Old Cabin Classic, 2017

[Jennifer Hibbitts]

Ok race fans, I'm baaaaack! I know you missed me. I raced Sonomas this year on April 2, but didnt post my report in time. That's a story for another time over a beer if you really want to know. Alas, my MTB racing career continues and you get to hear more about my slow but oh so thrilling escapades.

Saturday May 13 was the 2nd annual Old Cabin Classic in Santa Cruz at Wilder Ranch State Park. I last rode at Wilder approx 15 years ago when I thought I was pretty bad ass...but actually just young and out of shape. Now Im old and in shape. I pre-rode the 11 mile course on Friday and was surprised at how much amazing single track there was. I had forgotten. Beautiful single track trails, through forests and then back out into to sunshine. Some technical sections. I had signed up for Women's Expert, 40+ category. 3 laps of 11 miles w 4,500' of climbing. I can do this!

Race started at 1pm. I was nervous and not feeling 100%. In addition to having been a bit under the weather for the past week, I had a big relationship issue weighing on my mind. But I was rocking my cool new Acme team kit, my team mate Cathy Chevron was with me and there were only 8 women in our class. What could possibly go wrong? I can get this done I thought.

Im riding my tried and true LaMere full suspension carbon 29'er w full lock out, 1x11, with a tiny ass ring up front. 

Race started and Cathy and 2 other women took off like a shot up the 2 big uphills out of the gate. Oof. I passed 1 competitor uphill which put me into 5th place of 8 heading into the single track section of Englesman's. I was pretty much by myself until the Enchanted Forest section when my un-technical self got off my bike and ran a few of the rooted sections, another woman in my class came flying by me. She had this rooted section dialed. She had on a yellow jersey. I caught her on the climb out of Enchanted and she passed me on the way down Twin Oaks. She was the skilled downhiller,I was the faster climber.

I finished Lap 1 in a blazing time of 1:16. I caught up to yellow jersey on the 2nd lap on climb up Englesman's. I stayed in front of her and kept trying to put distance between us. I completed Lap 2 in approx 1:10. By mid way through Lap 3 I really started feeling like crap. Stomach upset, neck tired, arms tired, back tired. argh. It was rough. Just when I thought I was home free and had 5th place locked down, feeling like total crap and no gas left, approx 4 miles from the finish, yellow jersey came blazing past me. it felt like at mach speed. I tried to hang on, but I was so drained and tired I had nothing left. Pretty frustrating for me to be out of gas like that at mile 30. Ive done numerous 8 hour solo,60 mile and 100 mile races over the last few years, so 30 miles is in my norm and it was a big let down for me to feel so crappy. Oh what stress and the mental state can do to the physical. I finished in 6th place out of 8. 

I loved Old Cabin Classic though...loved the trails, good people, and a lot of fast tough chicks out there! I'll be back for the race again next year!

Stay tuned for more racing escapades!