White Tanks Whirlwind, Race 2, February 9

4:30am, we pulled out of the driveway again. Stopped at McDonald's and then made the LONG drive out to White Tanks. You can see the mountains from so far away, but even after you get to the park, it probably takes another 20 minutes to get to the competitive loops. We registered right away, found the Prescott people we know, and I started getting ready. I did better this time, changed, put the contacts in, and hopped on the bike right away. I decided to head out onto the course for my pre-ride instead of out on the road. I was going to do a quick out and back, but a guy doing a course check told me I'd be able to take a short cut back if I kept heading out. So I ended up out past the first short technical section and then headed back. I was definitely concerned for a while that I wasn't going to make it back for the start, but I made it back to the car in time to strip off the arm warmers and ear warmer and took off for the start line. Christina was on the right side again, I ended up sneaking up to the front on the left.

I had a decent start. Noticed a few girls take off super fast, there was gonna be no catching them. I settled in with a girl in red, Christina, and a few other riders. The first 15 or so minutes the course is a long gradual grind up. The course was wide, but speckled with rocks with a definite, beaten down, smooth line to take. I was riding close behind the girl in red, sometimes riding with my front wheel even with her rear wheel. Not smart. I kept having to back off. Christina was ahead of her. We were tight to the right side moving along at a pretty fast pace. All of the sudden I hear "On your right!" But I had no room to move over to the left cause I would have pulled right into the rear wheel of the girl in red. So I just held my line. Unfortunately, whoever was behind me decided to try it anyway. As she moves up, I say "not a good time", I feel a handlebar catch my lycra, I pass a cholla on the right, hear a "aaghhh", and then I hear someone hit it pretty hard behind me. I never found out who it was. I feel bad that she fell, but don't feel that it was my fault.

So then it was down to the three of us. I ended up pulling away just before that first technical section and caught one of the pro girls. Turns out it was Jennifer Sica. I rode behind her for the first lap and into the second. She gapped me a little during the technical section down after the switchbacks up, but I kept her in my sights for all of the second and most of the third lap. At some point before we started our fourth lap, the beginner men started. Not a huge deal because like I mentioned, most of the course is wide, leaving plenty of room for passing. My concern was that first little tech section, followed later by the switchbacks up and then the second technical section. I needed to pass as many of those guys as I could before reaching those sections. It was great motivation. I hauled ass. I didn't get past all of them and ended up having to dismount a few times, but I think in the end they helped me push myself more than I would have if they hadn't been there. I was good about calling out the pass, and they were great about cheering me on.

I made it out of the tech sections clean, had to dismount for a bit on the switchbacks, and continued on through the last rolling section of the course. Much to my surprise, after I cleared the last climb and turned a few more corners, I saw the pro girl that I had lost somewhere at the start of the fourth lap. We were coming up quick on the last sharp turn that leads you into the finish area. I decided to go for it. I came up on her right and gave her a last minute "on your right". I could tell she was startled which she mentioned later on. It wasn't a conscious sneak attack, but that's what it turned to be. I pushed it hard past two beginner guys and around that sharp right in the lead. Kept going towards the feed zone, but the slight left that lead you into the finish line scared me a little with the loose gravel. I let off a little and she zipped by me. With only maybe 30 feet to go.

It was fun. I had a feeling there was no way she'd let me beat her. That's okay, I was happy with my finish. Glad that I was able to push it hard that last lap. I usually slow down alot towards the end and I really think I picked up my pace that last lap. I also had no major mistakes, so it was a great day for me. I ended up with a first in expert women.




Zach had a really good race too. He said he felt great. His lap times seemed pretty consistent, until his last lap. I was hanging out in the feed zone area, so I wasn't keeping super close track of his laps, but the last one seemed long. Turns out he flatted. He finished 5th in his age group.

Cute (and tough) little Jenna Zander was the pro women leader. She won by 13 minutes. I talked to her and her boyfriend Justin for a bit after the race.

We hung out after so Zach could claim his medal. It was such an awesome day. Mid-70s I believe? The group from Prescott camped there Friday night, so they were packing up the pop-up camper while we waited. Zach got his medal and we all ended up driving out together.

I was driving the Element behind Jeanette who was towing her camper with her Jeep. We pulled down into a one lane gravel wash that leads out of the parking area to White Tanks Mt Rd. There's a little lip from the gravel of the wash to the pavement of the road/parking area. As soon as the camper hit that little lip, it unhitched from Jeep, broke the chain and started slowly rolling backwards towards Zach and I!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was really moving slowly at first, thank God. I totally panicked. "WHAT DO I DO, WHAT DO I DO???" Zach's like, "PUT IT IN REVERSE!" So I tried to put it in reverse. First put it into neutral and revved the engine, then put it into drive and moved closer to the trailer that is now picking up speed down the ravine towards us. I finally got it into reverse and turned my head around as I hit the gas. Well by now, there was a line of other cars behind us on the one lane road, so I could only back up so far. I spotted what looked like a little turnoff to the left, but I guess it was the actual wash. I was getting ready to floor it into that turnoff or close my eyes and wait for the destruction of the front end of the Element.

I don't know how we got so lucky, but at the last second the trailer turned into the very wash where I was going to go. By the time all of this happened, Jeanette and Susan had gotten out of the Jeep and started running down the hill, following the trailer. Susan later told us the looks on our faces were absolutely priceless.

I think it was the timing guys that pulled off in the parking lot just beyond the wreckage and helped push it out of the wash. That was nice. Unfortunately, I did not take one picture of the incident!!! Where's Kelsall when I need him!!