Once again, I would be hanging (tongue out, eyes bulging) with Jayden as she raced the 30 mile junior event. I was happy that Lisa had asked me to do so. After warning me that Jayden was much stronger this year, I opted to race my SuperCaliber. Last year, riding my gravel bike, I was just barely able to hang onto her wheel on the descents.
Mother Nature blessed us with 54 degrees at the start, although misty and overcast. Mass starts were in effect again and Lisa would be leading us in her vehicle in a neutral roll out -- hmmph! I, along with all the other adult chaperones, were immediately dropped along the winery roads. It took me 4 miles to finally catch up to Jayden; granted, I wasn't going all out, but I was definitely pushing a hard tempo. I think next year, the chaperones should have a 5 minute head start.
During the initial rolling gravel leading to Winding Stair, I could tell Jayden was not firing on all cylinders. I encouraged her to eat/drink, in case it was a nutrition thing. But as we made our way up Winding Stair, her engine began to sputter. It was killing me that I could not do a darn thing to help, other than to keep the conversation positive. Maybe she went to hard initially and burned a couple matches; I had told her the night before that if she could draft off others on the initial pavement (without going above comfortably hard), she could get some free speed. Perhaps she overdid it, or maybe it was just all that bike fun she had in Florida, the week prior to SX week.
Once we hit the rollers leading over to Cooper's she came alive a little more. Especially on the descents. Whoa Nelly, that girl can send it! Jayden made good time over to Cooper's Gap. Just before the descent began, I told her to take a gel and then have fun and send it hard! Now last year, I was fearful for her safety; this year, I wasn't worried about her, but about me. It was all I could do to keep up with her. She was crushing it, passing several men and boys in the process. Thank goodness for full suspension and 2.2 tires. Cooper's was rough and even more blown out than last year.
The final pavement miles back to the winery were hard. Had she been on her game, I definitely would have been in the pain cave. Jayden finished off the last half mile of trail, crossed the creek like a pro, and pushed it up the grassy hill, to finish in 3rd with a time of 2:29:45. Despite Jayden having a rough day, her time was the same as last year. Had she been on her game, I would have been a hurtin' buckaroo.
If I am asked to do this again next year, I might have to put it in my training plan as an "A" race.
Well done, Jayden. You gritted it out, and for that, you are one tough chica!😬🙀🙀🙀🙀
