Sun Prairie was just as advertised on weather.com. It was cold AND hot on Saturday and Sunday was a mudfest due to 80% chance of rain...more like 100%.
Because of the possibility of what was to come, I did something that is not in my nature. I went to Quest and spent some REAL money on proper rain gear for all 4 of us. We have been racing road for nearly 20 years and have been rolling in the mud in CX for 5 and not a single one of us had a decent rain jacket, rain boots that didn't leak or heaven forbid, a pair of waterproof pants. I admit it was painful, but imagine the joy of admin knowing that your racers are well-taken care of.
It was well worth it. I did a rain dance Friday morning to make sure my splurge was justified and I was not disappointed.
The weekend started well. We had the whole family there, including the dogs. Because Ian has upgraded to a Cat 3, we didn't have to be at the course at butt-crack o'clock - thankfully, because we were still running a bit behind. This was to be Ian's first race with the 2s and only his third in the Cat 3s. Admin secured him a front row start amid the men. He started well, sat top 10 for the first couple laps and then slipped back to top 20 for the second 2. He got tired in the last 2 and ended up back in 44th. Out of 105 starters, not too bad at all.
Mike was nervous, feeling like there was a lot of pressure on him. People were stopping by the car checking out the Stevens bike. And Mike didn't disappoint anyone. He'll talk "bike geek" anytime. He started warming up 30 minutes before the race and then I got nervous. Mike has had a lot of stuff going on with work and you never know how the stress will manifest itself. It's got to affect you somehow. I was hoping it wasn't going to be on the bike.
Lining up for the start was like "old home" week. It was great to see all the usual suspects including Tim Butler, Tom Price, Troy Krause and of course everybody's hero, Bill Marshall. The race started fast and Keith Lucas shot to the front like he was shot out of a cannon. He led the whole lap until the runup where he bobbled and Tim, who has been incorporating running since last December, took the lead. He built up a handful of seconds until Mike started to make the bridge across. It took all of a lap for Mike to make contact and when he did, the two of them started trading pulls around the course. Mike concedes that Tim was EXTREMELY strong in the flat, fast sections and left Mike in the dust on the runup. They were equally matched as an average on the course and then the top junior reached them.
Sam O'Keefe had ridden through the rest of the Masters field and reached Mike and Tim with a lap to go. Tim jumped on Sam's wheel for bit, but started to gap, so Mike jumped around and got on the junior's wheel. Mike was able to get a gap on Tim and then Sam pulled off and Mike took over. He knew he needed a gap going into the runup and did. Mike came across the line with Tim right behind.
Imagine the great photos I got of Mike crossing the line with his hands in the air. Well, I got none because he didn't do it. In fact when I asked him about it later he said "Oh, I didn't even think of that." Duh! Those of us who take photos for posting to the sponsors do...
Sunday we awoke to cold rain and lots of it. Thank God, I had spent all that money on rain gear!! Ian was racing the 15-16 race the second day so Mike's race was first. Procrastination is the name of the game. I finally had to walk away. They both made it to the start line, which was amazing.
The rain let up right before the Masters 45+ race started. There were some fresh legs on the front line as Wayne Simon joined for Day 2. Added to that is that it was Tom Price's 52nd birthday. Well, he must have decided the night before what he wanted for his birthday because he started the race in the front and ended the race in the front. Mike and Tim had a little more trouble getting around a few riders in the first lap and by the time they did, Tom had a 10 second gap that turned into 20 seconds quickly. Mike was alone in 2nd chasing most of the race and Tim was alone in 3rd chasing until 1 lap to go when Tim caught Mike. The course was sloppy, muddy and wet and Mike handled the mud just a little better, a handful fewer dabs and crashes was all it took to give Mike the second step on the podium and the jersey for the second day and into Ft. Collins.
I was not able to be at the podium the second day as Ian's race started at the conclusion of Mike's race. Ian won the holeshot in the 15-16 race and despite being his first mud race of the year, sat comfortably in 3rd the entire race. Ian was very glad to have made it back to the podium.
All in all it was an extremely successful weekend. The race was very well run, as usual, and the Wisconsin volunteers were awesome. The Bob's Red Mill team of racers is exceptional and so very helpful. Special thanks to Dave for pitting for Mike on day 2. That was key. Can't go any further without thanking the Clarksville Schwinn crew and the On Your Left crew for getting us taken care of. From me to you guys - YOU ARE THE BEST!! Last but not least, my hero, Bill Marshall and Challenge tires- mucho gracias!!
Training this week has been tough for Mike - so very tired, and he is traveling for work next week. So conditioning leading into Ft. Collins is iffy. But Joe Collins, Mike's coach has a plan a-working to make sure he is ready to defend the jersey. Admin has spent the week making sure all registrations are complete and travel arrangements are taken care of before Mike leaves town. It will be another family trip, so there are many details outside of racing that have to take place.
Regardless of what happens, we are excited to get to Colorado to spend some quality time. We are taking two extra days after racing to enjoy Denver. In the meantime, John Bryan this weekend after some cross country racing for Ian on Saturday. It will be good to get back to the OVCX before we leave again.
Till next time - Cheers!
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