Awesome Race - Desert Rampage

Just a few from the team.

Desert Rampage is one of my favorite races, although I will admit I do have a few.  The fun thing about this race is seeing everyone again, starting off on a fun course that doesn't kill you, good passing, and ending on the downhill.  This year held true.

The race was great fun.  We had a large group of women in the sport category about 17/18 (when I counted I can't remember if I counted myself or not).  Great to see so many women on the start line!  My start was a little rough.  My stomach was too full from liquid, so I ended up making myself throw up what was in my stomach.  No, I didn't stick my finger down my throat, it was easy as bending over and what shouldn't have been there came out.  I felt better, but my tummy was still pretty full. 

As we took off the start line I was up near the front, but held my speed not getting much faster.  Little by little people came by me and were passing, until finally somewhere along the first hill climb I ended up being in dead last.  This was not where I wanted to be.  At first I was a little discouraged, but I told my mental bad talk to take a hike and rode as well as I could, while figuring out what I was going to do so this would not happen again.  I have to add although I was in last place, I could still see my division and was very much in the race.

On my first lap, in the wash I passed a gal in my division.  Her sidewall had ripped.  I was so bummed, because it never feels good to pass someone due to a mechanical.  I continued to pound along, and by the end of my first lap I was feeling really good, and started to pull in on others in my division.  My nex pass was right in the lap/finish area.  We almost ended up crashing into each other, because she thought I was going for my water bottle and I was actually on the opposite side.  I didn't go for my bottle, because my tummy had been too full to take in any water.

I had now passed 2 gals, and I could see more in the distance.  Little by little I began to pass women on the trail.  Two on the first climb, one on the first downhill, one at the first of the second wash, another one with a mechanical towards the end of the 2nd wash.  There were still more women ahead and I soooo wanted to catch them.  I kept pounding determined I was going to get them.  I finally caught my last rider at the beginning of the second down.  We were coming off the single track at the same time and heading down our final descent.  She took the the single track and I took off the course for the pass.  It worked!  I took off hoping I could keep her from catching me and hoping I might see someone else on the down I could pass.  I made it to the finish not passing anyone else from my division and without being passed.   Whew, it was over and I felt good, tired, but good.

The results.....I believe I took 9th and I took over 3 minutes off my time from last year!!!  This is great since last year this race was just before my heart surgery.   I am getting stronger and getting more fit.  I can't wait to see the direction my health will take me.

Goregous St. George Views.

  

Fun with friends on the pre-ride.

What is My Fitness Level?

As the first ICup race of the season approaches I have been asking this question over and over again.  What is my fitness level?  How am I going to do at the race?  Have I improved any?  Have I done enough that I feel like I made progress from last year to this year?  These and many other questions have been going through my mind.  As I have been calling friends and making plans for the upcoming trip to the race I have discovered I am not the only one with this question.  Apparently everyone else is wondering the same thing!
How nice it is to discover I am not the only one wondering where my fitness level is.  I guess we all have the same or similar questions as we head towards the first ICup race. 

So how do you determine your fitness level?  This is the question I am trying to answer.  For me I don't think it is going to be about winning the race.  Of course I would love to win, but realistically speaking I know I am not there yet.  Last time I was on a mountain bike was in November!  Since then it has been the trainer, and I have done my best on the trainer, but there is nothing that compares to the actual ride.  My weight--well, I am lighter, but still not even close to where I need to be.  So I go into this with not the expectation of winning, but of doing well.  Am I settling?  I don't think so, I think I am being realistic, but I am not counting myself out.

What is "doing well", as I contemplate this I think it is coming in where I came in last year or better.  I feel as if my heart is doing great, so I want to be where I was last year at this time or better.  Big dreams--well we all need to dream big.  Also, I do not want to take last, or 2nd to last.  To some this may not be a big deal, but really after all of the struggles from last year, watching everyone take off ahead of me was so frustrating and discouraging I need something different.  Yes, I get it my heart was healing and I couldn't go faster, but I want it to be be different this year.  With that said if I end up taking last or close to last I guarantee it will only motivate me more.

So how do you determine your fitness level?  What will you be satisfied, or will you be satisfied?