Time keeps on Ticking

I’ve been slacking on the blog. It’s that time of year where I get pulled in 50 different directions. Work and family are leaving little time for cycling let alone posting anything on the internet.
Saturday was Soldier Hollow. The race went better than I expected. I usually struggle in the heat on that course but this year it wasn’t as bad. I used a camel back and it was a good choice. It is an east facing course and the morning sun just bakes me.
The start was quick. I was surprised to see Payne Cave jumping out to the front of the pack and knew at that point it was the last I would see of him. First the first 20 minutes I just worked on settling into a pace and trading position with a Revolution rider. Finally on the first long descent I dropped him and figure it was going to be a repeat of 5 mile and I wouldn’t see anyone in my group again. Lap 2 started and a few 50+ guys caught me. Suddenly a guy in my category came around me as we made the transition from the road to the first long double-track climb. I decided to stay on his wheel and see how this would play out. He tried and tried to shake me trying to wedge riders in between us on transitions and stuff, but I was determined to stay with him. The plan was working well until the last climb over the top of the canyon when the heat started to get to me. It forced me to pull back and let him gap me by about 50 feet. I figured I could catch him on the DH since I was a little more aggressive on it then he was. I pushed and pushed on the DH never quite closing the gap. As I hit the base of puke hill I could see him half way up struggling to spin to the top. I knew this was my last chance and I gave it everything I had to get to the top. I manage to get to the top just 10 feet behind him and he turned around and spotted me. He barreled down the hill as I was tried to find more energy to push even harder to catch him. After 30 second it was obvious that my fight was in vein and I slowed down and settled for an 8th place finish.

Sunday I managed to make it up for another foray up the Mirror Lake highway with the taller half of Shannifer, Pepe la Pew, and former racer known as Bull Elk. The dropped me just after the Duchesne Tunnel and I turned around at Lilly Lake. I had no climb in my legs. They picked me back up just after Soapstone.