Yeah, it hurt...

Hi All! Well, the San Elijo Time Trial is in the books. What a great event, especially considering it was the first time it's ever been held. The promoter did an excellent job of organizing and promoting the even, even getting a nice write up in the San Diego Union Tribune this last Thursday..San Elijo TT article

I showed up to the parking lot at San Elijo Elementary School about 6:30am, and set up the trainer, and went through the usual check list of getting ready for a race. After getting my race number and timing chip, I hopped on the trainer around 7:15 and began warming up. I had planned to ride the trainer for a good hour, getting really hot for the race, considering it was only 3-miles in length, but due to the high humidity and early morning heat, thirty minutes was more then enough!

Right on time, at 8:15, I was out of the starting gate. The course started slightly downhill, making it's way towards downtown San Elijo, where we made a hard right hand turn on to San Elijo Road, where the pain began.

I started out in the big ring, not wanting to lose any precious seconds at all on the easiest part of the course. As soon as I made the right hand turn on to San Elijo Road, I immediately put the bike in the small ring, and attempted to settle in to a rhythm for the remaining 2.5 miles to the summit of Double Peak Park. This proved to be not so easy.

Even though I'm a pretty good climber, I fair much better on longer steady climbs then I do on shorter climbs that require an all-out effort, (such as an uphill 3-mile TT!). I had set my bike computer to show only my heart rate, heart rate max %, and time. My heart went to 175bpm within no time, and I knew I had to keep it right there, no higher to survive to the summit.

I passed quite a few riders as I made my way up San Elijo Road, all the time thinking about my pace, concentrating on my heart rate, telling myself I needed to save something to make it up Double Peak Road.

After about 8-9 minutes, (I can't remember through all the pain!), I reached the left turn at Double Peak Road, where I was immediately greeted by a nice 8% kicker. I remained in the saddle, trying to conserve any power I could for the 16% grade that awaited around the corner. All too soon, I rounded the corner, and there it was.

About halfway up the 16% grade, I felt a sensation I've never really felt before in a race...my legs went completely numb. The effort I was putting in the pedals was so intense, I lost sensation. I guess that could be looked at as a good thong, but in this case it worried me for second. A thought crossed my mind that I might not be able to make it to the top, but as soon as that thought entered my mind, I immediately pushed it out, knowing that family and friends were waiting around the corner to cheer me on. There was no way I was going to let them down!

Part of the difficulty was due to the fact that on my training wheels, I run a 12-27 cassette in the back, and on my racing wheels, I run a 12-25. Although I have a climbed to the summit numerous times while dong my hill repeat workouts, I had never climbed to the top with a 25-tooth. I figured before the race, that I've always ridden stronger in races then I ever could in training rides. I'm sure it's that way for most racers. The combination of excitement and adrenaline, seems to propel you faster then the usual training pace. That's exactly what happened in this case.

I pushed on, out of the saddle, the only way I could turn the cranks over on that steep a grade. I heard people shouting my name, but there was no way I could make out who it was through the suffering I was experiencing at that time. Just past the large water tank where I told my family and friends to watch from, (the last steep section, where they could see the most pain!), I knew the road leveled off a bit, so I grabbed two gears, stood up again, and gave one last push for the finish line.

It was about this point that I thought I wasn't quite sure where the finish line was, a right around the area of the water tower, there was quite a large gathering of people, so I looked back to make sure I hadn't just crossed the finish line, and was suffering for no reason. Kind of a stupid move, because just that little lapse of concentration, may of cost me a few seconds, not something you want to give up in a time trial, especially one so short.

I didn't notice anything, so I kept pushing on. Sure enough, right around the bend, there it was! As I crossed the finish line, I could hear the buzzer ring, tripped by the timing chip on my ankle. It was then, I knew the pain and suffering was over!!! How did I finish???...

2nd in my division (38-47 years old). 5th overall out of 69 riders. 14:12 for the 3- miles. Who won my division? Matt Sherameta from Celo Pacific, with a time of 13:56. Overall winner's time...13:46. Close race!!!

Next up, the Mt. Charleston Hill Climb. My favorite race of the year! September 25th, I believe. Plenty of time to get ready. Hope all is well! Until next time...