I have done this race four times now: twice solo and now twice as a duo, with me doing the bike portions. For this edition, Lisa Randall, was going to do the 5k run in between the two 5.5 mile bike legs. I must say I am absolutely amazed and inspired what Lisa is capable of. Every year, despite doing a great portion of the course work prior (including leaf blowing the trails and signing them), along with her usual race director duties that seem to be non-stop the week of, she also manages to have the strength and time to do the race itself. Me, on the other hand, gets to take it easy leading up to the event, and still struggles with the high intensity effort that comes with this course.
The race takes place at Rope Mill park in Woodstock, Georgia. The course consists of biking the Mill Trails, running the Explorer trails, and then finishing it up with another bike on the Avalanche Trails.
After having no rain in the month prior, it rained, the day before, the night before, and the morning of. I have not ridden in the mud, save for Gravel Worlds, all year. And Gravel Worlds was essentially just holding a straight line, while this course was twisty turny.
Lisa signed us up in the Coed Expert category, which allows either male/female or female/female. We would be up against Lisa's daughter Jayden and her teammate who runs high school cross country, as well as some other fast kids. Good Lord, what was she thinking?!?
It was a drizzly 50 degrees at the start. Lisa repeatedly reminded each wave to take it easy going across the bridge to enter the single track. My wave consisted of my division as well as the duo Expert Men. Needless to say, I was the LAST to enter the single track. My mind was telling my body go, go, go! But my body was saying WTF?!? It hadn't gone 0 to 60 all year, so the legs and lungs were on fire!
I slowly watched the leaders get out of eyesight. I struggled up that first 0.3mile climb. It wasn't until I was about halfway through this lap, that my legs finally came around. They actually felt better when I was able to stand and hammer up a climb as opposed to seated pedaling. Towards the end, I was able to catch back up and pass two in my wave.
I bombed back down to the transition area, dismounted, ran through the creek, and tagged Lisa. Jayden looked like she had been there awhile; her heart rate probably had already settled back down. I slowly cooled down, but tried to keep the legs ready with some squats and high knees.
Lisa set a blistering pace and came through, as she predicted, 26 minutes later. She had passed Kim Moore and gave me some breathing room. I was not sure what place we were in at that moment, but thinking 4th or 5th. I took off toward the Avalanche Trail. Some yea-hoo got all stupid next to me, about taking me out as we approached the single track. I slowed up and let him on by; should not have done that, as it made me struggle up the slippery rocks and almost did not clean that hard left switchback.
That first climb up Avalanche was a grunt! But at least now, my rain/mud skills were there and it did not feel as slick here. Even the roots were not bad. I went as hard as I could, knowing Kevin Crowe, Kim's team mate, would be looking to mow me down. About two thirds of the way through I caught a glimpse of him. And at that point I was NOT feeling good; the legs were filled with lead. I could hear him gaining and was hoping he would just put me out of my misery. He finally caught up to me with about a mile to go. Well, shit! Now I had to at least try to stay ahead of him. My rear wheel slipped on a tricky rooty climb, causing me to dab, and Kevin to dismount.
I managed to get a gap on him and gave one last big push, legs screaming and lungs burning. Just ... get ... to ... the ... descent! The rooty section just before that I had bobbled on during the pre ride, I cleaned it with perfection! I saw the turn onto the descent and sent it!
I hit the finishing arch, with just 4 seconds to spare. Lisa told me we got third! Hallelujah! I believe my new mantra is "will not stop." I was glad to have dug deep and gave a final kick to the finish, whereas just prior to that, I was almost willing to slow down and just let Kevin make the pass.
Jayden and her team mate laid down a fast time and took first! That kid has turned into a skilled little demon on wheels.
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