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Maine Sport Run Off |
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Team Bikeman -
Race Reports
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Written by Kirk Turner
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Wednesday, 18 July 2007 |
Maine Sport Run Off
MMBA #3
July 15, 2007
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Here we go again, but this time it was back to Maine for the Spring Runoff at the Camden Snow Bowl. This race marked my *(gasp) the third race of the season in the State… That’s triple the number of races I did here last year! Silly NORBA National series.
But back to the racing… Camden and I had seen a hiatus in the last few years, in fact the last time we crossed paths was in November of 2005 when I won the Varsity High School State Championship. Well the course has changed since then, and only time would tell what the result would be this time around.
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Sunday was the driest I have ever seen this course, or probably ever will see it again. But, what a course! What used to be a reasonably short—but stout—climb off the start has now been extended into a single-track climb that winds its way all the way to the top of the ski hill. Then it winds its way back down the hill and rejoins different parts of the classic course; in a word, solid: the perfect tune up for the National Championships at Mount Snow this week. The customary roots and rocks abound but the course tested not only rider’s technical skills, but also their general fitness and micromanaging abilities. Oak saplings and pockets of deciduous firs provided some shade for us riders, but the 80-degree heat took began to take its toll towards the end as riders began to fade.
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As us experts cranked up though the trees for the first time it became apparent that this would be a long painful four lap race. I hit the woods sitting somewhere around 6th, a pretty good place to be. We began to sort our selves out and by lap two things were pretty set. Jon Burns, Alan Starrett and I spent a good amount of time together and kept the Bikeman train-a-rollin.
But, it would appear all my hard work this spring is beginning to pay off. I felt super solid the whole race except for some fatigue and cramps towards the very end. As the laps rolled on I found myself slowly moving up the field as riders faded or experienced Murphy’s Law; and by the 4th lap I was somewhere in the top four. I just had to finish it out strong for the last lap…
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The climb hurt, the descent hurt, and everything in-between hurt also. This course was taking its toll; but finally it was over as I crossed the line with the second fastest time of the day! What a great feeling and a great day. The rain held off until the awards and I managed to evade any mechanical problems, as well as soil sampling with my face, or any unexpected tree hugging.
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Now a tidy little gift certificate to Maine Sport accompanied and rewarded my efforts for the day; so after a little browsing I did the most logical thing I could come up with. Naturally, I bough clearance ski equipment! I mean really who wouldn’t want a florescent lime green Helmet and some sick World cup GS Poles. Ah, snow—*(gazes off into the distance with visions of drifting powder in Utah…)
Anywho, enough daydreaming! Now it’s off to the races! (*no pun intended…lol) Mount Snow here we come, wish me luck! Thanks for reading and keep the rubber side down…
Kirk
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