Short Sea Otter report, not really finished, but I am out of time.

Arrived at the Paddock parking about 6:15AM, not but 50 feet from the
real bathrooms. It was before 7AM so I came in the front gate. The
plan was good. I had been practicing arrival supporting the DS on
Friday and Sat. Laid back in the seat and slept until 7:20AM. Setup
the Trainer and did some spinning until 7:45. I really liked this
part. It was not cold and uncomfortable; I really do not like warming
up in the cold wind. And no porta potty, real bathrooms, what a life.

Feeling really comfortable I headed my 8:35 start. Saw a number of TWW
folks. Wandered up and did not see many people in my group, it did not
look like we had 44, and they had 3 of the age groups put together.
All of the 50+ groups started together. We headed around the track and
I made sure to keep in the front 20 or so. Worked out well. I had
folks coming by from time to time, but no slow folks in front. When we
hit the dirt road and hill I had no idea about placing. People in
front and the back. Seeing so many people behind me felt really good.
I think a lot of people hung back until the dirt, seemed like numerous
folks just started blasting. I kind had to be conservative since I
pushed so hard staying in the front on the race track. May have been
the wrong strategy.

The first single track backed up a little. I had 6 people in front,
and a couple in back wanting to get by, but no place to go. So
everyone kind of accepted the situation and just nicely egged the
leaders to pour it on. I enjoyed the break.

The climb was about the same. We passed folks in groups, usually 2 or
3 of us pushing past. Then I settled in behind a guy I could not go
fast enough to pass, but he was struggling and I had to pull back and
chill. I believe he was in an earlier start group. Interesting, at
this point we had some SS folks coming by. They do have some power,
but I could not hook on and pull past this guy, have to learn to be a
little more aggressive. I finally passed this guy on the climb out of
the single track. The rest of the race I spent trying to keep him
behind me on the climbs. He was consistently getting in front of me in
some places and slowing me down, and I would always leave him on the
climbs. I kept getting into it with a couple other guys, if it was not
one of them passing me, I was passing them. And I do believe they were
they were in my class. But mostly we did keep passing the field of
riders. We did get a number of SS folks still coming by, and the
tandems also, to include some of the Industry cup folks I believe?

Alan finally came passed me on the Single Speed. Figured I would have
seen him sooner. But then, I was having a good day in my eyes. No
cramps or back pains. My system felt good. Bike was shifting well. I
had found good lines past most of the mud. I did see Michael do a
Superman in the mud, but he recovered quickly and was up and going
still keeping that SS rolling. I had a good clean line, while Michael
did a faster line into the mud, and kept ahead of the group. I did hit
one waterhole and my feet got soaked. I had cold feet the rest of the
race. I even had wool socks on. Kind of sucked. Have to work on that one.

On the climb out I passed a bunch of people but probably not in my
category. I did get a couple folks that had been battling with me all
the way. I just put it in the middle ring and went. I have discovered
that it does not hurt any more in big gears then the small ones when
on some of the climbs providing you can keep a good cadence. So I
dropped a few. It felt good. I have to attribute this to spin classes.

I hit the last single track and had my problem in front of me again. I
think he got away on the fire road decent and pulled well on the last
climb. I came out onto the race track with him directly in front. He
poked into the middle ring and started plugging along. I put it in the
big ring and sprinted by him onto the tail of another guy about 75
feet ahead. Figured he would come along but I did not hear him. I
rolled in behind this other guy and stopped pedaling and coasted up
onto his back for the last 20 feet, caught my breath and a quick
draft, did not see anyone behind me, pulled around this guy and gave
it all down the hill and into the corner, noticed that neither one of
them had tried to stay with me or keep me behind them, so I just
poured it on over the finish to ensure I had not miscalculated their
effort. Nice downhill. It is not often I get to use the 11 tooth cog
on the rear gear.

31st out of 44, well it may not seem like much, but without discussion
about the last couple years, I will say I was very happy. The Maxxis
Larson TT 2.10 tires worked well, even on the climbs. I was pulling
on folks with real mud tires and lots of nobs. These tires rolled well
on the downhills and into the next climb. Sweet. I was using the
Hammer sports drink. Really made a difference. I did not feel sick
following the race. I feel about how I think I should have felt last
Spring, so I am a little behind in my training. At least a year. Well
maybe a few more but I will not go there.

Great day at the Sea Otter !!