolation, I have spent the entire time chained to my computer. But, let’s get to the happy stuff…

My goal at Sheboygan was to finish - because both times I’ve raced there, I have instead ended the season with a mechanical. And - score! - I not only finished, I also think I set a course record for lamest ride to ever earn a spot on this podium.

I mean, look at these fast girls, and then - me. It was all I could do not to bust out the Garth moment = genuflect + nasal whine “I’m not worthy!”

Before you crack your knuckles over your keyboard - it’s all good. I was kind of relieved the season was at an end because the whole “not really trying” thing this year was OK, but also not great. I’m glad it’s over. With everything else that’s been going on, it was the logical, rational choice. And don’t get me wrong - I had a blast riding, racing, or just pedaling this season - as the mood struck me. But, man, is sort of sucks to not do your best - on purpose. You know?

Anyway, I had a great time at Sheboygan. The course was faster than I’d ever ridden it before, the dirt was great, and I liked the new sections. I made sooo many mistakes each time I climbed the Equalizer, but the dirt was forgiving and I climbed it anyway and learned from it (thank you 2009 dirt). I’m loving the new Superfly! I think my bike got more yells and fan-noise than I did during the race. TeamWORS especially would have given my new bike drool handups if I had let them. And I discovered that having a fly new bike with the kick*$$ 2010 paint job is the BEST way to get groups of 13-year old boys to stare at you as you go by.

But the real excitement was on my last lap, when I fell in the river. It was one of those - BAM! - you’re down - kind of falls. Except it was - BAM! - you’re upside down and water is in your nose. I would highly recommend this if the temperature was above 70. But, at less than 45 degrees, I ended the race with one really cold, disoriented half lap. I spent alot of time shaking water out of my ears, and - for some reason - wondering whether the people standing at the hill would be able to tell I’d fallen in the river. Considering my bike and I were dripping wet, I decided - probably. But kept wondering. Whatever. I should eat more during races.

I fell in the river at exactly the same spot, and in the exact same way that MacIej and SmAshley did - we compared waterlines. This actually earned me a one-armed hug of solidarity from MacIej, which might have been the highlight of my post-race - had I not known he was only trying to steal what little body heat I had left.

photo from KelliP

Darrin Braun and Jenna Rinehart rode with the GoPro cameras, so I hope you will check out their footage. Earlier in the week, when we rode at Lapham, I had asked Nathan Guerra and Darrin to each wear one. That would have been killer! But, I just couldn’t find those guys before the race, so when I saw Jenna getting ready about an hour before the start, I rode over and asked her. She was completely game, and I was so grateful. Watching her video, my immediate thought was that I really should attack the hills more.

WORS GoPro HERO Cam: Jenna Rinehart at Wigwam MTB Challenge in Sheboygan, WI 2009 - 1st lap from Team WORS on Vimeo.

Darrin was also a great sport. He let me attach the camera to his bike as he was literally being called up at the start line. Although he tells me he had a horrible first lap (stuck in his hardest gears and getting killed on the hills), you can hardly tell from the footage. He sticks with the lead group almost the whole lap, and it’s always better footage when you can follow the line of the rider ahead.

WORS GoPro HERO Cam: Darrin Braun at Sheboygan - Part 1 from Team WORS on Vimeo.

Wolf River was a great course. I guess it was a bit bumpy in some of the open sections, but mostly I just enjoyed the smooth singletrack. It was good to have some challenging technical climbs. My legs felt pretty lame on the preride, even while it was a blast to be pulled around by Meghan and Don for a couple of laps. I felt better on the start. Got boxed in but moved around some ladies on the first climb, then chased alone behind the front group until Andrea caught me. After that, it was solitary and I was chugging along slowly. I just don’t have the fitness right now to nail it through the entire race, and I miss that. But, I really did enjoy the smaller victories of improving my lines each lap, and the course was really fun.

Sadly, I broke my matte black metal paragon frame at the race - crack in the seat tube. I don’t know if I was more sad about that, or my Darkest Hour sticker. How I’ll miss it. Fortunately, I know a guy who was able to build up my warranty upgrade by Tuesday night. Brand new Superfly! I rode it at Lapham on Wednesday and it was great. Really felt good on the climbs, and I felt like I was on top of the gear quicker in the flats. I only had to give AndyS the evil eye and a couple elbows to keep him from dropping me.