Knowing that I've been consistent this year (consistently slow that is) I
set two goals for this years HMC, do not DFL and finish in under 2:30. I
got up to Agwin with plenty of time to warm up. While getting ready for the
race ran into many of the usual suspects, Matt L, Bob, Mike U, Allen, Piper
and our friends from Roaring Mouse. Warmed up on the track and the first
and last sections of the course and felt pretty good.

Once the race started I found a comfortable rhythm and stayed with it, felt
faster on the singletrack sections this time, but slower on the climbs. On
the climbs leading to the whoopdy doos I caught up to a couple of riders
from my class and the 30-34 class. At the very end of lap one I finally
drop the guy from my class. I'm feeling good and I'm still in my
comfortable rhythm, I know that I won't beat my time from last year, but I
don't care, this is the best I felt at a race this year and the best I've
felt at my three HMC's. Just as I'm starting up the one steep climb on the
backside of the course I throw my chain, DAMN IT! Why does this only happen
at races?!? This allowed the the guy from my class to pass me. I know he's
a pretty downhiller then me, since he closed the gap on the DH section
leading the the climb. But I know I can take him on the climbs, before we
get to the top of the one steep climb I pass him and don't look back. I
finish in 2:29:47 and over a minute a head of the guy I dropped. I met both
my goals, which felt good. I was something like 17 to 18 minutes slower
then last year, which seems about right and consistent (I was 15-20 minutes
slower on the climb at D-ville this year). Next year at HMC I hope to beat
my time from last year. Looking at the results, maybe I should have raced
Clydesdale, I would have got second... Overall I was happy with how I did
and had a great time. Might do one more race this year and look forward to
next year.

Matt