This race was put together on pretty short notice, i decided what the hell and gave it a try. In retrospect I started out a little too fast. I felt fine on the 1st road part, hit the trail and was going pretty good. My HR was a little high but i pretty much ignored it as it wasn't THAT high. As i got further into the trail i started picking up my pace a little. My HR continued to climb and its at this point i think my problems started. My HR was in the 160s and i should have eased up a little.

Not long after i hit the 2nd road section i began to feel the effects. I was struggling more and more to maintain my pace and my HR was rapidly dropping. I was going way slower, my HR was way down and I just could not pedal faster. A guy and girl passed me and i was only able to stay with them for a minute or two (and it was downhill a lot too). Then they just rode away from me. Another person i had passed on the trail part went by me on an uphill and was going a lot faster than me. I didnt even try to do anything as he passed.

As the road section neared its end my HR was in the 120s and i couldn't go any faster. The last 8k or so on the trails was very slow. I was barely moving in some parts. This was very disappointing to me because this was my favorite part of the course. The riding is a little more technical and tons more fun. I couldn't enjoy it though, i just tried to keep the pedals turning and kept plogging forward. At least i was able to enjoy some of the decents. Finally came through the tunnel under HWY 400 and emerged at the finish and my girls were there cheering me.
I was pretty much exhausted at the finish.

A little slower pace at the start and bring nutrition

pacing & nutrition