After a mere lap of racing yesterday, a thunderstorm rolled over the course. I started the second lap a bit nervous, as I didn’t really want to be out in a thunderstorm at 9,000 feet. But I was leading the race and feeling great. Before the race, TJ suggested I challenge myself by starting slow enough to maintain my pace throughout the three lap race. I tend to race most events like a single lap competition. Usually my second lap is a minute and some slower than my first. Then the last lap tends to be minutes slower. So the challenge for yesterday–climb the first lap at a pace I could maintain over the course of a 24 mile race at 9,000 feet.

I reached the top of the single track climb on lap one with Judy Freeman and Erin Huck. The course then turned onto a flat fire road and Erin and Judy upped the pace–I sat back thinking about laps two and three.

The following downhill was perhaps the most exciting bit of single track I’ve raced. The track had some super fast smooth sections, as well as tight corners, switchbacks, short climbs, and some nasty ruts. My descending skills have improved considerably since last year and as Erin and Judy pedaled away from me on the fire road, I thought, “I’ll catch them on the downhill.” Luckily, I made up the lost time on the downhill and a little extra, I rolled through the start/finish with about 30 seconds.

As I started out on lap I felt a little uneasy about the dark clouds up ahead, some flashes of lightning and thunder. I reasoned it must be small, and that the race promoters would have called the race if the storm was headed for the course–wrong. Before long, the storm moved in but I kept going, I felt great and tried to focus and not to worry about lightning. It worked even while the lightning became more frequent and suddenly I didn’t know where the storm was–I guess that’s the clue I missed that’s it’s right above my head.

Suddenly, an explosion and huge flash of light–simultaneous. The lightning hit somewhere right behind me, For a second I thought I actually felt it–but I think that was just panic. I hightailed it back down the trail. When I reached Judy I stopped but I can’t even remember what I said. I was so panicky, I was probably crying and just talking nonsense anyway. I kept going, following the course back towards the lodge at the start/finish. I passed nine or ten racers and I think a couple of them decided to follow me. Some kept riding, later turning back, and a handful went on to finish that lap. I think about half the field wasn’t even allowed to start the second lap.

Anyway, by the results I finished 8th. I’m just happy I didn’t actually get hit by lightning out there. I’m also disappointed the race organizers sent us out for that second lap. After I made it down the mountain I sat in the lodge for about 45 minutes watching lighting hit time and time again and racers were still finishing up their laps.

That’s about it for now. Sorry about the long update and lack of pictures. Maybe I’ll post some later.