2010 Blogs
The Mellow Johnny's ProXCT race on Lance's Ranch, Juan Pelota Ranch was quite balmy. Confirmed - it is "One Ball Ranch". The course was wicked fun, offering twisty singletrack, some technical limestone sections, the quick descents - a race course worth riding. But the hottness...high nineties with humidity and the sun pounding down. When "warming up" I had ice bags in the front and rear of my bra, which I had to replenish twice. On the 7.5 mile course there were 2 feed zones so we were fortunate to have 2 people in each, one handing us salty mix and one handing off water bottles without lids, so we could pour ice water of our heads and bodies. The race began with a 1km start loop, with the first half on fast pavement and second-half through single track. Willow took the hole shot with Heather and Katerina closely following. I took Georgia's wheel and we were a few wheels off them. The pace was good, but still things got bogged down through the initial single track. Unfortunately I think I was following Georgia's wheel a bit too close and bobbled, losing precious ground before coming onto the start/finish stretch. 3 girls were quickly shelled from the powerhouse of Georgia, Katka, Willow, Heather, and Kelli. I bridged up to those 3 and worked my way through, but then I found myself in no-man's land for about a lap-and-a-half. Through the 2nd lap I saw Heather on the side of trail fixing a flat and was happy my bike was running well. Jinx - about 10 minutes later I heard a psh! Now I had punctured, but fortunately I knew Zach was a bit ahead in the 2nd feed zone with wheels. So I rode it to Zach, but unfortunately Katerina had burped her tire prior to me and had swapped her rear out. So we put her wheel on my bike, snagged a CO2 and I was on my way. The wheel change took a bit of time, so a girl had come past me. I had her in my sight and was closing the gap right down as we entered the 3rd lap. But the oppressive heat had a similar affect to that of altitude - you have a limit and you can surf the edge of that limit, but if you fall off the edge you fall hard. I think I pushed a bit too far and went into survival mode for the 2nd half of the final lap. I wasn't able to chase 5th back down, and finished hot-and-bothered in 6th place. Meanwhile Georgia rode away from us all, winning with almost 3min to spare. Katerina suffered from a few mechanicals throughout the day and that pushed her out of 2nd place.