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[Jim Hewett]

The Shasta Lemurian is a classic NorCal hardman race.  Lots of climbing and some fast and rough descending on a 2+ hour single-loop course in the mountains West of Redding.  I have done this race most years since I started racing in 2005, but it always comes at the end of my first peak racing period.  Last year, I was pretty fatigued by this point and decided not to do the race.  This year, I was in better form and ready to race!

The course conditions were very good, with recent rains making the dirt tacky.  The same rains had created some pretty deep ruts in places, as well.  The forecast was for temps in the 80s.

I opted for a Camelbak Racebak for hydration, loaded with 64oz of Gu Brew.  I consumed 4 Roctanes for fuel.  I chose to ride my sub 20lb Santa Cruz Highball in anticipation of the long climbs.  It was outfitted with a 2x9 drivetrain (26/39 x 11-32) and XC race rubber:  Maxxis Ikon EXO on the rear and Schwalbe Rocket Ron on the front. 

There were many fast racers at the start.  Tim Olsen has won many times and probably knows the course better than anyone.  Jason Moeschler, Aren Timmel, Scott Chapin, Clint Claasen, and Evan Plews would all be contenders.  I would be trying to beat my best finish so far - fourth place overall with a time of 2:12:40.

We sarted en masse at 9:00 and slowly spread out on the paved road.  Once we hit the fireroad climbing, a group of 10 or so of us got away from the rest.  Jason, Tim, Scott, Aren, Clint, Matt Schiff, Tom Sharp, and I got to the steep climbing together, but things began to separate pretty quickly.  Tim, Jason and Scott pulled ahead about 20 seconds and Clint, Matt and I chased.  I was pushing, but also not digging too deeply.  There was a lot more climbing ahead.

The lead group increased their lead on the Gas Can descent, and I clocked them at 30 seconds ahead as we chased them on the paved road across the dam.  Clint and I dropped Matt in the fast singletrack flume and also passed Scott Chapin who was off his bike fixing a flat.  That meant only two ahead, Jason and Tim.

Clint and I rode together for awhile, and started hitting traffic from the Short Course loop.  I was able to pull away from Clint on some sustained singletrack climbs and I got out of sight for awhile.  As I started the last long steep loose climb, I saw Tim pushing up ahead.  I rode a little and then dismounted as well.  I looked back to see Clint starting the climb.  Tim remounted at the top and pulled out of sight, but I soon caught up to him.  He was operating on his chain on the side of the trail.  I passed him and pressed on.  Now there was just Jason ahead.

I had fun on the rutted descents, trying to keep the speed up but also ride safely.  I still had some gas and wasn't suffering from cramps, so I was able to push on the remaining climbs and stayed out of sight of Clint and Tim.  I did not see Jason, and one report from a spectator put him at a few minutes ahead of me.   I rode the last rocky sections aware that second place was mine to lose, hoping that I would not flat.  I could tell I was on pace to beat my best time on this course and knew the suffering would be over soon.

I came in at 2:11:59, over four minutes behind Jason, but 2nd place overall.