I planned my nutrition for about 80 minutes, my normal race time at this course. Due to the sloppy conditions, it took me almost 2.5 hours. Therefore my best friends, the leg cramps, showed up just as planned.

Not race in these conditions is what I would do differently. Much too dangerous for a "part time habit (mtn bike racing)." This race had no bearing on my season, nor my conditioning. It was a bad decision on my part to race. I wrecked badly less than a mile into the race on a 50 yard, very steep, slick, muddy downhill. I hit a trench or something that veered me into the trees, at a good rate of speed near the bottom of the hill. I could have been very seriously injured. I landed on my head (endoed), scratched my arm & shoulder up and badly bruised my right side.

Hammer Recoverite. Thankful to be alive, yadda, yadda. 2 bananas, 2 cups of Gatorade. 2 bottled waters. Was injured, didn't stay around for post race.


Initial wreck slowed me down considerably. It affected my confidence on much of the downhill sections (once bitten, twice shy). Plus, it hurt like all get-out. The sloppy, wet, muddy, slick conditions affected my performance as well. Mud caked every rider's front derallieurs. A lot of the course was like riding on ice.


I didn't stay for the post race activities as I was injured and wanted to get home. I read on another message board that they were great to attend yesterday. X-rays today on my side/waist/hip turned out negitive; just deep bruising. Columbia Cycling Club always puts on a great race and Chickasaw is a great course - one of my favorite to race. Mother Nature interviened yesterday and gave everyone a headache with the bad conditions. In the future, when dry conditions prevail (as they usually do) I will always race this course.