Boggs V Race Report

[Carl Sanders]

The weather could have been a determining factor. Snow levels expected down to 2,500', daytime highs in the 40s expected the entire week before. Arrived Friday afternoon. Rain tapering off. Patchy snow on the ground. Cold. Very cold. Storm clearing. Sized up the terrain and walked out part of the course.

The night even colder. Awoke before dawn. Hundreds of lamps begin burning in the dark amidst the hobo tarp camp that emerged in the pine woods the day before. Hot coffee to kick start the head. Bowl of granola with dried cranberries and soy milk to fire up the engine. Mixed up the day's liquid go juice. Riders amassed for an 8:15 start. Mumbled directions over the megaphone from the Race Director. Shaking, toes and fingers numb. No warm-up. Go! Racers sort out along fire road neutral start.

The strategy was to go out fast; get out in front of the masses, pass whenever possible, fuel and hydrate consistently, maintain pace and pattern. Perfect the course with each lap. Deep breathing. Stay relaxed, let the laps roll by. Find the rhythm.

Only a few muddy sections. Sweet rolling single track through the pine and manzanita. Long steady climbs. Still very cold.

Unique to be on a course with so many frenetic kinetic crazed riders. Lots of racers to maneuver through, working my way up through attrition. Base miles and early season Grasshopper races seemed to be paying dividends in sustained endurance. Now reaping the benefits of intense intervals training, tapping into deep power for explosive bursts of speed.

Root, rock, rut, hard turn left. Stump, low-hanging branch, rocky drop, hard turn right. Gear down, spin up loose climb. Repeat. The laps rolling by.

Somewhere toward the end, fresh relay riders on the course start to hold my pace, and agree to put the hurt on. Legs still strong, intensity decreasing as heart rate begins to slide. Must maintain position.

Uncertain of the cut-off time for staring the final lap, I roll through the finish at 8:04 with nine laps completed, ready to knock out one more. The course blocked off, I gladly give in, satisfied with my effort that was worth a first place in Expert, just 12 minutes behind Kevin Smallman, the top pro.

The rain and snow held off. No mechanicals. Training and strategy in line.

74 miles. Nine laps. 8:04 finish time. Ave. lap time, 53 min. Ave/Max HR, 150/172.

[Paul Montgomery]

Congratulations...Thanks for the report...who's in your profile picture?

[Carl Sanders]

Harry Potter?

[Jim Hewett]

Harry Potter and the Mid-life Crisis!
Great job at Boggs, Carl. Sounds like there were some obstacles to overcome with the weather and being self-supported.