Sea Otter was tons of fun again this year. I was able to relax and enjoy the experience much more. Just knowing where to park, register, stay and eat made it much easier. Last year when we drove over the hill and saw all of the tents and the race track and the thousands of racers I was overwhelmed (in a good way). Also, lining up with 5 national champions (USA, Candian, Italian, Czech, Swiss), the world xc champion and many other world cup racers wasn't nearly as intimidating. I'm used to seeing all of these amazingly fast women and I'm also used to a last row call up. I don't think about it anymore. I know points and line up position have little to do with results sometimes. This time it was true too, I finished in front of a first row call up! I placed 14th, (results) which is much better than the 21st place that I got last year.
It was a much different format than most of my races and from Sea Otter last year. This year it was one 20 mile loop (versus the multiple lap format). There was only one feed/tech zone and to get to it was about a 6 mile walk or ride. My husband and 3 year old were not prepared to do that (quite understandably) so I ended up taking two 24 oz. bottles of CR333 with me. The other concern with the race was the heat. My garmin recorded an average temperature of 95. Weather.com said it was in the 80s, but it felt much, much hotter. I warmed up with stockings full of ice in my jersey and started with ice in my jersey and my gloves & jersey soaking wet. At all 3 feed zones I dumped water on me and it was just enough to keep the heat at bay. The majority of the course is wide open and baked like an oven. I felt great the whole time, left enough to push on the climbs at the finish and rolled through with a smile on my face! My Rocky Mountain Vertex was the perfect bike for that course, the bigger wheels rolled through the few ruts and sand traps easily and the hard tail gave me all the power I needed for the climbing.
It was a much different format than most of my races and from Sea Otter last year. This year it was one 20 mile loop (versus the multiple lap format). There was only one feed/tech zone and to get to it was about a 6 mile walk or ride. My husband and 3 year old were not prepared to do that (quite understandably) so I ended up taking two 24 oz. bottles of CR333 with me. The other concern with the race was the heat. My garmin recorded an average temperature of 95. Weather.com said it was in the 80s, but it felt much, much hotter. I warmed up with stockings full of ice in my jersey and started with ice in my jersey and my gloves & jersey soaking wet. At all 3 feed zones I dumped water on me and it was just enough to keep the heat at bay. The majority of the course is wide open and baked like an oven. I felt great the whole time, left enough to push on the climbs at the finish and rolled through with a smile on my face! My Rocky Mountain Vertex was the perfect bike for that course, the bigger wheels rolled through the few ruts and sand traps easily and the hard tail gave me all the power I needed for the climbing.
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| The bulge on the top of my back is ice! It melted 5 minutes into the race! |
