Lemurian Shasta Classic 2016

[Cathy]

Lemurian Shasta Classic 2016

My fourth cross country race and let me tell you, this was no picnic. My last three outings, The Grasshopper, Napa Valley Dirt Classic and Sea Otter, certainly put me to the test. At the end of each race, I swore nothing could ever be more difficult. But today I quickly learned The Lemurian was its own beast. A monster with climb after endless climb and a twisted desire to tease and lull one into actually having fun on its swoopy wooded single tracks and bermy flumes, all the while laughing mercilessly, knowing what was still to come.

I will just say now, as a preemptive to my report, I know I did not conquer the beast, but I may have quieted her mirth. For she tried to take me out, but I rode her to the bitter end. And for that, I may also have earned her respect.

The race for me started as I warmed up a bit with Simon. Two quick sprints up the hill to loosen the legs and then into the line. Jim was lined up at the front with Danny and Bill from Team Acme Bikes. Simon and I were the remaining two team members and we lined up in the back. I left Simon with a group that he would ride with in his short course and took my position a bit farther up for my Women's Masters class for the long course. It wasn't long before we got the count and we were off. I am quickly learning I can't play the catch up game. I have to go out with more effort than I would like to establish a decent pace for myself. Otherwise, as the slow climber I am, I could never make up the time of being too far back. So I tried to find people faster than me and chase them. If I passed them, I moved onto the next person to chase. I pretty much used that strategy all the way up our first fire road climb.

Jim, Simon and I pre-rode the short course the day before. I remember Jim pointing out the hill to our left on the fire road. "That is where the pain starts," he said. So when we made that first left turn off of the fire road I knew the race had really begun! From that point on I was pretty much in an uncomfortable state of being as we progressed up the beginning of many long climbs.

Honestly, it's all a bit blurry for me. I think I enjoyed that long blast down that loose and rutted fire road before we hit the road to the dam. I rode alone on the road all the way to dirt again and then pretty much was alone for a very long time. I know once we hit the fun single track I was feeling ok, and for the first time in all my races, there was not a person in front to slow my speed. I had that entire section to myself and really, really enjoyed it. I had to remind myself to pedal harder because I kept forgetting I was in a race. It wasn't until we took a sharp left to the next uphill single track that people began to catch me again. I won't lie, as we kept climbing up and up again, there were ascents I just had to walk. I pretty much hiked a bike most of the way up the long climb with all of those pine needles.

I remember several creek crossings and then more climbing. Finally, near the top of one hill, a participant or spectator standing on the side said to me I was almost to some fun downhill. He told me I was third so far for the women and asked if I was fast at descending. I replied, "Oh yes!"  That was my favorite part of the race, flying down the fun steep ruts. It was great!

By this point, my chain was bone dry and making bad sounds. As we climbed up the last long fire road, I just hoped everything would keep spinning. I was slow, but felt kind of ok. It wasn't until the very last climb, after the final creek crossing that the cramps kicked in- hard. I was so close to the end and I didn't want to roll into the finish out of my third place women's spot. Somehow I kept pedaling and it all worked itself out.

When we hit the last downhill stuff I knew I had made it. I didn't even care about the last climb to the final road sprint. I knew that was short enough. I was beaming as I saw the final single track to the finish. I did it!!!

And once again, as in all my past races, I got to see Jim waiting there for me! Best part of my whole race. And to hear that Simon took second place in his class and Jim was third overall was the icing on the cake! Both Danny and Bill kicked butt with some very stiff competition, with Bill taking second place in his class. Once again, Team Acme collectively kicked some serious ass! Congratulations to you guys. I have the utmost respect for your abilities and efforts.

Until next time,

Cathy

[Mark Ingwersen]

Congrats on taming the beast and a great finish!