Well....I can at least say I attained the goals I set forth for myself before the race took place :)

This was not a planned race on my calendar, however since I'm not getting to do the group ride I wanted to get in a hard workout this weekend and since the weather was nice....why not race?

This was my first time going counter clockwise, so the course was basically new to me. My thoughts...the climbs are shorter but steeper, which doesn't help a very near Clydesdale such as my self. I'm good to about 4% or 5% grades....when it goes beyond that, well lets just say, the "Pack Slide" is my friend :)

This was also my first road race in the Masters 40+ 1/2/3 race and knowing it many times can be the 2nd fastest race of the day, and the fact that I've been climbing like my bike (or maybe it's my butt?) is made out of lead....I just wanted to stay with the pack and if there was a shot at placing go for it at the end. I knew my nemesis was going to be the hill leading into the park, but as it turns out...it was actually the finishing hill. I lost more spots there per lap than anywhere else.

Overall, the pace wasn't too bad, especially once Zimbleman went off the front and nobody wanted to chase...the field basically said, well...there he goes...who wants second? Ahhhh, such is life.

The short, punchy climbs took their toll on my legs lap after lap....and I'm sure the TT yesterday didn't help much....but I was able to stay with the main pack just fine and actually had great position leading into the final 200 meters...sitting around 3rd or 4th. Then the sprint was on. I held my own for the first 100 meters or so....then my legs turned to jello. As I started to slide back I tried to get out of the saddle and give it a hard push to the finish, but could barely stand at that point....so I sat back down and gave what I had left.

I'm guessing I finished 19th on the day...which isn't all bad I guess.

If the weather holds out next weekend, I'll be back out there again after doing the TT on Saturday. However, I'll actually be familiar with this direction and the downhill lead in to the final sprint works much better for me :P

I hope everybody stayed safe and had a great race.