Well, that kinda sucked.

Headed down to Clough state park the day after the Sunapee road race knowing I would not be on top of my game. But I really wanted to do this race to help give my early season fitness a boost. It was a cold and rainy day, the kind the could get you down if you let it. My strategy was simple for this race, go fairly easy on lap one and learn the course, then pick it up and try to pick off a few folks on lap two. Lap 1 went just as I had planned. I was 6th or 7th, felt pretty good and the bike was still working well. The course was as good as could be expected. The rain actually tightened up some of the sandy areas. There was some hike-a-bike mud holes, but not much more than normal for this race. Lap two started with a fresh GU in my belly and me picking up the pace. I have already got my first victim in sight. Five miles later the bastard is still in sight. Six miles later the prick is gone and now there is someone hounding me. Now the sickening feeling of a bonk is setting in, so I shoot another GU, I'm still waiting for that GU to kick in as I type this. Over the last few miles I switch into survival mode and give up a couple more spots. I managed my one and only crash about a half a mile from the finish, a well executed endo into a very deep puddle. I straggle across the finish line in 2 hours 44 minutes, good for 8th place.

The race was fun and very challenging. It was cold enough that the river crossing actually felt pretty warm. If I had ate a bit more for breakfast I would have left very happy with my effort. I know I require extra food whenever a race goes over two hours, I just forgot to do it this time.

Bedtime now, goodnight.
 
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