TORC XC - Huck-a-buck @ Crabtree - How not to run a race

I went into this race over confident. I had ridden the course a few times and new it was "easy", with not much climbing and relatively smooth. Of course it was easy for everyone. My wife and kids were out of town that weekend, so I stupidly rode the day before at a pretty good clip (not the best idea in hindsight). I figured there wouldn't be too many heavy hitters at the local race anyway so why not? 

It was pretty warm maybe mid-nineties. Had a huge field. I went out fairly hot, was in the top 3 or so and just burned out in the last 1/3 of the race. 2 or 3 guys passed me and I couldn't hold on. You could see I lost 2 mins on each lap. Pretty disappointed in the performance, but the upside is it wasn't in the "big" series and I took away some hard learned lessons. 

Stats: 5th of 31, 17.25 miles, 90 mins, avg speed 11.5, avg HR 168, max HR 179, bike XTC

SCS - Sizzler Greensboro Race

This was the first SCS race I did this year, where I pre-rode the course. It is about 30 mins from where I work so I made a few trips out there and did one 3 lap run at speed in attempt to replicate the race. The pre-rides definitely help, mainly in identifying the fast and slow sections and lines to some extent. This course is pretty wide and fast in most section and not much climbing. I really like the use of a large grassy area in each lap. You probably do about a 1/2 mile around it. The grass itself probably has the most difficult climb which isn't that bad but burns a bit at speed. Got a decent start and went into the woods in top 5. Quickly worked through the field and rolled with a group of 4 guys. Led after the first couple miles for through the first two laps pretty much, probably should have let others set the pace (maybe). 2 guys passed me in the grass at the start of the 3rd lap and I couldn't hold on going into the woods. Looking at the results the guy who won, laid down a 25 something on the last lap no way I could have run that fast I was 2 mins off. Ended up with 3rd. The average speed was a ridiculous 14 on this course, by far the fastest of the season. I think overall this was my best SCS race performance, even though I got a 2nd later. I had three friends from work come out and race this race also. Two of them had never raced before. They all seemed to have a good time. Good fun overall.

Stats: 3rd of 21, 19.5 miles, 83 mins, avg spd 14, avg HR 166, max HR 174, bike XTC.

Coming out into the grass at the end I was near I guy that I knew was in the younger age group that started before us, but fun to chase him down to the finish anyway.

This is probably my favorite race pic of this season. I am on the right, my buddy is running beside us tour de france style (the tour was going on at the time). He was yelling "I love you man" and other stupid stuff. Trying to pass me a diet mtn dew. The guy I was racing said something like "you better keep going man". Hilarious

Nothing like sprint finishes with racers that aren't even in your race group. Completely worth it anyway.