By the time the race started I was already throughly soaked. I decided to leave my rain cape on as it seemed a lot of others were. Besides I had absolutely no expectations for this race. I really just wanted to finish and use it as a hard training day. I wished Marsha luck at the beginning of the race in case I wasn't going to see her again.

The race started out fairly quickly. It's starts at the top of the hill, so the downhill comes pretty quickly. There weren't a lot of people in this race. I think only the good climbers come out (this race scares off most people) and I think these people are more experienced. Hence the peleton's cornering is really steady and is like a completely different race than yesterday.

I had a really bad start. When I got to the downhill, I noticed my cleat wasn't completely engaged and I had to clip in again, but it was so wet, my shoe kept slipping on my pedal. Went down the hill 150m away from the pack and was at the very back with only May close to me. Got to the bottom of the hill and had to chase my way up. Passed May and told her to grab on, but she couldn't. Almost caught, but couldn't quite. Worked really hard and was dead when I rounded the corner of Armstrong. Decided to ride my own race and just was going to finish that hill 7 times which was my plan all along. Only May was behind me. Then a passed 3 girls and May passed me near the top. I could see Neena up ahead.

Actually felt pretty good up the hill that time. It was tough but it was probably the fastest I've climbed it. Got to the top of the hill and worked really hard on the flats. I could see Neena just ahead of May on the downhill. Worked hard when we got to River Road and I caught Neena and May. Started chatting to Neena and May got a bit ahead. Neena and I decided we'd ride the rest of the race together as it would be more fun that way.

Rode up the hill with Neena and then did more of the same for the next few laps. I kept dropping Neena on the flats at the top of the hill and on River Road. She told me I could go ahead, but I said it would be more fun together, so I waited for her. We went up the hills at about the same pace. Sometimes I'd wait. It was quite amusing actually. The rain was just pounding down and so many people were quitting the race. Everywhere on the course it was just one rider here or one rider there. Crazy times.

We got lapped by the Bs near the top of the hill on the big corner with the puddle. I had to stay very far right on the corner when they lapped me and it was hear that I discovered I could ride through the puddle (there was no pothole) and I didn't have to go around it.

Neena and I got lapped by the C pack which was about 6 guys at that time with 3 laps to go, so they told us we only had 2 more laps to go which is what often happens if you get lapped by your pack. You just finish a lap down. So we discussed quitting after 2 or going for 3 more and we decided we'd try to do all 7 laps.

When 1.5 laps to go (2 more times up the hill) I was pulling Neena along the flats as usual and I dropped her. I looked back and I couldn't even see her anymore, so I decided to continue along by myself. Got lapped by the Bs again up the hill. My legs were tired. Funny though I could really push myself along the flats. I found that out about myself again today, I am proportionately stronger when it comes to flats as I could keep up with B or A riders that were dropped after they passed me on the descent and I wasn't drafting them. However I couldn't keep up with them and they got way away on the hill.

Poor Marsha, she got a flat on the furtherest part of the course and had to walk all the way around and back up Armstrong hill with her bike. It took her 3 laps. That is I passed her 3 times before she got up the hill. :(

Then suddenly it was my last, 7th, time up the hill and I knew I just had to finish. My legs were barely moving at this point. I was going 6-8km/hr on the hill. I could barely turn my legs. Then I got to the top. I estimating my placing as 10th as I think most people quit. :)

Try to stay with the group for longer.

Nothing. Got changed as quickly as I could as I was completely soaked. It was difficult to put my pants on it was so wet. By the time I got changed and cleaned up the car a bit, noticed David was finished. Got his and Colin's (who finished shortly afterwards) gear in order, waited for them to change and headed home. It was way to wet to do any sort of cool down or stretching. I don't think anyone did.

Felt like I should reward myself, so I ate an apple pie and hot chocolate from McDonalds on the way home. Colin, David and I ate everything we had in the car. Potatos, bananas, sandwiches and apples. Got home and rented a movie and ate ice cream and a couple of slow pokes. Relaxed the rest of the day was pretty sore.

My knee hurt a tiny little bit. It was my right knee which was funny because I felt my left knee on the last two laps. Butt was feeling a bit sore, but not too bad.


Sucking at hills. :) Being a bit catious on the steep windy descents in the rain. I seriously have to get better at that.


I had a surprisingly good time doing this course because I had no expectations and it was cool to keep seeing people dropping out and knowing that you just had to finish. Rode with Neena most of the time which was kind of nice. This race felt Epic.