This year marks the 25th year for the XC (Cross Country) race
at Devils Dean State Park (DD). I have only ridden Devils Dean a few time and
always wanted to race out there. On Thursday (12 SEP 13), after being egging on
by some friends, I decided to go ride some laps and see if I really wanted to race
DD. I had been sick with sinus issues for about two weeks and was not too sure
if racing would be healthy.
Well I felt great, had power, and liked to course. So I bit
the bullet and decided I needed to race. After getting to bed at 10 pm, I had a
chance to sleep-in until 7:30 am. I love local races with late start times.
They give you plenty of time to wake up in the morning.
I got registration done, and was partially changed into my
kit, when I remembered that my rear tire
was dry of Stans. I went over to one of the local shop tents hoping to get some
to save the day. First stop proved fruitful , which meant I had one less thing
to worry about. With only 30 min left
before the race I started spinning around the parking area and up and down the
double track start.
I have not had much success at XC races in the past. I usually
get the "Hole Shot" then blow up and fall back quickly. I decided
that I would force myself to try a different strategy.
The start was much slower that I was expecting, no one was
really looking to get a gap before hitting the single track. Defiantly
something I'm not use to. I passed a few
people I knew would be slower and hit the trail head in 2nd place. I was
reminded quickly why I don't like being behind people in the woods. I try to be
smooth and squeeze every ounce of speed out of my smoothness. Most XC races
seam to think sprinting from turn to turn is fast, but it's really just
sketchy.
After a few turns I notice that we had put in a gap on the
field. I told the leader to "Ride smooth, we already have a gap on the
field". After a few minutes the trail opened up, back on double track,
just as I started to hear wheels quickly approaching. I decided it was time to
moved to the lead and pushed the pace.
The only real climb comes at about 2.5 miles into the lap. Racers hill
reminds me so much of the Oak Mountain climb (back when it was double track), I
took a swig from my bottle and peak over my shoulder. 3 riders in tow, this will not end well.
I don't know how, but 5 minutes later I look back to see
only one person. How had I dropped 2 people
climbing at an "endurance race pace"?
I pushed the speed down the hill, and
was rewarded with clear trails all around, no one in sight ahead and no one in
sight behind. This was my first time
ever to be off the front of a XC race (heck any race really). But by the end of
the lap I had two people back on my wheel, and had made a small mistake, which
caused me to cross the line in 3rd place. 
28 minutes for 5.5
miles? Not too bad, a little slower than I wanted, but I'm with in eye sight of the leader! I quickly gaped back up to the leaders on the
double track and hit the trail on their wheels. I allowed a gap to form so I could
have a clear view of the trail. (Small wheels have to take a different path
then 29ers do) A few turns later I pass second as he was getting up from the
dirt, I guess he had lost an edge trying to put a gap in on me. I push myself
to the max for a mile or two th
The third lap was much harder for me, as the faster XC pace had
started to hurt my endurance legs. I was
passed for second just after Racers Hill, right about the time the tank had hit
empty. I could not answer the attack as
he passed, and settled on finishing 3rd. After 3 laps of 28 min (+-30sec) I
crossed the line in 3rd. Not too bad considering I have had 0 specific training
for XC and only decided on racing two days before hand.
I just need to Ride more, Ride harder, and Get Faster. Only 6
months until Ouachita Challenge!
Thank you Arkansas Outside for the photos!
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