capital city xc race

Beautiful weather and dry tread greeted the racers Sunday at Branched Oak, Area 7. Actually, the low section along the lake was damp and cool in the shade. They have done some major additions since I last was out there a couple years ago. Runs clockwise, starting west crossing the road and meanders out in the prairie with grade reversals and the most bumpy. After the damp lake section, we traverse up from lake to near top and back down 5 or 6 times before heading out south through a gully and out on some more prairie and back to the finish. The course developers used the trees more affectively on this tight sections and several off camber turns. Most turns allow to carry momentum though a couple are tight and require scrubbing a lot of speed.

Kudos to the THOR crew - I believe Craig and Troy have put in a lot of hours and it shows. They cut out another section of prairie and stilled had 4.6 mile loop which was almost three times the short loop I was familiar with. Midwest Wheelmasters hosted the 7th of 8 Nebraska Lottery Psycowpath race. Things went well but, like Tranquility, they had some problems getting race results out. I'm thinking we will work with paper and have the data entry out of the critical path, like Heartland race series does it. Racer signs large scoring sheet and lap times are recorded on 2x8 scoring table(s), then when last of cat/class finishes, 15 minute protest period is started using raw score sheet. 2-3 people record lap times with 1 person recording race number sequence without time. As long as sequence is recorded, can fill in approximate times when able.

Ryan, Dave, and I raced marathon. Dave and I had 5 laps and Ryan had more. Ryan was hooten and hollerin and stopped to watch the kids race. I didn't wait for the results, they were having some technical problems and I new I was at the bottom or near it. Jesse raced junior male - 2 laps. Craig raced cat 3 45+ and passed me, but I passed him on the second lap where he was repairing a flat. Donna raced cat 1 four laps in a little less than two hours. Todd raced cat 1 45+ four laps. He felt the best of any race he has done this year. Devan was out there but had mechanical problems (replaced a chain but needed a new cassette as well) so just rode around the course but didn't race.

I was good the first two laps, then had to walk a couple climbs on the 3rd lap. I had about the right gear (36x20) if I was in better shape, but the climbs took it out of me. Need to get a 22t. I was breathing very hard the first couple of laps and then ran low on energy. Rode fourth lap through but had to stop a couple times to stretch and eat more on the last lap. Stomach sore but think my core muscles were toast from climbing and breathing hard. Laid on ground for about 10 minutes post race to feel better, but my lower quads just above the knees are very sore walking down stairs.

If anyone else wants to describe their race experience, please do.

Final Nebraska Lottery Psycowpath race is Manawa Mayhem, Sept 26. Maybe we'll have to bring out a grill and eat a braat every couple laps for the marathon? 8-)