Uh, SoNoMas Play By Play

[Danny Kelly McNaughton]

Lined up mid pack, cuz I'm always fussing w/ something before the race. Weather was perfect, overcast, coolish and gonna get perfectly warm in a few hours.

I was relaxed on the climb and sifted through most of the folks to the front pack of 30-35?  We went across the bridge and hit the climb to the single track and I put in an effort to get around 3-4 guys (i remember passing Bartels).  We entered the single track super fun minutes long section. Now I'm behind some folks that are slower than my anxious self can initially handle, but then I check myself and remember to keep it easy and even cause this'll be long.

It was a gorgeous day and I felt good up to the road and connected w/ Tim Olson for a sec and then got around him and two others heading into Liberty Glen. In the climb out of Liberty Glenn to the the super fun twisting single track at the sharp left, I relaxed a bit, remembering we still had a couple hours.

We hit the long descent to the lake and I was riding w/ Kurt Wolfgang? and passed another few riders and by count thought I might be near or in the top 10, and so remembered to continue to chill and keep it even.

Well, to keep it short, basically I faded after the river crossing (which turned out to be only ankle to shin deep for most folks) and adjusted and jumped on the wheel of Alex Kramer when he passed (Kurt Wolfgang and another had passed by then?) and then continued into my worst nightmare of bonking, fading, and feeling hypoglycemic.

It was then a deathride slog to the finish in which I lost well over 10 spots?

What a course though. I really hope for a re-do of this race next year. $70 aint no thang and I plan on mandatory glycogen stores and sleep in order to compete. I'm 1 for 3 at SonoMas and sick of fading when the events get past 3hrs..

Congrats to Mark Ingwerson on winning his class and besting some 40 experts! Greg had a strong ride for his first time on the course?! Stephen Flynn (2nd overall), Greg Golet and Troy Deibert also had what seemed to be great days for them. Hats off!

*correction-Ingwerson won the Sport, but on the full course w/ a 3:40. Tough stuff. 

Fun chattin w/ Greg after too..too bad he flatted..