Second place Salmon Idaho

Hello from Missoula Montana as I start the grind and reflect upon a great weekend. It was all pretty good, camping, campfire, racing, and traveling.  All my favorites. I did not know what to expect after being down to injury since the Great Falls bike race accident but things turned out well.

Camping out was a blast and riding along with me was Alden.  My friend Garland scored a spot and after a trip to a Brew Pub in Salmon we headed up to the camping spot. Believe it or now it was snowing as we put up our tents.  Soon things settled down and we all enjoyed a great  campfire and all things were good.

The next morning I awoke to a sore throat. It was so sudden it had to be some kind of allergy thing. My friends went about cooking up breakfast and I felt a little funny doing my usual perpetium breakfast.  I sipped a little coffee to sooth my throat. Today was my first pro race since my upgrade!

The race was different this year and at first I was a little disappointed that things had changed.  But soon we were underway and as I expected the start was fast and it hurt.  To confirm something was going on with my health my first 30 minutes of the race my heart rate was 4 beats below normal. I usually ride at 168 bpm and my average for the races was 164.  This explains my experience of pain at the start.  I wanted my body to go and it did not want to.  Still I held on to be involved with the first three at the top of the first climb.

At the top of the second climb it was obvious that the Trek rider would not be caught.  I had passed second and had a decent gap on the top.  The decent through the single-track did not go well and I lost my place and it seemed second place.  I kept looking back to make sure I could hold third place.  There was another rider 30 seconds back and he was keeping pace.  I feared that I blew up on the start.

Starting the second lap I had relinquished all rights to second place and settled into defending third. On the climb I inched back to second but still I was optimistic as I topped out and began the decent.  Again I got passed but this time I decided to do what it took to hold the wheel.  I am glad I did because I learned a little more on how to go real fast in the technical sections and in the descents.  At the end of the second lap I still had 3rd place in mind.  I simply could not descend like a pro.

The 3rd climb was the turning point. I passed Dave and when I ht the second climb I was clearly way out farther than previous laps. I was enjoying great climbing form. On the decent I had learned enough and gained enough confidence that I was able to hold my own and take over sole ownership of second place.

The 4th and last lap I was on a mission.  My mission was to get as close to first place as I could.  I wanted a good showing on paper. My climb went well and I didn't cramp like I was expecting. I decent fast and at the end I saw the red Trek jersey take the last hill to the finish.  I hammered on and came in just a tad over 1 minute behind.  I was very pleased, mission complete.

My friends had great results too.  Larry, Alden, Joe, all took first places from beginner through expert. Garland finished strong and his son Todd and I had matching medals!