2016 Amce Shorty

[Greg Alsterlind]

What I consider the best race in Marin. One year ago I was lucky enough to meet 4 of the best riders I now know at this Race. Some how I convinced each one to let me tag along on a ride with them through out the year. As a group we all moved up from the B class to ride in the A 35+ class. I was well aware that I was the weakest of the group and if I was going to hang in there I was going to have to work twice as hard. After the first two races things played out almost as expected with me finishing behind Mark Ingerwersen , Mark Buell and Dave Benjamine. Then something changed for me at race #3. I decided to not try and pace myself at the beginning and conserve energy for the end of the race. I got a Heart monitor, arranged my screen on my Garmin to show my rate and pushed myself to the 90-95% zone at the start. I still lost big to Mark I and Buell past me right at the end but for the first time in a shorty I finished ahead of a less the 100% Dave. This strategy worked better in race #4 finishing for the first time ever in 2nd. place and closer to Mark I. Race # 5 was a race with only 4 riders but still competive and more importantly productive gaining more time on the gap between Mark I and myself. Race # 6 was by far the windiest and times where slow but thanks to a few chain drops on Mark I's bike I was able to get right on his back wheel as we made the last down hill to the finish. In the end Mark Ingerwersen was able to finally get out of the dominant shadow Dave cast on this race for so many years and establish himself as the man to beat. Dave and Mark Buell are still better riders than me and have a lot to show me but it felt great to be able to compete and stay with them for a change. Many thanks to Mark I, Mark B, Dave and Jim Hewett( the best rider I know) for letting me ride and learn from you this year. I am honored to to call you team mates and friends.