SCS - Dark Mountain Race - NC XC2 30-39 State Champ

This race was the last of the series. I knew since the Fontana race it was between me and Brad for the NC state championship in our group. The scoring is complex enough I built a google spreadsheet to run "scenarios". Basically as long as we were in the top 5 (which was probable), Brad could beat me by one place, but not 2 and I would win the series. Brad and I talked crap in email for weeks before the race. I came out and rode Dark Mountain once before, which is a fun course so I had a decent idea of the terrain. It does have some elevation, but nothing like Fontana and is mostly smooth and bermed. A couple of fun downhills, especially the one that dumps out in the the grass field at the end. Brad and I went into the woods around 5th or 6th. We slowly passed the rest of the pack and I was in first and he was in 2nd as we came around from the first lap. This is us coming out of the singletrack. You can see Brad's number plate coming around the tree.

Went back in the woods and Brad fell off about 1/2 way through the lap. I would see him by switchbacks but after the last climb I hadn't seen him in a while and was looking for him. There is a doubletrack section from the top of the last climb to the last section of singletrack, which is pretty much all downhill. Somehow Brad caught me on the doubletrack, we cranked big ring and were in a drag race to the singletrack. Some poor slower guy from another class was about to get on the singletrack. We yelled "on your right" and must have sounded like a freight train and both of us passed him right before the singletrack. He may have stained his drawers. Brad managed to get in the singletrack before me. There are a few rollers and then the downhill. I keep with him until the downhill and he absolutely killed it. It was spectacular to watch. I knew I had won the series at this point if I could stay on the bike so I "laid up" on the downhill and stayed in control. Brad hit the field probably 75 ft in front of me. I sprinted after him, but couldn't close the gap. He won the race, which was great since he had like 5 2nds in the series but no wins. I got my best of the season 2nd and won the state championship. rock on. So what did I win for the 2nd place and the NC state championship? 2 crappy pairs of socks, some expired energy drink mix, a tire, a red tailight and a small "state championship" gold medal. hehe. It was all worth it though.

Stats: 2 of 14, 15 miles, 79 mins, avg speed 11.5, avg HR 165, max HR 173, bike XTC

SCS - Fontana Race

This was the farthest race from where I live, but I knew I was up in the series points, so I thought I would go out. I drove out and stayed in a hotel overnight. Driving to the race in the morning it was pouring rain, the radio said there were flash flood warnings, very wet. I knew there would be a lot of elevation here and there was, but I didn't know everything would be covered in 2 to 12 inches of mud. Registered and thought for a bit that Brad wasn't there (who was the serious threat for the series), but he got there late. They cut a lap off the race due to the conditions. Got a decent start but not great, probably 6th or so going into the singletrack right behind Brad. We passed a few people and he and I switched places a couple of times. Seemed like this course had no flats, either up or down and most was fairly steep. There is a 1.2 mile downhill at the end of the lap where they do downhill races that would probably be wicked fun if it hadn't been so wet. I was cautious on the downhills. Lots of approximate lines and letting it "float" through stuff. Brad had a small gap on me as we came through the start/finish to start the second lap. There is a road you ride for couple hundred yards and then take a left into singletrack. Brad for some reason took a right on one of the other roads. I thought he was bailing from the race. Didn't know why since he looked pretty strong. Turns out he just took a wrong turn. The first part of the singletrack has a 1/2 mile or so switchback climb. I heard him yelling from the bottom when I was about at the top. Didn't see him for the rest of the race. That was the only race I beat him in and only due to his route error. 

Stats: 3rd of 11, 14.6 miles, 110 mins, 7.94 avg speed, avg hr 163, max hr 174, bike XTC

This gives you an idea of the conditions.